Shillong, December 12: All roads led to the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here as the German heavy metal band Scorpions kicked-off their Humanity World Tour amid a record 45,000 plus spectators who have descended in this emerging music hub from various corners of the country for the mega event.

The streets of the capital city wore a deserted look since noon, with music afficionados queuing up in the stands, hours before the show was slated to start.

Chaos went on increasing at the stadium gates as the countdown to the show narrowed.

A local state holiday today added to the crowd enthusiasm.

While there was no official announcement of the total tickets sold, sources in Airtel, the sponsors, and Centre Point Entertainment Network, the local promoters said the sale (all denominations Rs 600, Rs 850 and Rs 1200) crossed the 40,000 mark.

The stadium, with a total capacity of roughly 40,000 (both standing and sitting) was jam-packed even as spectators, including those with tickets, were seen grouping outside after failing to enter.

Enthralled by the enthusiasm of the fans, Scorpions group lead R Rudolph Schenker said before the show, "It's amazing to travel to this emerging rock town in the Himalayas.

We will rock you like a hurricane." The entry to the venue had four rings of security check.

Two gates, comprising six channels, led people inside the venu.

Intensive frisking was carried out despite the massive rush.

Over 35 per cent of the crowd was said to have come from Assam even as over 3500 tickets were sold in Kolkata alone for the event.

Dubbed by the organizers as a 'monster rock show', the Scorpions concert witnessed a mind-boggling 200 psychedelic moving lights, powered by 1.5 lakh watts, thundering 50 tonnes of backline music instruments and giant screens of 80,000 luminosity clarity.

The stadium was charged with 110 decibels of sound, which helped the spectators who either failed to procure tickets or enter the venue to enjoy the music from outside the stadium.

Many also gathered at roof-tops and tree-tops near the stadium for a glimpse of the band.

The Scorpions kicked off their 'Humanity World Tour' with the show.

Two other shows are also slated for Bangalore and Mumbai as part of the tour.

Reckoned to be the biggest musical shows ever in the eastern region of the country, the organizers Entertainment 18 and Centre Point Entertainment Network (CPEN) felt the turnout in Shillong is much more than what is expected in the consecutive shows of the band in Bangalore and Mumbai.

The Shillong concert, expected to budget over Rs 1 crore, surpassed the MLTR concert held here few years back.

It is only in October end that the hill city, also referred to as the music capital of the country, hosted the Brazilian band Sepultura and Eric Martin of Mr BIG.

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