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1994-10-02
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4KB
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74 lines
SCORPIONS
line up: Klaus Meine (vocals)
Rudolf Schenker (guitar)
Mathias Jabs (guitar)
Francis Buchholz (bass)
Herman Rarebell (drums)
The foundation of the Scorpions (the band that later will be the most
successfull European hardrock act) starts at the Schenker's in Hannover,
Germany. Rudolf founds it in 1965 and after a while his younger brother
Michael plays sometimes with them on guitar. However, Michael isn't allowed
from his parents. Because he doesn't only play guitar with big brother, but
also drinks with big brother afterwards, everything comes to light, the day
after in the hospital. When Michael is old enough to stand up against this
alcoholic side-effect, he becomes a real band-member. This is 1971 and the band
furthermore exists of Klaus Meine, bassplayer Lothar Heinberg and drummer
Wolfgang Dziony. Young Michael plays very good, even that good, that he's asked
by U.F.O. to join them. This happens right after the first Scorpions album
"Lonesome Crow", released in 1972. Michael accepts the offer and leaves. The
only ones left are Rudolf and Klaus, who record the second album, "Fly to the
Rainbow", with Francis Buchholz on bass, and Jurgen Rosenthal on drums.
Michael's replaced by Ulrich Roth. Just like on the debut, the Scorpions play
heavy rock with sometimes some Hendrix-alike space-influences in stretched
guitarsolo's from Ulrich (Uli for friends) Roth. "In Trance", first time
produced by their producer Dieter Dierks, is a big step forward, concerning the
play and the compositions. Meanwhile Rudy Lenners has replaced Jurgen on drums,
and Rudy also plays drums on the hard "Virgin Killer", a true monument of
hardrock-history, if it was only for the lolita-cover, that isn't allowed in
the U.S. The Scorpions are breaking through in Europe and Japan, when "Taken by
Force" is released in '78, this time with Herman Rarebell on drums. This record
has, besides the obligatory tempo-rockers, also some beautiful stretched epic
songs. The negative side of the development of the Scorpions is the style-gap
that arises between Schenker/Meine and Roth. This results in Roth leaving the
band after the '78-tour and founding his own band Electric Sun. Nevertheless a
double-live album "Tokyo Tapes" is released, with recordings from this tour. A
very good album, with no audible style-gap. The split happens also in a very
friendly atmosphere. Coincedentally, Michael Schenker has just left U.F.O., but
not in the same friendly atmosphere. He is welcomed like the prodigal son,
though Mathias Jabs should replace Ulrich. Jabs is sidetracked and the new
album "Lovedrive" is finished with Michael. When Der Michael collapses after a
few European gigs, they call Jabs again and the actual line-up is born. There
are also no more arguments about the musical direction, they want to break
through in the U.S. The way to get this is a good live reputation, and the
Scorpions adapt their songs to this. The time for experimental songs is
history. By "Animal Magnetism" and especcially "Blackout" they conquer America.
The band is almost constantly on tour and there is little time left for any
studio albums. "Love at first Sting" is the last studio album for the moment.
To keep the public awake, in '85 the mini-LP "Gold Ballads" is released. The
new double live album "World Wide Live" confirms again the enormous class of
Scorpions' favorite occupation: playing on stage. First in 1988 a new studio
album is released: "Savage Amusement". A good record, showing the band (that
gives ten sold-oud concerts in Leningrad, spring 1988) from a more introvert
side.
albums: Lonesome Crow (Metronome '72)
Fly to the Rainbow (RCA '74)
In Trance (RCA '75)
Virgin Killer (RCA '76)
Taken by Force (RCA '77)
Tokyo Tapes (RCA '78)
Lovedrive (Harvest '79)
Animal Magnetism (Harvest '80)
Blackout (Harvest '82)
Love at first Sting (Harvest '84)
World Wide Live (Harvest '85)
Savage Amusement (Harvest '88)
video: World Wide Live
First Sting EP
.