Michael Schenker Group

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Michael Schenker Group
Michael Schenker, Michael Schenker Group - 2022126211202 2022-05-06 Michael Schenker's Universal World Tour - Sven - 1D X MK II - 1037 - B70I5540.jpg
MSG performing in 2022
Background information
Also known asMSG
OriginLondon, England
Genres
Years active1979 (1979)–present
Labels
Spinoffs McAuley Schenker Group
Spinoff of UFO
Members Michael Schenker
Robin McAuley
Steve Mann
Bodo Schopf
Barend Courbois
Past members See list

The Michael Schenker Group (often abbreviated as MSG) is an English hard rock band, formed in London in 1979 by former Scorpions and UFO guitarist Michael Schenker. [1] After the release of their second live album, 1984's Rock Will Never Die , its members began to have serious discussions that caused a two-year hiatus, and Michael ended the band in 1986. In 1986, Schenker and vocalist Robin McAuley formed the McAuley Schenker Group, which lasted until 1993. [1] Afterwards, in 1996, the Michael Schenker Group was reformed. [2]

Contents

The group has had many different members over the years with Schenker the only constant presence.

History

The band was formed in 1979, following the departure of Michael Schenker from UFO, in an attempt to have a band that better suited his needs. He therefore decided to move to London; a few weeks after his arrival in the British capital, he joined Gary Barden, vocalist of Fraser Nash, who, with bassist Billy Sheehan and drummer Denny Carmassi founded a new band, simply called Michael Schenker Group. [3] The following year they recorded their second album, MSG , which placed at No. 14 on the UK charts. During their promotional tour, they played at Tokyo's Nippon Budokan in Japan, where their first live album was recorded titled One Night at Budokan . It was released in 1982 with great success in the UK where it was certified silver after exceeding 60,000 copies sold.[ citation needed ]

In October 1983, the band released Built to Destroy , the first with keyboardist Andy Nye and which also featured Derek St. Holmes, known at the time as Ted Nugent's vocalist.[ citation needed ] To promote it, they gave several concerts in the UK and later went on tour to other European countries as the opening band of Iron Maiden.[ citation needed ] Their farewell concert was held on December 18, 1983 at the Dortmund festival, after which the band disbanded, and the guitarist founded the McAuley Schenker Group.

After deciding to wrap up the McAuley Schenker Group project, Schenker decided to re-found the band in 1996 with Leif Sundin on vocals, Barry Sparks on bass and Shane Gaalaas on drums with whom he recorded Written in the Sand. Two years later, they released The Unforgiven , with Kelly Keeling replacing Sundin and with John Onder replacing Sparks.

Discography

MSG at Kavarna Rock Fest 2012. From left: Wayne Findlay, Francis Buchholz, Herman Rarebell, Doogie White, Michael Schenker. Michael Schenker Group - Kavarna.jpg
MSG at Kavarna Rock Fest 2012. From left: Wayne Findlay, Francis Buchholz, Herman Rarebell, Doogie White, Michael Schenker.

Studio albums

Michael Schenker Group

McAuley Schenker Group

Schenker Barden Acoustic Project

  • Gipsy Lady (2009)

Michael Schenker's Temple of Rock

Michael Schenker Fest

  • Resurrection (2018)
  • Revelation (2019) [5]

Cover albums

Michael Schenker Group

Live albums

Michael Schenker Group

McAuley Schenker Group

Michael Schenker's Temple of Rock

  • On a Mission - Live in Europe (2012)
  • On a Mission - Live in Madrid (2016)

Michael Schenker Fest

  • Live Tokyo International Forum Hall A (2017)

Members

Current members

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Schenker</span> German guitarist

Michael Schenker 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. He has been called "a legendary figure in the history of metal guitar."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Kottak</span> American drummer (1962–2024)

James Kottak was an American drummer, best known for his work with the German hard rock band Scorpions, which he joined in 1996. At the time of his firing from the band in 2016, he was their longest-serving drummer. Kottak was also an original member of Kingdom Come, of whom he was their drummer from 1987 to 1989 and again from 2018 to his death in 2024, and he had his own band Kottak, formerly known as KrunK. Other bands Kottak played for were Montrose, Warrant, Wild Horses, the McAuley Schenker Group, and Buster Brown.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Graham Bonnet</span> English singer

Graham Bonnet is an English rock singer. He has recorded and performed as a solo artist and as a member of several hard rock and heavy metal bands including Rainbow, Michael Schenker Group, Alcatrazz, and Impellitteri. He is known for his powerful singing voice but is capable of also singing soft melodies. His singing has been noted as "very loud" by both his contemporaries and himself, and he claims to be a self-taught singer with "no discipline for lessons". Bonnet's visual style, considered uncharacteristic of hard rock musicians, has been described as being a cross between Don Johnson in Miami Vice and James Dean.

