Mention Saxon to anyone and they will probably reply with ‘Ah, Wheels Of Steel!’. This song and album have become fixtures in any self-respecting rock fans collection and one of the defining albums from the NWOBHM period. The album has now reached the ripe of age of 45 (where does the time go!) and as such the band decided it was a good to play the album in it’s entirety on this current tour.

It would appear that many others thought the same as the O2 Academy had the ‘sold out’ signs up and the queue to get in stretched around the block. Another reason for the large crowd, especially just as the doors opened, was the lure of a top supporting act in the diminutive figure of the Teutonic king of metal Udo Dirkschneider.

Not to be outdone, Dirkschneider’s set was to feature the whole of the Accept classic album ‘Balls To The Wall’ which is approaching it’s 42^nd anniversary. As I finally reached the hall, Udo was in fully flight on the album’s title track and was going down a storm as three large inflatable balls were bouncing around the hall to add to the fun.

The set followed the album track listing with ‘London Leather Boys’ up next. The twin guitar work of Fabian Dee Danmmers and new boy Alen Brentini was spot on and the rhythm section of Peter Baltes on bass and Udo’s son Sven on drums were a formidable force. But it was all about Udo and he was in great form, stalking the stage and screaming out the lyrics.

With an album of the calibre of ‘Balls To The Wall’, the set was guaranteed to be great one with the likes of ‘Love Child’ and ‘Turn Me On’ setting fists flying and heads nodding in equal measure. The album set was brought to a close with the epic ‘Winterdreams’, but the band weren’t finished there. Sven thanked the crowd and then introduced everyone’s favourite German folk song as the intro to ‘Fast As A Shark’ blasted from the PA. The band upped a gear and the crowd also shifted into overdrive, what a way to end a set!

This was a triumphant set by one of rocks most enduring characters and as Biff would say later, why he wasn’t out headlining venues of this size is a mystery. Support acts don’t get much better.

Following Udo’s set may have been a daunting prospect for some, but Saxon took it in their stride. Biff had recently undergone cancer treatment, but you wouldn’t have guessed as he led the attack from the front as always.

The first part of the evening was given over to a selection of newer and classic tracks and opened with ‘Hell, Fire and Damnation’. The pace was then upped with ‘Power and the Glory’ with Nigel Glockler drumming up a storm. ‘Sacrifice’ was up next and was followed by ‘Backs To The Wall’ which took us right back to Saxon’s first album with Doug Scarratt and Brian Tatler riffing away for all they were worth.

Two early highlights for me were ‘Never Surrender’ and the mighty ‘Heavy Metal Thunder’ which were separated by newer number ‘Madam Guillotine’ complete with a great narrative video shown on the large screen at the rear of the stage. Nibbs Carter on bass then took centre stage to pump out the opening rhythm of ‘Dallas 1pm’ which rounded off the first part of the show in fine style.

Biff then took us back to a time before mobile phones, Tik Toc and Facebook. Back to a time when vinyl and cassettes where the music mediums of the day, the Friday Rock Show ruled the airwaves and if you wanted shopping you got off your arse and went to Woolworths! 1980 never sounded so attractive!

‘Motorcycle Man’ set the wheels in motion at a cracking pace, always a highlight of any live set. With these full album sets, it’s a chance to hear songs that don’t usual get an airing and ‘Stand Up And Be Counted’ was greeted like and old friend. Conversely, ‘747(Strangers In The Night)’ is rarely not on the setlist, but it’s always a welcome addition.

The album title track gave the crowd a chance to raise their voices as one in the chorus before ‘Freeway Mad’ returned us to the highway at breakneck speed. ‘See The Light Shining’ was another track that had been left on the shelf for too long and made a very welcome return, complete with great dual guitar work in the middle bridge section.

‘Street Fighting Gang’ then led into ‘Suzie Hold On’, which was always one of the bands more commercial tracks, but it still has a killer riff. Talking of killer riffs, they don’t get much better than on ‘Machine Gun’. The band threw everything at this one and it was a full on onslaught both aurally and visually, complete with strobe lighting and scenes of war on the rear video screen. A fitting finale to one of rock’s most iconic albums.

The band weren’t done though and returned to the stage donning various cut off denim jackets that had been thrown from the crowd for ‘Denim and Leather’. We then remained firmly in the early 80’s with ‘And The Bands Played On’ and Biff reminiscing about the first Monsters Of Rock Fest at Donington Park.

The guys then slipped in an extra number onto the setlist as they were clearly enjoying themselves. ‘Strong Arm Of The Law’ had the crowd screaming along once more in the chorus before the arrival of the ‘Princess Of The Night’ brought proceedings to a close.

Tonight’s performance ranks as one of the best I have seen from Saxon, and I have seen a few! The sold out Glasgow crowd were behind the guys every step of the way and the band gave it their all. Add in a top set from Dirkschneider and you have one of my gigs of the year.

If one track from the setlist could sum up the night it would have to be ‘Never Surrender’, on this showing that’s not on the cards any time soon.

Review and photos by Dave Wilson

Gig review (Hammersmith Apollo, 15 November 2025)

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