Michael Schenker 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.
Michael was born in Sarstedt, Germany. He started playing in his early teens when his brother Rudolph brought home a Flying V guitar, which captured Michael’s imagination. His playing style is unusual in that he seems not to use conventionally practiced guitar scales but seems instead to improvise.
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. Despite the language barrier; he spoke no English and they spoke no German, something clearly “clicked” and Schenker brought the ellusive X factor to the band and took them to another level musically.
Schenker has had a turbulent career with UFO, often walking out mid song and causing shows to be cancelled. He is evidently as temperamental as he is gifted. Schenker says his playing with UFO is like chocolate: fantastic for a while but once you’ve had enough…
Clearly a musical prodigy, Schenker was one of the 1970’s most inspirational guitarists, influencing later musicians such as Kirk Hammett from the band Metallica.
Michael Schenker and his band of classic rock veterans delivered a superb performance at the Shepherds Bush Empire. Playing numbers from all periods of his long career, plus odd nuggets from the Scorpions and Rainbow, this was thrilling stuff. MS is an absolute genius of the guitar and his playing is as good as it ever was. A two hour show which never flagged for one moment. Special mentions to Dougie White as a first rate singer/frontman with a great sense of humour, and Herman The German Rareb...
Fantastic,memorable night
Warrington, Parr Hall, 14/04/2013
It was so good to see Michael back to his best and obviously loving what he's doing.The band also were excellent and they played everything the fans wanted to hear.Superb night and i'll definitely go and see him again.The best moment was of course the incredible guitar solo on Rock Bottom. His rapore with the fans was good to see as well high fiving everyone he could.
Watching a Rock God
London, O2 Empire Shepherds Bush, 12/05/2012
Having never seen Michael Schenker live before but listened to Strangers in the Night since it was released back in the 80s, I was speechless to hear one of the great masters of heavy rock guitar perform as if he were miming. The replication of all his tracks from UFO to the Scorpions to MSG with enough subtle licks to prove that it was live was something to be believed. The venue was fantastic and reminded me very much of a smaller version of the old Glasgow Apollo where I used to frequent as a...
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