Michael Schenker
b.10 January 1955, Savstedt, Germany. Schenker began his musical career at the age of 16, when, along with brother Rudolf, he formed the Scorpions in 1971. After contributing some impressive guitarwork on the band's LONESOME CROW debut, he was offered the chance to replace Bernie Marsden in UFO. Schenker joined the group in June 1973 with the result that their musical direction adopted an increased hard-rock stance. PHENOMENON, released in 1974, featured the metal classics Doctor, Doctor and Rock Bottom, with Schenker's performance on his Gibson Flying V, hammering home the band's new identity. A series of excellent albums followed, before Schenker eventually quit in 1978, after the recording of OBSESSION. The split had been imminent for some time as there had been personal conflict between Schenker and vocalist Phil Mogg for several years. Schenker moved back to Germany and joined the Scorpions again temporarily, contributing guitar parts to LOVEDRIVE, released in 1979. Soon afterwards, he formed his own band, the Michael Schenker Group, which was later abbreviated to MSG. MSG's personnel has been in a constant state of flux, with Schenker hiring and firing musicians, seemingly, at will. Vocalists have included Gary Barden, Graham Bonnet and more recently Robin McCauley. In 1991, Schenker took time out between MSG albums, to contribute to the Contraband project, a one-off collaboration between members of Shark Island, Vixen, Ratt and L.A.Guns. This album featured an inspired selection of covers that included Mott The Hoople's All The Way From Memphis and David Bowie's Hang On To Yourself. Schenker's latest album is scheduled for January 1992, with Never Ending Nightmare, an acoustic five-track EP preceding it as a single release.