Mc Shanker and temple rock

Michael Schenker – photo credit: Stephen Fourie

Michael Schenker has spent the past four decades as the lead guitarist for some of the biggest names in rock and roll, such as The Scorpions, UFO, and MSG.

He would go on to assist in creating some of the most gripping tunes in classic rock and hair metal history, with his consistent craving for creativity and experimentation bringing him to front some forceful and inventive bands.

And it seems that right from the start, Michael was destined for rock greatness. His first gig was at the age of 11, in which he manned lead guitar duties and played nightclubs with a little known band called The Scorpions.

At the age of 15, Michael took a major role in shaping what would become The Scorpions’ debut album, Lonesome Crow.

Soon following, he was snatched up by UFO, and quickly began catching the world’s attention with the rampaging riffage he generously slathered across such classic rock hits as “Doctor Doctor” and “Rock Bottom“.

Michael Schenker would soon become a known quantity as he continued to mesmerise the eyes and ears of metal world.

However, Michael’s

craving for creativity steered him to pursue other things, and he left UFO to form his own band, The Michael Schenker Group. The power hits kept coming from Michael, with such tunes as “Armed and Ready” and “Anytime”, where his songs got heavy rotation on the airwaves.

Michael Schenker is back, but now with a new project that focuses on the critically acclaimed live concert, Temple of Rock: Live In Europe, on Blu-ray, DVD, and CD.

A short while ago, I had the pleasure of sitting down with this guitar stormbringer to talk about his new DVD, his personal taste in gear, and his history in the music business.