Michael Schenker's "Temple of Rock" UK/Ireland Tour Dates - April/July 2013

Michael Schenker's current group goes under the banner 'Temple of Rock' and includes ex-Scorpions Herman Rarebell (drums) and Francis Buchholz (bass); Wayne Findlay (keyboards/guitar) and Doogie White (ex Rainbow/Yngwee Malmsteen) on vocals.

The 'Temple Of Rock 2013' concerts will include hits spanning Michael Schenker’s artistic career such as UFOs 'Rock Bottom' and 'Doctor Doctor' (I hope Michael includes a few more), MSGs 'Armed and Ready' and 'Into the Arena' ('Desert Song' would be great), and the Scorpions classics 'Another Piece of Meat' and 'Rock You like a Hurricane.' Songs from the Temple of Rock album (released in September 2011) will be included in the set. So expect 'Before the Devil Knows You´re Dead', 'Miss Claustrophobia' and 'Hanging On.'

I've read reviews disparaging the quality of some of the songs, vocals, and production on the Temple of Rock album. I believe that most of the tracks will stand the test of time. As will Michael's guitar riffs, strong song melodies, guitar solos and guitar tone. Michael's past continues to shine in his music. Catch him in performance while you can. The guy's a genius. A truly magnificent guitar player.

No Belfast date: Am I surprised? No. Just another in a long list of artists who play shows in the Irish Republic but don't include Northern Ireland in their tour schedule. 

Temple of Rock Tour Dates:

09 April - Stockton ARC  
10 April - Aberdeen The Lemon Tree
11 April - Edinburgh HMV Picture House
12 April - Newcastle O2 Academy
13 April - Holmfirth, Picturedrome
14 April - Warrington Parr Hall
16 April - Falmouth Princess Pavilion
17 April - Bristol O2 Academy
18 April - Salisbury City Hall  
19 April - Oxford O2 Academy
20 April - Nottingham Rock City
21 April - Norwich The Waterfront
22 April - Vicar Street , Dublin
31 May - O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire, London 
19 July - 53 Degrees, Preston 
20 July - The Robin 2, Bilston, Wolverhampton
27 July - Sheffield Plug, Matilda Street, Sheffield  

Michael Schenker Official Site

Michael Schenker: "Temple Of Rock World Tour 2012" - Tour Dates and Tickets

As part of his "Temple Of Rock World Tour 2012" Michael Schenker has announced he will be touring with different line ups around the world. The Tour will start in the United States in February/March 2012 featuring Robin McAuley (Vocals), Elliott “Dean” Rubinson (Bass), Wayne Findlay (Keyboards & Guitar), and Pete Holmes (Drums).

The set lists will comprise songs from UFO, MSG, The Scorpions, and new songs from the Temple Of Rock CD released 26/9/11. I have been an admirer of Michael's guitar playing  from the '70s and believe the album is a tremendous achievement for Michael and mirrors his songwriting and guitar playing at its most powerful, passionate and engaging. Despite reading some negative comments, I believe the album captures its welcome share of wonderful moments, and is a record to return to again and again to buoy the spirit.  

U.S. Tour Dates: 15 Feb - 24 Mar 2012

At the end of March 2012 Michael will be joined in Japan with Michael Voss (Vocals), Herman Rarebell (Drums), Elliott “Dean” Rubinson (Bass), and Wayne Findlay (Keyboards & Guitar).

Japan Tour Dates: 27 - 30 Mar 2012

Michael Schenker has announced four UK dates for this tour. The shows will be the first time Schenker's touring band features two ex-Scorpions members: Herman Rarebill (Drums) and Francis Buchholz (Bass). The band line-up will also include Doogie White (Vocals) and Wayne Findlay (Keyboards & Guitar). Personally, I hope Michael adds a few more dates to the tour in the UK & Ireland.

