The Dead Daisies – nabrita padovanska ježa rock’n’rolla in zmagovita vrnitev Douga Aldricha (2025)
The Dead Daisies (predskupini: The Treatment, Broken Wings)
nedelja, 9. 3. 2025
Padova / Hall / Italija
(for an English version, please scroll down the bar)
The Dead Daisies, superockovska senzacija, ki jo sestavlja kvintet velikih herojev na polju klasičnega hard rocka, so pod budnim in angažiranim vodstvom šefa skupine, avstralskega finančnega mogotca in kitarista skupine Davida Lowyja, po uspešno izpeljani lanskoletni jesenski evropski turneji, na kateri jih je RockLine 16. 11. 2024 prestregel na avstrijskem Dunaju, potrdili za letošnji marec termine nove krajše evropske turneje, ki se je Sloveniji hvaležno približala na 9. marec 2025, ko je bend potrdil svoj nastop v italijanski Padovi in na prizorišču preprosto poimenovanem Hall (gre za prizorišče, ki je bilo za nas – tri obiskovalce enormne koncertne kilometrine pravzaprav neznanka, saj tam še nikdar nismo bili).
Bil je ravno tisti dan, ko se je po obdobju lepih sončnih dni, vreme pričelo ponovno fižiti in kujati. A k sreči navigacija deluje v vsakem vremenu in srečno smo parkirali avto v neposredni bližini prizorišča, ki se nahaja na severovzhodnem perifernem delu velike Padove, kar nam je (kot bi rekel Cole pri En X Bendu) na ‘tih, deževen (nedeljski) dan’ privarčevalo precej potovalne energije.
Med (našim) uležanim ritualom prevzema prepustnic, je italijanska rock zasedba Broken Wings iz Vidma (Udine) že izvajala svojo tretjo skladbo krajšega, to je pol urnega ogrevalnega repertoarja (od tod skromna zastopanost v spodnji fotogaleriji). Prizorišče s precej visokim in globokim odrom je v tem času še sevalo pretežno skromnost obiska. A je bilo jasno, da se bo plac skozi prihajajoče minute pridno zapolnil. Broken Wings niso postregli ničesar kar že ne bi slišali. Gre za hard rock zasedbo (za navdih so se mdr. ‘zadolžili’ pri zasedbah tipa AC/DC, Guns’N Roses, Mötley Crüe), ki poseduje neposredno rock’n’roll-ovsko nabritost, blago kopreno hrušča punkovske nepokorščine in je glede na stas, pa tudi vokalni pristop nabrite in prodorne pevke Sabrine Coianiz (po priimku sodeč s koreninami z balkanskega polotoka) nekako zgrajena za zabave brezmejnega popivanja in razvrata na moto zborih. Italijanska publika jih seveda dodobra pozna in med nastopom niti ni delovala pretežno zanimirano ali kdove kako ganjeno, saj je že vajena kaj dobi na koncertih skupine. Bend je zadevo izpeljal korektno, suvereno in v vsem spodobno. Problem pa je bil predvsem zvočne narave, saj so bile kitarske fraze povsem ‘zamorjene’ in ‘nerazločne’, ‘nažirala’ pa je tudi piskava odmevnost, sicer močno angažirane in zavzete vokalne predstave simpatične Sabrine. Bend ustanovljen decembra 2017, je predstavljal material konceptualnega prvenca “Against the Wind” z enajstimi skladbami, ki ga je skupina izdala konec junija 2022.
