What about him? Yeah, I love Chapman era and Vinnie now. Archer did a great job on High Stakes and Lights Out In Tokyo.
But of course its widely accepted, and probably rightly so, that UFO were at thier finest with the German Guitar God.
Like many people of my age Strangers In The Night just blew me away and hooked me into UFO for life. Album bought it was then the rest of the Schenker catalogue bought every week or so with pocket money. In chronological order if memory serves.
But what of my new God? He was gone! Now I dont remember all the details but papers such as Sounds seemed to drip feed rumours on a regular basis. Moonies, spotted in the South of France on a Vespa?
Next sighting? With Scorpions on the 1979 Lovedrive album. Credited with 3 songs,for me it was a fantastic album. Many might argue the best as I feel his influence is all over it. Alls well then. With his brother Rudy and everythings fine.Well no, fatigue? Stage Fright? Whatever? Somethings not quite right with our hero and hes off again.
Well here I have to admit my memory is hazy, maybe the Aerosmith rumour? Remember theres no all seeing internet at the time we are at here. But rejoice, news of a solo album. Or do I rejoice. I dont think I did really. I seem to have memories of being a little apprehensive of what was to come in my young mind. Is he really nuts. He could do anything. He hasnt got Mogg, Way, Raymond and Parker in his team! He hasnt got the reassuring presence of an older brother! And the other thing making me nervous? Ritchie bloody Blackmore! Nothing against the guy. Brilliant guitar player of course. Now we've all been there. Yes, the "who's the best" arguments. My man? "Oh hes a basket case" theyd say. "Look at Richie and his back catalogue. And now hes got a flashy new modern singer." I couldnt win.
But then, but then................BOOOOOOM!!
Are you high tonight, are you feeling alright,
Cos I need you now, like I never did before,
Is it hard enough, is It loud enough
Cos if you don't approve,you can use the door!
Game back on. Listen to this my friends. I win! And there was more to come....
Mail-thingy works ����. Am glad to see the negotiations of the last days had the desired effect and Barry is contributing now ��. Have a nice weekend and keep it cool!
ReplyDeleteAnd emoticons don't work, apparently......
DeleteYes, the negotiations went ok. Trouble is, he will be much better than me!!
ReplyDeleteAs far as I've seen so far, youomplement each other, Russ. Have to say that commenting here is a lot more complicated then/than (really drawing a blank here) on FB. May be you can open a uforock.blogspot FB page and put links to this blog on there. Comments can be given there then.
ReplyDeleteFor one thing, can't correct any mistakes somehow. Is driving me crazy, trying to post here since yesterday, but had to start again umpteen times. So gave up yesterday and tried again today. Finally decided to post the comment above with the mistake in situ.....
DeleteYes it is a little more complicated. On other blogs I just comment anonymous but with Russ W at the end of it.
ReplyDeleteA pain in the ass to make a comment on this thing. But I agree with you about Michael Schenker in UFO, only I was there from the beginning. In 74 a friend called me up , told me a friend of ours, George "Obi-Wan" O'Brien had a new album from a group called UFO, and they had this young German guitarist that was really good. Well, the album was Phenomenon, and the guitarist of course was Michael Schenker. I've been a fan of both ever since. Mark
ReplyDelete