UFO at Huxleys, Berlin, January 15th 1998.

Huxleys Neue Welt is a large, open hall and was packed for UFOs return with, Id guess about 2000 anxious bodies. The opener was a band with a sweaty, used-car dealeresque frontman in a leopard jacket who went through all the clichees. Opening for Schenker and Co. has got to be a pretty disheartening affair for any rock guitarist. I saw a T-shirt at the merchandise stand with DIVING DUCKS (?!) written on it. I figured that must be the openers name.Anticipation for the headliners grew steadily.

When the band came out, Schenker appeared in short, black hair and a simple black suit. He looked like a cross between Neil Young and Elvis in a Lagerfeld suit. Obviously he intends to stay a step ahead of the look-alikes a few of which were also in attendance at this show. More power to him. The sound was tight and powerful. Pete Way, the ham, as ever. Mogg in short hair, looking fit. They ran through a set packed with classics from the 75-78 years. My biggest criticism is with drummer Wright. Hes powerful but lacks the swing of Parker to really get the dynamics in a tune like ROCK BOTTOM.

The setlist, which I memorized as best as I could, went something like this:

NATURAL THING
MOTHER MARY
A SELF-MADE MAN
ELECTRIC PHASE
THIS KIDS
OUT IN THE STREETS
ONE MORE FOR THE RODEO
VENUS
PUSHED TO THE LIMIT
LOVE TO LOVE
TOO HOT TOO HANDLE
ONLY YOU CAN ROCK ME
LIGHTS OUT

Encores:

DOCTOR DOCTOR
ROCK BOTTOM

Tilman Reitzle
Stone Ridge, New York, USA