Povsem druga pesem pa je bil prihod zasedbe The Treatment iz angleškega Cambridgea. To je hard rock kvintet s konkretno kilometrino, ki je, preden je leta 2008 prešel v The Treatment, deloval pod imenom God Sacks Man. V Padovo je prispel v žepu z novim šestim studijskim albumom “Wake Up the Neighbourhood” (izšel je maja 2024 in pod okriljem Frontiers Music Srl.). Kvintet, ki je konec letošnjega januarja integriral v svoje vrste novega basista, ki sliši na ime Bailey Richardson, je dostavil v vsem fascinantno in prevzetno predstavo. Za vlogo podporne skupine celotne The Dead Daisies turneje so bili deležni zelo dobrega zvoka skozi nastop, zato je ta predstava toliko bolj zlezla pod kožo. Čuti se kar precej navdiha nad zapuščino klasičnih veteranov rocka in rolla AC/DC, Nazareth, Free, Thunder, no na trenutke pa sproščajo znotraj svoje glasbene izkaznice tudi precej arenske popadljivosti značilne za čase vzpona glam metala s konca osemdesetih (posebej perfektno je grabila srednje hitra in atmosferična nova skladba When Thunder and Lightning Strikes). The Treatment delujejo na odru organsko, prvinsko, robato, nezloščeno in zato grabijo njihovi rifi naravnost ter brcajo direktno v čelo blesavo! Posedujejo tisto pregovorno britansko mračnost in izvabljajo mistiko, zato je njihova koncertna intenzivnost toliko prodornejša! Ob tem posedujejo občuten nivo muzikalne nalezljivosti in če jim omogočiš še dobre koncertne karakteristike zvoka, potem je izjemen žur s skupino neizogiben. Delujejo klasično, obenem pa brcajo z izjemno intenziteto in potenco. In tako se je odvijala njihova 40. minutna koncertna predstava, ki se je obrnila naokrog, kot bi trenil z očesom. Bend je spretno izkoriščal prostrani oder, nasploh oba srborita kitarista, ki sta med koncertom večkrat izmenjala vsak svojo stran. Intenzivno. In to navkljub prehladu vokalista Toma Ramptona, ki je vseeno odpel fenomenalno in ki se mu je blaga vokalna načetost prikradla k vokalu šele tik pred koncem, ko se je publiki gentlemansko (a povsem brez potrebe) opravičil, da ne more peti v polni formi. Dejansko se to ni poznalo med izjemno eksplozivnim nastopom te briljantno uigrane zasedbe, ki natanko ve kaj so njene odrske naloge. Briljantno so podžgali publiko in ta vražja energija je naravnost tisto, po kar prideš na pravoverni rock’n’roll koncert! The Treatment so bend, ki naju je že v izhodišču vlekel v Padovo, saj ga nisva še imela priložnosti izkusiti v živo. Opravičil je svojo reputacijo v vsem in ‘koncertno ubil’ (beri: dostavil najboljše). Bend je izvedel vse tri hite novega albuma, k temu dodal tudi novo Man On A Wire ter v preostanku dostavil tudi po en komad s preteklih studijskih plošč. Brez zavor in popuščanja. ‘Ful šus!’ Bend, ki ga morate obvezno preizkusiti. Čimprej!
Zvezde večera The Dead Daisies so zbrale ob sebi krepostno druščino privržencev. Nabralo se jih je kakih šeststo. Gorečih. Posebnost te turneje je ta, da se je v ekipo vrnil stalni kitarist skupine Doug Aldrich. Na jesenski turneji 2024 je v njegovo obuvalo vskočil Winger in Whitesnake velemojster šeststrunske teorije Reb Beach, ki je dejansko pomenil najbolj korektno izbiro za Aldrichevo substitucijo. Aldrich je bil namreč v lanskem letu diagnoizran za rakom na grlu. Vse se je zanj dobro izteklo in mož je tako na veliko veselje, ne le ljubiteljev The Dead Daisies, pač pa rocka na globalni ravni, znova tisti stari, dobri Doug. Pripravljen za nove podvige! Gre za kitarista, ki je kot figura za globalno hard rock sceno bolj pomemben, kot si misli sam. S svojo dejavnostjo zadnjih dveh dekad je postal pomemben gradnik vračanja klasičnega izročila hard rocka v fokus množic. Prvič je vžgal na širšem mednarodnem prostoru v zasedbi Dio, potem je eksplodiral preko vseh razsežnostih pri Whitesnake, sedaj pa je že vrsto let nezamenljivi člen zasedbe The Dead Daisies. Vsak, ki ga gleda na odru in kakorkoli vadi doma kitaro, bi bil rad svoje vrste Doug (s podobnim, zlatim Gibsonom LP v svojih rokah). Nalezljiv v svojem stasu, odrskih pozah – ostro oblečen glasbenik! Izjemnih talentov, znanja in izkušenj.
Bend je dostavil natanko to po kar smo prišli! Uro in tričetrt izjemnega žura. V prvi polovici je pretežno izvajal skladbe svojega širokega arzenala avtorskih skladb s poudarkom na novih komadih “Light ‘Em Up” albuma (2024, RockLine recenzija)! Energija razvrata, brezbrižne sproščenosti in brezhibne visoko oktanske voltaže je v ognjenih zubljih požirala prizorišče. Ogenj pa so skozi odlično predstavo gasili le z bencinom!
