Partendo da una considerazione scontatissima, ossia quella secondo cui per cogliere pienamente l’essenza e il modo di far musica di un complesso bisogna procurarsene un “live”, dico che “All those wasted years” è il manifesto per eccellenza dei cinque glam-rockers provenienti dal freddo della Finlandia, band che come ho già detto (per la cui descrizione rimando alla mia recensione precedente) non ha riscosso un successo commerciale equiparabile alle sue potenzialità.
Dunque ragazzi, immaginatevi la scena, ma immaginatevela forte, è il 1983, siamo al Marquee di Londra in un gelido giorno d’inverno, i cinque efebi della penisola scandinava sono quasi all’apice del loro (modesto) successo, e nel tour per promuovere il loro ultimo lavoro “Back to the mystery city” toccano la capitale inglese, un anno dopo e più o meno nello stesso periodo, volati per il loro primo tour oltreoceano di supporto ai Motley Crue, persero in un tragico incidente (Vince Neil al volante) il batterista “Razzle” e di lì a poco si sciolsero, ma questa è un’altra triste storia..
Torniamo al cd, pardon, al concerto; il locale è stracolmo c’è grande attesa per il concitato punk-glam-rock e anche un po’ di scetticismo, il punk qui è considerato morto e sepolto dai tempi dei Sex Pistols. Ma eccoli salire sul palco, Andy Mccoy più in forma che mai con la sua giacca da indy e cappellino da cowboy rosso, mentre la “pollastrella Mike” , giacca nera a bordini fucsia, è fedelmente truccata e con i capelli più ingombranti e glam del mondo.
One, two, three, four.. ed ecco che partono , dopo un intro iniziale denominato “Pipeline”, con “Oriental beat”, tratta dall’omonimo album datato 1982, un classico, primo assaggio di dirompente energia, primo sentito assolo di sax per Mike e tentativo riuscito di descrivere un simpatico viaggio in sol-levante che portò molti consensi anche da parte dai nipponici, poi, neanche il tempo di respirare e ancora subito via con “Back to the mystery city”, canzone magnifica, un randellante tumulto di rock’ n roll, di mastodontiche proporzioni che mescola frizzante e infiammatorio dinamismo con la nuda, scarna aggressione degna dei “New york dolls” segue, a completare un’ inizio a perdifiato, “Motorvatin” col suo intro di basso, arriva anche qui esplosiva potenza, riff a rottadicollo, pogate e nervi tesi.
Il ritmo cala con la tetra, sensuale, evocativa ballad “Until I get you”, introdotta da un semplice “this is a song about a girl and a very beautiful boy“, ed ecco venir fuori tutta la sfrenata passione di Mike, ora seduttore, ora tormentato da un languido sentimento, che trasuda sofferenza quando alla chitarra Mcoy sembra trotterellare verso un sofferto triste finale.
L’atmosfera diventa sempre più calda con la psicotica, sperimentale "Mental beat” qui i cinque sono tremendamente allucinati, con Mike che cazzeggia al microfono coinvolgendo il pubblico a intonare il ritornello, urletti isterici qua e là prima della lanciata semi-esibizione di Razzle alla batteria; il pezzo in definitiva stordisce con il suo incedere a modo di rituale baccanale, una sorta di orgia, e il pubblico stordito, sembra non distingure la chioma di Mike dalle luci al neon del locale quasi completamente buio.
Dopo un piacevole assolo di chitarra inizia “Don’ t you ever leave me”, unico pezzo rallentato rispetto alla versione su disco (quella di Bangkok), infatti tutti gli alti pezzi risultano essere più veloci, grezzi, istintivi e magniloquenti, a dimostrazione del retaggio punk degli Hanoi Rocks. “Tragedy” altro indimenticabile classico la segue, gli è praticamente attaccata, i riff scapestrati e taglienti, un caos infernale tra la folla e poi “Malibu beach nightmare”, intensità implacabile, batteria, chitarre e sax a perdifiato ne fanno un pezzo irripetibile, ancor più come live ove risulta più concitato e spumeggiante che mai.
