In August 2007, Germany's most successful music export worldwide, SCORPIONS, ventured deep into the Brazilian jungle for a sold-out show in front of 40,000 enthusiastic fans the band played a concert in Manaus, the metropolis on the Amazon river. A cooperation with Greenpeace was already existent at this point and when the band returned to South America the next year, they happily intensified it.
Kaus Meine, lead singer of the SCORPIONS, recollects, "Due to the unbelievable success we returned to Manaus in 2008, but we also played Rio, Sao Paulo and Recife again. During the show in Belem, we accepted Greenpeace's invitation to participate in a three-hour flight across the rainforest in order to get a picture of the proceeding destruction (an area twice the size of Germany has been destroyed by fire so far). We wholeheartedly supported Greenpeace with large banners saying 'Stop the deforestation' during these shows and part of the proceeds from this DVD will consequently be given to this organization that is commited in so many parts of the world."
For many years, Greenpeace has been fighting against the rapid deforestation of the amazon rainforest and for the preservation of the habitat of numerous animal and plant species and also of more than 180 native peoples counting more than 200,000 people altogether. Scientists assume that the rainforest will be gone by 2050 — given a constant "deforestation speed." The consequences would be disastrous: People would lose their homes, animals and plants would become extinct and the impact on the world climate would be bomb-like.
The SCORPIONS have now commited themselves to protecting this unique ecosystem. The rock icons' DVD "Amazonia - Live In The Jungle" not only includes the complete show played in Recife on September 7, 2008 and a "Special Feature – supported by Greenpeace" consisting of five live videos from their legendary concert in Manaus in 2007, but also a Greenpeace documentation of the SCORPIONS' legendary flight across the amazon rainforest. Royalties of DVDs sold in Brazil and Mexico predominately go to Greenpeace Brazil's projects to protect the ancient forest.
Musically, the DVD is a highlight as well. Meine says, "During the 2008 tour we had the pleasure to perform with Brazilian guest musicians. It was a wonderful experience and demonstrated very well how music builds bridges and brings people from different cultures together."
In a closing statement, the musician addresses his South American fans and says, "We want to thank our Brazilian fans for the support and the incredible enthusiasm. To quote James: '3 words: You kick ass.' Brazil rocks!!!"
The "Amazonia - Live In The Jungle" will be released on November 20, 2009. Watch a six-minute preview below.
