In a delightfully surprise twist, Terri Nunn of Berlin materialized on stage for the encore of The Sisters of Mercy’s second gig within an eight-day stint at the legendary Hollywood Palladium, mere days after Berlin’s impromptu substitution for The Motels at the Cruel World Festival in Pasadena, California. The night was a part of The Sisters of Mercy’s first U.S. tour in a decade and a half.
Contrary to expectations, Nunn didn’t take the stage to perform the track she’s typically associated with – the 1993 hit “Under the Gun“. Rather, she joined forces with Andrew Eldritch to breathe new life into 1983’s Temple of Love, that was revisited in ’92 with the vocals of Ofra Haza. Both these versions have their place in the ’93 collection, A Slight Case of Overbombing.
Demonstrating her undiminished vocal prowess, Nunn delivered a high-voltage rendition of the song, causing the audience to erupt in elation. She’s indeed still a force of nature in the music scene, infusing the live performance of the track with an electrifying energy. Her dynamic interplay with Eldritch on stage was palpable and added to the exhilarating atmosphere of the night.
The passionate performance culminated in a triumphant cry of “Terri Nunn!” from Eldritch. As the song reached its crescendo, the two shared an embrace, a few whispered words, and a kiss from Nunn to Eldritch’s lips, prompting Eldritch to tell the crowd, “We have history…but not like that.”
They do indeed have history…and made some more of it this week. Shine like thunder.
