Matthias Jabs
| Matthias Jabs | |
|---|---|
Matthias Jabs live with Scorpions in 2014
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| Background information | |
| Born |
October 25, 1955 Hannover, Federal Republic of Germany |
| Genres | Hard rock, heavy metal |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter |
| Instruments | Guitar |
| Years active | 1978–present |
| Labels | RCA, Mercury, New Door |
| Associated acts | Scorpions |
| Notable instruments | |
| , Gibson Explorer Dommenget Mastercaster Signature model Dommenget "Universe" Explorer, Cort Garage |
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Matthias Jabs (born October 25, 1955) is a German guitarist and songwriter. He is best known for being the lead/rhythm guitarist in the heavy metal band Scorpions. He has played on all Scorpions studio albums starting with Lovedrive (1979) to Return to Forever (2015). He has a music store, MJ Guitars, in Munich, Germany.
"For the follow-up Taken by Force, RCA Records made a determined effort to promote the album in stores and on the radio. The album's single, "Steamrock Fever", was added to some of RCA's radio promotional records. Roth was not happy with the commercial direction the band was taking. Although he performed on the band's Japan tour, he departed to form his own band, Electric Sun prior to the release of the resultant double live album Tokyo Tapes. Tokyo Tapes was released in the US and Europe six months after its Japanese release. By that time in mid 1978, after auditioning around 140 guitarists, Scorpions recruited guitarist Matthias Jabs."
"Following the addition of Jabs, Scorpions left RCA for Mercury Records in the United States and Harvest/EMI Electrola worldwide to record their next album Lovedrive. Michael Schenker also returned to the group for a short period during the recordings for the album. This gave the band three guitarists (though Schenker's contribution to the final release was limited to only three songs). The result was Lovedrive, an album which some critics consider to be the pinnacle of their career. Containing such fan favourites as "Loving You Sunday Morning", "Always Somewhere", "Holiday" and the instrumental "Coast to Coast", it firmly cemented the 'Scorpions formula' of hard rock songs mixed with melodic ballads.
After the completion and release of the album the band decided to retain Michael in the band, forcing Jabs to leave. However, in April 1979, after only a few weeks on the tour, Michael quit. Jabs was immediately brought in to permanently replace him.
Jabs' playing style was a large part of Lovedrive's fresher, newer, heavier sound. This "Van Halen-like" sound would become the band's signature as it would propel them into superstardom in the 1980s.
In the year 2000, he was awarded the city of Hanover plaque and the Cross of Merit on Ribbon (Verdienstkreuz am Bande) of the Lower Saxony Order of Merit.
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Wikipedia