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Michael Schenker

 
Artist: Michael Schenker
 
Michael Schenker

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Influenced By:

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Performed Songs By:

Phil Mogg, Gary Barden

Formal Connection With:

  • Formed: January 10, 1955, West Germany
  • Genres: Rock
  • Representative Albums: "The Essential Michael Schenker Group," "The Michael Schenker Group," "MSG"

Biography

Along with Gary Moore, Michael Schenker never quite reached the same level of acclaim stateside as he did in Europe (and other parts of the world), despite possessing exceptional, and quite influential, six-string skills. Born on January 10, 1955, in Savstedt, Germany, it was Schenker's older brother, Rudolf, who sparked the youngster's interest in guitar at an early age. Entirely self-taught, Michael picked up a thing or two from such hard-rocking acts as Wishbone Ash and Mountain, as well as his older brother, who would offer the youngster money if he would transcribe certain songs for him while he was at work. As a result of constant playing, it wasn't long before Schenker showed immense talent with the instrument, and by the early '70s, joined Rudolf's group, the Scorpions. Michael appeared on the group's 1972 full-length debut, Lonesome Crow, and toured with the outfit (all at the age of 17). But it was during the album's supporting tour that another up-and-coming outfit, UFO, took a keen interest in the young Schenker and managed to pry the guitarist away from the Scorpions. Although a language barrier existed between Schenker and his new bandmates (he barely knew any English at the time), the guitarist let his playing do the talking, especially on his first recording with the group, 1974's Phenomenon, which spawned such metal classics/Schenker showcases as "Doctor Doctor" and "Rock Bottom" (also of note was the instrumental "Lipstick Traces," a tune which Schenker played entirely with his feet!). It was also around this time that Schenker began playing an instrument that he would become synonymous with for the rest of his career, a Gibson Flying V (which would eventually be decorated with a half-white/half-black paint job). Heavy-duty touring and a pair of further releases, 1975's Force It and 1976's No Heavy Petting, set the stage perfectly for what UFO hoped would be a global commercial breakthrough. The late '70s saw UFO issue a trio of classic hard rock albums -- 1977's Lights Out, 1978's Obsession, and especially 1979's outstanding live set, Strangers in the Night -- all of which made strong showings on the U.S. charts. But UFO's time in the limelight would be fleeting, as alcohol/substance overindulgence and erratic behavior drew a wedge between Schenker and the rest of UFO (the guitarist also became famous for disappearing from the group without any notice, leaving them high and dry mid-tour). 1979 saw Schenker's exit from UFO (who were never the same after his exit) and re-entry into the Scorpions. But, as with his first go around with the group, Schenker's tenure was a fleeting one, only lasting a single album, 1979's Lovedrive, before exiting once more. The same year, Schenker was invited to take the place of the just-departed Joe Perry in Aerosmith. Despite a few jam sessions between Schenker and the others, nothing ever materialized of the Schenker-Aerosmith union (the interesting meeting was discussed by the group in their 1999 autobiography, Walk This Way). Now free of any other obligations, Schenker set his sights on a solo career, forming the Michael Schenker Group immediately thereafter. While the group got off to a promising start with such strong releases as 1980's Michael Schenker Group, 1981's MSG, plus 1982's Assault Attack and One Night at Budokan, interest eventually evaporated, as it became obvious with each subsequent release that Schenker had set his sights at the top of the charts rather than sticking to good old-fashioned hard rock/heavy metal. Constant lineup fluctuation didn't help, either. 1982 saw Schenker get an invite from Ozzy Osbourne to join his group immediately after Randy Rhoads' tragic death, but like the Aerosmith bid several years earlier, it failed to pan out. Despite failing to issue a big commercial breakthrough on his own (although 1989's pop-metal outing, Save Yourself, credited to the McAuley-Schenker Group, came close), the guitarists in such renowned groups as Metallica and Def Leppard were quick to voice Schenker's influence. The early '90s saw Schenker appear with Ratt on a best-forgotten episode of MTV's popular Unplugged series, in addition to participating in a one-off pop-metal "supergroup," Contraband (which included members of such groups as Shark Island, Vixen, Ratt, and L.A. Guns), who issued a lone self-titled debut in 1991. Throughout the '90s, Schenker continued to issue solo albums, including 1993's acoustic-based Thank You and 1999's more rock-based Unforgiven, but the real story of the '90s for Schenker was his re-enlistment into UFO in 1993. Predictably, Schenker's second go-around with UFO was short-lived, yet it did spawn a world tour as well as an all-new studio effort, 1995's Walk on Water. Schenker's pace of issuing solo albums only increased during the early 21st century, as such titles as 2000's all-instrumental Adventures of the Imagination, plus a staggering three albums in 2001 alone (MS 2000: Dreams and Expressions, Odd Trio, and Be Aware of Scorpions) saw the light of day. 2002 saw Schenker sign on with UFO once more for a new album, Sharks. ~ Greg Prato, All Music Guide
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Discography: Michael Schenker
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Best of the Michael Schenker Group 1980-1984

