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Stairway to Heaven

Led Zeppelin · 1971 · solo by Jimmy Page
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Guitar hero

Michael Schenker

The Flying V virtuoso who wrote hard rock's most melodic solos

Michael Schenker grew up in Lower Saxony, the younger brother of Rudolf Schenker, founder of the Scorpions. He was playing guitar with astonishing fluency as a young teenager and joined his brother's band, recording the debut album Lonesome Crow while still in his mid-teens. When the Scorpions opened for British band UFO on a German tour, Schenker stepped in for UFO's missing guitarist, and the band was so impressed that they invited him to join them in 1973.

Moving to England despite speaking little English, Schenker transformed UFO from a space-rock act into a hard-rock force. Phenomenon introduced Doctor Doctor and Rock Bottom, and albums such as Force It, No Heavy Petting, Lights Out and Obsession showcased his lyrical, precise solos. The 1979 live album Strangers in the Night, recorded on his final tour with the band, is regarded as one of the great concert records of the era. Tensions and personal struggles, including a sudden disappearance mid-tour, marked his exit.

He briefly rejoined the Scorpions for parts of 1979's Lovedrive before launching the Michael Schenker Group. Its 1980 debut, produced by Roger Glover, was followed by MSG with drummer Cozy Powell and the live One Night at Budokan. After further MSG albums, he teamed with singer Robin McAuley in the McAuley Schenker Group in the late 1980s, then contributed to the 1991 Contraband project and returned to UFO for reunions in the 1990s and early 2000s.

Through the 2000s and beyond Schenker toured tirelessly, fronting a rotating cast of singers. He formed Michael Schenker's Temple of Rock in the early 2010s, reuniting with former Scorpions bandmates, and later assembled Michael Schenker Fest, which brought together several past MSG vocalists on one stage. Across all these incarnations he has kept performing the UFO and MSG classics, and his black-and-white Flying V remains one of hard rock's most recognizable images.

The 10 greatest Michael Schenker solos

  1. 1
    Rock Bottom
    UFO · solo by Michael Schenker · 1974
  2. 2
    Doctor Doctor
    UFO · solo by Michael Schenker · 1974
  3. 3
    Lights Out
    UFO · solo by Michael Schenker · 1977
  4. 4
    Love to Love
    UFO · solo by Michael Schenker · 1977
  5. 5
    Into the Arena
    Michael Schenker Group · solo by Michael Schenker · 1980
  6. 6
    Armed and Ready
    Michael Schenker Group · solo by Michael Schenker · 1980
  7. 7
    Only You Can Rock Me
    UFO · solo by Michael Schenker · 1978
  8. 8
    Too Hot to Handle
    UFO · solo by Michael Schenker · 1977
  9. 9
    Coast to Coast
    Scorpions · solo by Michael Schenker · 1979
  10. 10
    Attack of the Mad Axeman
    Michael Schenker Group · solo by Michael Schenker · 1981

The sound

Schenker's solos feel composed rather than improvised: memorable melodic themes built from minor pentatonic and natural minor scales, often shaped like vocal lines. He combines fast, clean alternate-picked runs with expressive bends and a sweet, controlled vibrato. A trademark trick is parking a wah pedal partly open as a tone filter, giving his Flying V a nasal, vocal midrange that cuts through a band. His rhythm playing is tight and punchy, and his solos frequently rise in carefully staged sections, making tracks like Rock Bottom long journeys that never lose their melodic thread.

  • Gibson Flying V (guitar) His defining instrument, famously painted half black and half white.
  • Dean Michael Schenker signature V (guitar) A later signature line based on his iconic two-tone Flying V design.
  • Dunlop Cry Baby wah (effect) Often left partly open as a fixed filter to shape his signature vocal lead tone.
  • Marshall stacks (amp) The foundation of his hard-rock sound from UFO onward.
  • Gibson Les Paul (guitar) Used at times during his early career before the Flying V became his trademark.

Covers

  • Built for Comfort, originally by Howlin' Wolf UFO turned the Willie Dixon blues into a heavy rocker, giving Schenker room for bluesy fire.
  • A Fool in Love, originally by Frankie Miller A soulful rock tune that shows his lighter touch.
  • Alone Again Or, originally by Love UFO reworked the psychedelic classic with strings and his melodic guitar lines.
  • All the Way from Memphis, originally by Mott the Hoople A glam-rock nod recorded with the Contraband all-star lineup.
  • Hang On to Yourself, originally by David Bowie A raucous hard-rock version of the Ziggy Stardust-era song.

Timeline

  • 1955 Born in Sarstedt, West Germany
  • 1972 Scorpions release Lonesome Crow featuring the teenage Schenker
  • 1973 Joins UFO after filling in on a German tour
  • 1974 Phenomenon introduces Doctor Doctor and Rock Bottom
  • 1979 Strangers in the Night released; plays on Scorpions' Lovedrive
  • 1980 Michael Schenker Group releases its debut
  • 1981 Plays Budokan with Cozy Powell
  • 1987 Forms the McAuley Schenker Group
  • 1993 Rejoins UFO for a reunion
  • 2016 Launches Michael Schenker Fest with former MSG singers

Facts

  1. He is the younger brother of Scorpions founder Rudolf Schenker.
  2. He recorded the Scorpions' debut album as a teenager.
  3. He joined UFO after substituting for their absent guitarist when the Scorpions opened for them.
  4. He spoke very little English when he first moved to England with UFO.
  5. His half-black, half-white Flying V is one of hard rock's most iconic guitars.
  6. He often uses a partly open wah pedal as a tone filter rather than rocking it.
  7. Iron Maiden has long used UFO's Doctor Doctor as the walk-on music before their concerts.
  8. Roger Glover of Deep Purple produced the first Michael Schenker Group album.
  9. Cozy Powell played drums on MSG's second album and the Budokan live record.
  10. His brief return to the Scorpions in 1979 ended with Matthias Jabs taking over the lead guitar role.