UK Tour Dates

09 May 2012 - Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton
10 May 2012 - HMV Ritz, Manchester
11 May 2012 - O2 ABC Glasgow (ABC1 & ABC2), Glasgow
12 May 2012 - O2 Shepherds Bush Empire, London

Michael Schenker Official Site

Amazon's Michael Schenker Store

DVD Review: Michael Schenker Group 'Live In Tokyo - 30th Anniversary Tour' [2010]



This performance was recorded on 13 January 2010 at the Nakano Sun Plaza, Tokyo during the band's 30th anniversary tour of Japan. Michael is joined by Gary Barden (vocals), Simon Phillips (drums), Wayne Findlay (guitar, keyboards, vocals) and Neil Murray (bass). While the audio and visuals are great, the lighting and fast alternating camera shots are disappointing, at times. The overall performance of the group, however, is astounding given that the tempo barely slackens during the entire 1 hour & 35 minute concert.

Gary's vocals are gritty, smoky, and one tends to wonder if his voice will hold out until the end of the show. I'm not a fan of hearing an audience sing the chorus of a song(s) while the vocalist temporarily takes a back seat, holding his microphone in their direction. It can be great for those attending the concert but frustrating for those watching & listening to the performance on DVD. Gary does make it to the end of the concert and he is refreshingly unpretentious. It's not an easy task for a rock vocalist to sing with such passion, vitality and feeling while seeking to be heard above the extensive volume produced by a band on stage.

The DVD is worth it alone for the renditions of 'Let Sleeping Dogs Lie' (Michael's soloing and the ending are outstanding, melodic and mind-blowing), "Cry For The Nations", and "Lost Horizons". Some of the tracks and guitar playing (aka "On and On") may be slightly superior on the Japan DVD released in 1995. Nonetheless, this quality DVD provides further proof that Michael is an excellent guitar player and musician who remains greatly underrated and widely imitated. 

Simon Phillips is a revelation on drums. His diverse and refined rhythm patterns accompanied by Neil Murray's superb bass playing and sound create strong pulses that give the overall music extreme energy and passion. Michael's soloing throughout the concert highlights that his unique guitar tone and playing remain a joy to behold. It's good to see Michael back on top where he belongs. Wayne Findlay, whether he is playing guitar or keyboards, is an excellent musician in his own right. His input is essential to the sound and music of the MSG. His imaginative playing and feel are integral to the charm and brilliance of this exceptional concert.

The extras include an interview with each band member, a group rehearsal, and backstage shots which include Michael adjusting his amp & pedal settings, and meeting a crowd of exhilarated fans. This DVD is a must for fans of heavy rock and virtuoso rock guitar playing as displayed throughout the concert by Michael Schenker.

Hard, heavy, metal rock - call it what you will - is a genre that doesn't just belong to the '80s as some musical commentators espouse. It continues to attract a large enthusiastic following world-wide (young & old) which ensures it is as relevant today as it was yesterday. Diverse music forms, for example, blues, jazz, R&B, rockabilly, country, classical, are still played with passion and relevance. As an art form, metal, hard, heavy, rock has the right to be treated with as much respect and value as other types of music. And it should be played loud. Listen to it before it's too late.

Track List

Amazon: DVD Release Date: 11 Oct 2010

Michael Schenker Official Site

Robin Trower - UK and European Tour - Sep & Oct 2010

Robin Trower and his band will be undertaking a UK and European tour during September and October 2010. Don't miss the opportunity to witness 'live' a truly creative guitarist with a distinctive sound and inspired song writing ability.

Some talented musicians grow into maturity and then decline swiftly or slowly. Robin isn’t one of those – he continues to mature musically, play with creativity and passion, and is an inspiration to musicians, fans and music lovers alike.

I am attending two concerts and will be posting a review of one of the shows.

Concert Dates:

03/09/10 - De Boerderij in Zoetermeer, Holland 

05/09/10 - Paradiso, Amsterdam

08/09/10 - The Globe, Cardiff

09/09/10 - Robin 2, Bilston

10/09/10 - Pacific Arts Centre, Birkenhead

11/09/10 - Academy, Glasgow

12/09/10 - Picturedrome, Holmfirth

15/09/10 - Waterfront, Norwich

16/09/10 - Academy, Newcastle

17/09/10 - Assembly Rooms, Derby

18/09/10 - Shepherds Bush Empire, London
19/09/10 - The Brook, Southampton 

22/09/10 - Komedia, Bath (Review)

