Saxon - O2 Apollo, Manchester, Saturday, 8th November, 2025
Unfortunately motorway hold ups meant we missed support bands Untamed Silence and most of UDO but judging by capacity crowd in the hall to watch UDO he went down well.
Saxon on what they billed as the 'Hell Fire and Steel Tour' on which they are playing the 'Wheels Of Steel' album in full for the last time, a seminal classic in heavy metal history.
As the lights came on Saxon were stood as a group on the drum-riser, hair and denim galore, Singer, Biff Byford dressed in his long tunic coat waves of white hair contrasting. 'Hell Fire and Damnation' started things off in fine fashion, these legends of the NWOBHM era know how to rock and thus it seems fitting that Diamond Head Guitarist, Brian Tatler is now a member of Saxon.
'The Power and The Glory' with lyrics “raise your glasses high” got the crowd cheering, although plastic they still held their drinks high! Long standing member, Nibbs Carter is a striking visual presence shirtless long curly hair flying round as he headbangs, running around the stage to the drum-riser and back. He’s a whirlwind of energy and a rhythmic power house.
 Saxon - O2 Apollo, Manchester 08 11 2025 - Photograph 2 |  Saxon - O2 Apollo, Manchester 08 11 2025 - Photograph 5 |
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 Saxon - O2 Apollo, Manchester 08 11 2025 - Photograph 3 |  Saxon - O2 Apollo, Manchester 08 11 2025 - Photograph 4 |
 Saxon - O2 Apollo, Manchester 08 11 2025 - Photograph 1 |
A 360 degree camera on the stage edge switched between projecting the crowd on to a big screen behind the band to the guy themselves, in-between various album covers were shown. Mention to other long term member, Doug Scarratt on Lead Guitar and original Drummer, Nigel Glockler without whom it just isn’t Saxon.
Prior to launching into Wheels of Steel, Biff reminisces about it’s release year 1980 exclaiming, “No Tik Tok…no internet…no streaming…no CDs”. Not a fan of Tik Tok our Biff, he hasn’t lost his Yorkshire sense of humour.
The classics keep coming good - old fashioned, heads down, heavy metal like 'Strong Arm of The Law'. During 'Dallas 1PM' the famous footage of the JFK motorcade was projected across the screen, Biff turning halfway through to watch a b&w version of Doug Scarratt in the solo.
Biff takes a crowd photo: “For Facebook..not Tik Tok” and someone throws denim jacket on stage seemingly to have signed. Later someone tries the same with a T shirt. 'Strangers in the Night' is raw and ripped live.
 Saxon - O2 Apollo, Manchester 08 11 2025 - Photograph 10 |  Saxon - O2 Apollo, Manchester 08 11 2025 - Photograph 9 |
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 Saxon - O2 Apollo, Manchester 08 11 2025 - Photograph 8 |  Saxon - O2 Apollo, Manchester 08 11 2025 - Photograph 7 |
 Saxon - O2 Apollo, Manchester 08 11 2025 - Photograph 6 |
The triple whammy encore of 'And the band played on', 'Denim and Leather' and 'Princess of the Night' finished the night. With so many Rock legends no longer with us, it’s good to see so many who are in one place tonight.
8/10
By Mark Bedford
Photographs by John Mather