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REVIEW: Saxon seize the day at Aberdeen’s Music Hall

Saxon rocked out at the Music Hall in Aberdeen to the delight of their fans. All images: Andy Thorn
Saxon rocked out at the Music Hall in Aberdeen to the delight of their fans. All images: Andy Thorn

Remember those people who used to have patches sewn all over the back of their denim jackets?

In the early 1980s the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement saw the rise of bands like Iron Maiden, Motorhead and Def Leppard.

This opened the door for long-haired (mainly) lads up and down the country to seek out a sound that eventually spread right around the world. And those heavy metal fans keep coming back for more, just like Saxon.

Talking of which, staggeringly Saxon had last performed in Aberdeen in the summer of 1980, just before they appeared at the very first Monsters Of Rock festival at Castle Donington. So long ago, in fact, the Dons were league champions that year.

Doug Scarratt of Saxon delights fans at the Music Hall.

So, it was no surprise that the Music Hall was rammed last night (November 20)  as the hard rockers from Barnsley finally returned to the Granite City.

Metal pioneers Saxon made welcome and long overdue return to Aberdeen

Saxon were right at the heart of that early metal revolution, but despite great commercial success at the time, the band never reached the stratospheric heights of Leppard and Maiden.

But as they proved last night that was more to do with fate, luck and timing than the quality of their music.

Fans in the front row at the Saxon gig in Aberdeen’s Music Hall.

Last night’s support act Diamond Head are from the same era and have a similar tale to tell. Hailing from the West Midlands of England, the birthplace of heavy metal, the band was led through a crunching set by guitarist and sole original member Brian Tatler.

They drew a tremendous reaction especially when they closed with the chugging, primal riff of Am I Evil, the song that was covered years later by a bunch of young DH fans – called Metallica.

The Music Hall’s high ceiling and walls mean the acoustics are not always the best when rock bands stop by.

Grandeur of Music Hall was impressive setting for Saxon

But its grandeur was an impressive setting for Saxon’s enormous backdrop, wall of Marshall speakers and towering drum riser. And what a sound they made. Opening with the title track of their latest album, Carpe Diem they were ear-ringingly loud.

Biff Byford of Saxon was in great voice at Aberdeen’s Music Hall.

Vocalist and founder Biff Byford is a brilliant character. He is in his 70s now but the vocal roar hasn’t left him, nor his onstage chat which was warm and gracious. He thanked the crowd for coming to the show and revealed that they were being recorded for a live album.

Byford and veteran drummer Nigel Glockler have both had serious health problems in recent years, so it was heart-warming to see them both back on the road.

Nibbs Carter of Saxon in full flight at the Music Hall.

Saxon deserves credit for regularly releasing new music, but Aberdeen’s rockers had turned out to hear the songs that they grew up on, tunes that put Saxon on Top Of The Pops back in the day.

Marvellous stuff as Saxon rocked out army of fans at the Music Hall

And The Bands Played On, the colossal Wheels Of Steel and 747 (Strangers In The Night) all received a hearty roar.

Saxon fans in the front row at the Music Hall.

But it was encore Denim And Leather with its “Where were you in ’79 when the dam began to burst?” opening line followed by the breathless Princess Of The Night that closed a mighty heavy metal set, perfectly capturing those teenage years.

Marvellous stuff.


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