More Info on Michael SchenkerSimilar Metal MusicSearch Artistopia
Biography
BLP sources|date=May 2008Infobox musical artist| background = non_vocal_instrumentalist| name = Michael Schenker| image = Michael schenker dean.jpg| image_size =| Born = birth date and age|df=yes|1955|1|10 Sarstedt , Germany| occupation = Musician , songwriter , Record producer|producer | instrument = Guitar , Singing|vocals , Bass guitar|bass , Drum kit|drums , flute | genre = Hard rock , Heavy metal music|heavy metal | associated_acts = Scorpions (band)|Scorpions , UFO (band)|UFO , Michael Schenker Group|The Michael Schenker Group , McAuley Schenker Group , Contraband (band)|Contraband , G3 (tour)|G3 , Davey Pattison|Schenker Pattison Summit | label = BMG | years_active = 1969–present| website = http://www.michaelschenkerhimself.com Official website| notable_instruments = Gibson Flying V Dean Guitars|Dean Signature V model Michael Schenker (born 10 January 1955 in Sarstedt , Lower Saxony ) is a German Rock music|rock guitarist, best known for his tenure in UFO (band)|UFO , in addition to Michael Schenker Group|his solo band . He first rose to fame as a founding member of the Scorpions (band)|Scorpions , then achieved fame in the mid 1970s as the lead guitar player for UFO (band)|UFO . Since leaving UFO in 1978, he has been leading the Michael Schenker Group in various incarnations. He is the younger brother of Rudolf Schenker , who is still a guitarist with the Scorpions. His career has had many ups and downs, partly due to a long history of alcoholism and personal problems; still, Schenker continues to perform and record and to maintain a following, and is called "a legendary figure in the history of metal guitar."cite book | last = Prown | first = Pete | authorlink = | coauthors = Harvey P. Newquist, Jon F. Eiche | title = Legends of rock guitar: the essential reference of rock's greatest guitarists | publisher = Hal Leonard | year = 1997 | location = | page = 183 | url = http://books.google.com/books? id=60Jde3l7WNwC& pg=PA183 | doi = | id = | isbn = 9780793540426
Early career: Scorpions, UFO
Michael Schenker started playing guitar at an early age, after his brother Rudolf brought home a Gibson Flying V guitar, which captured his imagination. He played his first gig when he was 11, with Rudolf and the Scorpions in a nightclub. Schenker debuted with Scorpions (band)|Scorpions on their debut album Lonesome Crow at age 17.cite book | last = Strong | first = Martin Charles | authorlink = | coauthors = John Peel | title = The Great Rock Discography | publisher = The National Academies | year = 2002 | location = | pages = 926 | url = http://books.google.com/books? id=DE9qW3YfHG4C& pg=PT926 | doi = | id = | isbn = 9781841953120
The Scorpions went on tour after recording their first album, opening up for upcoming UK band UFO (band)|UFO in Germany. Schenker was offered the position of lead guitar player for UFO (taking over for Bernie Marsden , himself a temporary replacement for Mick Bolton )cite book | last = Dodd | first = Philip | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = The Book of Rock: From the 1950s to Today | publisher = Thunder's Mouth | year = 2005 | location = | page = 470 | url = http://books.google.com/books? id=Xc3Pci6x1H0C& pg=PT470 | doi = | id = | isbn = 9781560257295 and, with the blessing of his brother, accepted (the Scorpions replaced him with Uli Roth ), even though he didn't speak English.
Schenker wrote the music for most of UFO's major label ( Chrysalis Records ) debut album Phenomenon Citation needed|date=October 2008. His career with UFO was turbulent, sometimes walking off mid-song 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; during this tour, the band recorded their seminal live album Strangers in the Night (UFO album)|Strangers in the Night , which was released after he left the band.
Schenker's playing with UFO attracted attention from music critics and especially from the guitar community; in fact, according to some writers, UFO is only to be distinguished for having had Schenker in their ranks.cite book | last = Bukszpan | first = Daniel | authorlink = | coauthors = Ronnie James Dio | title = The Encyclopedia of Heavy Metal | publisher = Barnes & Noble | year = 2003 | location = | page = 227 | url = http://books.google.com/books? id=YaDDsg0H35gC& pg=PT227 | doi = | id = | isbn = 9780760742181
Schenker briefly re-joined the Scorpions (band)|Scorpions in late 1978, when they were recording the album Lovedrive (he plays lead guitar on three 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 occasions when he could not perform on stage due to fatigue and alcohol problems.Citation needed|date=August 2009 He was permanently replaced by Matthias Jabs , who had originally joined the Scorpions before Schenker's return.
