Russian tour - April'2012

[Nadin]

I'm woooorking on it - I really have not much time, dear, please some patience...just now I've already finished show part - one more part and it' ready . I think on Monday I'll put it here

[Scorplady]

Hey everyone!

I just got back from St. Petersburg, Russia yesterday evening (well in my time zone anyways...24 hours of traveling and I tell you I felt very smelly!).

Nadin is right though about the organization - it made me kind of sad to see. It was my first Russian concert and while I knew the crowd would go crazy, I didn't realize how "brutal" it could be. I'm used to having the security guards watching out for us over here...not taking the drumsticks and guitar picks the group throws when it doesn't reach the fans!

So yes, once we got inside the arena (that was crazy to start with - that's the closest I've ever been to a bunch of strangers for that long - maybe 2 hours of being so close that we should of known each other's name at least. Then the gates opened and we all ran inside, to find ourselves in front of another door that was closed with a bunch of security guarding it. At the same time I saw people running in different directions so I guess there was more than one door? So we stood there being crushed again for what seemed a very long time - I will say one hour but it might of been less - I couldn't lift my arm to see the time. Heh.

So - the people who got there first to be the first ones in line and waited the longest had to fight with the rest of the people who just arrived. This always makes me sad since I like being first in line and if it means nothing it would make me a bit angry!

Anyways, eventually they opened the doors (but first they had to push us all back because the doors swung out not in and they needed room). Once the doors were open that is when everyone showed some nasty sides. We had maybe 7 stairs to run up and just as I got to them, someone in the back of me intentionally pushed me down and I fell on the stairs. I got really lucky, since it was on the stairs I managed to get up fast and besides a bruised shin and I swear someone hit me under the eye somehow...I managed to get back up and run with everyone else. I lost my dear friend Nadin but I managed to secure a spot at the barrier almost at the end of the stage. (And lucky for me, the 2 guys I was between spoke a bit of English so I was happy.)

No idea who the opening group was, they sounded like a bar band though. I think they would of gotten some extra attention if they had played some cover songs since it didn't look like anyone knew what they were singing (I could be wrong).

The Scorpions concert started late - about 15 minutes late from what I can tell due to some sound and stage problems.

It was a great show as always but very different compared to the crowds that I am used to in North America. One of the most interesting things to me was seeing some songs without much interest from the crowd in comparison to others. I think it was mostly the ballads, it seemed that everyone (I mean everyone) sang the harder songs, but when it came to the ballads it was quieter - for instance here in North America people go absolutely nuts over Holiday, but it didn't seem the same in Russia.

The guys were in great form although I did notice there were some problems - mostly sound. I was happy to see Klaus up there (I was worried the show would be canceled) giving it all he could, but he did look a bit pale and he requested quite a bit more audience singing - I don't blame him one bit. He absolutely loves St. Petersburg though and you can tell all the fond memories he has of this historical place. He talked about old times and his first impressions. For me as a non-Russian, that gave me goosebumps. It felt so real, "I'm in Russia seeing the Scorpions."

I don't know who had the idea, but someone brought in hundreds of papers with the lyrics A Moment in a Million years on one side English/Russian and then "Thanks" on the other in English, German, Russian and possibly other languages. Somehow towards the end of one of the encore songs, everyone made paper airplanes and threw the papers up on stage and the guys were throwing them back at the crowd. I've never seen that before so it was something I will always remember! Whoever coordinated that needs a pat on the back. I wish we would do that here in North America...hmmm maybe I'll do that!

I'm sure I will have more to talk about but I'm so tired and bruised from that concert. It really was amazing and I honestly could not of done it without my dear friend Nadin. I can't thank her enough for all the kindness she showed me. I felt so sad leaving, it was like I had a family and I just wanted to stay to enjoy all that I could.

I can't wait to go back someday. Although, I'm not sure if my feet will let me. My goodness my feet hurt from all the walking and the standing at the concert!

One of the best trips ever.

[natka]

Hi everybody!
I would like to add some words about the show in St.Petersburg.
It was lucky for me to be absent in those crazy crowd in front of the doors (Nadia and Joanne wrote about it). After getting inside the building everybody ran to find the door to fan-zone. I ran with the crowd to the door, showed my ticket and my bag to security guy and entered the venue. It was dark and nobody in front of the stage. I ran down the stairs to the center of stage, grabbed hold the barrier, and only then looked up to the stage... There was Klaus, he was singing and smiling to his crazy fans! I understood that it was a sound check. Immediately the guards approached and asked us to leave. They told us that this is the door to the VIP-places and the fan-zone entrance is in other side. Everybody ran to find the other entrance and it became clear for me that it will be a problem to get the place close to stage. But I and some fans remained and asked the security guy to let us enter the venue through VIP door. And he promised to do. So we entered the venue without crowding.
And about paper airplanes ( Joanne mentioned about): it was really cool! It was during WOC, Klaus was singing the words: Take me... and it seemed like many white birds landed around him contemporaneously!

[Deleted User 13688]

I know you all have your own website, which is really awesome. But I am hoping that maybe you can post vids and photos of the tour on here as well. We want to see them too. Please? Thank you.

