Long-time fans of Uli Jon Roth will absolutely love this new DVD release from SPV/Steamhammer, which culls live material from 1979-1983 when the guitarist was fronting his band Electric Sun. This was the period shortly after he left the Scorpions, before he started his classical oriented rock period that he still continues today. The Electric Sun period is not too different from the songs he wrote and performed with the Scorpions, which was guitar oriented hard rock with plenty of nods to Jimi Hendrix, jazz, and classical music. While some of the clips here are not of the greatest quality video or soundwise, the performances are outstanding.
Some of the early footage from Amsterdam is basically the Electric Sun trio lip-synching to a few tunes, but when the actual live stuff kicks in, look out! Uli and the band rips into scorching versions of many of their greatest songs, as well as some Scorpions favorites during the 1983 footage from Sweden and the UK, especially tunes like "Electric Sun", "Enola Gay-Hiroshima Today", "Icebreaker", 'Cast Away Your Chains", and of course "Polar Nights", "Virgin Killer", "Dark Lady", and "Hell Cat". Roth's guitar technique is staggering, seen here on his trusty Fender Stratocaster (before he created the Sky Guitar), as he rips into plenty of speedy arpeggiated runs, wild whammy bar dive-bombs, funky riffs, and soaring, emotional leads. Look closely and you'll see former Jethro Tull drummer Clive Bunker flailing away on the 1983 footage.
Again, not all the material is of the greatest quality, but I really can't take away any rating points because of it. This is awesome stuff here, a real virtuoso captured early in his career. If you are in the mood to see some kick ass guitar playing, check out this DVD and see one of the most original talents in all of rock take you to the stars.
Track Listing
Electric Sun Era 1
(Amsterdam 1979/1980):
1. Lilac
2. Electric Sun
3. Sundown
4. Earthquake (Part II)
5. Japanese Dream
(Mulhouse 1982):
6. Fire Wind
7. Virgin Killer
8. Free Jam Encore (improvised)
9. Mutron Jam (improvised)
10. Red House Blues
Electric Sun Era 2
(Sweden/UK 1983):
11. Icebreaker
12. What Is Love?
13. Why?
14. Enola Gay-Hiroshima Today?
15. Angel Of Peace
16. Return
17. Cast Away Your Chains
18. Virgin Killer
19. Drum & Percussion-Solo
20. Electric Sun
21. Polar Nights
22. Beethoven Paraphrase
23. Hell-Cat
24. Dark Lady
25. Midnight Sun
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