Artist: SPIRITUAL BEGGARS
Album: LIVE FIRE (DVD)

Year: 2005
Media type: DVD

"There is no replacement for a killer riff" sums up Michael Amott, guitarist and ideas man from the Swedish rock group. And so you can expect to find a lot of heavy riffing in the band's repertoire. Although they emerged around the same time as the stoner rock movement and have often been categorized as such, the band themselves never wished to be pigeonholed this way. "We never felt right about this description, and incidentally neither did bands like Monster Magnet or Queens Of The Stone Age. We just play music with loud guitars", stresses Amott during the interview on the DVD. You can see (and hear) for yourself on the "Live Fire!" DVD when Amott and Roger Nilson start to lay down some serious riffs. Ludwig Witt pounds his drums like thunder, while Per Wiberg fires off some roaring Hammond sounds, and JB proves to be the ultimate classic rock vocalist. This is a DVD that must be played LOUD for full enjoyment.

For Beggars fans "Live Fire!" is a must. Along with six tracks from JB's debut "On Fire", the set also features his interpretations of the band's older material that was recorded with former vocalist Spice (Mushroom River Band). As expected, JB does the older material proud as is evidenced by the more than enthusiastic reaction of the Mean Fiddler audience. "Live Fire!" includes an excellent overview of the band's back catalogue including diamonds such as "Wonderful World" and "Angel Of Betrayal" from 1999's critically acclaimed "Ad Astra" as well as the powerful encore piece "Euphoria" (from "Mantra III", 1998), where the crowd goes wild!

A precursor to this DVD was evidenced on the bonus disc of this year's studio album "Demons", which gave fans a taste of the enormous heavy metal thunder that Spiritual Beggars are capable of unleashing live. Now with the release of this live DVD, the concert experience becomes complete. Fans can now enjoy at home all of the camera movements, zooms and montages set carefully to the rhythm of the music. You almost feel caught in the mosh pit at times and then you're looking over Per Wiberg's shoulder as he's playing a crazy Hammond solo. Watch up close as JB rocks the stage and drummer Ludwig Witt pounds the toms with the fury of a man possessed.

"Live Fire!" contains an extensive bonus section that features the tour film "Monstergroove 03". Newcomers to the Beggars world will learn interesting things about Amott & Co. with a full band history, discography and interviews with the then freshly recruited front man JB. Mastermind Michael Amott sheds light on the group's past as he reveals how he hired JB and Roger Nilson after the original singer and bassist Spice unexpectedly left the band. An unheard demo recording of JB was found in an old guitar case and after Amott heard the singer, he knew there was no other choice.

"Live Fire!" comes with a fold-out reverse poster which shows either the band or the cover artwork.

TRACKLIST:

LINE-UP:

Michael Amott (guitar)
Roger Nilson (bass)
JB (vocals)
Ludwig Witt (drums)
Per Wiberg (keyboards)

DISCOGRAPHY:

"Live Fire!" (DVD) (2006)
"Demons" (2005)
"On Fire" (2002)
"Ad Astra" (1999)
"Mantra III" (1998)
"Another Way To Shine" (1996)
"Spiritual Beggars" (1994)

www.spiritualbeggars.com