Grace Jones @ Grand Rex Paris March 22nd 2009

Grace Jones @ Grand Rex Paris March 22nd 2009.

Not really a fan of what she's doing but my mate Ray from Ray's gigs told me that the show was great so i went.
The Grand Rex was sold-out a long time ago, touts are everywhere outside this beautiful 2000 seats capacity theatre in the center of Paris.
Funny how she has become a gay icon now , with an audience of 80 % gay male in their 30's.
The show starts with Grace singing " nightclubbing" from the top of a platform.
It's hard to believe that she's 60 years old , she's got the body of a 30 year old woman.
The voice is fine and she wears a different outfit ( at least hat ) on EVERY song, so she's going backstage between every song but that's ok as she's telling stories and jokes while getting changed.

I'm not too familiar with her repertoire but i recognised " La vie en Rose" of course , " Love is the drug" ( in a very heavy version ) , " Slave to the rythm", " Libertango", "Pull up to the Bumper".
Many songs from her last cd "Hurricane" were played.

Nice tight ass

She went to sing one in the audience and had 50 people on the stage for another.
Light show was minimalist and the whole band ( 6 musicians and 2 backing vocals girls ) was all dressed in black so was Grace Jones for the whole gig.
It was a bit like a disco with confettis and lasers just like in the 80's.

French designer Jean Paul Gaultier backstage

JUDAS PRIEST @ Zénith Paris March 21st 2009

Judas Priest @ Zénith Paris March 21st 2009
All pictures © Guino Patrice

Nice to see the Priest back in Paris.

An almost SOLD-OUT Zénith is welcoming them ( 6500 capacity ).
Nostradamus their last concept-album didn't convinced anyone, we only get a few songs from it.
The rest was just Classics , classics & classics...

Scott Travis on drums is kicking ass as usual , he's so good that while playing on "PainKiller" he's taking the time to talk to his drum tech.

Both guitar player K.K. & Glen are both brilliant on guitars while Ian Hill is still as solid on bass even though his bass was put forward too much in the mix.

Unfortunately Rob's voice is very weak and he's sometimes breathless.
There's so much effects on his voice that it is sometimes embarrassing.
I'm also wondering if they are tapes to back him up on some songs.

SETLIST : ( Tbc )
Dawn Of Creation
Prophecy
Metal Gods
Eat Me Alive
Between The Hammer And The Anvil
Devil's Child
Breaking The Law
Hell Patrol
Death
Dissident Agressor
Angel
The hellion / Electric Eye
Rock Hard Ride Free
The Sinner
Painkiller
---------
Hell Bent For Leather
The Green Manalishi (With The Two Pronged Crown)
You've Got Another Thing Comin'
---------
Living After Midnight

Good show but i've seen them in better shape , especialy Rob Halford.
It could have been better.

MEGADETH review HERE

"Another thing Coming" :

MEGADETH @ Zénith Paris March 21st 2009

Megadeth @ Zénith Paris March 21st 2009
All pictures © Guino Patrice

Great set by MEGADETH
They were on for almost an hour ( there was a clock on the side of the stage to remind them how long they had to play) , the sound was clear and Dave's voice was fine.

Nice lightning and beautiful stage set up.
They've done a Best of... including : A tout le monde , Peace sells , Hangar 18 , Holy wars...

James Lomenzo was on Bass. Chris Broderick on guitar.
France really loves Megadeth and the almost SOLD -OUT Zénith ( 6500 seats ) greated them with open harms.

Testament was opening , i just saw their last 2 songs that was enough.
Judas Priest is next...

SETLIST ( Courtesy of Megadeth )
Sleepwalker
Wake Up Dead
Take No Prisoners
A Tout Le Monde
Skin 'O My Teeth
She Wolf
In My Darkest Hour
Symphony Of Destruction
Sweating Bullets
Hangar 18
Peace Sells
Encore
Holy Wars

Judas Priest review in Paris HERE

Jimmy Chamberlin has left Smashing Pumkins

Jimmy Chamberlin has left Smashing Pumkins

It is an official statement , no reasons were given.
Billy Corgan will continue under the name Smashing Pumpkins.

Bashung 's Funeral @ Pere Lachaise Paris

A couple of friends and I , went to Alain' s funeral @ Pere Lachaise ( where is buried Jim Morrison ) in Paris.
Ceremony was around 3 PM, of course they were many people outside the perimeter around his grave in one of the beautiful spot and "old " part of this famous French cemetery.
We had a quick chat with some people from his entourage.
French artists Yves Simon , Daniel Darc , Rachid Tahah , Christophe & Rodolph Burger were there + family & people who worked with Alain Bashung these last few years.
We left a white flower on the casket before they closed and sealed the grave and opened the ceremony to the general public.
R.I.P.

AC/DC " Anything Goes" video Recorded in Paris Bercy Feb 27th 2009

Hi There
Here's the new video for " Anything Goes" that was recorded in an empty Bercy during the afternoon and during the 2nd concert on the 27th in front of a live audience.
To me it's just an average live shot.
What does it have to do with the song title ?
Just a good promotionnal clip for AC/DC.

BUZZCOCKS @ Trabendo Paris March 19th 2009

BUZZCOCKS @ Trabendo Paris March 19th 2009
All Pictures © Patrice Guino

Sometimes there's nothing to say about a gig.

Buzzcocks just mother-fuckin' burn that place down

From start to finish , faster than a bullet train.

No ballads , no intermission just ROCK 'N ROLL !

The gig of the year for me

Steve Diggle was WILD for the whole set , He would kick Pete townshend out of the WHO

The only thing i can't understand :
Why is Pete Shelley coming on stage in a fucking tracksuit ?
Come on... Man , it ruins everything !

Mind-blowing

As usual at a" punk" concert it ended with a fight in the audience .
These bloody frenchies can't behave themselves.

Setlist

see a previous review of Buzzcocks live with the New York Dolls & Sex Pistols @ a Festival last summer ( with Pics & video ) HERE

Go Motherfucker GOoooooooo !