Motörhead (Puntižela (Biker's Festival) - 27.07.2002)
Written by: Aleš Podbrežnik

Medulin, Premantura, Pula, Motorhead ... On the seacoast of Croatia!!! Fantastic!!! My three days of holidays in Medulin would be a real waste of time without that event. I'm sick and tired of constant exposing to the burning sun or to hiding from it inside the bad-tasting salty water, surrounded with crowds of people. I'm just not a fan of the Istrian seacoast. I guess I'm getting old. So Motorhead saved my life by coming to Puntižela. Well, after getting my stomach full of "čevapčiči" and "ražnjiči" (a sort of grilled food you all should try) that were sailing in great amount of beer in my stomach, I really needed to do some twist. So nothing could stop me from visiting the legends again. Another show time!

The event was going to be held on an airport near Medulin, but was lately moved to Puntižela. Well, we went through some excitements while trying to get to Puntižela. We were driving in a long queue and I began to loose my patience. First there was a car accident... and when we finally got to Puntižela the queue stopped in a narrow road. We couldn't move in any direction, not even for a single inch. We were watching the stage unable to move forward and park the cars. All around us just wheels of confusion that were roaring as hell. After a half an hour we finally managed to park the car. But walking back to the point of entry was another big challenge. At any time we could expect one of those drunken maniacs splashing us under his wheels. Bikers in that narrow road were having a great fun. But all the others, all who tried to get there just to see Motorhead, couldn't find any excitement in that.

After we luckily entered the festival, the one and only idea on all the men's minds was to get some beer refreshment. It was 8:00 p.m. Motorhead was announced for the midnight. There was concrete in front of the stage. If there would be grass... you probably all know what happens then. There was no danger of mixing a beer shower (or all kind of people's "excretions") with the ground into a muddy swimming pool.

The stage was built approximately thirty meters from the seashore. This gave the whole event a special feeling. Some brave metalheads even took their chances and swam to the shore, where the gig was. They were in luck. No one of authorities disturbed them.

It was still a long time to go. So meanwhile, we were talking about all sorts of things sitting on the rocks of the seashore with the view on the crowd and stage where some local support acts did their gigs, two guys took a place nearby. But their relaxing was soon to be over. Well, it was night and when the night covers you, you don't have the clearest view anymore. So, one of those two suddenly went completely mad. He found himself sitting on a rock that was covered by spitted remnants of someone's food. Luckily the sea was near by, so he went for a quick wash.

Oh no! The band speeded up! It was 11:30 p.m. when they announced Motorhead. So I couldn't get to the first row. Never mind. Between the stage and the border that divided us from the band were standing some giant gorillas (security guards) and I didn't miss them at all, mixed safely in the tenth row.

What about bikers? It is a shame that (once again) they didn't care much about Motorhead. They have their image, their motorbike, their beer and Motorhead are not important at all. Bikers were standing in the back rows, more close to the beer than the band. I always get that bad impression, concerning the bikers on such festivals, and I can't get rid of it. Well, there were some of them mixed in the first rows, but mainly to provoke the crowd that tried to enjoy the gig.

"Good evening! It's been a long time since we've played in Croatia. We are Motorhead... And We Are Gonna Kick Your Arse!" spoke the charismatic chief in his standard way and gave us a sign to went mad. After the opening riff of "We Are Motorhead" the people were banging their heads and changing their positions in a blink of an eye. So I could find some empty space to get in front. It was like conquering the battlefield. Step by step. I tried to get as close as possible to feel great energy that was flowing. So I stopped in the second row. I hoped that some of those fatheads (security guards again) would get out of my sight. I was even more arrogant. I hoped that somebody in the first row would dry out of his energy fluids and leave to me his place in the first row. None of that happened, but anyway I liked my position.

The stage was real large. The band's contact with the audience was even better than at the gig in Graz on 15.06.2002. The band was in good mood straight from the beginning. Between songs Lemmy and Phil did those little breaks, talking to the audience and having a great time. Well they wouldn't be motor heads if they wouldn't empty a few cans of beer and smoke some cigarettes during the show. The band and crowd collided as one and they kept the atmosphere on a real high level. Only the young, I mean young fans, was the majority that supported the band during the show. The youngs on holidays nearby Puntižela. Funny when you think about it. A sort of Rock'n'roll tourism was invented.

The audience was extremely correct. Not only that they breathed every single breath from the first to the last minute with the band (bikers are not counted here). When I found myself (in the middle of "Killed By Death") on the ground, the guy who crushed me, sincerely apologized to me and the others helped me back on my feet again. It happened so quickly that I realized that after the show.

Motorhead were once again supreme. Lemmy was again in a shape of a crazy youngster in his fifteens. This time he put on the brown boots (in Graz he wore white boots). I don't know why I'm telling you that. But to find out more about how the band did on stage, you can read the report from Graz. This gig was similar to that one. The set list was also the same. But here, in Puntižela, the band went out of tune for a few times. I remember especially that moment when Phil and Lemmy should join Mikkey after finishing his drum solo in the main riff of "Sacrifice". Mikkey was on fire again. You can only see a blond headbanging hair behind cymbals. Those strong and deep punches that he made out of his whole body movement ripped my ears again. As he would bring his drum kit to life. Mikkey did that roaring motor sound out of his drum kit again. You should see and feel also how Mikkey perfectly incorporates double bass drumbeats into older Motorhead classics.

Three people bring the shake any time you want and any time you need.

Well, nothing special to be added here. Only these little shits like b.t.w., there was no band's merchandise. But instead we got beer showering from the sky.

What can I say in the end? Another supreme gig and another supreme set list of immortal trio that brought us another Rock'n'roll kick right between the eyes. "Shoot You In The Back, "Damage Case", "Nothing Up My Sleeve", "Iron Fist", "Orgasmatron", "Doctor Rock", "No Class", "Bomber", "Overkill" and of course "Ace Of Spades". Aaaaaaa all classics!!!!!!!

Motorhead set list (Puntižela, 27.07.2002):

1. We Are Motorhead
2. No Class
3. Bomber
4. Civil War
5. God Save The Queen
6. Brave New World
7. Damage Case
8. Metropolis
9. Love For Sale
10. R.A.M.O.N.E.S.
11. Shoot You In The Back
12. Nothing Up My Sleeve
13. Doctor Rock
14. Going To Brasil
15. Sacrifice (incl. drum solo: M.Dee)
16. Orgasmatron
17. Killed By Death
18. Iron Fist
------------------------------------------------ encore
19. Ace Of Spades
20. Overkill