Scorpions To Play Soviet Leader Birthday Bash In London

The Scorps are to make their live UK return at Gorbachev birthday party in March

Published 21st Jan 2011

The Scorpions are to make their UK live comeback at an 80th birthday party for former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev at the Royal Albert Hall on 30 March.

The band are part of a line-up that also includes Roxy Music frontman Bryan Ferry, Welsh mezzo-soprano Katherine Jenkins, Russian baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky and Melanie C, formerly known as Sporty Spice.

Tickets went on sale in November with price tags ranging from £35 per seat to £100,000.

The German band's 1990 hit 'Wind of Change' - which celebrated the political transformations in Eastern Europe - was hugely popular in Russia during Gorbachev's time in power. The band even recorded a Russian-language version of the power ballad.

Organisers have estimated that nearly £5m from ticket sales will be donated to charity.