Overview & Verdict: For those unaware, shortly after the release of their fourth studio album Rockwall at the end of 2018, Piledriver started their European tour of the same name in January 2019, which ended about 12 months later with the show at the Arrow Rock Festival in the IJsselhallen in Zwolle (NL) ... because a few days later, Covid reached Europe.

As a result, all planned concerts had to be postponed indefinitely, and the increasingly dramatic course of the pandemic, with no realistic prospect of being able to play live again in the foreseeable future, suggested that Piledriver had already played their last gig after more than 25 years of band history and would probably never set foot on the stage again.

This fear became bitter reality in August 2020 when keyboarder Rudi Peeters died tragically and far too early at the age of 42. Due to this stroke of fate and the travel restrictions caused by the pandemic, the show on January 25th, 2020 in Zwolle was not only the final concert they played together, but also the last personal meeting with Rudi before his death.

Thus, the end of Piledriver seemed to be sealed.

During the Rockwall tour between March 2019 and January 2020, three concerts in three European countries were filmed for a possible later release: a show in Herne (Germany) supporting Ian Paice featuring Purpendicular, a concert in Minehead (UK) at the Status Quo Fan Convention and finally the concert at the Arrow Rock Festival in Zwolle (Netherlands).

Over two years since the last show, the band reunited to sift through more than three hours of footage and were keenly aware of the fact that these recordings were the last of the band’s longtime line-up. They quickly realized that these three shows represent a contemporary document that could not have better captured the band and all its facets. Hence it was decided to not only finalize the concerts for a release, but to also bring Piledriver back on stage.

Demonstrating their musical and playing skills, Piledriver impressively illustrate why the band has become a fixture in the European classic rock festival scene. Enthusiastically and to the point, the band presents their own extensive repertoire of the previous four studio albums as well as numerous Status Quo classics with their rousing stage show.

Blu-ray + DVD: Live in Herne (2019)
1. Top Of The Bill 2. Draw The Line 3. Good Times 4. Rockwall 5. Stomp! 6. Agitators 7. One For The Rock 8. Rock In A Crossfire Hurricane 9. Fat Rat Boogie 10. Down Down 11. Whatever You Want 12. Caroline

Starting this review with the energetic, at times thunderous, and yet at all times melodically rock n rolling from start to finish Live in Herne set, it opens on the brisk rock of Top Of The Bill and the heavier Draw The Line and then comes the rhythmic Good Times, the guitar-laden Rockwall, the AC/DC-esque Stomp! and the free -flowing Agitators.

Next up we get canorous One For The Rock and the foot to the floor rock of Rock In A Crossfire Hurricane and they are in turn backed by the throaty roar within Fat Rat Boogie, and then come their deceptively mirrored Quo cuts in the brilliant Down Down, a slightly weaker vocalized Whatever You Want and then a rambunctious Caroline is brought forth.

Blu-ray + DVD: Live in Minehead (2019)
1. Whatever You Want 2. Rockin’ All Over The World 3. Hold You Back 4. Hi 5. Joint Forces 6. Blue Eyed Lady 7. Roll Over Lay Down 8. What You’re Proposing 9. Mystery Medley 10. Caroline

Their Live in Minehead set from the same year is up next and just reviewing the changes in the set list, a very respectful Rockin’ All Over The World is among the openers, as are both the old school, flashback bounce of Hold You Back, the powerful rocker Hi and then comes the classy Joint Forces, the unbelievably brilliant, blue-rock of Blue Eyed Lady, the set rounding out on the pulsing Roll Over Lay Down, a spot-on perfect rendition of What You’re Proposing, closing on their now infamous , near 15 minute Mystery Medley.

Blu-ray + DVD: Live in Zwolle (2020)
1. Caroline 2. Roll Over Lay Down 3. The Wanderer 4. Backwater 5. Hold You Back 6. Rain 7. Don’t Waste My Time 8. Whatever You Want 9. Rockin’ All Over The World 10. Down Down 11. Bye-Bye, Johnny

The final show is Live in Zwolle in 2020 and the from that show, the tracks not already covered include a breathy, yet melodically charged The Wanderer and a guitar-laden, drum-veined Backwater, and then we also get an effortless Rain, a scorching Don’t Waste My Time, the set closing on a cover of Status Quo’s very own rendition of the Chuck Berry classic, Bye-Bye, Johnny.

CD 1: Live in Herne (2019)
1. Top Of The Bill 2. Draw The Line 3. Good Times 4. Rockwall 5. Stomp! 6. Agitators 7. One For The Rock 8. Rock In A Crossfire Hurricane 9. Fat Rat Boogie 10. Down Down 11. Whatever You Want 12. Caroline

CD 2: Live in Minehead (2019)
1. Whatever You Want 2. Rockin’ All Over The World 3. Hold You Back 4. Hi 5. Joint Forces 6. Blue Eyed Lady 7. Roll Over Lay Down 8. What You’re Proposing 9. Mystery Medley 10. Caroline

CD 3: Live in Zwolle (2020)
1. Caroline 2. Roll Over Lay Down 3. The Wanderer 4. Backwater 5. Hold You Back 6. Rain 7. Don’t Waste My Time 8. Whatever You Want 9. Rockin’ All Over The World 10. Down Down 11. Bye-Bye, Johnny

The three concerts on 3CDs+DVD+Blu-Ray reflect exactly the spectrum that Piledriver can bring to the stage today, both in terms of music and their visually varying presentation and the band also dedicated Live In Europe: The Rockwall-Tour to their friend and keyboarder Rudi Peeters.

The product, designed in a very elaborate way and with great attention to detail, features three live concerts each on one CD and all three shows on DVD and Blu-Ray + bonus material including a 24-page booklet and a poster in a 10-page digipak.

With this release, Piledriver prove that despite all adversities and personal hardships, they won’t give up, but look ahead and keep on playing the music they love: “Ass kicking blues and boogie rock at maximum volume”!

The new product impressively demonstrates that the band is a long way from shooting their bolt and that in 2023 they are still a force to be reckoned with. “So ... Watch out world!”

www.piledriver.eu

Official Piledriver Webshop

Piledriver @ Facebook