McAuley Schenker Group

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McAuley Schenker Group
McAuley Schenker Group.jpg
McAuley Schenker Group in 1989
Background information
OriginLos Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres
Years active1986–1993, 2012
Labels
Spinoff of Michael Schenker Group
Past members Robin McAuley
Michael Schenker
Mitch Perry
Rocky Newton
Bodo Schopf
Steve Mann
Jesse Harms
Jeff Pilson
James Kottak
Spencer Sercombe

McAuley Schenker Group (commonly abbreviated to as MSG) was a multi-national rock band based in Los Angeles featuring core members Robin McAuley (vocals) and Michael Schenker (guitar), a successor (and eventual predecessor) to Schenker's earlier band Michael Schenker Group. [1] McAuley was initially contacted to replace singer Gary Barden in MSG. However, the strong partnership immediately formed between McAuley and Schenker led to the change of the name from Michael Schenker Group to McAuley Schenker Group, retaining the same initials of the previous band MSG. [2]

Contents

The band consisted of German, Irish, American, and British members. It could be considered a supergroup, as all members had solid musical careers; for example, guitarist Steve Mann had performed on albums by Tytan, Sweet, Saxon and alongside bassist Rocky Newton in Lionheart. Newton had previously fronted the short-lived late-1970s group The Next Band, which also featured one-time Def Leppard drummer Frank Noon. Guitarist Mitch Perry had replaced Yngwie Malmsteen in Steeler, played with Billy Sheehan in Talas and recorded an album with Australian hard rockers Heaven. Drummer Bodo Schopf had credits with Eloy, among others, and later joined Steve Mann in Sweet. They relocated to Los Angeles, trying to exploit the increasing popularity of hard rock and glam metal in the US. [3] They released three studio albums, one EP and an acoustic live album before disbanding.

Their first album Perfect Timing was released in 1987, and included their first hit "Gimme Your Love". Two years later, Save Yourself was released, giving this incarnation of MSG its biggest hit with the power ballad "Anytime". M.S.G. followed in 1992 and "Unplugged" Live came out in 1993.

After the 1992 tour with a strictly acoustic set and the release of the unplugged live, in 1993 McAuley and Schenker went their separate ways, the first getting married and retiring from the music scene for a few years, the latter working on his first solo album and eventually reforming the Michael Schenker Group in 1996. [2]

After a stint fronting Survivor, McAuley started cooperating with Schenker again, playing 26 shows across the US in February and March 2012.

Discography

Studio albums

Live albums

Extended plays

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

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M.S.G. is the third and final studio album by Michael Schenker and Robin McAuley's project, the McAuley Schenker Group. It was released in 1991 in Japan and 1992 in Europe.

<i>Save Yourself</i> (McAuley Schenker Group album) 1989 studio album by McAuley Schenker Group

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<i>"Unplugged" Live</i> 1992 live album by McAuley Schenker Group

"Unplugged" Live is a live album by the McAuley Schenker Group, recorded in California, during a tour with a completely acoustic set. Michael Schenker released this live album at the height of "unplugged" mania in the early 1990s, revising his blistering guitar antics as reflective, nylon-string, semi-classical ballads. The album features Shark Island guitarist Spencer Sercombe on second guitar and backing vocals. "Unplugged" Live is the final release of the McAuley Schenker Group, which disbanded in 1993; Robin McAuley got married and retired from the music scene for a few years, while Michael Schenker began working on instrumental solo projects.

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References

  1. Saulnier, Jason (January 23, 2009). "Michael Schenker Interview". Music Legends. Retrieved May 6, 2013.
  2. 1 2 "Robin McAuley interview". MetalKings.com. April 2004. Retrieved August 2, 2011.
  3. Sharpe-Young, Garry (2009). "McAuley Schenker Group". MusicMight. Archived from the original on October 16, 2012. Retrieved August 3, 2011.