Tygers Of Pan Tang - Live At Wacken

The re-release of a disc originally out in 2001 (on Spitfire), this performance dates back to '99, when Jess Cox celebrated the band's twentieth anniversary by performing with mainstay guitarist Rob Weir at the prestigious German festival. Following the 2001 ‘Space Odyssey’ overture, the dozen songs last just 47 minutes, running through most of the early 80s favorites (predominately the “Wild Cat” album) and a pointless cover of ‘Tush’. Never getting to see the Tygers back in the day (although have witnessed the current incarnation a few times), these arrangements of the simple structures showcase Weir. Starting my annual Wacken pilgrimages a year after this recording, know the rabid crowd response is post-production magic. Even today, with crowds pushing 80,000 strong, you'd be hard-pressed to receive such an undying ovation.

You can hear how distant/muffled the intro to ‘Insanity’ is, let alone omnipresent audience noise. Know the Germans like to keep things punctual, but have to believe Cox's banter ended up on the cutting room floor, as the segue between tacks isn't flawless. Today, people might not even consider these songs Heavy Metal, but they were part of the vaunted NWOBHM and (while not around for the “Wild Cat” studio days) bequeathed guitar god John Sykes to the world. Listen to the juvenile, coy sexuality of ‘Don't Touch Me There’, a punky ‘Euthanasia’ or the aggressive ‘Suzie Smiled’. Know it's their biggest hit, but closing ‘Love Potion #9’ ends on a sour note.