Schenker auditioned for Aerosmith in 1979 after Joe Perry (musician)|Joe Perry left;cite book | last = Power | first = Martin | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = The complete guide to the music of Aerosmith | publisher = Omnibus | year = 1997 | location = | page = 61 | url = http://books.google.com/books? id=mbppiCOJ_KoC& pg=PA61 | doi = | id = | isbn = 9780711955981 according to Martin Huxley, Schenker stormed out of the room after some Nazi-jokes were made.cite book | last = Huxley | first = Martin | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Aerosmith: the fall and the rise of rock's greatest band | publisher = Macmillan | year = 1995 | location = | pages = 88–89 | url = http://books.google.com/books? id=HXTQj9jnA3UC& pg=PT2 | doi = | id = | isbn = 9780312117375 After the death of Randy Rhoads , Ozzy Osbourne called Schenker about replacing Rhoads, but, Ozzy claims, Schenker made too many outlandish demands (including a private jet).cite book|last1=Osbourne|first1=Ozzy|last2=Ayres|first2=Chris|title=I Am Ozzy|url= http://books.google.com/books? id=yNzCgAEkW8cC& pg=PT164|accessdate=17 January 2012|year=2010|publisher=Hachette|isbn=9780446569897|page=164 Schenker himself, in an interview with KNAC radio, claims he was the one to say "no" to Ozzy: "If I would have joined Ozzy Osbourne, I would have screwed up my life. I was almost about to do it, and something told me: DON'T!!"cite web | last = Harris | first = Shelly | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Behind Blue Eyes: Up Close and Personal with Iconic Guitar God Michael Schenker | work = | publisher = KNAC | date = 2009-07-28 | url = http://knac.com/article.asp? ArticleID=7126 | format = | doi = | accessdate = 2009-08-18
Michael Schenker Group / McAuley Schenker Group / UFO Reunion
In 1979, Schenker entered upon a solo career by founding the Michael Schenker Group (MSG). The history of MSG is strewn with personality conflicts and incidents. In 1982, original singer Gary Barden , who sang on the first two studio albums and a live album, was fired in favor of Graham Bonnet . Bonnet lasted one album ( Assault Attack ) and was fired from the band because he often lost his voice during shows. Barden was called in at the last minute and did the show with only a few hours rehearsal. He 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 ).
After Barden's second departure, Schenker reorganized the band around himself and new singer Robin McAuley and renamed it the McAuley Schenker Group . The new incarnation of MSG was steered toward a more commercial hard rock sound. After three albums, Schenker and McAuley parted company. In the meantime, he briefly replaced Robbin Crosby in Ratt , appearing on their 1990 MTV Unplugged performance.
In 1995, Schenker briefly rejoined UFO for their reunion album Walk on Water (UFO album)|Walk on Water and toured with them briefly.
He then resurrected the Michael Schenker Group with all new members and recorded three more albums, Written in the Sand , The Unforgiven (album)|The Unforgiven , and Be Aware of Scorpions before rejoining UFO for two further releases, Covenant (UFO album)|Covenant and Sharks (album)|Sharks .
2000 and after
Schenker fell on hard times in the early 2000s. His marriage turned for the worse and he disappeared, leaving the couple's son and daughter with the mother, and his manager allegedly ran off with his earnings; Schenker ended up having to sell three of his prized Flying V guitars.cite news | last = Gill | first = Chris | coauthors = | title = Brick by Brick | work = Guitar World | place = | page = 44- | language = | publisher = | date = September 2008 | url = http://books.google.com/books? id=APwDAAAAMBAJ& pg=PA44 | accessdate = 2009-08-17Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot 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, recognition came from Dean Guitars , which began producing a Schenker signature Dean V (with subtle differences from the Gibson, but with the split black and white trademark Schenker finish).
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. However, in that same year the collection Heavy Hitters , a set of covers featuring Schenker and a revolving group of heavy metal all-stars, was marketed as a Michael Schenker Group album, with the result that Schenker only received a flat fee.
After nearly-disastrous North American and European tours in 2007, which saw canceled shows and less-than-stellar performances caused by heavy drinking, Schenker regained his composure and hit the road in the UK as Michael Schenker & Friends in 2008. Early 2008, Schenker worked with Gary Barden, Don Airey , Simon Phillips , and Neil Murray (British musician)|Neil Murray on a new MSG album In the Midst of Beauty , which was released in May 2008, followed by touring.
