Michael Schenker
| Michael Schenker | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Background information | |
| Born |
10 January 1955 Sarstedt, West Germany |
| Genres | Hard rock, heavy metal |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter, producer |
| Instruments | Guitar |
| Years active | 1969–present |
| Labels | BMG |
| Associated acts | Scorpions, UFO, Michael Schenker Group, McAuley Schenker Group, Michael Schenker's Temple of Rock, Contraband, G3, Schenker Pattison Summit |
| Website | www |
| Notable instruments | |
|
Gibson Flying V Dean Signature V model |
|
Michael Schenker (born Michael Willy Schenker, 10 January 1955) is a German rock guitarist, best known for his tenure in UFO, in addition to his solo band. Nicknamed the "Blonde Bomber", he first rose to fame as an early member of Scorpions, then achieved fame in the mid-1970s as the lead guitar player for UFO. Since leaving UFO in 1978, he has been leading the Michael Schenker Group in various incarnations. He has rejoined UFO three times, producing an album each time. He is the younger brother of Rudolf Schenker, who is still a guitarist with 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. He has been called "a legendary figure in the history of metal guitar."
Michael Schenker started playing guitar at an early age, after his brother Rudolf got a Gibson Flying V guitar for his birthday, 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 on their debut album Lonesome Crow at age 17.
Scorpions went on tour after recording their first album, opening up for upcoming UK 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) and, with the blessing of his brother, accepted (Scorpions replaced him with Uli Roth), even though he didn't speak English.
Schenker co-wrote most of the songs on UFO's major label (Chrysalis Records) debut album Phenomenon. His career with UFO was turbulent, sometimes walking off mid-song causing shows to be cancelled. Despite having a series of successful albums and tours, Schenker unequivocally quit UFO after their show in Palo Alto, California, on 29 October 1978. During this tour the band had recorded six concerts whose selected tracks would make up their seminal live album Strangers in the Night, which was released after he left the band.
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Wikipedia