ULI JON ROTH was a big surprise for me. To be honest, and I know it is a "crime" for my business, I have never heard of him. Cut me some slack, I just began in the concert business and had no Internet access at the time for research purposes. However, the experience of seeing and hearing Uli Jon Roth was an educarion in itself.

Just imagine being in the middle of a bunch of wild heavy metal teenagers that previously showed up at the front of the Torino stadium at 7AM so they can be ready for the 12:00 opening of the gates. These were hard core Heavy Metal fans with all the parafanalia attached. Ozzy, Metallica, Overkill, Anthrax, T-shirts, piercing all over the body, mohawks, and so on. When the time came everyone ran for the heavily police guarded gates to get in as they were searched, and all water bottle caps were removed.

The Stadium filled quickly and the 1998 Monsters of Rock started promptly. This was going to be a full day of Heavy Metal and Hard Rock up 'till 1:00AM in the morning. Twelve hours of head banging guitar licks and drum crashing. Some of the other featured artists were Hammerfall, Primal Fear, Michael Schenker Group, Overkill, Joe Satriani, Dream Theater, Van Hallen (no show because of accident of light falling on drummer), Deep Purple, and many others.

As the concert progressed and the head banging continued the next artist was introduced. I was back stage when I heard Uli Jon Roth being introduced. At the time I was recovering from back surgery so I decided to take a seat backstage and sit this one out. But, I heard something different resonating in my ears. There was a silence amongst this loud crowd that was shocking. This crowd was now listening to Uli Jon Roth play Vivaldi's Four Seasons. That's wright, you heard me, Vivaldi's Four Seasons! I immediatley got out of my seat, cocked my cameras, and ran to the front of the stage. Uli Jon is a virtuoso of the guitar. He is one of the geniuses of electric guitar. His Four Seasons rendition was fantastic! In addition he had the crowd in the palm of his hands. I was in awe. After the Four Seasons he proceeded to razzle and dazzle us with his Jimi Hendrix renditions and so on. Later there was a great finaly in a G3 grouping of Uli, Joe Satriani, and Michael Schenker. Little did I know that Uli also played with the Scorpions and was a friend of Michael Shenker. Anyway, if you are the way I used to be, and did not know who Uli Jon Roth is, it is well worth while to visit his site and buy some of his music. The man is great and his guitar playing is unique. PS Check out his guitar. It has 7 strings!