„You’re never too old for rock’n’roll“ – S.D.I. в България

„You’re never too old for rock’n’roll“ – S.D.I. in Bulgaria

So, Ladies and Gentlemen! I was given the honor to write this concert review. I have to admit, this is not the style I usually write for, but I’ll give in everything I can, so I can bring you back again in the S.D.I. Megamosh.

There were times, when S.D.I.‘s music was an indivisible part of almost every party. Usually, thrown in a domestic atmosphere, more often at a friend’s house, who’s parents had the imprudence to leave their home in their metal heirs’ hands. Because back then this subcultural, stylish division didn’t even begin. We were still just metalheads. And depending on the degrees of the beverages and the mood we were picking what to bother the middle class with…

This started too philosophically, so let’s get on the actual topic. I’m arriving in front of Live&Loud and my heart is warming by the view of the gathered crowd, which the „orderly“ citizens, in some archaic way always walk around. I say to myself: „It’s gonna be a real party!“.

R. Rage is outside, staying next to the door with fans all around him, which are already taking pics with him and are looking for a marker. I’m going to lock this marker in a safe, promise! Maybe after a few years in eBay i might get some money from it :). R. Rage is so friendly and cheerful. He rays kindness and thankfulness. Here is the place to note that this concert is his beneficial. The last concert in his career, which he decided to dedicate to the Bulgarian fans and our modest media, which this year celebrated the not-so-modest 10th anniversary.

A little more fuss and everything goes – Let’s fight this mosh! Mr. Kruse hits the bass and the legendary intro of „Fight“… S.D.I…. S.D.I., and the audience is already giving out its whole energy, not even thinking that there’s „only“ 23 songs left. A few classics are played from their debut album released in 1986.

Just after „Fight“ Kruse briefly introduced us into the „plan for the night“ – „We’ve got two things this evening. The first thing is the anniversary of the Metal Hangar 18. 10 years of Metal Hangar 18. Congratulations for that! And maybe a bit sorry that this is the last gig of R. Rage. So, this is a very special occasion and I hope you like it and enjoy!“ Emotional beginning, filled up with a strange mix of joyful euphoria and a bit of nostalgic sadness. But we don’t have much time for the second one. R. Rage and S.D.I. will be there in the next few hours. We’ll later think about sad things and about how time flies. So, we say an „I Don’t Care“ and we’re throwing ourselves into the mosh.

After we’ve already risen up the degree it’s time for another favorite song „Alcohol“, after which Kruse again speaks to the audience. „So, you think you’re old, that Rainer is too old for rock’n’roll, but I’m here to tell you – no one is too old for rock’n’roll, you’re wrong. Maybe… „You’re Wrong“. After that we shorten the distance of time and we go to the special greeting for Europe and its political system, classical but expressive – „Kiss Ass“.

„Coming Again“, as in the album itself transitions into „Sign of The Wicked“, and the intro is played by Kruse on the guitar of R. Rage, as he greets and excites the audience. Time comes for a „little punk“ and „Disappointment“ followed by almost the full demo „Bloodsucker“, as for the song with the same name Reinhard again says: „We never ever played this song with R. Rage and Cristoph. It’s the very first time we do this, because it was a song that we had on the [Bloodsucker demo] and it is the Bloodsucker song. We never played it since [1986], today in Sofia, for 30 years, the first time we do this song. So this is a premium, nobody in the world has heard this song live.“. After the end of the song he bites a capsule of stage blood, which spills all over his shirt and he jokes about it „That’s why I’ll never play it again.“.

The atmosphere in the filled with people club is heated up to the limit. Even in the middle of the moshpit someone accidentally turned R. Rage’s guitar off. He, smiling, says, that he experienced something like that for the first time ever and after the problem is solved the second part of the started already speed passage began. But every beginning always comes to some kind of an end, and Reinhard reminds us of it. „This is the moment. This is the song that you all came for. S.D.I. Megamosh!“… S.D.I. Megamosh! And… here i can’t tell what exactly happened, because my safety was more important, buy you’ve probably been in an emergency situation, so you can imagine what it’s been like. The last hit of the strings fades out and the musicians leave the guitars, to get back to them a second later… „Maybe we should do another song.“. It was special for Metal Hangar 18‘s 10th anniversary.

Unfortunately, there’s only one last song left, a bonus track. Self-titled – SDI, for which they say they played only three times throughout their career, and the last time they did was again in Sofia, 2 years ago. For its performance Reinhard and Rage switch their instruments. After its end everyone goes on stage, Hugs and heartful greets fill up the place. Rage filled with emotions makes his way to the microphone:

„I’m 57 and [for] all this time I’m an underground metalhead and I love you because I’m the same as you. I’m a metalhead! I won’t stop playing but I need a rest and I will come back. See you!“

We’re waiting for that „See you“. Because this event brought us all back to a piece of time, in which we were all a little happier, a little more carefree and maybe a little more rock’n’roll. And at least I didn’t hear the usual for these kind of events conversations about what the band has done or not, who enjoyed it or not. Everyone was happy – the people on stage, and the people in front of it. They shared extremely emotional moments together both during the concert, and after it. Because S.D.I. were one of those bands, that were not only innovators and rebels for their time, but they were creating musical history, which no matter how tiny it is, made its own path. Yes, I know, someone may argue – for 30 years they only released 3 albums and many years of inactivity. I think what’s more important is how many people you succeeded to attract with what you made and how you lead them through all these years, so they are following you. Bands like that could freely be called a phenomenon. Bands who do not get old as time passes, and make time pass with them… And you, how old are you for rock’n’roll?!

Setlist S.D.I.:

Fight
I don’t care
Take off your hands
Absolute Banger
Panic in Wehrmacht
Alcohol
You’re wrong
Quick Shot
Killers Confession
Kiss ass
Coming again
Sign of the wicked
Always youth
Disappointment
Wanker
Chainsaw Massacre
Bloodsucker
Violence
Long way from home
Bullshit
I wanna fuck you
Megamosh
–––––
Quasimodo
SDI

Author: Satania
Translation: Morten Michailov