Med posebnosti prvega dela koncertne predstave sodita dve zadevi. Ponovna integracija Love That Will Never Be. Gre za akustično izvedbo v solo režiji vokalista Johna Corabija. Druga reč pa je bila z vah-vah kruležem ‘talk boxa’ (v režiji vražjega Douga Aldricha) podprta With You And I, vzeta iz drugega studijskega albuma “Revolucion” (2015). Tommyju Klufetosu je pripadala samostojna točka bobnarskega klofutanja, pri čemer smo se spraševali kako lahko bobnarska konstrukcija sploh zdrži tak naval uničujoče tonaže njegovih klofut. ‘Klofutos’ Klufetos. Brezgrajno.
Corabi, ki je skrbel vseskozi za odlično vzdušje v dvorani (mdr. tudi z nadobveznim kazanjem vražjih rožičkov publiki), je v daljšem nagovoru obelodanil, da nameravajo The Dead Daisies spraviti od sebe v letošnjem maju strogo bluesovski album z malho priredb velikih klasik bluesa. Tako sta Muddy Watersovo I’m Ready s prejšnje turneje nadomestila v setlisti Crossroads Roberta Johnsona in Goin’ Down Freddyja Kinga. Odžagani v striktni maniri lika in dela zasedbe The Dead Daisies. V maniri striktne rockovske eksplozivnosti. Posebnost drugega dela je bila integracije Don’t Panic izvirnika Get a Hair-cut, v kateri je na vodilni vokal stopil vodja skupina David Lowy. Njegov tanjši, blago nosljav vokal, ki bi sodil prej v kakšen punk rock bend, je odlično pokril s svojo vokalno močjo basist Michael Devin, za katerega je bil to običajni ritual, ki se ga je do potankosti priučil v svojih časih službovanja pri Whitesnake, kjer je na podoben način vlekel iz vokalne kaše nekega drugega Davida, kateremu je bilo teže gledati skozi prste, kot Lowyju. No, na drugi strani pa je ‘zvočna sirena za preplah’ – John Corabi seveda, opravil vse svoje dolžnosti z veliko odliko!
Tu so bile ustaljene klasike, ki so neobhodne in ki perfektno vžigajo ter držijo razgretost publike na najviši ravni tudi v zadnji tretjini koncertne predstave. Vedno se začne s Fortunate Son, pa sklene z Midnight Moses in vmes dodajo tudi avtorsko Mexico! Povratne reakcije so izjemne! Vselej. Tudi tokrat ni bilo nič drugače! Na čelu s sklepnima Revolucion in adaptacijo The Beatles klasike Helter Skelter, pravim ‘primer-jem’ za ves nadaljnji razvoj heavy metala.
The Dead Daisies ostajajo neprebojni. Kot četa petih izjemnih glasbenikov, ki jih povezuje neusahljiva srčna pripadnost magiji rocka in rolla ter neustavljiv kreativni, pa tudi izvedbeni entuziazem. Doug Aldrich je izgubil nekaj kil, njegova kitarska igra ter interpretacija pa ostaja še vedno na strahoviti ravni, pri čemer deluje njegov kitarski karakter pristopanja do vsega česar se loteva naravnost osupljiv. Ostaja tak, kot je vselej bil. Dobrodošel spet med nami dragi Doug.
Magija ostaja! The Dead Daisies so prepomemben gradnik na mednarodni hard rock sceni, ki vrača fokus množic v klasične čase tega žanra in mu pomaga, da gori njegov plamen intenzivno tudi v časih, ko obstaja nevarnost, da bi dobil predznak arhaičnosti. The Dead Daisies so formacija, ki skrbi, da ostaja klasično izročilo hard rocka vseskozi aktualno. Poslanstvo, ki se ga skupina sama nemara niti ne zaveda povsem dobro. In odrsko ostajajo fantastični. V vsem. Tudi v oziru dvoranske akustičnosti, za kar se je potrudila njihova tehnična ekipa in kar je bil dodatni garant velikega koncertnega užitka za katerega smo si želeli, da se nikdar ne konča! A tako gredo stvari. Vsaka ima svoj konec. Vendar pozor. Bend bo potrdil kmalu nove koncertne termine. Za jesen 2025. Komaj že čakamo!
Avtor: Edita Klemen & Aleš Podbrežnik
Fotografije: Aleš Podbrežnik
English version:
The Dead Daisies, the super-rock sensation consisting of a quintet of classic hard rock heroes, under the watchful and committed leadership of the band’s boss, the Australian guitarist David Lowy visited our vicinity after a successful European tour last autumn. (Rockline report from Nov. 16th. 2024 here). The dates of a new shorter European tour were confirmed for this March, which gratefully approached Slovenia on 9 March 2025 when the band confirmed their appearance in Padua, Italy, at a venue simply named Hall. The venue was actually unknown to us – three concert-goers of enormous mileage, as we had never been there before.