<i>One Night at Budokan</i> 1982 live album by Michael Schenker Group

One Night at Budokan is a live album by Michael Schenker Group released in 1982. This album was recorded at Nippon Budokan in Tokyo, Japan as part of their 1981 tour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gary Barden</span> Musical artist

Gary John Barden is an English singer-songwriter, best known for his work with the Michael Schenker Group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robin McAuley</span> Irish singer

Robin McAuley is an Irish singer. He is best known as the vocalist for the rock band McAuley Schenker Group from 1986 to 1993, which saw the band release three studio albums: Perfect Timing, Save Yourself, M.S.G., the live album Unplugged Live, and the Japan-only EP Nightmare: The Acoustic M.S.G. He has made further appearances with Schenker in 2012, and also in 2016 with Michael Schenker Fest alongside original MSG singers Gary Barden and Graham Bonnet, and Doogie White of Michael Schenker's Temple of Rock.

<i>Assault Attack</i> 1982 studio album by Michael Schenker Group

Assault Attack is the third studio album by the Michael Schenker Group, and the only album to feature former Rainbow vocalist Graham Bonnet. The album was recorded in France at the Château d'Hérouville and was produced by Martin Birch.

<i>Heavy Hitters</i> 2005 studio album by Michael Schenker Group

Heavy Hitters is a 2005 album of cover songs by the Michael Schenker Group. Originally planned by Schenker as a collection of covers featuring himself and a "revolving all-star cast of guest musicians," the album was labeled and marketed as an MSG album, with the result that Schenker received only a flat fee.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Glen</span> Musical artist

Christopher John Glen, known simply as Chris Glen, is a Scottish rock musician. He is best known for playing with The Sensational Alex Harvey Band from 1972 to 1977, and The Michael Schenker Group from 1980 to 1984, 2008 to 2010, and 2016 to 2020. He also performed with Michael Schenker Fest, featuring original MSG band members.

<i>Built to Destroy</i> (Michael Schenker Group album) 1983 studio album by The Michael Schenker Group

Built to Destroy is the fourth studio album by the hard rock band The Michael Schenker Group. Gary Barden returned to the group on vocals, following the departure of Graham Bonnet amidst tensions with Michael Schenker. This was the band's final studio album prior to their disbanding and Schenker moving on to form the McAuley Schenker Group with vocalist Robin McAuley. New material released under the Michael Schenker Group name would not appear for over a decade.

<i>Perfect Timing</i> (McAuley Schenker Group album) 1987 studio album by McAuley Schenker Group

Perfect Timing is the debut album recorded by the McAuley Schenker Group. It was the first collaboration between Michael Schenker and Robin McAuley, resulting in Schenker's first top 100 US hit with the song "Gimme Your Love."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ted McKenna</span> Scottish drummer (1950–2019)

Edward McKenna was a Scottish drummer who played with The Sensational Alex Harvey Band, Rory Gallagher, The Greg Lake Band, and The Michael Schenker Group. He also toured with Ian Gillan for a short period of time in 1990, alongside fellow former SAHB member, bassist Chris Glen. He lectured in Applied Arts at North Glasgow College from 1996 to 2011.

<i>Tales of RocknRoll</i> 2006 studio album by Michael Schenker Group

Tales of Rock'n'Roll is the twelfth full-length studio album recorded by the various M.S.G. lineups and the ninth studio album by the Michael Schenker Group. It was released in 2006 after two years of work in celebration of the band's 25th anniversary. The music was initially composed for a UFO concept album but Schenker decided instead to use it for a new MSG album after he reformed the band with a new line-up. Every lead singer from MSG's past incarnations contributed lyrics and vocals.

