Good ol' rock 'n' roll
There may be a wind of change, but the Scorpions continue their sound from the past that fans are still keen on listening to
Their biggest hits may have come from the 80s and 90s, but German rock band Scorpions are far from fading into the background of the music industry.
And when it comes to the fans, the band said that fanatics are still ever-present in their worldwide circle of supporters.
They described an encounter with one fan during their show in Melbournethree days ago.
"I'm not sure how this guy ended up on stage, but he was rocking out with one of Paweł's (Maciwoda) bass guitars," said the band's newest member and drummer, Micael Delaoglou, 52, at a pre-concert press conference at Hard Rock Cafe in Cuscaden Road yesterday.
"He was on stage for a good long while before the crew got on stage to take him off."
Vocalist Klaus Meine added, laughing: "I didn't know what was happening, but I knew something was going on when I saw the crew on stage. I only saw (what really happened) later on YouTube."
The five-piece band - comprising Delaoglou, Meine, guitarist Rudolf Schenker, rhythm guitarist Matthias Jabs and bassist Maciwoda - arrived in Singapore on Wednesday, ahead of their 50th Anniversary World Tour concert at the Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre tonight.
This may be the first time Delaoglou, who was recruited earlier this year to replace James Kottak, is on tour with the Scorpions, but even he has already experienced his own fanatic encounters.
Delaoglou, better known as Mikkey Dee, said: "I remember this one time, a fan managed to not only get on stage but get onto the platform where I was playing the drums.
"She came at me with a pair of scissors and I think she wanted to snip my hair when someone pulled her off."
Meine added: "But we still love our fans. It's just that sometimes, they can get a little overexcited."
RICH HISTORY
Despite their already extensive and rich history, the band continue to release music. Their latest, a 12-track album called Return to Forever, was released last year.
When asked how they remain relevant in the sea of new artists in this day and age, Schenker, 68, said: "The sound of music today is more about music design where modern artists use technology.
"We bring some good ol' rock 'n' roll. A sound from the past that people are still (keen) on listening to."
The band revealed that their set list tonight will feature their greatest hits along with their newer tracks.
If there is one thing the hard rocking and hard-working band have proven, it is the fact that age is just a number, especially given that the band, whose members' ages range between 49 and 68, have reached the tail end of their 106-city tour.
Delaoglou said they each have "fitness programmes" they abide by in order to stay healthy.
Schenker said: "We also don't waste our energy arguing or anything like that.
"We're like family and everyone gets along so well, so we don't waste any effort there.
"We spend all the energy we have giving our fans a great show each time we go on stage.
"And for as long as we can do that, we're going to keep doing it."
We spend all the energy we have giving our fans a great show each time we go on stage.
– Scorpions' guitarist Rudolf Schenker
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