Michael Schenker Group

Michael Schenker Group
Michael Schenker Group
	MSG performing in 2022
Background information
Also known as	MSG
Origin	London, England
Genres	Hard rock; heavy metal;
Years active	1979–present
Labels	Chrysalis; Capitol; Impact; Shrapnel; In-akustik;
Spinoffs	McAuley Schenker Group
Spinoff of	UFO
Members	Michael Schenker; Ronnie Romero; Barend Courbois; Steve Mann; Bodo Shopf
Past members	Billy Sheehan; Denny Carmassi; Gary Barden; Don Airey; Mo Foster; Simon Phillips; Paul Raymond; Chris Glen; Cozy Powell; Graham Bonnet; Tommy Eyre; Ted McKenna; Rocky Newton; Andy Nye; Mitch Perry; Bodo Schopf; Jeff Pilson; James Kottak; Chis Logan; Stuart Hamm; David Van Landig; Jeremy Colson; Kelly Keeling; John Onder; Shane Gaalaas; Pete Way; Andy Parker; Neil Murray

The Michael Schenker Group (often abbreviated as MSG) are a guitar-oriented hard rock band, formed in London in 1979 by former Scorpions and UFO guitarist Michael Schenker.[1] In 1986, Schenker and vocalist Robin McAuley formed the McAuley Schenker Group, which lasted until 1993.[1] Afterwards, in 1996, the Michael Schenker Group was reformed.[2] After the release of their second live album, 1984's Rock Will Never Die, its members began to have serious discussions that caused a two-year hiatus, and Michael ended the band in 1986.

The group has repeatedly expressed an excellent interpretation, generated by the technique of its leader, representing one of the cornerstones of the history of hard rock. Their symbol is a Flying V, half black and half white, an instrument that has always captured Schenker's imagination. In the history of the band, dozens of musicians have passed through including keyboardists, rhythmic guitarists, drummers, bassists and vocalists.

History

The band was formed in 1979, following the breakup of Michael Schenker from UFO, in an attempt to have a band that better suited his needs. He therefore decided to move to London; a few weeks after his arrival in the British capital, he joined Gary Barden, vocalist of Fraser Nash, who, with bassist Billy Sheehan and drummer Denny Carmassi founded a new band, simply called Michael Schenker Group.[3] The following year they recorded their second album, MSG, which placed at No. 14 on the UK charts. During their promotional tour, they played at Tokyo's Nippon Budokan in Japan, where their first live album was recorded titled One Night at Budokan. It was released in 1982 with great success in the UK where it was certified silver after exceeding 60,000 copies sold.

In October 1983, the band released Built to Destroy, the first with keyboardist Andy Nye and which also featured Derek St. Holmes, known at the time as Ted Nugent's vocalist. To promote it, they gave several concerts in the UK and later went on tour to other European countries as the opening band of Iron Maiden. Their farewell concert was held on December 18, 1983 at the Dortmund festival, after which the band disbanded, and the guitarist founded the McAuley Schenker Group.

After deciding to wrap up the McAuley Schenker Group project, Schenker decided to re-found the band in 1996 with Leif Sundin on vocals, Barry Sparks on bass and Shane Gaalaas on drums with whom he recorded Written in the Sand. Two years later, they released The Unforgiven, with Kelly Keeling replacing Sundin and with John Onder replacing Sparks.

Discography

MSG at Kavarna Rock Fest 2012. From left: Wayne Findlay, Francis Buchholz, Herman Rarebell, Doogie White, Michael Schenker.

Michael Schenker Group

The Michael Schenker Group (1980) #8 UK
MSG (1981)
Assault Attack (1982)
Built to Destroy (1983)
Written in the Sand (1996) #22 Japan
The Unforgiven (1999)
Be Aware of Scorpions (2001)
Arachnophobiac (2003)
Tales of Rock'n'Roll (2006)
In the Midst of Beauty (2008)
Immortal (2021)[4]
Universal (2022)

McAuley Schenker Group

Perfect Timing (1987)
Save Yourself (1989)
M.S.G. (1991)
Nightmare: The Acoustic M.S.G. (1992)

Schenker Barden Acoustic Project

Gipsy Lady (2009)

Schenker's Temple of Rock

Temple of Rock (2011)
Bridge the Gap (2013)
Spirit on a Mission (2015)

Michael Schenker Fest

Resurrection (2018)
Revelation (2019)[5]

Michael Schenker Group

Heavy Hitters (2005)
- Doctor Doctor: The Kulick Sessions (2007 re-release)
- By Invitation Only (2011 re-release)

