Michael Schenker Group Explained

Michael Schenker Group
Image Upright:	1.25
Alias:	MSG
Origin:	London, England
Years Active:	- present
Spinoffs:	McAuley Schenker Group
Spinoff Of:	UFO
Current 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]

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.

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. 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. 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

See main article: Michael Schenker Group discography.

Studio albums

Michael Schenker Group

• The Michael Schenker Group (1980) #8 UK
• MSG (1981)
• Assault Attack (1982)
• Built to Destroy (1983)
• Written in the Sand (1996) #22 Japan
• The Unforgiven (1999)
• Be Aware of Scorpions (2001)
• Arachnophobiac (2003)
• Tales of Rock'n'Roll (2006)
• In the Midst of Beauty (2008)
• Immortal (2021)^[4]
• Universal (2022)

McAuley Schenker Group

• Perfect Timing (1987)
• Save Yourself (1989)
• M.S.G. (1991)
• (1992)

Schenker Barden Acoustic Project

• Gipsy Lady (2009)

Michael Schenker's Temple of Rock

• Temple of Rock (2011)
• Bridge the Gap (2013)
• Spirit on a Mission (2015)

Michael Schenker Fest

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

Cover albums

Michael Schenker Group

• Heavy Hitters (2005)
  • Doctor Doctor: The Kulick Sessions (2007 re-release)
  • By Invitation Only (2011 re-release)

Live albums

Michael Schenker Group

• One Night at Budokan (1982) (UK Silver)
• Rock Will Never Die (1984)
• BBC Radio 1 Live in Concert (1993)
• The Michael Schenker Story Live (1997)
• The Unforgiven World Tour (1999)
• The Mad Axeman Live (2007)
• Walk the Stage: The Official Bootleg Box Set (2009)
• (2010)

McAuley Schenker Group

• "Unplugged" Live (1992)

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

See main article: articles and List of Michael Schenker band members. Current members

• Michael Schenker – lead and rhythm guitar, backing vocals ^{[6] [7] [8] [9] [10]}
• Robin McAuley – lead vocals ^{[11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18]}
• Steve Mann – keyboards, rhythm and occasional lead guitar, backing vocals ^{[19] [20] [21]}
• Bodo Schopf – drums ^{[22] [23] [24] [25]}
• Barend Courbois – bass guitar, backing vocals ^[26]

External links

• Michael Schenker official site
  • MSG in the BNR metal pages

Notes and References

1. Book: The Guinness Who's Who of Heavy Metal. Colin Larkin. Colin Larkin (writer). Guinness Publishing. 1995. Second. 0-85112-656-1. 241/2.
2. Web site: Music Legends. Michael Schenker Interview. 6 May 2013. 23 January 2009. Saulnier. Jason.
3. Web site: Loudersoud Reviews. 30 July 2019 .
4. Web site: MICHAEL SCHENKER's New MSG Album 'Immortal' To Feature JOE LYNN TURNER, RALF SCHEEPERS And RONNIE ROMERO. Blabbermouth.net. 10 August 2020. 10 August 2020.
5. Web site: Revelation by Michael Schenker Fest. Apple Music. 25 September 2019.
6. Web site: Thomas . Bryan . 22 June 2017 . "Take Off to European Rock": German rockers Scorpions will "Rock You Like a Hurricane" . 16 January 2022 . Nightflight.
7. Web site: Ling . Dave . 27 July 2006 . Michael Schenker: Appetite For Self-Destruction . 16 January 2022 . Classic Rock.
8. Armed & Ready: The Best of the Michael Schenker Group . Crampton . Mark . Music Club . 1994 . 16 January 2022.
9. Axxis–MSG . . London, England . EMR Publishing . 17 April 1993 . 10 . 16 . 19 . 16 January 2022.
10. Web site: Michael Schenker Group "Written In The Sand" . 16 January 2022 . Guitar Nine.
11. Gett . Steve . On the Beat . . New York City, New York . Billboard Publications, Inc. . 3 May 1986 . 98 . 18 . 22 . 16 January 2022.
12. News: 25 January 2011 . McAuley Schenker Reunite At NAMM; Photos, Video Available . . 16 January 2022.
13. News: 8 January 2011 . Michael Schenker Group - Monterrey Show Announced . . 16 January 2022.
14. News: 19 December 2011 . Michael Schenker To Reunite With Robin McAuley For 'Temple Of Rock' Tour . . 16 January 2022.
15. News: 8 January 2020 . Michael Schenker Fest Singer Robin McAuley Diagnosed With Sepsis . . 16 January 2022.
16. Web site: Robin McAuley joins MSG for April and May tour dates – Michael Schenker Himself . 2023-04-12 . michaelschenkerhimself.com.
17. News: Colothan . Scott . 5 June 2023 . Michael Schenker Group announce November and December 2023 UK & Ireland tour . planetradio . 6 June 2023.
18. Web site: Stickler . Jon . 5 June 2023 . Michael Schenker Group Plot UK And Ireland Tour For November And December - Stereoboard . 2023-06-06 . Stereoboard.com . en.
19. Music Now! . The Hard Report . Medford Lakes, New Jersey . The Hard Report, Inc. . 24 July 1987 . 38 . 31 . 16 January 2022.
20. News: 23 March 2016 . Michael Schenker To Perform With Gary Barden, Graham Bonnet, Robin McAuley At Sweden Rock Festival . . 16 January 2022.
21. News: 10 August 2020 . Michael Schenker's New MSG Album 'Immortal' To Feature Joe Lynn Turner, Ralf Scheepers And Ronnie Romero . . 16 January 2022.
22. Book: Carlson, Taylor T. . HAIRcyclopedia Vol. 2: The Vault . . 978-1300687559 . 2013 . 16 January 2022.
23. News: 29 January 2007 . Michael Schenker - MSG Touring Lineup Announced For Kiev, Japan . . 16 January 2022.
24. News: 14 February 2019 . Michael Schenker Fest Announces New Drummer . . 16 January 2022.
25. News: 10 August 2020 . Michael Schenker's New MSG Album 'Immortal' To Feature Joe Lynn Turner, Ralf Scheepers And Ronnie Romero . . 16 January 2022.
26. News: 1 July 2021 . Barend Courbois (Blind Guardian) On Bass . . 16 January 2022.