<i>Nightmare: The Acoustic M.S.G.</i> 1992 EP by McAuley Schenker Group

Nightmare: The Acoustic MSG is an EP by the McAuley Schenker Group, released only in Japan, as a companion to the album M.S.G.. It contains acoustic versions of songs from M.S.G. and Save Yourself and follows the flow of unplugged recordings which were very trendy in those years. The recording of the unplugged version of these songs and their success in Germany and Japan inspired Schenker and McAuley to tour with only an acoustic set, which was later released in the live album "Unplugged" Live.

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References

  1. 1 2 Colin Larkin, ed. (1995). The Guinness Who's Who of Heavy Metal (Second ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 241/2. ISBN   0-85112-656-1.
  2. ↑ Saulnier, Jason (23 January 2009). "Michael Schenker Interview". Music Legends. Retrieved 6 May 2013.
  3. ↑ "Loudersoud Reviews". 30 July 2019.
  4. ↑ "MICHAEL SCHENKER's New MSG Album 'Immortal' To Feature JOE LYNN TURNER, RALF SCHEEPERS And RONNIE ROMERO". Blabbermouth.net. 10 August 2020. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  5. ↑ "Revelation by Michael Schenker Fest". Apple Music . Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  6. ↑ Thomas, Bryan (22 June 2017). ""Take Off to European Rock": German rockers Scorpions will "Rock You Like a Hurricane"". Nightflight. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  7. ↑ Ling, Dave (27 July 2006). "Michael Schenker: Appetite For Self-Destruction". Classic Rock . Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  8. ↑ Crampton, Mark (1994). Armed & Ready: The Best of the Michael Schenker Group (Media notes). Music Club. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  9. ↑ "Axxis–MSG" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 10, no. 16. London, England: EMR Publishing. 17 April 1993. p. 19. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  10. ↑ "Michael Schenker Group "Written In The Sand"". Guitar Nine. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  11. ↑ Gett, Steve (3 May 1986). "On the Beat" (PDF). Billboard . Vol. 98, no. 18. New York City, New York: Billboard Publications, Inc. p. 22. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  12. ↑ "McAuley Schenker Reunite At NAMM; Photos, Video Available". Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles . 25 January 2011. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  13. ↑ "Michael Schenker Group - Monterrey Show Announced". Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles . 8 January 2011. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  14. ↑ "Michael Schenker To Reunite With Robin McAuley For 'Temple Of Rock' Tour". Blabbermouth.net. 19 December 2011. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  15. ↑ "Michael Schenker Fest Singer Robin McAuley Diagnosed With Sepsis". Blabbermouth.net. 8 January 2020. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  16. ↑ "Robin McAuley joins MSG for April and May tour dates – Michael Schenker Himself". michaelschenkerhimself.com. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  17. ↑ Colothan, Scott (5 June 2023). "Michael Schenker Group announce November and December 2023 UK & Ireland tour". planetradio. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  18. ↑ Stickler, Jon (5 June 2023). "Michael Schenker Group Plot UK And Ireland Tour For November And December - Stereoboard". Stereoboard.com. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  19. ↑ "Music Now!" (PDF). The Hard Report. No. 38. Medford Lakes, New Jersey: The Hard Report, Inc. 24 July 1987. p. 31. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  20. ↑ "Michael Schenker To Perform With Gary Barden, Graham Bonnet, Robin McAuley At Sweden Rock Festival". Blabbermouth.net. 23 March 2016. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  21. ↑ "Michael Schenker's New MSG Album 'Immortal' To Feature Joe Lynn Turner, Ralf Scheepers And Ronnie Romero". Blabbermouth.net. 10 August 2020. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  22. ↑ Carlson, Taylor T. (2013). HAIRcyclopedia Vol. 2: The Vault. Lulu.com. ISBN   978-1300687559 . Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  23. ↑ "Michael Schenker - MSG Touring Lineup Announced For Kiev, Japan". Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles . 29 January 2007. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  24. ↑ "Michael Schenker Fest Announces New Drummer". Blabbermouth.net. 14 February 2019. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  25. ↑ "Michael Schenker's New MSG Album 'Immortal' To Feature Joe Lynn Turner, Ralf Scheepers And Ronnie Romero". Blabbermouth.net. 10 August 2020. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  26. ↑ "Barend Courbois (Blind Guardian) On Bass". Michael Schenker. 1 July 2021. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
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