Watch on youtube.com

Watch on youtube.com

Watch on youtube.com

etc etc

[Gabi6912]

Hi Joanne,

I am happy for you to have a great time there with Nadia, and to arrive home in safe.
Thank you for your review.
Hope to meet you in Munich.
Could you have a chance to make the trip, and join to us?

[Sanya]

One of the best trips ever.

Cool )) liked the idea with the airplanes

[Delphine]

Hey girls!

I'm happy for you that you haven a great show. Russians rock !!!!
I'm sorry for all the porbelms at the entrance, but I remember that there was also problems at the doors when I was in SPB in 2009, but luckyly there was no stairs.

Joanne, I completly understand your experience, it was like I felt the 1st time I was in Russia.

"I'm in Russia seeing the Scorpions."

Natalia, you are lucky , See you very soon.

Moscow D-5

[ScorpfanUkraine]

I remember that there was also problems at the doors when I was in SPB in 2009

Yes I remember it too. Very bad organization and the concert was the most disappointing for me

[Scorplady]

Hi Joanne,

I am happy for you to have a great time there with Nadia, and to arrive home in safe.
Thank you for your review.
Hope to meet you in Munich.
Could you have a chance to make the trip, and join to us?

Oh my! I would love to go to Munich!

When I looked for tickets to be near the stage, they were sold out.

Maybe I can find a way to go, it would be a pleasure to be there with everyone!

[YNWA]

Thanks for the reviews and again, I`m very sorry about your bad experience because of the awful organisation! But after all, the most important thing is that it was an excellent show

Nadia... Monday is comming

edit: Hope you understand my jokes and do not feel pressured anyhow! Kisses :*

[Deleted User 13688]

***!! I simply wanted to see pix and vids, nothing else. But oh well. It is what it is and now my topic has been merged. grrrr

[Nadin]

Heeey, Cristy, Curry and all my friends, I promise i'll put on here pix and my report very-very soon! At Murphy's law I'm too busy now ( Curry, of course I understood everything, dear ) Besides, unfortunately I had no camera with me, so I'll have to collect all the pix from my friends at first...
So far here's the link to a video of M&G in the airport: enjoy!

Watch on youtube.com

[Deleted User 13688]

Thx sweetie for the vid, but what was the driving thru the streets mean? Good ol James!! woohoo Crazy stickman!!!
Hey hun, post it on James' FB page.

[Deleted User 13688]

And then just last nite!! Our boys make me wanna cry! Rudolf does the solo just as if it was 27 years ago. Klaus' voice is in tip top form and MJ of course is looking great in that vest!! RAWK ON BBRW!!

Watch on youtube.com

[Indotoxic]

So yes, once we got inside the arena (that was crazy to start with - that's the closest I've ever been to a bunch of strangers for that long - maybe 2 hours of being so close that we should of known each other's name at least. Then the gates opened and we all ran inside, to find ourselves in front of another door that was closed with a bunch of security guarding it. At the same time I saw people running in different directions so I guess there was more than one door?

thx for your sharing your memorys with us!

reminds me of my experince at stade de france in 2010 a u2 concert. very interestingly the stade hast doors a - z. when we bought tickets we got tickets for gate a and b and also they opend not all the gates at the same time - can you experiance the chaos that caused? and they doing it each and each show at the stade de france.

[Scorplady]

It's crazy how much the organizers/security make it so difficult for everyone at these concerts. I'm really surprised that fans don't get seriously hurt more often. It would of been so simple in this case - just limit the amount of people at once going in. (And of course only one door!)

I am still dreaming of that concert, so many things were different for someone coming from so far away like I did. I am so happy to have experienced it at a Scorpions concert with crazy fans like myself.

I think hearing everyone sing the songs with a Russian accent was quite fun to me, even how everyone pronounced Scorpions. I think the guys next to me were listening to my own accent as I was singing and probably thought the same thing - or they thought my singing was so bad that I should shut up! Hah

So many wonderful memories of Russia and the Scorpions, it is hard to believe it all happened.

[Delphine]

Who comes to the M&G Wednesday in Moscow ?
http://www.mediamarkt.ru/mcs/special/stars%2c20101%2c.html
I don't know if I could be there, my flight landing at 2pm but my hostel is completly on the other side of the city

Moscow D- 4

[Enya-Leela]

Nadia what a beautiful, warm welcome for the boys at the airport, i like the bread!!
JK was cute and they let him have a moment with the fans, but why not the other guys?
I'm so happy for you about a great show, the contact with Klaus...
I think it's horrible what was going on before the show, the claustrophobian chaos and wounded fans
But you came back as a happy girl still on her cloud, that counts now
Also nice you spent some time with Ben!
I loooove Scorpions being in Russia, it's something very precious you can feel that energy when you see the pics and video's!! Scorps and Russia it's history

[Deleted User 13688]

Nadia what a beautiful, warm welcome for the boys at the airport, i like the bread!!
JK was cute and they let him have a moment with the fans, but why not the other guys?
I'm so happy for you about a great show, the contact with Klaus...
I think it's horrible what was going on before the show, the claustrophobian chaos and wounded fans
But you came back as a happy girl still on her cloud, that counts now
Also nice you spent some time with Ben!
I loooove Scorpions being in Russia, it's something very precious you can feel that energy when you see the pics and video's!! Scorps and Russia it's history

Yeah, what happened to the other guys?

[bloodtoohot]

wooww!. the fans are crazy there!