Михаэль Шенкер: Неміс гитаршысының тарихы

German guitarist

Michael Schenker (born 10 January 1955) is a German guitarist. He played in the rock band UFO and leads the Michael Schenker Group (MSG). He was an early member of the hard rock band Scorpions, a band co founded by his elder brother Rudolf Schenker. In the mid 1970s, Schenker joined UFO, playing lead and rhythm guitar. He left the band in 1978 to briefly rejoin Scorpions for the recording of Lovedrive, and then to form MSG. He has rejoined UFO three times, producing an album each time. Schenker continues to perform and record.

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. His main influences were Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, Leslie West, Johnny Winter and Rory Gallagher. He played his first gig when he was 11, with Rudolf and the Scorpions in a nightclub. Schenker played with the Scorpions on their debut Lonesome Crow at the age of 16. After recording their first album, the Scorpions opened for up and coming UK band UFO in Germany. Schenker was invited to be lead guitarist for UFO (taking over from Bernie Marsden, himself a temporary replacement for Mick Bolton). With Rudolf's blessing, Schenker accepted. Schenker cowrote most of the songs on UFO's major label (Chrysalis Records) debut Phenomenon. His career with UFO was turbulent, sometimes walking off mid song and causing shows to be cancelled. Despite 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, from which selected tracks would make up their live album Strangers in the Night, released after he left the band. "[Singer Phil] Mogg later claimed that I left UFO over a disagreement about which version of 'Rock Bottom' appeared on Strangers," Schenker recalled, "but don't believe everything you read." Schenker briefly rejoined Scorpions in late 1978, when they were recording Lovedrive. He composed and played lead guitar on "Another Piece of Meat", "Coast To Coast" and "Lovedrive". In 1979, Schenker briefly toured with the band in support of the album. He blamed his very short stay on finding out he did not enjoy playing other people's songs. He was permanently replaced by Matthias Jabs, who had originally joined Scorpions before Schenker's return. Schenker auditioned for Aerosmith in 1979 after Joe Perry left. According to Martin Huxley, Schenker stormed out of the room after producer Gary Lyons made jokes about Nazis. After the death of Randy Rhoads, Ozzy Osbourne's first call was to Schenker to replace Rhoads, as the German guitarist and his iconic Flying V were a huge influence on the latter. But, Osbourne claims, Schenker made too many outlandish demands (including a private jet). Schenker himself, in an interview with KNAC radio, claims he was the one to say "no" to Osbourne: "If I would have joined Ozzy Osbourne, I would have screwed up my life. I was almost about to do it, and something told me: DON'T!!" Schenker has also claimed that at some point he was offered, but turned down joining the likes of Deep Purple, Thin Lizzy, Ian Hunter and Motörhead in order to focus on his solo career.

In 1979, Schenker started a solo career by founding the Michael Schenker Group (MSG). The history of MSG is strewn with personality conflicts and incidents. In 1982, original singer Gary Barden, who sang on the first two studio albums and a live album, was fired in favour of Graham Bonnet. Bonnet lasted one album (Assault Attack) and a single gig, at Sheffield University, where he drunkenly exposed himself and was subsequently fired from the band. Barden rejoined MSG for the rest of the tour. He also appeared on the 1983 studio album (Built to Destroy) and the band's second live album (Rock Will Never Die). After Barden's second departure, Schenker reorganized the band around himself and new singer Robin McAuley and renamed it the McAuley Schenker Group. The new incarnation of MSG was steered toward a more commercial hard rock sound. After three albums, Schenker and McAuley parted company. In the meantime, he briefly replaced Robbin Crosby in Ratt, appearing on their 1990 MTV Unplugged performance. In 1993, Schenker rejoined UFO. He co wrote (with Phil Mogg) nearly the whole of their reunion album, Walk on Water (1995), and toured with them briefly. He then resurrected the Michael Schenker Group with all new members and recorded three more albums, Written in the Sand, The Unforgiven, and Be Aware of Scorpions before rejoining UFO for two further releases, Covenant and Sharks.

