Written by:	Jeff
Published:	May 07, 2007
Event:	Saxon: European Tour
Location:	Elysee Montmartre, Paris, France
Galleries:	Saxon & Masterplan by Jeff (16)

I was extremely lucky in March because after In Extremo, Kreator, Celtic Frost and Gwar, Saxon was also in Paris the 30 to close the chapter of its tour with Masterplan. I had a talk with a mate who saw the band some days ago in Toulouse and he said to myself that it was deceiving, that Saxon was "old". It was a bit weird because I saw them at Graspop 2004 and it was just amazing but after all, why not the last album was not so exceptional so it was possible maybe, that the band suffered of its age. What can I say? If it was average in Toulouse, it was probably a mistake because the show of Paris was probably one of the best live performances that I have ever seen. Saxon is not dead yet my friends?

Before Saxon, the German Power/Progressive combo Masterplan was on stage. Without the fantastic Jorn Lande it was a bit hard for a really shy Mike Dimeo to convince the Parisian crowd. His voice was good no problem (despite some problems with his microphone at the beginning of the show) but his attitude was really shy and we didn't have an amazing ambiance with this show. But it was good however, and the four other musicians were all really charismatic and communicative, especially the fantastic Mike Terrana. Mike, who is without any doubt the main attraction of the band now, even played an incredible Drums solo where it was just impossible to see his harms in reason of its incredible speed. Everybody was like frozen, surprised by his ability (even if we all knew him already). Masterplan didn't play a lot of time but the new songs were cool and maybe that the band will find the way to survive even without Uli and Jorn.





After Masterplan, Saxon and his great singer who, of course, wore one of his long coats came on stage to show that despite the years, the band was still able to play great Heavy Metal. And you know what? They did it! The band was charismatic as hell, the voice of Biff was perfect and the attitude of all the members (especially Biff and Nibbs) was really friendly and really cool. Biff spoke a lot to the French people in English but also in French and as always he joked a lot. Well his attitude was cool really and it was all but not boring!

The band played a lot of songs from the new album which were all really good live but of course they played a lot of old hits too. "Crusader", "Solid Ball Of Rock", "The Great White Buffalo" or "Heavy Metal Thunder", to give some few names, were in the set list and be sure that the crowd sang all the choruses without any problems. With a good sound, some great lights and of course, great music, the show of Saxon was just amazing.





In the end, the main point of the night was the length of the show. It was the last date of the tour with Masterplan and Saxon decided to play a lot. We simply had three encores and more than 2 hours and 30 minutes of music. It was just incredible, the band just didn't want to stop and the end of the show was simply crazy with a crowd totally amazed by the final. Too bad for the ones who missed this show?





It was great, we had great music, amazing musicians (both bands), a lot of real Metal hits what can I add? It was one of the best shows of the beginning of the year, something that you cannot compare with anything else. And when you know that the band seemed to be old some days ago, it's even crazier? Saxon is not dead, ho no?


Set-list Masterplan:
01. Spirit Never Die (Masterplan, 2003)
02. Enlighten Me (Masterplan, 2003)
03. Take Me Over (Mk II, 2007)
04. Lost And Gone (Mk II, 2007)
05. Crystal Night (Masterplan, 2003)
06. Soulburn (Masterplan, 2003)
07. solo Mike Terrana
08. Back For My Life (Aeronautics, 2005)
09. Kind Hearted Light (Masterplan, 2003)

Set-list Saxon:
01. State Of Grave (The Inner Sanctum, 2007)
02. Let Me Feel Your Power (The Inner Sanctum, 2007)
03. Motorcycle Man (Wheels Of Steel, 1980)
04. If I Was You (The Inner Sanctum, 2007)
05. Strong Arm Of The Law (Strong Arm Of The Law, 1980)
06. Heavy Metal Thunder (Strong Arm Of The Law, 1980)
07. The Great White Buffalo (Dogs Of War, 1995)
08. The Power And The Glory (The Power And The Glory, 1983)
09. Are We Travellers In Time (Metalhead, 1999)
10. To Hell And Back Again (Strong Arm Of The Law, 1980)
11. Red Star Falling (The Inner Sanctum, 2007)
12. (Requiem) We Will Remember (Solid Ball Of Rock, 1991)
13. Princess Of The Night (Denim And Leather, 1981)
14. Crusader (Crusader, 1984)
15. I've Got To Rock (To Stay Alive) (The Inner Sanctum, 2007)

Encore 1:
16. Attila The Hun (The Inner Sanctum, 2007)
17. Medley :
- Dallas 1 P.M. (Strong Arm Of The Law, 1980)
- 747 (Strangers In The Night) (Wheels Of Steel, 1980)
- And The Bands Played On (Denim And Leather, 1981)
Encore 2:
18. Solo Doug Scaratt
19. Wheels Of Steel (Wheels Of Steel, 1980)
Encore 3:
20. 20.000 Feet (Strong Arm Of The Law, 1980)
21. Solid Ball Of Rock (Solid Ball Of Rock, 1991)
22. Denim And Leather (Denim And Leather, 1981) / Ashes To Ashes (The Inner Sanctum, 2007)


Many thx to Roger and Base for the press accreditation