Illinois Entertainer September 2017 | Page 4

September 2017 • Volume 43, Number 11 • www.illinoisentertainer.com Photo by Ian Laidlaw COVER STORY: SCORPIONS They say you should always err on the side of caution. And Scorpions bandleader Klaus Meine wholeheartedly agrees. So he isn’t taking anything for granted as his band celebrates its 50th anniver- sary, backing its recent Return to Forever album, a compendium of mostly unearthed, unfinished demos from the Blackout and Love at First Sting- era music upon which the band put modern finishing touches. But at 69, the gale-force banshee is knock- ing wood that it all goes off without a hitch. “Growing older and doing this, there are only a few bands in our generation out there doing this,” he noted in a call last month from his home outside of Hanover, Germany with Tom Lanham (who is not in Germany, currently - Ed). HELLO MY NAME IS...ALISON 06 America first fell head over heels for Alison Moyet as the front woman of synthpop sensations Yaz (or Yazoo to the rest of the world), her short-lived but immensely influential collaboration with a post-Depeche Mode/pre-Erasure Vince Clarke. From there, the soulful singer launched a solo career, amassing a just handful of hits in the States yet selling more than 23 million albums in the UK right on up through 2017’s Other. Besides being her first origi- nal recording in four years and second consecutive collection to tap back into her electronic beginnings, the singer/songwriter is also stopping by Chicago, which outside of the group’s 2008 reunion, marks her first solo performance in town thus far this century. Andy Argyrakis spoke to the legendary vocalist. Page 22: Scorpions Sweet Home 6 14 16 18 Calendar 24 File Riot Fest returns for lucky 13, Taylor Swift meets UPS. Cinema Scopes September movie preview. Media Best Fred in town. RIOT FEST UNDERCARD PREVIEW 20 Riot Fest returns to Douglas Park for its 13th year this September. Based on that number, palm–readers may think it’ll be an unlucky year for the festival. But this year’s lineup is arguably the best ever. With so many great bands and artists per- forming you might feel overwhelmed. That’s where IE comes in. Read Michael Obrecki's 2017 Riot Fest undercard preview: Blues honor roll. Over 1400 shows and 2600 bands to see in September! Spins Midnight Oil, Muddy Waters at the Checkerboard. Caught In A Mosh Warbringer comes to The Forge. Classifieds You dumped your guitarist, now you're looking for another. Studiophile What's going on Gravity Studios. Gear Fender expands again. 28 34 50 52 54 Page 20: Riot Fest Preview Publisher Advertising Sales Contributors: John Vernon Scott Assmann Mike Engel Andy Argyrakis, Guy Arnston, Penelope Biver, Patrick Conlan, Deena Dasein, Jaime de'Medici, Jeff Elbel Terrence Flamm, Steve Forstneger Michael Gallucci, Michael C. Harris, Max Herman, Tom Lanham, Michael Obrecki, Brian Ormiston, Greg Olma Arsenio Orteza, Rodney Pawlak, Bruce Pilato, Matthew Pollock, Jessi Roti Jason Scales, Kelley Simms, Ed Spinelli, Tim Shockley, James Turano Contributing Editors Curt Baran Tom Lanham Mike Meyer Lori Vernon Advertising Director Design Team Notion Pool Notion Pool Dragon Design Vision Design Teknigram Graphics Senior Columnists John Vernon Website Direction David Gedge Rosalind Cummings-Yeates - Sweet Home Rick Kaempfer - Media Founder Kelley Simms - Caught In A Mosh Kenneth L. Voss David C. Eldredge Bruce Pilato - East Coast Classified Advertising Publisher Emeritis David Roberts 4 illinoisentertainer.com september 2017 SUBSCRIPTIONS: $35 per year (first class). Material for insertion must reach our office by the First Of The Month preceding publication. We cannot assume responsibility for unsolicit- ed manuscripts or photographs. Follow us online at: facebook.com illinoisentertainer.tumblr.com twitter.com @ie_entertainer Address All Correspondence to: Illinois Entertainer 4223 W. Lake St., Suite 490 Chicago, IL 60624 [phone] - Chicago/North Sub [phone] - West/South Suburbs [phone] - Fax email us at: Editorial: [email protected] Advertising: [email protected] The ILLINOIS ENTERTAINER is published monthly by Roberts Publishing, Inc, All materials copyright 2017 by Roberts Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from Roberts Publishing, Inc. Current and back issues of the IE are $10.00 postpaid.