On Friday, December 15, 2023, SiMM CITY in Vienna Simmering had the honor of welcoming the legendary Bad Ass Rock’n’Roll Band DEF CRÜE to its stage. The Rock Night was themed ROCK A LA CARTE, as DEF CRÜE, along with two other Viennese rock formations, EMEX and CARL, aimed to serve Rock’n’Roll at its highest enjoyment level.
CARL kicked off with a delightful medley of 60s and 70s hits, which gained a dynamic rock twist through their reinterpretations. Among the hits were, for example, “Locomotive Breath” by Jethro Tull or a particularly successful version of the 1972 hit “Beautiful Sunday” by Daniel Boone.
EMEX, self-proclaimed as the oldest Viennese rock formation and initially known as EMERGENCY EXIT, then captivated the audience with their program heavily influenced by (Deep) Purple. Alongside Purple classics, including “Black Night,” EMEX presented an excellent version of the Golden Earring classic “Radar Love.”
After the audience was pumped up by the dynamic sets of EMEX and CARL, DEF CRÜE turned the Bad Ass Rock’n’Roll level up even higher. The crowd literally went wild from the opener “You Could Be Mine” (Guns’n’Roses). And then, a fireworks display of NWOBHM and Hair Metal decade ensued: “Living After Midnight” (Judas Priest), “Animal” (Def Leppard), “Cum On Feel The Noize” (Quiet Riot), “We’re not Gonna Take It” (Twisted Sister), and a medley of absolute classics such as “Lick It Up” (Kiss), “Born To Be Wild” (Steppenwolf), “Highway To Hell” (AC/DC), “Smoke on The Water” (Deep Purple), and a special version of the Queen classic “We Will Rock You” in a custom adaptation reminiscent of the Hair Metallers Warrant.
STILETTO and the Bagpipe Artist ANN OF SCOTLAND supported DEF CRÜE in an insane version of AC/DC’s “It’s A Long Way To The TOP (If You Wanna Rock’n’Roll),” and in “Driving In Style” by Thundermother, Helene Reiterer, the excellent background vocalist, took over the lead microphone.
… And since December 15 is not far from Christmas, DEF CRÜE, along with STILETTO and ANN OF SCOTLAND, performed a fantastic version of “The Little Drummer Boy” and, as the finale of the main set, the Scottish friendship chorale “Auld Lang Syne,” naturally translated into Bad Ass style.
With “Sweet Child O’Mine” by Guns N’ Roses, everyone was literally blown away; SiMM CITY was boiling, and with an equally dynamic “Fight For Your Right (To Party),” DEF CRÜE bid farewell to the audience, fans, and SiMM CITY.
CU and Keep Rockin‘