Segue la gradevolissima, seppur modesta, “Visitor” in cui Mike in pratica ammette di essere un delinquente (quelle tre|quattro cose che un cocker che si rispetti non si fa mancare); e poi la stupenda, sempreverde, sincera, antiretorica “11th Street Kids”. L’ultima salita prima del rush finale è data dalla testarda, ipnotica, “Taxi Driver”, uno di favoriti come live, una minaccia per la tranquillità e positività umana e il kick-ass-roch’n’roll di “Lost in the city”. C’è anche spazio per un po’ di cabaret, con la simpatica filastrocca “Lightin Bar Blues” una vera e propria dichiarazione d’ intenti un richamo alla purezza delle attitudini dei veri rockers
“I don’ t need no diamond rings I don’ t need no cadillac car I just wanna drink my ripple wine down in the lightin bar”. (purezza che di fatto persero, insieme al batterista, con la pericolosa compagnia dei Crue).
“Beer and cigarette” altra netta dichiarazione di intenti, destinata a diventare una sorta di inno e accettazione, compenetrazione di quello stato di stars compiaciute e stramaledettamente segnate da vizi, ma anche umile forma di primitivismo etico, un rock senza fronzoli, chitarre funamboliche e Mike che sgambetta armonica alla bocca. Ed infine le tre covers, che per quanto non tocchino in efficacia e malessere le originali sono senza dubbio ben interpretate e ben suonate, secondo il loro sleale a tutto divertimento.
La prima è “Under my Wheels” di 'Alice Cooper ' forse delle tre la meglio interpretata, in “I feel alright” Mike fa la sua figura, certo non ha la sublime pazzia da cane randagio malato di Iggy Pop che sbavava nella sua 1970 urlando a squarciagola “I feel alright” col pubblico che scongiurava di non venir preso a morsi da quella delirante e folle foga.
Conclude, prima dei saluti finali, prima di quella che nel dvd funge magnificamente da companatico la “Blitzkrieg Bop” (con Mike e Razzle che si invertono i ruoli) ed inspieabilmente esclusa dal cd, ”Train kept a rollin” tirata all’inverosimile col pubblico che la intonerà fino a casa ubriaco e strafatto ma conscio che nottate come quella passata sono una grossa boccata d’aria per la musica.
Elenco tracce e testi
02 Oriental Beat (03:14)
I'm gonna take a holiday, be somewhere far away
I won't be back for a while, for a long, long time
I wanna get away from the west to the place that I like best
And where the nites are long and the girls are pretty
I'm-a-going to rock 'til I drop, around the clock
Ain't never ever gonna stop
Gonna send you a postcard from Hanoi
I won't be comin' back so beware my babe
I am ten thousand miles away
Chinese girls make me happy, it's enough if I tell 'em I'm not from the USA
And they believe every word I say
Hanoi Rocks every mornin', at night I fall asleep to the smell of romance
As I see my geisha-girl dance
'round and 'round the world goes around
I used to believe I was such a happy guy
Now I've found my place on earth
Leaving for Europe just can't be worth
Baby, baby, won't you take my hand
to Aikido garden well, you understand
Propaganda surrounds us but never mind what they say
I ain't going back home, I ain't going back home
Chinese guys make me heavy, it's enough if I tell 'em
I'm not from the USA, and they believe every word I say
Here is no holiday 'cos holiday is everyday
And let me tell you the truth:"if I'd leave I'd be a fool!"