Schenker fell on hard times in the early 2000s, despite his rejoining UFO that year. He later recorded the album Arachnophobiac and supported it with two years of touring. In 2004, recognition came from Dean Guitars, which began producing a Schenker signature Dean V (with subtle differences from the Gibson, but with the split black and white trademark Schenker finish). 2005 was the 25th anniversary of the Michael Schenker Group. Schenker put together a new album of songs called Tales of Rock'n'Roll to celebrate the anniversary and enlisted singers from each iteration of the band to sing on the album. However, in that same year the collection Heavy Hitters, a set of covers featuring Schenker and a revolving group of heavy metal all stars, was marketed as a Michael Schenker Group album, with the result that Schenker only received a flat fee. In 2011 Schenker released a new album, Temple of Rock. It was supported with a tour of Europe, Japan and the USA. In Europe the line up included Herman Rarebell on drums and Francis Buchholz on bass, both former members of Scorpions (Rarebell also joined the band for the Japanese dates) and Doogie White, formerly singer for Rainbow and Yngwie Malmsteen. With this line up he recorded the album Bridge the Gap which was released in 2013. In August 2012 Schenker received a Lifetime Achievement in Rock and Roll Award from Vegas Rocks! Magazine. The award was presented by David Coverdale of Whitesnake. During the award ceremony Schenker performed with Sammy Hagar of Chickenfoot, Montrose and Van Halen. In 2016, Schenker toured Japan under the name of "The Michael Schenker Fest" featuring current and former singers: Doogie White, Gary Barden, Graham Bonnet and Robin McAuley, bassist Chris Glen, drummer Ted MacKenna and keyboardist/guitarist Steve Mann, releasing one live album "Fest: Live Tokyo International Forum Hall" (2Cd/Dvd) following two more albums, Revelation (2018) and Resurrection (2019). This lineup disbanded after the loss of the drummer Ted Mackenna in January that year. In 2021, Schenker announced the return to the MSG brand, releasing "Immortal" with some of former MSG/ Fest members: singers Michael Voss, Doogie White, Robin MacAuley and Gary Barden, bassist Barry Sparks, guitarist Steve Mann and drummer Bodo Schopp along with special guests: former Rainbow singers Joe Lynn Turner and Ronnie Romero, longtime collaborators Simon Phillips and Brian Tichy on drums. The following year MSG released the album "Universal" featuring a new steady lineup with Mann, Schopp, Romero and bassist Barry Sparks. And as usual some special guest such as vocalists Ralph Scheepers (Primal Fear) and Michael Kiske (Helloween), former Rainbow members, keyboardist Tony Carey, drummer Bobby Rondinelli and bassist Bob Daisley. In July 2022 Dutch bassist Barend Corbois (ex Blind Guardian) was announced as the new touring bass player.

Schenker's main guitar for most of his career was a Gibson Flying V, which he typically played through a "cocked" wah wah pedal (switched on but left in a single position, around halfway through the travel of the foot pedal, and used as an equaliser to strengthen the midrange "sweet spot" as exemplified on the song "Rock Bottom" from the live UFO album Strangers in the Night, was listed among the 50 greatest tones of all time by Guitar Player magazine. Since 2004, Schenker has switched to using a signature model Dean V.

In 2007 Dean Guitars, after producing Schenker's signature Dean V, also made two acoustic models with the familiar black and white "V" design.

Placed on Guitar World magazine's 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Guitarists. In 2010 Schenker was given the Marshall "11" award. Schenker accepted his "Rock Guitar Legend" award at the Vegas Rocks! Magazine Music Awards 2012. On 16 June 2014, Schenker was honored the Golden God Icon Award at the Metal Hammer Golden God Awards at the IndiO2 in London.

