Schenker Is God?

  So Schenker is God eh? Err, well no. I can hear you thinking " this guys lost the plot!" . But hold on. Look at the title of this page. UFO ROCK. Now there's a certain picture that does the rounds on Facebook with the caption "I don't always listen to UFO, but when I do I prefer the   Schenker version". Well it gets my goat on a few levels.
  Now Im a massive UFO and Schenker fan but no, I don't always listen to UFO either. Shock, horror! Oh aye. Judie Tzuke, The Faces, Manics. Hell I even went to see The Corrs and more recently the musical Wicked and enjoyed both very much. So no, of course you don't always listen to UFO. That would be just bloody stupid wouldn't it?
You prefer the Schenker version? Well which version would that be then? Aah right! You only listen to a couple of albums from the nineties then? Yep, that's when the UFO name (partly) belonged to Michael. That's three albums you restrict yourself to then? Good for you. For anyone still reading, yes Im being somewhat pedantic. But you get my drift. That meme is just stupid.

   Lets move on. Yes I do love Schenker. Hes arguably the best living Rock guitar player there is. These last few years hes back to his best and its wonderful and exciting to see him playing those riffs and spine chilling solos. But did you you follow him through ALL his career without UFO? I didn't. Sure I kept an eye and an ear on what he was doing. But no, I didn't lap up everything he did. Why? Two words. Phil Mogg.
But UFO aren't the same without Schenker? Well no. Schenker isn't quite the same without Mogg. What kept me buying UFO records as soon as they were released? Moggs voice and writing. Atomic Tommy M may not be much appreciated by many, but even so Phil pulls the band through lean times when UFO were swimming very much against the tide. Check out the American re mixes of Night Run, Heavens Gate and even the normal version of Wreckless. Moggs soulful voice and storytelling can still pull you in.
   Ok, Moore, Chapman, Archer. Technically not as good as Schenker. But is that what Rock n Roll is about. Technical? No. Its about fun, excitement and a damn good image put in your mind that you can relate to. Yep girls, heartbreak,being one of the boys,trouble . Another thing Phil Mogg cant be touched on (except by maybe Philo)? The non soppy love song.  Phil comes up with those stories and images I can relate to. Gary Barden managed it even on In The Midst of Beauty. Voss and Doogie have more recently. But for me Phil Mogg is the God of UFO. The succesion of frankly average singers Michael had seemed to dilute what he was doing. My favourite album and the one I tend to play if I want something from those years is Instrumental Intensity. Michael painting pictures with no distractions. 
    Now this isn't meant to be a Schenker knocking session. Far from it. Like many I wouldn't mind seeing Schenker back in UFO. With Vinnie if I had my way. No. My point here is that Schenker needs Mogg more than Mogg needs Schenker. As Im writing this, Diesel In The Dust has just come on the iPod. Mr Mogg with an under rated guitar player. But by the gods of Rock n Roll! Phil pulls off yet another fantastic piece of imigary and story telling yet again.

   Gods of Rock n Roll?

   Phil Mogg may well be King of them all.