04 Motorvatin' (03:19)
I have a Saturday night drive in a subway train
A lot of speed inside my brain
Shakin', breakin' it loose, the best that I can do
I gotta get out, gotta get out now
I wanna hear my wheels scream and shout
Get out of the subway
Get my wheels on the street
And start motorvatin'
Runnin all alone in a lowdown street
Just a searching for my medicine
And a little satisfaction from a woman, Is all I need
I gotta pull myself together
Hey hey hey, hear me say
I gotta drive right into the fire
And I'm burnin', burnin', burnin'
I'm motorvatin'
I've got skin thight jeans and high heel shoes
A leather jacket and nothing to lose
Gotta rock the nation, down the filling station
Don't try to get a ride in my Cadillac
You don't look good enough for that
Sure I am a loner but I'm never alone
I get by on my own
We've gotta pull ourselves together, hey hey hey, that's what I say
We've gotta pull ourselves together, hey hey hey, now hear me say
We've got to drive right into the fire, and start burning, burning, burning
We're motorvatin', we're motorvatin'
05 Until I Get You (04:32)
For your love I`d give anything
For your time stars above
And if I ever get you I`ll never let you go
Don`t deny, you have seen me before
Realize, look me in the eye just a while
I got love `n I won't hide it
Now when I finally found it
Hey you hey you where did you come from?
From supermarket corridor?
Hey you, hey you what`s going on?
While I turn my head away you had gone the other way
Away, oh there she walks again
I have to be her boyfriend
Hey you, it`s true, Baby, there I stood
When I looked her in the eye
She gave me her sweet sweet smile
Don`t deny, you have seen me before
Realize, look me in the eye just a while
I got love `n I won't hide it
now when I finally found it
I`ve seen you many times before
For each time you mean more
I`d like to be always yours
So it`s up to you
Please take me home with you
You, you`re the sweetest thing
For you I`d give anything
If you`re a dream
Then let me sleep forever
Until I get you...
I`ll be dreaming of you every night
And all of my time
08 Tragedy (03:50)
Well the music's slowly dying and I'm jumping outta my jeans
I jump into the bed, you're there already waiting for me
Ain't this a perfect way to spend the night
There ain't no better way of killing time than loving you
Be sure of that I do
It's reached top speed and I'm getting inside of you
Well this is hot stuff mama, taste it, it sure tastes good, oh yes it does
It's may be cold outside but in you the fire is burning
And when you bite me babe love is hurting
Tragedy, life reminds me 'bout a symphony on the radio
First a little bit too fast and then a little bit much too slow
Tragedy, life reminds me 'bout a symphony I heard today
First a little bit too fast and then a little bit much too slow for me
I wake up in the morning and I feel the pain in my head
If it's the rest I need I'd rather be dead
No destinations in this life I live
No expectations, I just drift and drift and drift
Life is like
Tragedy, reminds me 'bout a symphony on the radio
First a little bit too fast and then a little bit much too slow
Tragedy, life reminds me 'bout a symphony I heard today
First a little bit too fast and then a little bit much too slow for me
09 Malibu Beach Nightmare (02:33)
I wanna stay in the sun
I gotta have my fun.
When the work is done down
the Malibu Beach.
And when the winter is gone
I won't stay for long
just turn the radio on down
the Malibu Beach.
I'll find a sweet, sweet girl,
that sea pearl.
She'll make me burn that naughty girl,
all find a skinhead girl,
a black Brixton pearl.
Oooooh, down the Malibu Beach!
Yeeeeaah!
I'll find a sweet, sweet girl,
that sea pearl.
She'll make me burn that naughty girl,
all find a skinhead girl,
a black Brixton pearl.
Oooooh, down the Malibu Beach!
Allright! Prrrraah!
I'll find a sweet, sweet girl,
that sea pearl.
She'll make me burn that naughty girl,
all find a skinhead girl,
a black Brixton pearl.
Oooooh, down the Malibu,
down the Malibu,
down the Malibu Beach!
Gonna take a holiday
down Malibu Beach, thats what I'll do!