23/09/10 - Featival, St. Ives, Cornwall

25/09/10 - The SoundHouse, Otford

26/09/10 - Komedia, Brighton

29/09/10 - Spirit of 66, Verviers, Belgium

01/10/10 - Café Hahn,  Koblenz, Germany

02/10/10 - Music Theatre Rex, Lorsch, Germany

03/10/10 - Musiktheater Piano Dortmund, Germany

05/10/10 - The Quasimodo, Berlin, Germany

06/10/10 - Barby, Magdeburg, Germany

08/10/10 - La Poudrière, Leffrinckouckel,  France 

09/10/10 - Bobino, Paris
10/10/10 - Le 112, Terville, France

12/10/10 - Aarburg, Switzerland

14/10/10 - TBA, Monaco

15/10/10 - International Blues Festival, Barcelona 

An important aspect of the tour will be the set list. Robin says it will include some new songs and [perhaps] restoration of some old favourites that are truly atmospheric live, for example, "Daydream" - a classic song.

Best wishes to Robin and the band for an enjoyable and successful tour in 2010.

This footage is dedicated to Robin, Pete, Davey, and Glenn. Thanks for the music and the vibe.

Robin Trower Official Youtube Channel

trowerpower.com

DVD Review: "Live In Tokyo" - The Michael Schenker Group - Released July 2005

While it's not the same as witnessing Michael Schenker live in concert, and the visual (one camera?!) and audio quality are patently substandard, this DVD still captures Michael's original, melodic, fluid guitar playing at its best.

The DVD is good value: two concerts; forty songs, 236 minutes in length, an excellent interview with Michael Schenker, and all the band members are in outstanding form.

Sometimes the best recorded shows available on DVD do not always catch an artist/group giving their finest performance. However, this DVD provides proof that Michael is an outstanding guitar player who remains grossly underrated and highly imitated.

Let's be thankful Michael is still playing and looks to be back on track.

Track listing:
1. In the Search of the Peace of Mind (Scorpions)
2. Doctor Doctor (UFO)
3. Let it Roll (UFO)
4. Natural Thing (UFO)
5. Lights Out (UFO)
6. Only You Can Rock Me (UFO)
7. Another Piece of Meat (Scorpions)
8. Into the Arena (Michael Schenker Group)
9. Are You Ready to Rock (Michael Schenker Group)
10. Assault Attack (Michael Schenker Group)
11. Captain Nemo (Michael Schenker Group
12. No Time for Losers (McAuley Schenker Group)
13. Save Yourself (McAuley Schenker Group)
14. All the Way from Memphis (Contraband)
15. Pushed to the Limit (UFO)
16. Written in the Sand (Michael Schenker Group)
17. Back to Life (Michael Schenker Group)
18. Love Never Dies (Michael Schenker Group)
19. Essence (Michael Schenker Group)
20. Never Ending Nightmare (McAuley Schenker Group)
21. Bijou Pleasurette (Michael Schenker Group)
22. Positive Forward (Michael Schenker)
23. Lost Horizon (Michael Schenker Group)
24. Too Hot to Handle (UFO)
25. Attack of the Mad Axeman (Michael Schenker Group)
26. Love to Love (UFO)
27. On and On (Michael Schenker Group)
28. Armed and Ready (Michael Schenker Group)
29. Feels Like a Good Thing (Michael Schenker Group)
30. Rock Bottom (UFO)

Bonus video - taken from the Unforgiven World Tour, Japan 2001:
1. Cry for the Nations
2. Let Sleeping Dogs Lie
3. Rock My Nights Away
4. Fish Dancing
5. Pilot of Your Soul
6. In and Out of Time
7. The Mess I've Made
8. Hello Angel
9. Fat City
10. Looking for Love

Further details available at: Amazon

      

Michael Schenker to play the Ulster Hall, Belfast - 19 December 2009

Michael Schenker has confirmed the following tour dates for the UK. More dates are to be confirmed. The line up for the tour is:

Michael Schenker (Guitar)
Gary Barden (Vocals)
Wayne Findlay (Guitar/Keyboards)
Pete Holmes (Drums)
Chris Glen (Bass)

