Then the gig hit a giant road-block in the form of the piss-poor Queensryche who were supporting their disappointing Operation Mindcrime II. Their lethargic, and at times pathetic, performance sprayed cold water on the keen rocking crowd. It did not help matters that Geoff Tate's voice was in no shape to hit the notes. Highlights were few, one of them coming from OM in the form of "Eyes of a Stranger." It was a truly weak performance from a once great band.
Bad memories of Queensryche were quickly ended when Thunder came on to deliver their stunning set. Thunder, like Whitesnake, deliver every gig like it's their last. They are humble yet talented and Danny Bowes knows how to play a crowd, whatever its size. There was a mixture of tracks from their entire career from "Backstreet Symphony" and "Love Walks In" to the cracking "Love You More Than Rock & Roll" from The Magnificent Seventh. In short, they came, they saw, they rocked us all. The fact Danny got to announce, in fine style, England won their last friendly game before the World Cup made it all the sweeter.
Considering how long it has been since Journey was seen in the UK, there was a lot of anticipation for their set. As one would expect, they delivered with aplomb, rising to the challenge of the high level of performance and surpassing it. The band went through all their hits and reminded us why they were so bloody huge in the '80s.
The fact Steve Perry was not around didn't seem to matter -- not with his successor, Steve Augeri, delivering every bit of emotion needed for Journey's music. Even the most hardened of heavy rockers at the venue stopped and listened — lighters were raised and their secret pomp love was betrayed.
Alice Cooper delivered a solid performance; but MK Bowl really was not a place to see the man. His on-stage antics were barely visible to all but those who were up front as there were not large screens like at most gigs. However it has to be said what we heard was great. Alice and his band delivered the goods on "School's Out," "Poison," and songs like "Lost in America." His myriad of fans, including a guy dressed in his full top-hat and tails, enjoyed every minute of it.
After a rock star entrance to the site via helicopter: Deep Purple blazed through a set of favorites, proving there is something left in the old dog despite the fact that Richie Blackmoore and Jon Lord no longer perform with the band. Steve Morse and Don Airey delivered the goods in place of the legends. Despite the excellent reaction to the new album from critics; the fans were there to see such classics as "Smoke on the Water," "Hush," "Fireball," et al.
Article comments
1 - Tim Hall
Were Queesnryche that bad? I saw them on the Sunday night in Manchester, and I'd describe them as good rather than great. Perhaps they put on a better show when they were headlining their own gig.
Still, Monsters of Rock traditionally have one otherwise good band that dies horribly on stage. It happened to Blue Oyster Cult once.
BTW, Hurricane Party have now changed their name to Roadstar.
2 - Mark Saleski
wouldn't it have been weird for Journey to headline? i suppose they were the "biggest" band but they probably rocked the least out of all of them.
...though i did see them open for Ted Nugent way the heck back in the "Wheel In The Sky"-era. they rocked pretty freaking hard back then.
3 - Tim Hall
Didn't see them at Donnington, but did see them at Manchester on Monday. They rocked pretty hard (and played "Wheel in the Sky").
4 - Andrew Ian Dodge
Yes QR were that bad. I think an editor got to Roadstar and changed it to Hurricane Party :p. I know the lads and they deserve to do well. The good review in this month's Classic Rock probably helped their cause greatly.