It was the day when after a period of beautiful sunny days the weather started to turn sour again. But fortunately navigation works in all conditions and we luckily parked the car in the immediate vicinity of the venue which is located in the north-eastern part of the beautiful city of Padua.
During our pass-receiving ritual the Italian rock band Broken Wings from Udine was already performing the third song of their short, i.e. half an hour-long warm-up repertoire (hence the modest representation in the photo gallery below). The venue with at that time still radiated the predominant modesty of the attendance. But it was clear that the venue would fill up over the coming minutes. Broken Wings did not serve anything we had not heard before. They are a hard rock band inspired by, among others from bands like AC/DC, Guns’N Roses or Mötley Crüe. Still they possess a straightforward rock’n’roll swagger, a mild veil of crunching punk rebellion and the vocal approach of Sabrina Coianiz, who is a vivacious and incisive singer with roots from the Balkan peninsula, judging by her surname. Their music is built for parties of endless drinking and getting wild on motorcycle choirs.
The Italian audience of course knows them well and wasn’t too interested or moved during the performance. The band carried their music out correctly, sovereignly and in all respects decently. The problem was mainly of a sonic nature as the guitar phrases were completely muddled and indistinct, so the squeaky resonance of the otherwise highly engaged and committed vocal performance of the likeable Sabrina was also a problem. Formed in December 2017 the band represented material from their conceptual eleven-track debut album Against the Wind which was released at the end of June 2022.
But the arrival of The Treatment from Cambridge was a whole other affair. This is a hard rock quintet with a lot of mileage, which, before becoming The Treatment in 2008, was known as God Sacks Man. It arrived in Padua with the new sixth studio album Wake Up the Neighbourhood released in May 2024 via Frontiers Music Srl. label. The quintet integrated this January a new bassist into its ranks, by the name of Bailey Richardson. The guys delivered a fascinating and engaging performance. For their role as a support band for the entirety of The Dead Daisies tour they were treated to a very good sound throughout the show, which gave us goosebumps. There’s quite a bit of inspiration from the legacy of classic rock and roll veterans such as AC/DC, Nazareth, Free and Thunder but at times they also deliver a fair amount of arena-esque decadence typical of the late 80’s glam metal heyday (the mid-tempo and atmospheric new track When Thunder and Lightning Strikes was particularly perfect).
The Treatment are organic, primal, edgy, unflattened on stage and that’s why their riffs kick you right in the forehead! They possess that proverbial British gloominess and evoke mystique which makes their concert intensity all the more penetrating! They also possess a palpable level of musical infectiousness and if you give them a good stage sound then a great party with the band is inevitable.
They act classically andime they kick with great intensity and potency. Their 40-minute concert performance turned around like a twinkle in the eye. The band skillfully used the spacious stage, especially the two sizzling guitarists who switched sides several times during the set. Intense and this despite the cold of vocalist Tom Rampton who sang phenomenally. His mild vocal strain only crept up on him just before the end when he apologised to the audience in a gentlemanly (but completely unnecessary) manner for not being able to sing in full form.
Indeed, this was not evident during the highly explosive performance of this brilliantly orchestrated ensemble which knows exactly what its stage duties are. They fired up the crowd brilliantly and that roaring energy is exactly what you come to a proper rock’n’roll gig for! The Treatment are the band that drew us to Padua from the start, as we hadn’t had the chance to experience them live yet. The band performed all three hits from the new album added the new Man On A Wire and did one song from the previous studio albums in the rest of the set. No brakes and no let-ups. A band you must check out. Soon!
The stars of the evening, The Dead Daisies, gathered a devoted group of followers. There were about six hundred of them. The special thing about this tour is that the band’s regular guitarist Doug Aldrich is back in the line-up. On the autumn 2024 tour Winger and Whitesnake’s grandmaster of six-string theory Reb Beach stepped into his shoes which was in fact the most correct choice to replace Aldrich who was diagnosed with throat cancer last year. Everything turned out well for him and the man is the good old Doug again much to the delight not only of fans of The Dead Daisies but of rock on a global level. He is a guitarist who is more important to the global hard rock scene than he thinks. His work over the last two decades has made him an important building block in bringing the classic hard rock tradition back into the focus of the masses.
He first burst onto the international scene with Dio then exploded across the board with Whitesnake and has been an unmistakable member of The Dead Daisies for many years. Anyone who watches him on stage and practises guitar at home would like to be his own kind of Doug with a similar golden Gibson Les Paul in his hands. Douglas is infectious in his stasis and a sharp dressed musician of exceptional talent, knowledge and experience.
