SHILLONG: They stung and drove Shillongites wild the way no one did before. And the musical hub of the North-East rocked like a hurricane.
Scorpions on Wednesday dazzled the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here with its fiery performance as a hypnotic crowd sang and swayed with the world’s best rockers.
“Here I am, rock you like a hurricane \u2026,” belted out Klaus Meine, star vocalist of the German heavy rock band, pumping more adrenalin into the musical artery of an already charged-up crowd.
Spicing up their show with a mouthwatering mix of ballads and hard rock music, Scorpions started off with its popular number “Always Somewhere” before sending thousands of fans into frenzy with such hits as “Rock You Like a Hurricane,” “Still Loving You,” “Holiday,” “No One Like You,” “Send Me an Angel,” “The Future Never Dies,” “Love Will Keep Us Alive,” “Wind of Change,” “Humanity,” etc.
The rockers from Germany wound up their show by honouring fans’ request for some more songs with the classic “When the Smoke is Going Down.”
Scorpions drew the biggest crowd ever to a concert by any international band in the city so far.
At least 45,000 people turned up for Wednesday’s concert, breaking the earlier record of 40,000-strong crowd during the Fire House concert in 2005.
“We love Shillong. You are amazing people,” the band members said.
The fans welcomed their beloved Scorpions with banners and placards. “The North-East needs a wind of change,” read one banner.
Though the concert ended peacefully, security personnel had a tough time in controlling a section of the audience who almost broke the barricade put up in front of the stage. “Every Shillongite rocks like a hurricane,” a jubilant Urban Affairs Minister Paul Lyngdoh said after the concert, adding half the number of State Cabinet ministers witnessed the event.
It was for the first time that people from various parts of the country, besides the North-East, enjoyed Scorpions performance.
“I enjoyed the show. It was a unique experience,” Eniwel Marwein said.
Many music lovers, who had been Scorpions fans since their childhood, said, “It was as a dream come true.”
Local bands Great Society and Akhai also performed ahead of the Scorpions.
Earlier, Higher Education Minister RG Lyngdoh introduced the band members to the audience.
Scorpions’ Shillong gig was the opening act of the India leg of the hard rock band’s ‘Humanity World Tour.’ The band will perform in Mumbai on December 14 and in Bangalore on December 16.
(Thanks Cristy)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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