In 2009 Schenker toured extensively including Russia, UK and the US with MSG including original members Gary Barden and Chris Glenn. With Schenker now clean shaven and having lost weight many fans commented that he both looked and sounded his best, with the tour receiving rave reviews from loyal fansCitation needed|date=July 2010.
In November 2010, Michael Schenker was honored with the Marshall “11” award in London along other rock legends including Ron Wood and Slash (musician)|Slash . The award was presented to Schenker by Alice Cooper , with Jimmy Page , Tony Iommi and John Paul Jones (musician)|John Paul Jones also in attendance. The award is given to "those artists and musicians who represent rock 'n' roll excess and livin' on the edge."cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Classic Rock Roll Of Honour Winners Revealed! | work = | publisher = Classic Rock Magazine | date = 2010-11-10 | url = http://www.classicrockmagazine.com/news/classic-rock-roll-of-honour-winners-revealed/ | format = | doi = | accessdate = 2011-04-21
Instruments and sound
Schenker's main guitar for much of his career was a Gibson Flying V , which he typically played through a wah-wah pedal (used as a Equalization|parametric equalizer to strengthen the "sweet spot") and Marshall Amplification|Marshall amplifiers . His "unmistakable midrange tone" emphasized by the partially engaged wah,cite book | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = The Boss Book: The Ultimate Guide to the World's Most Popular Compact Effects for Guitar | publisher = Hal Leonard | year = 2002 | location = | page = 89 | url = http://books.google.com/books? id=Q7uumqHg4zAC& pg=RA1-PT89 | doi = | id = | isbn = 9780634044809 as exemplified on the song "Rock Bottom" from the UFO album Strangers in the Night (UFO album)|Strangers in the Night , was listed among the 50 greatest tones of all time by Guitar Player magazine.cite news | last = Blackett | first = Matt | coauthors = | title = The 50 Greatest Tones of All Time | work = Guitar Player | place = | pages = 44–66 | language = | publisher = | date = October 2004 | url = | accessdate = 2009-04-30 In recent years Schenker has switched to using a signature model Dean V .cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = 11 legends of the Flying V and Explorer | work = | publisher = Music Radar | date = | url = http://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/11-legends-of-the-flying-v-and-explorer-214595/4 | format = | doi = | accessdate = 2009-08-17
In 2007 Dean Guitars, after producing a signature Schenker Dean V, also made two acoustic models with the familiar black and white "V" design.cite news | last = Gill | first = Chris | coauthors = | title = Built to Destroy: Dean Michael Schenker Performer MSP and Exotica MSE Acoustic-Electric Guitars | work = Guitar World | place = | page = 187 | language = | publisher = | date = September 2007 | url = http://books.google.com/books? id=JPwDAAAAMBAJ& pg=PA187 | accessdate = 2009-08-17Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot
In video games
The Michael Schenker Group's song, "Armed and Ready", featured in Guitar Hero: Metallica .
The song "Assault Attack" was featured in Brütal Legend .
Awards and recognition
Placed on Guitar World magazine's 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Guitarists.Blabbermouth http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/Blabbermouth.net/news.aspx? mode=Article& newsitemID=18446 GUITAR WORLD's 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Guitarists Of All Time Retrieved on July 18, 2008.
On 2010 Schenker was honored with the Marshall “11” award. http://www.michaelschenkerhimself.com/news.php
Influence
Schenker has been on the covers of many guitar magazines and has influenced many notable guitar players, including Kirk Hammett ...I’m delighted to read that my “Under the Influence” column got you into Michael Schenker—what a phenomenal player he is& #33; In case you’re interested in exploring his playing more, when he left UFO he formed his own band called MSG (the Michael Schenker Group) and did some pretty amazing stuff with that band too... http://www.metallicaworld.co.uk/Interviews/2001_kirk_qanda.htm and James Hetfield ..James Hetfield recalls.'It was the second guitar I ever owned...I wanted a white one because Michael Schenker of U.F.O. had one, so I needed one, too... http://www.musicencyclopedia2004.com/joomla/index.php? option=com_content& view=article& id=2%3Ajames-hetfield-metallica-1-parte-chitarre& catid=1%3Asetup-musicisti& Itemid=3& lang=it (Metallica), Dave Mustaine Dave Mustaine Quotes.. When I was a kid, I had guitar heroes: Jimmy Page, Michael Schenker, Angus Young.. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx? mode=Article& newsitemID=41167...Mustaine attributed his choice of the Flying V guitar to being a fan of UFO's Michael Schenker when he was growing up... Dave Mustaine (Megadeth), Adrian Smith (Iron Maiden), Michael Amott (Arch Enemy - Spiritual Beggars), Chris Caffery (Savatage), Gus G (Ozzy - Firewind), George Lynch (musician)|George Lynch (Dokken - Lynch Mob), Doug Aldrich (Whitesnake - Dio), Warren DeMartini (Ratt), Frank Hannon (Tesla), Slash (musician)|Slash (Guns N' Roses - Velvet Revolver), Michael Wilton (Queensr˙che), Paul Gilbert (Racer X - Mr. Big), Roland Grapow (Masterplan - ex-Helloween), Aaron Aedy (Paradise Lost), Alex Skolnick and Eric Peterson (Testament), Andy LaRocque (King Diamond), Gary Holt (musician)|Gary Holt (Exodus), Erik Turner (Warrant), Arjen Lucassen (Ayreon), Andy DiGelsomina (Lyraka), Hans Ziller (Bonfire), Jim Matheos (Fates Warning), Michael Denner and Hank Shermann (Mercyful Fate), Tak Matsumoto (B'z - TMG), Marty Friedman (Megadeth - Cacophony) among many others.
