Una lunga strada, che attraversa tutta l'America: lungo è anche il tratto che da Las Vegas conduce a St. George nello Utah. Le condizioni del tempo sembrano divenire proibitive, ci sono nubi scure, scurissime all'orizzonte. Ma i ventidue centauri non si perdono d'animo, il giro d'America in Harley Davidson non può fermarli. Il mattino è freddo, il fiato diventa una nuvola di umida condensa. Due uomini stanno in piedi vicino al proprio destriero metallico. La loro lunga amicizia ha creato una tale complicità da non necessitare di vane parole.
Marc Lynn e Steve Lee si tirano una pacca amichevole sulla spalla, sorridono, mettono in moto e partono. Insieme ripercorrono col pensiero la loro vita. Ripensano a quando hanno formato i Krak, che poi diventeranno i Gotthard. Ripensano ad una carriera sfolgorante, le cui fatiche hanno condotto alla soddisfazione del disco di platino di "Need To Believe" del 2009.
Molto spesso, anche chi scrive codesto umile tributo sotto forma di recensione, ripensa a quel tragico mattino... ascoltando le note di "G.", il terzo album inciso dalla band. È sempre stato uno di quegli album travolgenti e mozzafiato, anche se invero non propone nulla di straordinariamente innovativo. Hardrock di fattura eccelsa. Le novità e il stile molto più personale verranno dopo, quando i nostri troveranno la loro via (pensiamo all'ottimo "Lipservice", per esempio).
Qui abbiamo ancora i Gotthard sotto la guida del guru dei Krokus, Chris von Rohr, co-compositore e produttore. Abbiamo qui pezzi che spaccano di brutto: la priestiana Fist In Your Face, la tenera ballata One Life One Soul, gli ottimi hard rock di Movin' On e Make My Day, le cover sempre reinterpretate ottimamente come Mighty Quinn di Bob Dylan (già ai tempi coverizzata da Manfred Mann), He Ain't Heavy, He's My Borther degli Hollies e nella versione giapponese di "G." Immigrant Song dei Led Zeppelin. Qui erano ancora i grezzi e vecchi Gotthard, quelli che si ispiravano fortemente a Coverdale e soci.
Steve quella mattina è felice, come non lo è mai stato in vita sua, poiché si realizza il sogno di una vita, ossia il tanto sognato giro degli States in moto: questo è ciò che dirà sua moglie Brigitte dopo. Il dopo... la pioggia incalza, il vento tira di brutto, è freddo, porta un'acqua gelida e battente: uno dei motori dei bikers ha problemi di accensione. Ne approfitta tutto il gruppo per fermarsi, magari coprirsi, mettere un impermeabile e ripartire liberi e selvaggi, cavalcando la moto sul lungo serpentone d'asfalto; quello stesso asfalto che si bagna e diviene tremendamente scivoloso, sul quale arriva un Tir a manetta, sbanda, centra in pieno tutto il gruppo, che miracolosamente si salva. Solo un biker rimane a terra. A nulla serve la rianimazione. Steve Lee muore in quel 5 ottobre maledetto del 2010. Il fato a volte sembra proprio essere beffardo: andarsene così a 47 anni realizzando il proprio sogno.
Questa modesta pagina è dedicata a te Steve: riposa in pace, addio.
Elenco tracce e testi
01 Sister Moon (03:54)
Sister moon, come lead me down
To rest my weary head
Walked a million miles along
The road of no regret
I've been a fool, I've messed around...
A lock without a key
Waiting for the morning sun
To make it shine on me
So long, lonely days
Take me back where I belong
It's all gone, it's all behind
Hope you don't mind
Hope you don't mind
Hope you don't mind
Too many times I lost the grip
Was worn out on the floor
Fallen angel, don't loose your wings
Cuz' you'll never fly no more
So long, lonely days
Take me back where I belong
It's all gone, it's all behind
Hope you don't mind
Hope you don't mind
Hope you don't mind
02 Make My Day (03:45)
So you're telling me now all your friends call you honey
There's your name on the wall
And it ain't that funny
Guess you're on the streets
Shakin' legs every night
And the whole world's looking at you
Kinda love at first bite
And the same old song
I hear you play
On and on, again
You gotta make my day
Yeah, you drank all my wine n' you gave all my money away
No more gas in the carand your dog wants me to stay
Darling you know you go a little too far
But I'm sure not a pawn on your chessboard
Baby, no more
Well, you take it all for granted
You got me hypnotized
So who do you think you are, honey
I want you to make my day
Don't need no pretty lies, read my lips
Make my day
03 Mighty Quinn (03:15)
Ev'rybody's building
The big ships and boats
Some are building monuments
Others jotting down notes
Ev'rybody's in despair
Ev'ry girl and boy
But when wuinn the eskimo gets here
Ev'rybody's gonna jump for joy
Come all without, come all within
You'll not see nothing like the mighty quinn [2x]
I like to do just like the rest,
I like my sugar sweet
But guarding fumes and making haste
It ain't my cup of meat
Ev'rybody's 'neath the trees
Feeding pigeons on a limb
But when wuinn the eskimo gets here
All the pigeons gonna run to him.