YearBandTitleNotes1966Michael Schenker"LIVE" At Age 11 With The EnervatesLive with the Enervates. September 13, 1966 Beat Club 11972ScorpionsLonesome Crow1974ScorpionsFly to the Rainbowco writer1974UFOPhenomenon1975UFOForce It1976UFONo Heavy Petting1977UFOLights Out1978UFOObsession1979UFOStrangers in the NightLive1979ScorpionsLovedriveLead guitar, backing vocals on 1, 2, 4, 7, 8, 101980Michael Schenker GroupThe Michael Schenker Group1981Michael Schenker GroupMSG1982Michael Schenker GroupOne Night at BudokanLive1982Michael Schenker GroupAssault Attack1983Michael Schenker GroupBuilt to Destroy1984Michael Schenker GroupRock Will Never DieLive, CD/VHS1984Michael Schenker GroupSuper Rock '84 in JapanLive, VHS1987McAuley Schenker GroupPerfect Timing1989McAuley Schenker GroupSave Yourself1991McAuley Schenker GroupM. S. G.1991ContrabandContraband1992UFOBBC Radio 1 Live In ConcertLive, Tracks 9,10,11,12, Recorded in 1974 and 19761992McAuley Schenker GroupNightmare: The Acoustic M. S. G. EP1992McAuley Schenker Group"Unplugged" LiveLive1993Michael Schenker (Solo)Thank You1995UFOWalk on Water1996UFOOn With The ActionLive, Recorded at the London Roundhouse Sunday 25 April 19761996Michael Schenker GroupWritten in the Sand1997Michael Schenker GroupThe Michael Schenker Story LiveLive, CD/VHS1998Michael Schenker (Solo)Thank You with Orchestra1998UFOWerewolves Of LondonLive, Recorded at Wolverhampton Civic Hall on 10 February 19981999Michael Schenker GroupThe Unforgiven1999Michael Schenker GroupThe Unforgiven World TourLive2000Michael Schenker GroupMichael Schenker Live in Japan The Unforgiven World Tour 2000Live, VHS2000Michael Schenker (Solo)Adventures of the Imagination2000Michael Schenker (Solo)The Odd Trio2000Michael Schenker (Solo)MS 2000: Dreams and Expressions2000UFOCovenant2001Michael Schenker GroupBe Aware of Scorpions2002UFOSharks2002Michael Schenker (Solo)Thank You 22002Michael Schenker (Solo)Thank You 32003Michael Schenker (Solo)Thank You 42003Michael Schenker GroupArachnophobiac2003UFOLive on EarthLive, Recorded at Rockpalast, Vienna, Austria on 28 January 19982003The PlotThe Plot2003Amy Schugar, Michael SchenkerUnder Construction2004Michael Schenker GroupWorld Wide Live 2004Live, DVD2004Schenker Pattison SummitThe Endless Jam2005Schenker Pattison SummitThe Endless Jam Continues2005Michael Schenker GroupLive in Tokyo 1997Live, DVD2005Michael Schenker GroupHeavy HittersCover2006Michael Schenker GroupTales of Rock'n'Roll2008Michael Schenker Group, Michael Schenker, Gary BardenIn the Midst of Beauty2009Schenker/Barden Acoustic ProjectGipsy Lady2010Michael Schenker GroupThe 30th Anniversary Concert – Live in TokyoLive, CD/DVD2011Michael Schenker GroupBy Invitation OnlyCover2011Michael Schenker's Temple of RockTemple of Rock2012Michael Schenker's Temple of RockTemple of Rock – Live in EuropeLive, CD/DVD2013Michael Schenker's Temple of RockBridge the Gap2015Michael Schenker's Temple of RockSpirit on a Mission2016Michael Schenker's Temple of RockOn a Mission: Live in MadridLive, CD/DVD2017Michael Schenker FestLive: Tokyo International Forum Hall ALive, CD/DVD2018Michael Schenker FestResurrection2019Michael Schenker FestRevelation2021Michael Schenker GroupImmortal2022Michael Schenker GroupUniversal2023UFOLights Out in Babenhausen 93Live, recorded at the Stadhalle in Babenhausen, Germany on 12 December 1993, CD/LP