The Dome - Dusseldorf - December 2006

A lot has happened since my last trip to Germany in March.

In August there was the news that Jay was leaving the band - this came as a big shock to me - partly because it seemed so sudden and unexpected. When I saw him on stage with Scooter on 26 March in Hamburg I never thought for one moment that it would be the last time I would see him perform with Scooter. I found Jay's sudden departure had much more of an effect on me than I would have imagined.

I was also due to see Scooter at Monsters In Germany in September, but unfortunately this was cancelled (not Scooter's fault - but still a dissappointment). Also Scooter had a gig in Dublin in Ireland in September, but this was billed as a "teen-disco" for under-18s only, so I could not really go to that.

Another thing that happened to me personally is that I finally got my Sheffiled Tunes logo tattoo during the summer :-))

I don't know why I decided to go to the Dome in Dusseldorf - at this sort of show Scooter usually only play 2 tracks, and I had decided some time ago that I would not go to Germany just for 2 tracks. I guess I decided to go for a few reasons: I had not seen Scooter since March; the new single (the first of the Fourth Chapter) was due to be played there for the first time, I wanted to see Michael on stage with Scooter, and finally the date meant that the Christmas Markets would be on, so I could visit those during the trip. Also H.P. was co-hosting the show.

I found it difficult to imagine Scooter without Jay, and its difficult to explain, but I felt that when I last saw Jay in March it was not meant to be the last time I saw him, as the time got closer to go to Dusseldorf I felt that I really wanted to see Jay again before I saw Scooter, so at quite short notice I decide to make a short visit to Hamburg and go to the club H1 where Jay is a resident DJ.

I flew to Hamburg as usual by Ryanair on the early morning flight to Lubeck. I spent the day shopping in Hamburg, and later in the afternoon I went to the DOM which always looks good in the dark.

When I was walking along I heard Scooter's "See Me, Feel Me" being played on one ride - it turned out to be the dodgems, which I kind of liked - as I have heard Scooter took their name from this sort of ride.

 
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In the early evening I met my friend Julia, who used to be the web-master / admin on Scootertechno.com, and she cooked us dinner. It was very good to see Julia again, I had not seen her for 18 months or so.

At about 11:30 we got a taxi from Julia's flat to H1. There were two other Scooter fans I know already there, and it was great to see Jay again. He was as nice and friendly as ever and it was so good to see him and have a chance to talk to him. I had a wonderful evening, it was a great club with great music, and the best DJ. We left the club at about 04:00. Just as we were about to leave the photographer took the picture below :-)

I want to visit H1 again - I had a wonderful evening.

I have a lot of good memories of Jay - from the first time I met him in Berlin in January 2004, when he and Rick stopped to talk to Britt and I and some other fans late on a very cold snowy night in Berlin up until that night at H1.

Jay is always so friendly and makes time for fans, and a really nice person. He always seems to love his "work" so much, and is so full of energy and enthusiasm, both on stage with Scooter, and when working as a DJ.

 

OK - so on to Dusseldorf..

I arrived in Dusseldorf the evening before The Dome.

I decided a couple of weeks before the show that I would not queue for hours in the cold to get to the front row for just a couple of tracks, also shows like this always have big screens so its no problem seeing the stage wherever you are, so I also bought a ticket for a seat (seeing Scooter live while sitting would certainly be a new experience!).

As I had only one day in Dusseldorf - it would have been a rush to get there in time to queue, also I don't particularly like standing in the cold for several hours in December - its worth it of course for a full concert - but I am not so sure about 8 minutes.

The other thing about shows like this is that most of the audience are young teenagers, and l feel at bit out of place. Its great being with Scooter fans of course - but most people there are not Scooter fans like me, and also I felt that Scooter would probably be last on (they usually are) so I don't really feel like standing watching 3 or 4 hours of other acts.