The 30th Anniversary Concert – Live in Tokyo (2010, live)
With McAuley Schenker Group
Perfect Timing (McAuley Schenker Group album)|Perfect Timing (1987)
Save Yourself (McAuley Schenker Group album)|Save Yourself (1989)
M.S.G. (McAuley Schenker Group album)|M.S.G. (1992)
Nightmare : The Acoustic M.S.G. (1992)
"Unplugged" Live (1992, live)
Solo
Thank You (Michael Schenker album)|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)
Thank You 4 (2003)
Temple of Rock (2011)
Other Schenker projects
Look at Me Now (Bernie Marsden album)|Look at Me Now (Bernie Marsden Album) (1981) as guest
Contraband (band)|Contraband (1991)
Legends of Rock at Castle Donington (2001, Live)
The Plot (band)|The Plot (2003)
Under Construction (Schugar/Schenker album)|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)
Heavy Metal Thunder (video game)|Heavy Metal Thunder (2005)
Music in tribute of Iron Maiden|Numbers from the Beast (2005)
Agony & The Xtasy ( Gary Barden Solo Album) (2006)
Siggi Schwarz and Michael Schenker - Live Together (2006, Live)
Heavy Hitters#Track Listing from Doctor Doctor: The Kulick Sessions (2008 re-release)|Doctor Doctor: The Kulick Sessions (2008) ( Heavy Hitters + 4 additional tracks)
Schenker Gary Barden|Barden Acoustic Project - Gipsy Lady (2009)
We Wish You a Metal Xmas and a Headbanging New Year|Metal X-Mas (2CD Special Edition) (2010)
Strangers In The Night (MICHAEL SCHENKER, HERMAN RAREBELL, PETE WAY And MICHAEL VOSS) (band)|Strangers In The Night (2010)
The Michael Schenker Story Live (1994): see also The Michael Schenker Story Live , the audio recording.
Forever And More: The Best Of Michael Schenker (2003)
Greatest Riffs (2009, US-only compilation)
Instrumental Intensity (album)|Instrumental Intensity (2010, Shrapnel Records compilation)
MSG videography
Rock Will Never Die (1984)
The Michael Schenker Story Live (1999)
Live in Tokyo 1997 (2000)
World Wide Live 2004 (2004)
The 30th Anniversary Concert – Live in Tokyo (2010)
References
Reflist
External links
http://www.michaelschenkerhimself.com/ Michael Schenker Himself, Official site
http://www.savioursofrock.com/interviews/interviewMichaelSchenker.htm Michael Schenker Interview
Michael SchenkerUFOScorpionsRattG3 (tour band)Use dmy dates|date=August 2010 Persondata| NAME =Schenker, Michael | ALTERNATIVE NAMES = | SHORT DESCRIPTION = | DATE OF BIRTH =10 January 1955 | PLACE OF BIRTH = Sarstedt | DATE OF DEATH = | PLACE OF DEATH = DEFAULTSORT:Schenker, Michael Category:1955 births Category:Living people Category:People from Sarstedt Category:German Christians Category:German rock guitarists Category:German heavy metal guitarists Category:Lead guitarists Category:Slide guitarists Category:Scorpions (band) members Category:UFO members Category:Michael Schenker Group members Category:McAuley Schenker Group members Category:Ratt members Category:G3
