Michael Schenker

NicDots · Post by **NicDots** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 5:49 am

I am just getting into this guy. What a great tone! What a great feel! MS, please recommend me some tunes/albums.

Ritchie · Post by **Ritchie** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 8:11 am

Ok coolness ! I have been into Schenker since the late 70's .. check out his work with UFO esp songs " Rock Bottom " also " Light Out" these songs absolutely awesome solos , If you can these are best heard off the ' Strangers In The Night ' live album .

After UFO he formed his own band MSG - Michael Schenker Group , his work on his first 2 albums was awesome then the quality kinda became sporadic as the 80's rolled on by IMHO . Highlite songs to look for are ' Into the Arena ' and 'Captain Nemo', then after the mid 80's i lost a lot of interest as Michael seemed to "lose the plot " with his heavy drinking and as a consequence the quality of his playing dropped , coupled with very bad marriage break-ups etc .. anyhow , if you can please check out the stuff i mentioned and i promise you wont be disappointed ..

- Ritchie

Paul Wolfe · Post by **Paul Wolfe** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 3:06 pm

Michael Schenker at 16 when he was with the Scorpions...

With UFO

With MSG

Cpt Matt Sparrow · Post by **Cpt Matt Sparrow** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 3:25 pm

WOW this is all new to me. Thanks Paul and Ritchie for the clips and Nicole for bringing it up.

This is right up my street

Matt

Alex · Post by **Alex** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 6:02 pm

xx123456

rice_pudding · Post by **rice_pudding** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 8:14 am

Matthew wrote:WOW this is all new to me. Thanks Paul and Ritchie for the clips and Nicole for bringing it up.

This is right up my street

Matt

WHAT! how is this all new to you?

oh well, im sure you'll enjoy discover shenkers craft

Stangers in the night is top rate, the solo on shoot shoot is a real facemelter Force it is also a good album lots of interesting riffs as well IMHO

You cant go wrong with these albums and the one's Ritchie reccomends.

P.S. i think shenkers influence is very present in randy's QR material

Rob

Ritchie · Post by **Ritchie** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 8:33 am

rice_pudding wrote:
Matthew wrote:WOW this is all new to me. Thanks Paul and Ritchie for the clips and Nicole for bringing it up.

This is right up my street

Matt
WHAT! how is this all new to you?

oh well, im sure you'll enjoy discover shenkers craft

Stangers in the night is top rate, the solo on shoot shoot is a real facemelter Force it is also a good album lots of interesting riffs as well IMHO

You cant go wrong with these albums and the one's Ritchie reccomends.

P.S. i think shenkers influence is very present in randy's QR material

Rob

Thanks Rob .. yes the whole S.I.T.N album is awesome from start to finish . I remember playing Lights Out & Rock Bottom continuously when i was 14-15 and sitting there trying to work out the solo's , I believe that Schenker was an influence on Randy .. I think i remember reading it someplace ? anyhow I hope with Michael's upcomming tour that he's focused and clean & sober .. that'd be great . I almost cried watching him on You-Tube a couple years ago at the Blues& custom show and he was soooo drunk he could even string 2 coherent notes together .. so very sad ..

NicDots · Post by **NicDots** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 4:09 pm

I think my favorite song so far is Mother Mary.

It's got that awesome swagger-like kinda feel. I can definitely hear where Randy picked up some of his little runs when I listen to Michael!

Paul Wolfe · Post by **Paul Wolfe** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 7:15 pm

In a recent Guitar World (the one reviewing the amp, I believe), Kelle Rhoads commented on how Randy discovered Schenker w/UFO and told his older brother about how he (Schenker) must have been Mozart in a previous life. Apparently Randy was very impressed by Schenker.

Ironically, Ozzy wanted to have Schenker as Randy's replacement after the plane crash but wasn't willing to play the dollar amount that Schenker was asking.

His music is great, but his life story has been rather sad until recently...

NicDots · Post by **NicDots** » Thu Feb 05, 2009 8:50 am

Yeah, I remember seeing that.
But that's not really the reason I wanted to explore him. It seems like zillions of guitarists site Michael as someone they looked up to when they first started playing.
I don't think Michael would have been good for Ozzy on a personal level. Ozzy needs his band to be more sober than himself and with Michael...I don't think that would be the case.

Paul Wolfe · Post by **Paul Wolfe** » Fri Feb 06, 2009 6:08 am

Check out www.michaelschenkerhimself.com sometime, Nic. He lost everything a few years ago (had to sell his guitars to pay the rent) and has worked his way back up. Now he is much more in touch with reality.

I emailed him a couple years back when I was at the height of my back issues. He emailed back a nice, heartfelt reply. He's a legendary guy who has had to face his demons and has come out better than ever.

Cpt Matt Sparrow · Post by **Cpt Matt Sparrow** » Fri Feb 06, 2009 7:12 am

rice_pudding wrote:
Matthew wrote:WOW this is all new to me. Thanks Paul and Ritchie for the clips and Nicole for bringing it up.

This is right up my street

Matt
WHAT! how is this all new to you?

oh well, im sure you'll enjoy discover shenkers craft

Stangers in the night is top rate, the solo on shoot shoot is a real facemelter Force it is also a good album lots of interesting riffs as well IMHO

You cant go wrong with these albums and the one's Ritchie reccomends.

P.S. i think shenkers influence is very present in randy's QR material

Rob

Hi Rob

Yes! I am sure I must have heard his playing by accident in the past but he until now has been a gap in my memory banks of rock guitarists.

I am pleased to have the banks filled now under S.
I have some back issues of GT that have Michael in , so looking forward to re reading.

Matt

Ritchie · Post by **Ritchie** » Fri Feb 06, 2009 9:18 am

The great thing about Michaels lead playing is he always plays to enhance the song with a melodic solo , never just to blow his wad ( so to speak ) I think the reason his solo's are memorable is like Randy they're written instead of improvised . I also like the way he has total control over his tone by placing his wah in the 'sweet spot' , his bends , his vibrato and even though his solo's are written they never sound sterile and ooze feeling and emotion . I think it was his use of Aeolian for the most part that caught my ear first off , then his use of Dorian , Mixolydian and Ionian .. and liberal use of Pentatonics with different phrasing to the 'regular' use of them .. all in all he just rocks , and i'd love nothing more than to see him rock on for many years to come .

- Ritchie

NicDots · Post by **NicDots** » Fri Feb 06, 2009 3:49 pm

Paul Wolfe wrote:Check out www.michaelschenkerhimself.com sometime, Nic. He lost everything a few years ago (had to sell his guitars to pay the rent) and has worked his way back up. Now he is much more in touch with reality.

I emailed him a couple years back when I was at the height of my back issues. He emailed back a nice, heartfelt reply. He's a legendary guy who has had to face his demons and has come out better than ever.

Yeah, I remember that in the GW issue. I think it was cause of the divorce, no?
He sounds like a stand up guy. I'm happy he's doing better now.

Post by **The Flying Dutchman** » Fri Feb 06, 2009 8:09 pm

Big Michael fan here! So I'm very pleased to see Michael Schenker being discussed here!

One of my all time favourite players! Great tone, great feel and he also used classical influences at times but always with taste. No suprise Randy was into him as well. I also want to suggest one of my all time rock concert video here, I just saw it on ebay: MSG Live in Hamburg 1981
I reccomend this video to every Michael fan! That original MSG line up with Cozy Powell on drums kicked ass!