Tour Dates

DEC 16, 2009 -MANCHESTER ACADEMY 3, MANCHESTER
DEC 17, 2009 - SHEFFIELD ACADEMY, SHEFFIELD
DEC 18, 2009 - JB'S, DUDLEY
DEC 19, 2009 - ULSTER HALL , BELFAST
DEC 20, 2009 - BRISTOL ACADEMY, BRISTOL
DEC 21, 2009 - WOUGHTON CENTER, MILTON KEYNES
DEC 22, 2009 - NEWCASTLE ACADEMY, NEWCASTLE
DEC 23, 2009 - OXFORD ACADEMY, OXFORD

Michael's last performance in Belfast was at the "Spring and Airbrake" on 20/2/08. The whole band and sound was amazing. Michael's guitar playing style was original, outstanding, melodic, and his guitar tone indescribable. The venue was packed and the energy coming of the stage energised the packed crowd. Michael topped of a fantastic show by being available before, and after, the show to talk to fans. A truly great night, a great performance, a great band, fronted by one of the best exponents of guitar to grace the planet. Long may it continue.

View: Michael Schenker - The Interview

Concert Review: Michael Schenker & Friends - Spring and Airbrake, Belfast - 20 February 2008

I last witnessed Michael Schenker playing live at the Ulster Hall, Belfast in October 1983 when he was touring with the Michael Schenker Group (MSG). He was warmly welcomed by fans who were transfixed by his guitar virtuosity, warm tone, and melodic and fluid playing. I believe his group that night included Gary Bardon (vocals), Chris Glenn (bass), and Ted McKenna on drums. The keyboardist may have been Andy Nye. However, the band were in top form and the concert was outstanding. Michael's performance was a masterclass in melodic rock guitar playing. Untouchable.

The "Spring and Airbrake" proved to be a great venue to see 'Michael Schenker and Friends'. It is a small, intimate venue, and a rocking and appreciative crowd combined to create a great atmosphere. I spoke to Michael before the gig about his guitar playing, song writing, and how grateful I was he had returned to Belfast to perform. He looked in great shape all dressed in black.

From the opening number "Assault Attack" it was clear the band - with the superb Leif Sundin on vocals - would play an integral part in the show tonight. They combined to create music that was tight, emotional, rich in sound, yet full of tension, delicacy and subtle balances that made the music vibrant and intoxicating. There wasn't a weak song in the set list which comprised fourteen songs, and each one had the crowd singing, clapping and cheering throughout the performance. When a song ended it was clear to Michael and the band that the crowd was in the mood to rock to great music.

"Let it Roll" and "Lights Out" were superb with Michael soloing in his own distinctive memorable style. He plays such strong fluid melodic runs and subtle bends he is amazing to watch. A particular favourite of mine is "Into The Arena" which was outstanding tonight. Most of the crowd sang along with Lief Sundin on most of the songs, especially "To Hot To Handle" and "Only You Can Rock Me" creating an unbelievable atmosphere.

After rousing renditions of "Armed and Ready" and "Attack Of The Mad Axeman" it was evident the crowd was not going to let Michael and his friends of the stage without hearing more music. It was great to see Michael getting the attention he truly deserves, and to see him looking and sounding as good as ever. The whole band was incredible - especially Leif Sundin on vocals - and they provided excellent support for Michael to work his magic.

The band returned for an encore which included " Doctor Doctor" and "Rock Bottom". By this time nearly everyone was singing along with the lyrics and thumping the air. The riff to "Rock Bottom" is an all-time classic. If you don't feel like moving your body to it, and it doesn't transfer you somewhere intoxicating and special - well, frankly - there's no hope for you. The soloing during "Rock Bottom" was full of well-controlled vibratos, soft harmonic runs. and blistering lead runs. Need I say more. Michael's back and this time he means business.

Michael returns to Belfast on 19 December 2009 to perform at the Ulster Hall, Belfast. Should be a truly great night.

Michael's signed Set List - Belfast 2008

Michael Schenker and Ronnie Kerrigan

Sylvia Kerrigan And Michael Schenker

Michael's pedals