eonmusic: music for life.
  • Home
  • News
  • Interviews
  • Video
  • Reviews
  • Features

Yes, Scorpions & Megadeth Mark Stone Free 2018 A Roaring Success.

19/6/2018

0 Comments

 
Yes, The Scorpions and Megadeth have topped the bill at this years' Stone Free Festival in London, with a musical display that marked out the 2018 event as the best yet. Taking place at the capital's O2 Arena from 16th-17th June, this year marked the third outing for the growing festival. 
Picture
Photo: Darren McVeigh MetalPlanet.
By Eamon O'Neill.

​Yes featuring Anderson, Wakeman and Rabin, The Scorpions and Megadeth have topped the bill at this years' Stone Free Festival in London, with a musical display that marked out the 2018 event as the best yet. Taking place at the capital's O2 Arena from 16th-17th June, this year marked the third outing for the growing festival. 

Returning to its two-day format following a scaling down to a one-day event in 2017, the likes of Supertramp's Roger Hodgson, The Winery Dogs' Richie Kotzen, and Detroit garage rockers Warrior Soul filled out the bill across the venue's multiple stages. With spoken word, acoustic acts, and even comedy sets, Stone Free offered something for everyone. Complemented by a record fair and craft stalls, the music however, rightly took centre stage. 

Following a well-received set by Buckcherry in the main arena, it was Big Four titans Megadeth who kick-started a masterclass of entertainment on Saturday night. Mixing up their set to cover classics from often-overlooked debut 'Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good', band leader Dave Mustaine admitted that the band's European jaunt had all been leading up to Stone Free. Said Mustaine; "We were looking forward to this show so much. This whole tour has been predicated to this". Going on to play some hidden treasures from across their career including a pulverising 'Rattlehead' and majestic 'The Conjuring', their's was a set for the die-hards as well as the casual fan. 

Sticking to the classics, The Scorpions brought the bombast with their only U.K. show of the year. Taking to the stage with the retirement-referencing 'Going Out With A Bang', singer Klaus Meine said; "Good to see you London. It's great to be back in the U.K.!"  Weaving their way through their fifty year career, the German band brought the house down with tracks such as 'Is There Anybody There' and inevitable closer 'Rock You Like A Hurricane'. 

Taking a more sobering approach, Sunday's line-up focused on progressive rock. Thundering through a hits-laden set, the outwardly emotional, U.S. based Roger Hodgson confessed; "I always get very emotional when I come back home - it always tugs at my heartstrings". 

It was left to Yes to close events, and celebrating five decades of 'Quintessential Yes', the Jon Anderson-fronted version of the band pulled out all the stops to ensure that Stone Free 2018 would be one to remember. Buoyed on by his mic-stand mounted lion mascot, Anderson, along with Wakeman, Rabin and band's roaring set proved the perfect way to end the weekend.

Greeting the crowd, Anderson said; "It's great to be here", before going on to introduce some of the finest rock anthems ever recorded. Focusing heavily on their pop-era classic '90125' with the opening 'Cinema' as well as 'Hold On' and the Rabin-fronted 'Changes', the maestros also dipped heavily into their seventies' catalogue. Bringing the evening, and the event to an end with a celebratory 'Roundabout',  Yes took their bows on what had been a spectacular evening. ​

Stone Free festival is expected to return in 2019. ​

​Like this story? Like us on FaceBook and follow us on Twitter for regular updates & more of the same.
EXCLUSIVE: Jon Anderson Talks Yes & The Rock And Roll Hall of Fame.
Richie's Rainbow Radiates At Stone Free In London.
Alice Cooper, Rick Wakeman, Marillion And More Thrill At Inaugural Stone Free Festival.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Picture
    EXCLUSIVE: Rex Brown on Pantera's Rise and Fall, & Why Their Glam Years Will Remain Buried.
    Picture
    His love of U2, and Anthrax's "Big" plans for 2021: We Talk 'Silver Linings' with Charlie Benante.
    Picture
    WORLD EXCLUSIVE: "There will definitely be no more Sabbath – it’s done", says Geezer Butler.
    Picture
    EXCLUSIVE: David Coverdale's Plans to Remix Whitesnake's Works, & His Pride and Joy in Coverdale Page.
    Picture
    Steve Lukather on the end of Toto, and the loss of Eddie Van Halen.
    Picture
    EXCLUSIVE: Trey Spruance Charts the Return of Mr. Bungle.
    Picture
    Rory Gallagher Remembered; 25 Years Gone.

    Archives

    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    September 2015

© 2016 - 2025 eonmusic.co.uk

Contact: [email protected]
ABOUT
  • Home
  • News
  • Interviews
  • Video
  • Reviews
  • Features