Live report MICHAEL SCHENKER, THE NIGHT ETERNAL, ROOK ROAD & MALVADA, Grosse Freiheit 36, Hamburg – February 22nd, 2026

It was April of last year when Michael Schenker played a show at Fabrik in Hamburg as part of his “My Years with UFO” tour. This marked the first leg of the tour, which took him to stages across nine countries.

A few months later, Schenker returns to Hamburg for another show, this time at Grosse Freiheit 36. It is a rainy Sunday evening as fans start lining up outside the legendary venue on Hamburg’s Reeperbahn. Doors opened at 6:30 p.m., and by 7:00 p.m. the first of three support acts is already taking the stage.

Malvada is a band that hasn’t been on my musical radar very much so far. They’re a Brazilian group formed in 2020. If I counted correctly, the self-titled album released last summer is their second full-length record, following their debut album, which hit record stores in 2021. Tonight feels like the perfect moment to introduce these songs to a wider audience – and Malvada makes the most of that opportunity. As being the opening act they have to go on stage early.

Malvada enjoy being in Europe and performing in front of a larger audience. At the same time, the songs feel more conventional and lack a certain finesse and excitement. The four girls clearly give their best tonight, but the performance doesn’t quite ignite real enthusiasm in the crowd. However, they get a warm applause at the end of their set and everybody is looking forward to the next band.

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Next up is Rook Road from Germany. The guys already landed a support slot in spring 2025, and today they’re back in Hamburg, joining Michael Schenker on the second leg of this road trip.

Rook Road lean more toward rock than metal. Musically rooted in classic rock, the Hammond organ plays a key role in shaping their sound. Comparisons to bands like Deep Purple but also melodic rock outfits come naturally and are anything but coincidental.

Just like Malvada, Rook Rock have a great opportunity tonight to present their music to a wider audience. The band has released two full-length albums so far, and those records form the backbone of tonight’s set.

Rook Road open their set with “Heart of the Sea.” A small but dedicated group of fans in the front row is visibly excited, even though the show itself remains fairly solid and restrained. The band plays a tight 30-minute set and manages to hold the audience’s attention, yet there is a lingering sense that they never fully let loose, as if the brakes are still on.

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The Night Eternal joined the tour recently. One of Germany’s most promising rising heavy metal acts, the band has already made a name for itself, with two impressive albums that stand out as remarkable releases from such a young group.

The constant rotation of support bands on this tour though appears to be disrupting the schedule. The changeover before The Night Eternal is taking longer than expected, but as soon as the band steps onto the stage, it’s time for some pure heavy metal magic. Thunderous riffs, charismatic stage presence, a relentlessly working rhythm section and lots of sweat – that’s heavy metal. That’s The Night Eternal.

The band raises the bar tonight, hitting hard right from the start. Fully committed and with metal running through their veins, they deliver a roaring, no-nonsense set that leaves only one complaint: it could – and should – have been longer.

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Michael Schenker is without a doubt one of Germany’s most celebrated and influential guitarists. His distinctive style has shaped generations of guitar players. As a teenager, Schenker joined Scorpions, the band led by his older brother Rudolf Schenker which became the springboard for his next major step: joining UFO, initially stepping in for Bernie Marsden for just two shows. The rest is well-known history.

Five decades later, the guitar wizard has revisited several classic UFO tracks and now brings them back on stage. The set opens with “Natural Thing” from the album “No Heavy Petting”, instantly transporting the audience back to 1976. The momentum continues with “Only You Can Rock Me”. Much of tonight’s crowd grew up with these songs, and the surge of adrenaline is palpable – from the very first riff to the final note.

From the very first moment, it’s clear that Michael Schenker and his bandmates are having a great time. As well as displaying musical finesse and technical excellence, Schenker comes across as refreshingly down-to-earth. He clearly loves playing the guitar and becomes one with his iconic Flying V.

The fact that he gives his bandmates plenty of room for their own solo moments shows that this night is about more than just him. Although he is naturally the main protagonist, the music itself remains at the heart of the performance.

The fans are clearly enjoying themselves too, as becomes especially clear during a loud, passionate sing-along to “Doctor, Doctor”. The harder rock numbers are definite highlights of the evening, but the audience also warmly embraces the more soulful, melodic moments, like the superb version of “Love to Love”.

Two absolute classics, “Shoot Shoot” and “Too Hot to Handle”, bring the show to a close, and everyone in the room clearly embraces this journey back to the 1970s. It’s a true tribute to the early days of rock, delivered by one of the genre’s most iconic guitarists.