Ritchie wrote: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
Agree entirely,
such is his influence on me the dorian mode is the first scale i turn to these days.
I think what is also impressive is how much he does with power chords, his harmonic vocabulary is often limited but he always hooks you in with a good riff.
Paul....I saw that video as well. Incredible stuff. I wonder if this was the time when Ratt had just lost their other guitar player to AIDS. Robin Crosby was a solid player as well. Always wrote great riffs as well.
I met Michael Schenker at a rare (at least for me) autograph signing. He was very cool and even signed my guitar. I was very much into the McAuley Schenker incarnation back in the late 80's. One year our family was traveling to Europe and McAuley came off a plane in Germany. I was so excited to meet someone like that without having to go through security or stand in some line. I got to tell him how much their band rocked and I told McAuley that I hoped he and Schenker would write some more stuff together. They finally did on a song called "Tell A Story" on a album Michael did to celebrate his 25 years in rock some 16 years later.
I still wish for a reunion with McAuley of some kind but am just grateful to see Schenker perform live in Tampa, Florida back in 1990. Wish them both the best.
To be a teacher you must never stop learning yourself...