Choosing a seat meant that when I got to Dusselforf, I would have have time for a shower, get changed etc, spend 3 or 4 hours visiting the Christmas Markets and arrive at the hall at 19:00, and sit and watch the show in comfort . Choosing to stand means it would be pretty much straight to the hall, stand outside for in the cold for 5 or 6 hours, have a desperate run to try to get to the front when the doors open (can be difficult - being front of the queue does not mean front row if others are faster), then stand inside in the heat and crush for another 5 or so hours. For a short performance I decided not to bother - the important thing is to be there, and hear the new single the first time it's played.

I went to the hall about an hour before the show was due to start after a not-so-good day in Dusseldorf, and I was not feeling at my best. I took both my sitting and standing ticket, I decided that I might try to go down to the standing area before Scooter came on stage - you usually know when Scooter will be coming soon because the crew start to set up the keyboards on stage :-)

I went to my seat when I arrived. Just before the show started I decided to go and see what it was like in the standing area, I went to right one side of the stage, in about the third row. I never did go back to my seat.

H.P. was co-hosting the show. He looked good, and had a few nice outfits I had a good view of him from where I was standing. I was very close to H.P. during some parts of the show.

 

 
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The stage was sort of in 2 parts - with artistes alternating which side they played on - I was in the secord row at the right side when I saw the Scooter keyboards being set up at the left side!
My thought at the time was "Oh Damn!" - then a quick run across the hall to the other side, as it was the break in the middle of the show, it was quite easy to get across the hall. I managed to quickly get over to the left-side of the hall and I was in about the 4th row at the left when Scooter played.

One thing thats sure to double my heart rate is seeeing those keyboards come onto the stage!!
There were also two sets of drums on the stage - with Sheffield Tunes logos on the front of them.

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Setting-up the Stage

The start of Scooter's performance seemed to be delayed a bit for some reason - they anounnced Scooter and everyone cheered - then nothing - and the moderator sort of quickly appeared and did something else for a few minutes - then the drummers came on stage, closly followed by the dancers and Scooter.

The accustics in the hall were not very good, but the track had so much energy!
I could not really hear the lyrics - I heard the first part about 1994 - and could clearly hear H.P. shouting Behind The Cow!
It was a real bonus when Mantas came on stage - then a rapper came on stage (Lincoln) - I was suprised by this to say the least - it felt in a way as if the energy in the track was lost and didn't totally come back for me - I think it was the suprise of having a rapper in a Scooter track.

Unfortunately it was over very quickly, and this time Scooter only played one track.

The pyro was very good - although I have to sat that the pyro was good through out the whole show - as far as I saw.

I left the hall after Scooter's performanace, still somehwat suprised at having rap in a Scooter track - but thats one of the great things about Scooter - they are never afraid to try someting new and unexpected!

It was good to see Scooter again - its always good to see Scooter on stage - and as always it was a good performance - there was rather more on stage to watch than usual this time, with the 2 drummers, the dancers, the rapper, Mantas and of course the three guys. It was also good to see Michael with the band, even if it was only for a short time.

I guess I felt a feeling of relief that the 4th Chapter was starting good....

Writing this now in January 07 I have to say it did take me a while to get used to the "rap" part of the track, but having listened to the track a few times I like it a lot - especially the final version with Fatman Scoop.

 


I know its not clear - but my first picture of Michael on stage

   

The great Mantas!
   
 

We had heard that it might be possible to get the new Scooter autograph cards at The Dome, but I was unable to find them anywhere.

After the show I met Christiane, who had queued for the front row, so we were not together for the show. We caught a bus and train back to the central station where my hotel was. We had a beer in the station, and Chris decided to go to try to get some autograph cards. By now it was very late so I went to bed.

When I woke the next morning I found that Chris had been able to get autograph cards, and had left one for me at the hotel :-)

When I was looking at the card (scan below) I was incredibly happy to read that there will be a limited edition of the new album, which will have "the missing live tracks" on it - that was the best news for quite a while!

After breakfast I got the bus back to the airport, and my husband met me at Stanstead. I got home in time to record the Dome on TV that afternoon.

.....and - was it woth it? - Yes - of course it was!! - but far Scooter's performanmce was far to short .