29.08.1998 Alphaville live in Gladbeck
...and suddenly you're listening AV...
(translation and adaption by F.A.T. Office, written by Thorsten Sch.)

So I thought ...today I'm going to Alphaville. Anyway a journey back to my musically roots. it's Saturday, the 29th of August, and I'm really not so excited as I expected the day before. A time ago I received a message drom Ilwa and Uwe that AV are playing live quite near to my home. i made my decision at once...I will be there! And so my head was full of expectations, dreams and images... finally- after AV loyalty for many years- i was able to see the band. Teh band, who left so many musically pictures in my album in the Eighties.  No sooner said than done... about half past 6 p.m. I was together with a frined on the sportsground of the FC Gladbeck. The event was a benefiz party for special tuition in Gladbeck and the admission fee was quite human with 10 DM. various feeding stands made sure we didn't go hungry and also the weather was fine. During the night there played different bands and from time to time the promoter announced proudly that really Alphaville will play (is he another fan?) About 11 p.m. they  started...

The Setlist
 1. Soul messiah
 2.A victory of Love
 3. Guardian Angel
 4. Ascension day
 5. Euphoria
 6. Jerusalem (according to Marian, one of his favourite songs)
 7. The jet Set
 8. Astral Body (for me an unknown song, but very catchy)
 9. New Horizons
10. Sounds like a melody (Reggae- Version)
11. Wishful thinking
12. Dance with me
13. Forever Young ( seeming to be THE song, everybody sang it and the atmosphere was simply great)

I don't want to talk detailed about each single song. i think every fan has own favourites. In my opinion the newer songs from "Salvation" sounded very original and Marian carried very conviction. The older songs (special the stuff from "Forever Young") were completely new interpret. (in a smalltalk with Marian after the show he said that they really wanted to do it in that way). Opinions are devided on that. I realized comments from the audience and got to know someones were really angry about this versions. They said something like that:"what's become of AV?"
I must admit I liked also this songs, special "Sounds like a melody" with its Reggea influence is a completely different matter. Unfortunately happened something usual for a lof of open air events. Later at night some neighbours felt disturb. Just as AV were in full swing, no end in sight, one more song after the other... what a pity, what a pity...
so the show ends after 80 minutes about half past midnight. As we left the ground we saw marian talking in the middle of the audience. So we had even the chance for a smalltalk and naturally for an autograph. i learnt the delay of the Anthology box is connected with lawful things. And also the release of the next new studioalbum will be not before next spring.
Let's wait and see!

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