Scorpions return to where it began

By JOHN BENSON

entertainment@vindy.com

When Scorpions guitarist Matthias Jabs thinks back to his German band’s American debut, July 28, 1979, at a World Series of Rock show at the Cleveland Municipal Stadium, a recently discarded yellow T-shirt is what dominates the conversation.

“I still remember the lineup with Ted Nugent, Aerosmith, AC/DC, Thin Lizzy and Journey,” said Jabs, 54, calling from Greece. “Unfortunately, I had to throw away that yellow festival T-shirt. I had it in the garage in a plastic bag, but the mold got to it. But it was a fantastic T-shirt and a lineup like this you will never get together today.”

In so many ways, that was quite an introduction for the hard-rock act that over the next decade would go on to release numerous platinum albums stateside. Not only did the Scorpions share the stage with rock legends, but the band stayed at legendary Cleveland rock ’n’ roll hotel Swingos Keg and Quarter.

“At Swingos, I remember both of them,” said Jabs, regarding his two female acquaintances. “So it was a nice welcome in the United States. It was really, really cool. Those were the great-old days, and at the time, our English was not very fluent. So sometimes you couldn’t even understand what people were saying to us. When we played early in the morning, there were maybe 30,000 to 35,000 people there. We were supposed to play 30 minutes, but that’s a very short time, and we weren’t used to any regulations, so we just kept playing. I remember they kept wondering, ‘What are these crazy Germans doing? They already played 40 minutes.’ Then somebody told us one more song. It was very exciting, and we went down very well.”

From the moment the Scorpions landed in America, it was a steady rise to the top for the band, which released six straight platinum albums – 1979’s “Lovedrive,” 1980’s “Animal Magnetism,” 1982’s “Blackout,” 1984’s “Love at First Sting,” 1988’s “Savage Amusement” and 1990’s “Crazy World.” During that span the act enjoyed hit songs such as “Still Loving You,” “No One Like You,” “Rock You Like a Hurricane.” and “Wind of Change.” Considering the mid-tempo former and latter tunes, the group is also considered to be one of the first heavier acts to venture into the power ballad.

Now 31 years after coming to America, the Scorpions have announced a retirement of sorts with its current album “Sting in the Tail” and current tour being its last.

“We want to be remembered as not only a good live act but the Scorpions were a good (studio) band and this new CD is stronger than the previous ones we’ve done,” Jabs said. “So we’re all very happy that were able to do a real strong album at the end. We want to finish the career on a high note. And not like, ‘Oh, they’re getting old or they don’t have the energy anymore.’ You know, it could be embarrassing one day. We want to save ourselves and save the fans from a possibly sad moment. We just want to be remembered as the Scorpions the way fans know them. So we’re still in good shape and the show is fantastic.”

The Scorpions final tour, which Jabs said will last a few years and go around the world a few times, comes through the area with a Pittsburgh show Monday at the Trib Total Media Amphitheatre at Station Square and a Cleveland date Tuesday at the Time Warner Cable Amphitheater at Tower City. When the band returns to the site of where it all started in the United States, you can bet Jabs will be keeping an eye out for a certain article of clothing.

“I’m not giving up on that yellow T-shirt because the lineup is so fantastic and it’s from our very first show,” Jabs laughed. “It would be very nice memorabilia.”

So what if a zealous fan brings this prized yellow shirt to the Scorpions show with bartering on his or her mind?

“Oh, they would be my guest of honor all night long,” Jabs said. “I’m talking back stage, drinks, sitting on the side of the stage. These are things that are normally not easy to get.”