MICHAEL SCHENKER rocks The Coach House May 1; Photo by Andrella Christopher
Michael Schenker celebrates an era of rock at The Coach House on May 1 with songs from UFO, Scorpions, MSG and others.
“I love to play where people have an interest to hear what we do,” Schenker said when thinking about playing at The Coach House. “It’s a very nice set up. The venue has a big stage, it’s very open and spacious and the audiences are always very good.
Schenker’s new album, “Spirit On A Mission”, features the same Temple Of Doom lineup as the previous album, “Bridge the Gap” with ex-Rainbow singer, Doogie White, ex-Scorpions rhythm section Herman Rarebell on drums and Francis Buchholz on bass, and Wayne Findlay from MSG on 7 string and keyboards.
The album almost didn’t see the light of day when several guitars and original tapes were stolen. However, the group re-recorded and released the album adding a couple tracks to their live set.
“I have a lot of material I can juggle around. Every time I play a concert there are some people who say, ‘Why didn’t you play this, why didn’t you play that?’ So, we’re going to play a couple of new songs and one from the previous album and the rest are going to be MSG, Scorpions, UFO and all of that kind of stuff.”
Back in 2008 Schenker began to realize while working with Gary Barden on the reunion album, “In the Midst of Beauty” that he was developing a likeness for being on stage.
“I took that as a signal to be back in the loop of rock and roll,” he said.
“The incredible era of rock that I fell in love with, started for me with Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, etc. Many people are passing away from that era like John Bonham, Keith Moon and recently Lou Reed and Alvin Lee. At some point it will just be a memory – that era. And so, I feel like I’m being called back to the foreground.
“I believe the universe is the driver, I just do my part.”
In regards to new bands and musicians starting out today, Schenker feels that expressing yourself is the truest way to own what you create.
“My approach is pretty extreme because I am like a monk,” Schenker explained.
“I don’t listen to music, I create from within. So, I stay away from the external music world as much as I can, like a monk stays away from the material world so he can focus on the inner life.
“I have been doing that for so many years that I have developed my own style which is based on doing something from within.
“In my own personal case, I love to express myself and to create rather than consume. But of course, we need consumers!”
“There’s nothing right, nothing wrong, just do your thing and stay strong.
The most important thing that Schenker would like to reiterate is “everybody keep on rocking! We are looking forward to coming here. “