Celebrating the 40th anniversary of their iconic Love At First Sting album, one of the most seminal hard rock bands of all time were back in London and ready to play a packed-out OVO Arena Wembley. Scorpions have finally made their long-awaited return.
Scorpions
OVO Arena Wembley – 8 June 2024
Words: Kahmel Farahani
Photography: Robert Sutton
The stage lights go down, and the gorgeous guitars of Coming Home wash over the crowd. Frontman Klaus Meine starts singing, and the magic in the air is palpable.
Make It Real is a great song, and it’s followed by one of their greatest, The Zoo. With its chainsaw riffing to start and the long, lazy talk box riff that follows, it’s just the perfect infectious groove.
“London, it’s been too long – we are so happy to be back”, says frontman Klaus Meine, smiling warmly. “Here is one we have never really played – even though we’ve just arrived, I must say, I’m Leaving You.” It’s a real treat to hear such an underrated gem of a song live, and it’s one of many highlights tonight.
The guitarists Rudolf Schenker and Matthias Jabs walk to the edge of the runway and start playing the famous instrumental rocker Coast To Coast. Even after so many years, it still has the power to get heads banging and fists pumping.
The smiles on the band’s faces are a mile wide and it’s clear that after more than 50 years on the road they are still having the time of their lives. 
Wearing yellow leather and a cowboy hat, Rudolf looks to be having a particularly great show, constantly running the runway, throwing picks and fist-bumping the front rows.
Scorpions fly through Bad Boys Running Wild before the first of their famous ballads, Send Me An Angel. It’s followed by what is arguably the mother of all power ballads: Winds Of Change. It’s still a moving moment to sing along to this one, and the guitar solo still has the power to send shivers up even the most jaded listener’s spine.
Tease Me Please Me and The Same Thrill are back-to-back rockers, and the energy is kept high for the drum solo that follows. Mikkey Dee is a force of nature behind the drum kit. The legendary Motörhead drummer is just the perfect fit for these songs, and the energy he brings to everything he plays is unreal. It’s like watching a wrecking ball move with the precision and speed of a jazz musician.
At this point in their career, words like retirement or farewell are truly meaningless. The fact that Klaus Meine is 76 and is still delivering tremendous vocals is incredible.
But what’s more astounding is the chorus of 12,000 voices who answer, many of whom were not even when Love At First Sting came out. Having three generations of fans at your show is as good a sign as any that your music is going to last the test of time. 
Big City Nights is the last huge sing-along of the main set, and it sounds superb. After a brief time away, Scorpions return for their encore, beginning with the epic Still Loving You.
After that, there can only be one song left with a chorus big enough to end this incredible evening. Rock You Like A Hurricane still sounds as exciting as ever, and it’s the perfect way to end a perfect gig.
Taking a collective bow and throwing drumsticks, picks and towels into the crowd, Scorpions thank the fans again for their support for all these many years.
Scorpions still have the biggest amps, the loudest guitars and the best choruses to sing along to. There are simply no comparable younger bands coming along to replace them.
The Bad Boys are still running wild, and everyone needs to see them while you still can. Scorpions are still superb and masters of their craft.
