Michael Schenker
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Michael Schenker (born January 10, 1955) is a Hard rock and Heavy metal guitarist of UFO and a founding member of the Scorpions. He signed with Chrysalis Records in autumn 1979 after leaving UFO. He is the younger brother of Rudolf Schenker of Scorpions fame.
Born in Sarstedt, Germany, Schenker has had a long career that has seen him rise to become one of the most influential and respected Rock guitarists working today. He started playing in his early teens when his brother Rudolph brought home a Flying V guitar, which captured Michael's imagination. Schenker debuted with the Scorpions on their debut album at age 16 and was lauded at the time for his mature technique.
Schenker joined UFO under unusual circumstances. The band left the UK to play some dates in Germany. Their guitarist at the time; Bernie Marsden, forgot his passport and was unable to make the first gig. At the venue UFO spotted Michael playing a soundcheck with the Scorpions and managed to persuade him into playing that evening's show.
Schenker has had a turbulent career with UFO, often walking out mid-song and causing shows to be cancelled. Despite having a series of successful albums and tours, Schenker left UFO in 1979.
Schenker was offered jobs with Aerosmith and Ozzy Osbourne[[Citing sources citation needed]] but decided he wanted to play his own music and not be a hired hand for another band. In 1979, he founded the Michael Schenker Group (M.S.G). The history of the Michael Schenker Group has been strewn with personality conflicts and incidents between band members. In 1982, original vocalist Gary Barden was fired in favor of Graham Bonnet (Rainbow, Alcatrazz). Bonnet lasted one album (Assault Attack) and was fired from the band after dropping his pants in a warm-up gig before the Reading Festival. Barden was enticed back to the band for Reading and stayed with M.S.G. for the recording of a new studio album (Built to Destroy) and a live album (Rock Will Never Die). After Barden's second departure, Schenker reorganized the band around himself and new vocalist Robin McAuley as the McAuley Schenker Group. After three albums in that configuration, Schenker and McAuley parted company.
Schenker rejoined UFO for the album Walk on Water. A short tour punctuated by a fight between Schenker and vocalist Phil Mogg ended the reunion.
Schenker resurrected the Michael Schenker Group with all new players and recorded three more albums. The group toured yearly around the United States and Europe.
Schenker fell on hard times in the early 2000s after his divorce in which he lost rights to his own music, his Mercedes, and his prized Flying V guitars. [[Citing sources citation needed]] He picked himself up and got back to the business of making and performing music. He recorded the album Arachnophobiac and supported it with two years of touring.
2005 brought the 25th anniversary of the Michael Schenker Group. Schenker put together a new album of songs called Tales Of Rock'n'Roll to celebrate the anniversary and enlisted singers from each iteration of the group to sing on the album.
Discography
with
- Phenomenon (1974)
- Force It (1975)
- No Heavy Petting (1976)
- Lights Out (1977)
- Obsession (1978)
- Strangers in the Night (1979)
- The Best Of (1992)
- Walk on Water (1995)
- Covenant (2000)
- Sharks (2002)
with
- The Michael Schenker Group (1980)
- M.S.G. II (1981)
- One Night at Budokan (1981)
- Assault Attack (1982)
- Built to Destroy (1983)
- Rock Will Never Die (1984)
- Perfect Timing (McAuley Schenker Group) (1987)
- Save Yourself (McAuley Schenker Group) (1989)
- M.S.G.'' (McAuley Schenker Group) (1992)
- M.S.G. Unplugged (1993)
- The Unforgiven (1999)
- The Unforgiven World Tour (2000)
- Written in the Sand (2001)
- Be Aware Of Scorpions (2002)
- Arachnophobiac (2003)
- Heavy Hitters (2005)
- Tales Of Rock'n'Roll (2006)
solo
- Thank You (1993)
- Thank You 2 (1998)
- Adventures of the Imagination (2000)
- Thank You 3 (2001)
- Dreams And Expressions (2001)
- The Odd Trio (2001)
- Thank You 4 (2003)
with the
- Lonesome Crow (1972)
- Lovedrive (1979)
Other Schenker projects
- Contraband (1991)
- The Plot (2003)
- Schenker-Pattison Summit - The Endless Jam (2004)
- Schenker-Pattison Summit - The Endless Jam Continues (2005)
Videography
- Michael Schenker Group - Live in Tokyo 1997 (1997)
- Michael Schenker Group - World Wide Live 2004 (2004)
External link
- The Michael Schenker Group (1980)
- M.S.G. II (1981)
- One Night at Budokan (1981)
- Assault Attack (1982)
- Built to Destroy (1983)
- Rock Will Never Die (1984)
- Perfect Timing (McAuley Schenker Group) (1987)
- Save Yourself (McAuley Schenker Group) (1989)
- M.S.G.'' (McAuley Schenker Group) (1992)
- M.S.G. Unplugged (1993)
- The Unforgiven (1999)
- The Unforgiven World Tour (2000)
- Written in the Sand (2001)
- Be Aware Of Scorpions (2002)
- Arachnophobiac (2003)
- Heavy Hitters (2005)
- Tales Of Rock'n'Roll (2006)
solo
- Thank You (1993)
- Thank You 2 (1998)
- Adventures of the Imagination (2000)
- Thank You 3 (2001)
- Dreams And Expressions (2001)
- The Odd Trio (2001)
- Thank You 4 (2003)
with the
- Lonesome Crow (1972)
- Lovedrive (1979)
Other Schenker projects
- Contraband (1991)
- The Plot (2003)
- Schenker-Pattison Summit - The Endless Jam (2004)
- Schenker-Pattison Summit - The Endless Jam Continues (2005)
Videography
- Michael Schenker Group - Live in Tokyo 1997 (1997)
- Michael Schenker Group - World Wide Live 2004 (2004)
External link
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