10 Visitor (03:25)
I'm not sorry 'bout the things that I've done to you
I'm not sorry, I never felt this good
All I wanted was to get to you
And hurt you for a while
I'm a trespasser in your company
Looks like it's me who fill your thoughts and your diary
Just as fast as my moment comes
I'll turn out to be a memory
The day I came was the day I left
Now you're just like all the rest
I only take I take the best
Like you used to be, now you're left in lunacy
I'm just a visitor, visitor, visitor, visitor...
I'm not sorry 'bout the things that I've done to you
I'm not sorry, I never felt this good
All I wanted was to get to you
And hurt you for a while
My romance, you're in a trance
I'll destroy all of your plans
Just as fast as my moment comes
I'll turn out to be a memory
The day I came was the day I left
Now you're just like all the rest
I only take I take the best
Like you used to be, now you're left in lunacy
I'm just a visitor, visitor, visitor, visitor...
12 Taxi Driver (04:17)
I'll be a taxi driver for you, honey, Take you anywhere you want to
I'll be a taxi driver for you, honey, Take you anywhere you want to
Just call on me, I'll take you anywhere you want to
I'm a milkman for you, babe, I'll milk you anytime you want to
I'll be a milkman for you, babe, I'll milk you anytime you want to
Just call on me, And you can milk me if you want to
(Just) Call me on the telephone, (Oh, baby) I wasn't at home
Sometimes you reach me, sometimes you don't, Sometimes when I'm all alone
Call me up, I'll take you anywhere you want to
Call me on the telephone, Pity for you sister, I wasn't at home
Sometimes you'll reach me, sometimes you don't, Sometimes when I'm all alone
Just call me on the telephone, I wasn't at home
Sometimes you reach me, sometimes you don't, Sometimes when I'm all alone
I'll be your taxi driver , I'll be your taxi driver, Yeah I drive
13 Lost in the City (04:10)
Take me down to the way back home
I lost all my money now I'm all alone
City boys stole my car
City girls stole my heart
Now won't you take me down to the way back home
I lost all my money now I'm all alone
City boys stole my car
City girls stole my heart
Stole my heart, yeah
Well I been in trouble since I don't know when
Never got no money to pay my rent
The city life hits hard on me
But I gotta keep on tryin�
Gotta keep on lying to myself
One day I will make it
And I'll become a wealthy man
I'll make as much money as I can
And I try so hard,
Try try try so hard
Try so hard, yeah
Take me down to the way back home
I lost all my money now I'm all alone
City boys stole my car
City girls stole my heart
Now won't you take me down to the way back home
I lost all my money now I'm all alone
City girls stole my car
City boys stole my heart
Yeah yeah yeah
It's cold and it's rainin�
I'm not happy at all
As much as I can do what I want
Yeah
Alone in the night
I lie back, I'm feelin� like a wretch
I know I'll survive here
Somebody, somebody, somebody,
Somebody, somebody, somebody
I'm really gonna make it get high
Take me down to the way back home
I lost all my money now I'm all alone
City boys stole my car
City girls stole my heart
Take me down to the way back home
I lost all my money now I'm all alone
City boys stole my car
City girls stole my heart
Stole my heart, yeah
15 Beer and a Cigarette (02:53)
Well I met her yesterday, She just came into my way, And I was so surprised
She told me that she loved me, Always would be true to me, Never tell no lies to me
She said her love was free, And I thought that I might, Just take a chance on her
Try hard to get into her, You know what I did
I told her that I love her, Told her that I care, I said I'd be free to ride
And to do it anywhere, Never want no love affair, I just like the clothes you wear
There's one thing I gotta do, Before I kiss you
(I wanna beer and a cigarette), I've got to get myself an ice cold beer, (I wanna beer and a cigarette)
And I need a cigarette, Well I, I didn't come here for no fix, I just need a beer
(I wanna beer and a cigarette), Oh babe, I got to get myself, (I need a beer and a cigarette)
Lord, theres only 2 things on my mind, (I wanna beer and a cigarette), Too much ain't enough
(I need a beer and a cigarette), Well and a cigarette, and beer
Carico i commenti... con calma