Hans Zimmer Live - The Rock Star Of Film Composing

IMAGE VIA HANS ZIMMER LIVE

If John Williams is The Beatles of film composing, then Hans Zimmer is the Guns N Roses/Led Zeppelin because attending one of his shows is simply going to a rock concert and the fact he sells out where ever he goes proves movie scoring is on the biggest high it’s ever been on.

The fact Zimmer sells out arena's around the world and had top billing at Coachella proves how much of a rock n roller he truly is.

This past week (Thursday 15th June 2017) I finally got to see the icon live for the first, and differently not the last, time at the Wembley Arena in London and it was everything any film fan could want or more.

Throughout the incredible, hot, sweaty two-hours-plus experience I got to hear music I always wanted to from The Lion King, Pirates of the Caribbean, Man of Steel, The Dark Knight Rises and of course the Wonder Woman theme!

IMAGE VOA FLORENCE BEASLEY

Even when I didn’t which movie some of the music was coming from the performance grab me like the utterly incredible drum solo by Satnam Ramgotra from Crimson Tide/Angel and Demons medley, I was a wide-eyed child again and being joined by his two badass female drummers either side was the gut punch of awesomeness only one person can take.

Throughout the evening, Zimmer and his band seamlessly merging scores, for example, the show began simply with the 59-year-old playing Driving Miss Daisy and before too long – two violins, three drummers, numerous guitars and Tina Guo (more on her in a minute) – joined in, the music getting louder turning up to weave into Sherlock Homes.

Then curtain drops revealing the rest of the band and moved from Sherlock Homes to a joyous rendition of Madagascar.

Now I want to talk about some personal highlights. The first it has to be The Lion King medley. It was the first time of the night where the hair on my arms raised and listening to the music I grew up was an amazing experience and was lifted by hearing The Circle of Life by Lebo M (the dude who sang on the original soundtrack).

IMAGE VIA FLORENCE BEASLEY

The second hair-raising moment happened straight after when the beautiful, talented, badass electro-cellist Guo took centre stage and wowed everyone in attendance and I think I love her a little.

IMAGE VIA FLORENCE BEASLEY

After a short interval, we got to see probably a lot of people’s highlight, and one of many, was Zimmer being joined on stage by Trevor Horn to do a version of Video Killed The Radio Star and included a brilliant and hilarious rap from MC Zims, all I can add is watch out Stormzy!

Finally, I want to talk about his “superhero segment” as three things I wanted to hear was Superman’s theme from Man of Steel, the Wonder Woman theme and The Dark Knight/Dark Knight Rises.

All three were as wonderful as I could imagine and blending of Flight from MoS giving hope and heart to moments of welling up to switch 180 to the heavy metalesque of Guo taking centre stage once again, but this time was joined by her Amazons and it is as awesome and load as you think/hope it to be.

Elsewhere, as well as Guo, I fell in love with a large number of the band from Jesus on drums (Ramgotra)  to Jesus on guitar and then you have the awesome, badass, beautiful women – drummer Holly, the two violinists Leah Zeger and Molly Rogers and to the woman who just glides Czarina Russell – every one of you are so incredible I want to cry.

I’ll end on this if you always wanted to and get the chance see Hans Zimmer live! See the rock star of film music because it’ll be one of the greatest live shows you’ll ever see and I can’t wait to do it all again next year.

IMAGE VIA FLORENCE BEASLEY