Come all without, come all within
You'll not see nothing like the mighty quinn [2x]
04 Movin' On (03:22)
I got a devil in me
Lord it's hard to make believe
It's shakin' in me babe
I feel it running, kicking,
He's gotta break free
Movin' on, movin' on, movin' on,
From time to time
Movin' on, movin' on, movin' on,
From time to time
Ya know that it's so easy
To loose control
It gets your whole body n'soul
Some would give it
Some would not
I juess I'm just the kinda guy
Who can't stop
Movin' on, movin' on, movin' on,
From time to time
Movin' on, movin' on, movin' on,
From time to time
I got you now
And I'm under your skin
I got you now
Let no other come in
I got you now
I got you now
I got you now, I swear I'll never let go
Movin' on, movin' on, movin' on,
From time to time
Movin' on, movin' on, movin' on,
From time to time
05 Let It Be (06:15)
Don't know who's to blame
Don't know who was wrong
Love has died too soon
After all had just begun
Something in your eyes
Tells me you still care
Oh baby i swear
Deep inside my heart
Deep inside my soul
Something tells me no I can't let you go
Saw it in your eyes
Last time when we met
I will never forget
How can you say
Our love is gonna last forever
How can you go
With this empty broken heart
Of mine
Let it be, let it be
Love's like a gun on me
Let it be, let it be
Like a bag of broken glass
I was killed in the name of love
You never see it comin'
Doesn't tell you when it goes
Think it's gettin' near
Suddenly it's gone
Dirty little game
Don't even know your name
You just wouldn't say
Did you ever worried
Askin' maybe please
Knew you couldn't take it
I would get on my knees
Searching for way out
But there ain't no doubt
It's like goin' blind
... get down on my knees for you
How can you say
You love me but it's better
This way
If you don't need it anymore
I'm drowning down like
Never before
Should Have Never Let You Go
06 Father Is That Enough? (04:01)
You came into my life...boy
I didn't find the words to let you know
We were like strangers, heaven knows
With a many ways to go
But it's over now
Right before we started
It's all over now
It's weather blown away
No, you don't need to sacrifice
Nor hide the rising sun
Made a million, got it all
Father, is that enough?
Remember I was lonely
I was nowhere
Couln't stand the pain I wore
And yeah, I keep learning
Live is living
So much more than words can say
But it's over now
No gambling with my soul
It's all over now
I found my way to go
08 Fist In Your Face (03:50)
You pushed it to the limit
Now you gotta choose tonight
Tarot woman,
you're all about to loose the fight
Don't need a part time wizard
Who drives me outta my mind
Cuz I'm allright
I gonna live it up tonight
Once upon a time,
Trought the world was mine alone
Had no time to realize,
It came without a warning at all
Like a fist in your face
A fist in your face
And there's a time bomb ticking
Deep inside my head
Must be a black hole attraction
A wrong step n' your dead
Don't know the words surrender
Don't know the rules of the game
I'm ready to go and I swear
You won't forget my name
Once upon a time,
Trought the world was mine alone
Had no time to realize,
It came without a warning at all
Like a fist in your face
A fist in your face
09 Ride On (04:08)
Hunger, in the saddle again
I just can't say no
Thunder, the call of the wild
That's when I got to go
Never got enough always back for more
I'm on top of the world, I'm alive
I hear the motor rumble
N' running overdrive
Into the night
Know I gonna find
Where is the road
For the peace of mind
It's a neverending ride
On the wings of destiny
Don't know `bout tomorrow
Or what will be
All I want is
Ride on, ride on
Under one big sky
Ride on, ride on
'Till the day I die
Devil, gotta wait for me
I'm down on "1O1"
This happens to be my number
My life has just begun
Never got enough
Always back for more
I'm on top of the world, I'm alive
I got my moto burning
N' running overdrive
Into the night
Know I gonna find
Where is the road
For the peace of mind
It's a neverending ride
On the wings of destiny
Don't know `bout tomorrow
Or what will be
All I want is
Ride on, ride on
Under one big sky
Ride on, ride on
'Till the day I die
13 One Life, One Soul (03:58)
I've been waiting, all my life
For the sun to make it mine
Callin', callin, whispering your name
N' right now, you're on my trail
Falling, falling, wishing you near
But somehow, You slipped away
Like ice in the sun
Already gone
One life one soul
Forever I know
Follow me follow me
Wherever I go
One life one soul
Just waiting to flow
Follow me follow me
Don't let me go
I've been dreaming for too long
Chasing rainbows, on my own
Screamin' screamin'
You are the wind in my sail
In an ocean so wide
Over good times, Bad times
I'll be your own guiding light
Holding your hand
Eyes open wide
N' always beside
One life one soul
Forever I know
Follow me follow me
Wherever I go
One life one soul
Just waiting to flow
Follow me follow me
Don't let me go
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