Legends of Rock

Manchester Apollo

Monday 18 November 2002

This was probably one of the strangest concerts of all time. Rather than being called "Legends of Rock" it should probably have been called "Nationwide League Division One Teams with an Outside Chance of reaching the Plays Off.” All the participants were supremely talented but despite being around for aeons, have proved remarkably unable to progress beyond a basic level of achievement - rather remindful of my own career in the Department. Perhaps the most memorable feature of the concert was the high level of self indulgence displayed. This was typified by long, supremely boring guitar solos by Frank Marino and Uli John Roth of the sort that I thought had become extinct in 1977. Uli Jon Roth even had the audacity to introduce us to a classical style symphony which he wrote himself! The most enjoyable performer was Glenn Hughes, who played mainly short, snappy songs but self indulgence was in full play here, too because he played only Deep Purple Mark 3 stuff, much of which I suspect he actually had very little song writing input into. What about some of the excellent stuff he did with Black Sabbath or Hughes/Thrall or other stuff which I don't know? Anyway, he at least gave the very small and meagre crowd exactly what it wanted. The headlining act was Jack Bruce, formerly of Cream, and he did a good selection of the Cream classics, but he is quite clearly past it, could only do a couple of tracks at a time, and had great difficulty moving about. Still, like with Glenn Hughes, very glad to see one of the all time "legends.” More self indulgence was on display at the end with a very long pastiche of a number of classic rock tracks played by the whole ensemble. They certainly tried their hardest, but the true talent just wasn't there, well reflected by the very small turnout - I felt sorry for them. Perhaps Michael Schenker knew something by not turning up due to "illness" (or more likely, drinkinG) - one of the best guitarists of all time, but very much like the others, a serial under achiever. (16.10.03)