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Thank You, Vol. 3

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Assault Attack/Rock Will Never Die

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Forever and More: The Best of Michael Schenker

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One Night at Budokan [Japan Bonus Tracks]

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Rock Will Never Die [Bonus Tracks]

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Michael Schenker Group [Bonus Tracks]

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Michael Schenker Group [Bonus Tracks]

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Assault Attack [Bonus Tracks]

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Built to Destroy [Japan Bonus Tracks]

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Thank You with Orchestra

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Written in the Sand [Steamhammer]

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Thank You [Steamhammer/SPV]

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World Wide Live 2004 [DVD & CD]

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World Wide Live 2004 [DVD & CD]

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Unforgiven World Tour: Live

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Very Best of the Michael Schenker Group

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Be Aware of Scorpions

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Anthology

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Built to Destroy [UK Bonus Tracks]

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Michael Schenker Group [Japan Bonus Tracks]

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McAuley/Schenker

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Thank You, Vol. 2

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Accoustic

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In the Midst of Beauty

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Tales of Rock N Roll

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Tales of Rock N Roll

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Adventures of the Imagination

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Lights Out

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Arachnophobiac

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Mad Axeman Live

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Best of Michael Schenker

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Heavy Hitters

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Live in Tokyo 1997

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Back to Attack: Live

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BBC Radio One Live in Concert

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MS 2000: Dreams & Expressions

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One Night at Budokan [Bonus Tracks]

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Michael Schenker Group [2009 Bonus Tracks]

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Plot

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Be Aware of Scorpions [Japan Bonus Track]

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Written in the Sand [Japan Bonus Track]

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Unforgiven

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Doctor Doctor: The Kulick Sessions

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Thank You [Import]

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Into the Arena 1972-1995 [Highlights & Overtures]

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Endless Jam

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Greatest Riffs

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Written in the Sand

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Endless Jam Continues

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Odd Trio

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Michael Schenker Story Live

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Michael Schenker Story Live

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Michael Schenker Group/M.S.G.

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Thank You

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Anthology [Conoisseur]

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Essential Michael Schenker Group

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Unplugged Live

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Portfolio

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Rock Will Never Die

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Built to Destroy

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One Night at Budokan

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Assault Attack

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MSG

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Michael Schenker Group

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Michael Schenker Group

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Reactivate Live

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Wikipedia: Michael Schenker
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Michael Schenker

Background information
Born 10 January 1955 (1955-01-10) (age 54)
in Sarstedt, Germany
Genre(s) Hard rock, Heavy metal
Years active 1969 - present
Label(s) BMG
Associated acts Scorpions, UFO, G3
Website Official Website
Notable instrument(s)
Gibson Flying V
Dean Signature V model

Michael Schenker (born 10 January 1955) is a German hard rock/heavy metal guitarist, known as a founding member of Scorpions and the Michael Schenker Group, achieved fame as member of UFO in the middle of the 1970s. He is the younger brother of Rudolf Schenker, who is still a guitarist with Scorpions.

Contents

Career

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.[citation needed] He started playing in his youth when his brother Rudolf brought home a Flying V guitar, which captured Michael's imagination. He played his first gig when he was 11 with Rudy and the Scorpions in a nightclub. Schenker debuted with Scorpions on their debut album Lonesome Crow at age 17 and was lauded at the time for his mature technique.

After Scorpions, Schenker joined upcoming UK band UFO under somewhat unusual circumstances. UFO left the UK to play some dates in Germany, and Scorpions were hired to open for them. UFO's guitarist Bernie Marsden forgot his passport and was unable to make the first gig. At the venue members of UFO spotted Michael playing a soundcheck with the Scorpions and managed to persuade him into playing that evening's show.

Shortly afterwards Schenker was offered the lead guitar spot in UFO and, with the blessing of his brother Rudolf, accepted it. At first, communication between Schenker and the rest of the band was difficult because he spoke virtually no English, instead relying on his girlfriend as an interpreter. Schenker has since become fluent in English.

Schenker wrote the music for most of UFO's major label (Chrysalis Records) debut album Phenomenon[citation needed]. His playing on this and subsequent UFO albums attracted attention from music critics and especially from the guitar community. Schenker's melodic style and clear, articulate playing were rooted in the approach of Hank Marvin who, with his band the Shadows, was influential in establishing the electric guitar as a lead instrument. Also evident in Schenker's playing is the familiar and fundamental blues-based hard rock framework established by players like Jimmy Page, Leslie West, and Jeff Beck.[citation needed]

Schenker had a turbulent career with UFO, often walking out mid-song and causing shows to be canceled. Despite having a series of successful albums and tours, Schenker finally left UFO soon after the last show of their US tour in Palo Alto, California in October 1978, and recorded during this tour live album, Strangers in the Night was already released without him.

