Guitarist Michael Schenker kicked off his Michael Schenker Fest tour with three nights at the Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, CA on April 15-17.
Schenker took the stage at 9:30 p.m. and honored his fallen bandmates, U.F.O.’s Paul Raymond, who was also a former M.S.G member, and M.S.G Drummer Ted Mckenna. Mckenna died just three months before the tour and Raymond died just two days before the tour started. Schenker opened the show with a shortened version of the Scorpions' “Holiday” with UFO’s “Doctor Doctor,” featuring all three M.S.G. vocalists Robin McAuley, and Graham Bonnet. The band consists of Steve Mann (Guitar/Keyboards), Chris Glen (Bass), and newest member Bodo Schopf (Drums). The set included songs from M.S.G., McAuley Schenker Group, Scorpions, U.F.O., Temple of Rock, and Schenker Fest. Throughout the show each singer rotated, but at times, there was more than one singer on-stage. Schenker Fest ended the show with four of U.F.O.’s biggest songs “Rock Bottom,” “Shoot Shoot,” “Natural Thing,” and “Light’s Out.”
Schenker began his career 50years ago as an early member of the band Scorpions. Schenker played on three of the group’s albums including their first two releases. After departing from Scorpions, Schenker joined another legendary rock group, UFO, and was a member on and off for 30 years, having played on eight studio albums and one live album. After his first stint with UFO, Schenker formed the Michael Schenker Group (M.S.G), then the McAuley Schenker Group. With both lineups, M.S.G released 13 studio albums . Following M.S.G., Schenker formed Michael Schenker’s Temple of Rock and released three studio albums. Schenker’s latest group Michael Schenker Fest released its first album last year and is currently working a second album.
The Michael Schenker Fest tour concludes May 18 in Austin, TX.
