Celebrate Michael Schenker Music Past And Current

Michael Schenker will be rockin’ the Grove of Anaheim Mar. 25 performing a 2 ½ hour set of his most popular music with original singers, Gary Barden, Graham Bonnet, and Robin McAuley (MSG) as well as Doogie White (Temple of Rock). The tour is billed as Michael Schenker Fest and will also feature music from the recently released Resurrection.

“We are going to be here performing with all of these album lineups and with Chris Glen and Ted McKenna who were the rhythm section for Assault Attack when Graham Bonnet was singing,” Schenker explained. “Then we have Steve Mann (guitar) who is connected with the McAuley Schenker era part of the past. He actually wrote “Anytime” with Robin McAuley.

“It’s going to be a well-balanced show with classics and new stuff and instrumentals. And also, it has been 40 years since I recorded Strangers In the Night with UFO so who knows, maybe, Phil Mogg shows up sometimes and sings a couple of UFO songs.”

Getting everyone together and available at the same time could be potentially challenging but, fortunately, as Schenker mused, “It seems to be synchronized with the universe. It’s something that needs to happen and it’s happening.”

He went on to explain his approach, “I wanted to combine all my energies that I have put into different lineups. Some bands have stayed together for 40 years and put all their energies into one lineup, I went all over the place. There were certain circumstances of not being able to put people on retainer so when it was time for me to make a record, sometimes I had to move to new singers, new musicians, etc. etc.

“I’m in celebration mode. The new album is called Resurrection which means we are all back and we are celebrating all together the past and the current. It’s great for the fans to see everything on one stage.

“In 1978 when I was 23 years old, by doing Strangers In the Night, I had experienced fame and success to its fullest and I was able to make a decision after I helped the Scorpions with the Lovedrive album to open the doors for America. Did I want to stay up there, or did I want to start the second chapter of my life and start experimenting with music and focus on life, get things out of my system? And that’s what I did and those were the most rewarding years in my life and they made me ready for the third stage of my life, which is now, showing up, eventually with all original singers, is fantastic.”

Resurrection is poised to be another Michael Schenker classic album with songs such as “Night Moods,” “Warrior,” and “The Girl With the Stars In Her Eyes” to name a few.

“The song “The Girl with the Stars in Her Eyes” is a fantastic riff it’s very suitable for Doogie to sing and it’s one of my favorites, too,” Schenker said. “And “Night Moods” – Michael Voss did an excellent job in writing the lyrics – and the melody for Glen. Graham’s voice on that song, especially the ad libs at the end of that song, it’s remarkable, it’s fantastic.”

Initially, the making of the record was thought to be a two-year project, with label Nuclear Blast advising them to “take their time”. However, Schenker had other ideas with the upcoming tour on the schedule, preferring the album finished and released before they hit the road.

“We decided to start in May and finish in November” Schenker recalled. “Michael Voss (producer) and I immediately started working so I don’t even think we had phoned Graham or anybody that they didn’t have all the time in the world. But Doogie was so fast he started to select five songs, but it was three songs each singer!”

Preferring to create music without outside influences, Schenker doesn’t listen to or copy other music or guitar, going for pure self-expression.

“I am the architect of the music, I have a vision, I know exactly what I want, and I want it as pure as possible,” Schenker explained. “So, I kind of put all the music down in guides – keyboard guides, the bass – so the people know what I’m trying to achieve and where the journey goes.

“The main thing that comes from the other musicians is their personality. Their personal touch, the way Ted grooves, the way Ted does his drum fill, the solidness and the sound of Chris Glen and the bass and everybody puts their touches in and they make the final thing.

“Then of course the singers, as many as possible, do their own lyrics and their own melodies and of course Michael Voss was the perfect guy for the job as the co-producer because he’s an 80s fan and he understands each member in the band so it’s very, very enjoyable and easy to work with and make it successful.”

Don’t miss this exciting and unique performance of classic Michael Schenker songs, instrumentals, and songs from the new album Resurrection, with the original singers.