The band delivered exactly what we came for! An hour and three quarters of a great party. In the first half the band mainly performed tracks from their wide arsenal of original compositions with an emphasis on the new songs from the “Light ‘Em Up” album (2024, RockLine review)! The energy of debauchery, carefree relaxation and impeccable high-octane voltage consumed the venue with fiery teeth. And the fire was extinguished with nothing but new petrol throughout the excellent performance!
Two of the special features of the first part of the concert performance were the reintegration of Love That Will Never Be. It was a solo acoustic performance by singer John Corabi. The second item was a wah-wah ‘talk box’ cruise by the killer Doug Aldrich backed by With You And I taken from the second studio album ‘Revolucion’ (2015). Tommy Clufetos was given a solo drum slapping spot and we wondered how the drum structure could possibly withstand such an onslaught of the devastating tonnage of his slaps. Klofuta in slovene means a slap – so to us he became Klofutos! A really impeccable performance!
Corabi, who kept the atmosphere in the hall great (among other things by showing the crowd the obligatory flowers), announced that The Dead Daisies are planning to release a strictly blues album this May with a few covers of the great blues classics. Thus, Muddy Waters’ I’m Ready from the previous tour was replaced by Robert Johnson’s Crossroads and Freddy King’s Goin’ Down in the setlist. Their rendition was in the strict manner of the character and work of The Dead Daisies full of rock explosiveness.
The second part was a special feature of the Don’t Panic integration of the original Get a Hair-cut with David Lowy on lead vocals. His thin, mildly nasal vocals which would belong more in a punk rock band were perfectly covered by the vocal power of bassist Michael Devin for whom this was a common ritual which he had perfected during his days in Whitesnake. There he similarly pulled out of the vocal mush another David, namely Coverdale. On the other hand, the ‘siren of alarm’ – John Corabi of course, did all his duties with great distinction!
There were the established classics which are indispensable and which perfectly ignite and keep the audience’s heat at its highest level even in the last third of the concert performance. It always starts with Fortunate Son concludes with Midnight Moses and in between they add the original Mexico! The feedback was tremendous as always. This time it was no different! Led by the closing Revolucion and the adaptation of The Beatles classic Helter Skelter which is a true foundation stone for the whole development of heavy metal.
The Dead Daisies remain bulletproof. They are a bunch of five extraordinary musicians united by an unbreakable and heartfelt devotion to the magic of rock and roll. They posess an unstoppable enthusiasm for creativity and performance. Doug Aldrich has lost a few pounds but his guitar playing and interpretation are still at a fearsome level and his guitar-playing approach to everything he does is absolutely stunning. He remains as he always has been. Welcome back to the fold dear Doug.
The magic remains! The Dead Daisies are a preeminent building block on the international hard rock scene bringing the masses back to the classic days of the genre and helping to keep its flame burning intensely even in times when it is in danger of becoming archaic. The Dead Daisies are a formation that ensures that the classic tradition of hard rock remains relevant at all times. A mission that the band itself may not even be fully aware of. And they remain fantastic on stage in everything. The acoustics which their technical team did their best to achieve was an additional guarantee of a great concert pleasure that we wished would never end! But that’s how things go. There is an end to everything. But watch out – the band will confirm new concert dates soon for autumn 2025. We can’t wait!
The Treatment – setlista:
1. Let’s Wake Up This Town
2. Let It Begin
3. Eyes on You
4. Man on a Highwire
5. When Thunder and Lightning Strikes
6. This Fire Still Burns
7. Bite Back
8. Running With the Dogs
9. Shake the Mountain
The Dead Daisies – setlista:
1. Long Way to Go
2. Rise Up Play
3. Dead and Gone
4. Last Time I Saw the Sun
5. Light ‘Em Up
6. Bustle and Flow
7. Drum Solo
8. Love That’ll Never Be (akustična izvedba v solo režiji Johna Corabija)
9. With You and I
10. I’m Gonna Ride
11. Take a Long Line (orig. The Angels)
12. Highway to Hell / Living After Midnight / Heaven and Hell / Seven Nation Army / Whole Lotta Love (s predstavitvijo članov skupine)
13. Crossroads (orig. Robert Johnson)
14. Goin’ Down (orig. Freddie King)
15. Fortunate Son (orig. Creedence Clearwater Revival)
16. Get a Hair-cut (orig. Don’t Panic, David Lowy na glavnem vokalu)
17. Mexico
18. Midnight Moses (orig. The Sensational Alex Harvey Band)
—dodatek—
19. Resurrected
20. Helter Skelter (orig. The Beatles)