Schenker re-joined the Scorpions in late 1978, when they were recording the album Lovedrive, thus resulting in his contribution of lead guitar on 3 songs ("Another Piece Of Meat", "Coast To Coast" and "Lovedrive"). In 1979, Schenker toured with the band in support of the album, but left the band 3 months later, following numerous occasions on which he could not perform on stage due to fatigue and alcohol problems. He was permanently replaced by Matthias Jabs, who had originally joined the Scorpions before Schenker's return, and recorded the rest of the lead guitar for the album.

Schenker auditioned for Aerosmith (detailed in their biography Walk This Way) and Ozzy Osbourne. Osbourne said in a 1982 Hit Parader interview that he did contact Schenker following the death of Randy Rhoads:

It so happens I did contact Michael Schenker, but he wanted a king's ransom before he'd do anything...I don't need that annoyance.

Schenker 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.

The history of MSG is strewn with personality conflicts and incidents between band members. In 1982, original vocalist Gary Barden, who sang on the first two studio albums, The Michael Schenker Group and M.S.G. as well as the band's third release (the live album One Night at Budokan) was fired in favor of Graham Bonnet (Rainbow, Alcatrazz).

Bonnet lasted one album (Assault Attack) and was fired from the band because he often lost his voice during shows, although the actual firing happened after dropping his pants in a warm-up gig in Sheffield before the Reading Festival. Barden was called in at the last minute and did the show with only a few hours rehearsal and opening the appearance with the words: "surprise surprise". Although many fans proclaimed Assault Attack as being MSG's best recording, Barden was enticed back to the band for Reading[1] and stayed with MSG for the recording of a new studio album (Built to Destroy) and the band's second live album (Rock Will Never Die).

In 1990 Schenker briefly played guitar for the band Ratt appearing on their MTV Unplugged performance, filling in for a sick Robbin Crosby.

After Barden's second departure, Schenker reorganized the band around himself and new vocalist Robin McAuley as the McAuley Schenker Group and steered the group to a more commercial hard rock sound. After three albums with the lineup, Schenker and McAuley parted company.

Rejoining UFO for their reunion album Walk on Water, Schenker toured with the band briefly, before a fight between Schenker and vocalist Phil Mogg ended the reunion.

Schenker then resurrected the Michael Schenker Group with all new members and recorded three more albums, The Unforgiven and Written in Sand. The group toured yearly around the United States and Europe.

He later rejoined UFO for two further releases, Covenant and Sharks.

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, which was detailed in an April 2004 interview with Guitar World magazine. He picked himself up and got back to the business of making and performing music, recording the album Arachnophobiac and supporting it with two years of touring.

In 2004, Dean Guitars began producing a Schenker signature Dean V (with subtle differences from the Gibson, but still displaying the split black and white trademark Schenker finish) and Michael now plays Dean guitars almost exclusively.

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 band to sing on the album.

After nearly-disastrous North American and European tours in 2007, which saw cancelled shows and less-than-stellar performances, Michael regained his composure and hit the road in the UK as Michael Schenker & Friends in 2008. Shows in this tour have received rave reviews and show Michael once again at his best. Early 2008, Michael worked with Gary Barden, Don Airey, Simon Phillips and Neil Murray on a new MSG's album In the Midst of Beauty, which was released in May 2008.

Michael announced that the touring band for the 2008 MSG tour will feature former MSG members, vocalist Gary Barden, Chris Glen on bass and Wayne Findley on guitar & keyboards and Chris Slade (The Firm, AC/DC) on drums. Unfortunately the 2009 US part of the tour was postponed due to a delay in visa processing and the final line-up included Michael Schenker, Gary Barden, Wayne Findley plus Pete Holmes on drums and Rev Jones on bass.

Discography

with Scorpions

with UFO

with Michael Schenker Group/McAuley Schenker Group

Solo

  • Thank You (1993)
  • Thank You 2 (1998)
  • Thank You With Orchestra (1999)
  • Adventures of the Imagination (2000)
  • The Odd Trio (2000)
  • Thank You 3 (2001)
  • Dreams And Expressions (2001)
  • Forever And More: The Best Of Michael Schenker (2003)
  • Thank You 4 (2003)
  • Doctor, Doctor: The Kulick Sessions (2008)
  • Greatest Riffs (2009, US-only compilation)

Other Schenker projects

  • Contraband (1991)
  • The Plot (2003)
  • Under Construction (2003)
  • Schenker-Pattison Summit - The Endless Jam (2004)
  • Siggi Schwarz & The Electricguitar Legends (2004)
  • Schenker-Pattison Summit - The Endless Jam Continues (2005)
  • Siggi Schwarz & The Rock Legends (2005)
  • Siggi Schwarz and Michael Schenker - Live Together (2006)
  • Schenker Barden Acoustic Project - Gipsy Lady (2009)

Videography

  • Michael Schenker Group - Rock Will Never Die (1984)
  • Michael Schenker Group - Live in Tokyo 1997 (1997)
  • Michael Schenker Group - World Wide Live 2004 (2004)

References

  1. ^ documented on the BBC Radio One Live in Concert

External links


 
 

 

Copyrights:

Artist. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Michael Schenker" Read more

 

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