Live albums

Michael Schenker Group

One Night at Budokan (1982) (UK Silver)
Rock Will Never Die (1984)
BBC Radio 1 Live in Concert (1993)
The Michael Schenker Story Live (1997)
The Unforgiven World Tour (1999)
The Mad Axeman Live (2007)
Walk the Stage: The Official Bootleg Box Set (2009)
The 30th Anniversary Concert: Live in Tokyo (2010)

McAuley Schenker Group

"Unplugged" Live (1992)

Schenker's Temple of Rock

On a Mission - Live in Europe (2012)
On a Mission - Live in Madrid (2016)

Michael Schenker Fest

Live Tokyo International Forum Hall A (2017)

Band members

Current members

Michael Schenker – lead and rhythm guitar, live and occasional studio backing vocals (1979–present)
Steve Mann – keyboards, rhythm and occasional lead guitar, backing vocals (1986–1987, 1988–1991, 2016–present)
Bodo Schopf – drums (1987–1990, 2019–present)
Ronnie Romero – lead vocals (2021–present)
Barend Courbois – bass guitar, backing vocals (2021–present)

Former members

Lead vocals:

Gary Barden (1979–1981, 1982–1984, 2008–2010, 2016–2021, special guest occasionally)
Graham Bonnet (February–August 1982, 2016–2020, special guest occasionally)
Ray Kennedy (1984 touring member; died 2014)
Robin McAuley (1987–1992, 2012, 2016–2020, 2022 touring member,[6] special guest occasionally)
Leif Sundin – also rhythm guitar (1995–1997, 2007–2008)
David VanLanding – also percussion (1997–1999, 2011, 2012 touring member only; died 2015)
Kelly Keeling (1999–2000)
Keith Slack (1999 touring member)
Chris Logan (2001–2004, 2006)
Jari Tiura (2006–2007)
Michael Voss – also rhythm guitar (2011–2012)
Doogie White (2012–2020, special guest occasionally)

Keyboards:

Don Airey (session 1980, 2008, 2011)
Paul Raymond – also rhythm guitar & backing vocals (1980–1981, 2011; died 2019)
Tommy Eyre (session 1982; died 2001)
Andy Nye – also backing vocals (1982–1984)
Jesse Harms (session 1991)
Claude Gaudette (session 1996)
Seth Bernstein – also rhythm guitar & backing vocals (1997–1999)
Wayne Findlay – also rhythm guitar & backing vocals (1999–2008, 2009–present)

Rhythm guitar:

Derek St. Holmes – also vocals (1983)
Mitch Perry – also backing vocals and keyboards (1987)
Spencer Secombe – also backing vocals (touring member 1991–1992)

Bass:

Billy Sheehan (session 1979)
Mo Foster (session 1980)
Chris Glen – also backing vocals (1980–1983, 2008–2009, 2016–2020)
Dennis Feldman (1984 touring member)
Rocky Newton – also backing vocals (1987–1990)
Jeff Pilson – also backing vocals (1991)
Barry Sparks – also backing vocals (1996–1998, 1999–2000, 2020–2021)
Jeff Kollman (1998 touring member)
John Onder (session 1999)
Rev Jones – also backing vocals (2001–2002, 2004–2006, 2009, 2010, 2012)
Stuart Hamm (2003)
Pete Way (2006, 2011; died 2020)
Neil Murray (2008, 2010)
Elliott "Dean" Rubinson (2010–2011, 2012 touring member)
Francis Buchholz (2012–2016)

Drums:

Denny Carmassi (session 1979)
Simon Phillips (1980, 2008, 2010, 2011)
Cozy Powell (1981–1982; died 1998)
Ted McKenna (1982–1984, 2008, 2016–2019; his death)
James Kottak (1991)
Shane Gaalaas – also acoustic guitar (1996–1997,1999–2000)
Aynsley Dunbar (session 1999)
Jeff Martin – also vocals (2001, 2006)
Jeremy Colson (2003)
Pete Holmes (2004–2006)
Chris Slade (touring member 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011)
Carmine Appice (touring member 2010, session 2011)
Brian Tichy (session 2011)
Herman Rarebell (2010, 2011–2016)

Timeline

Recording timeline

Role	Band	Lead vocals	Lead Guitar	Rhythm guitar	Keyboards	Bass	Drums
The Michael Schenker Group (1980)	Michael Schenker Group	Gary Barden	Michael Schenker	Michael Schenker	Don Airey (session)	Mo Foster (session)	Simon Phillips (session)
MSG (1981)		Gary Barden		Paul Raymond		Chris Glen	Cozy Powell
Assault Attack (1982)		Graham Bonnet		Michael Schenker	Tommy Eyre (session)		Ted McKenna
Built to Destroy (1983)		Gary Barden, Derek St. Holmes (session)		Michael Schenker	Andy Nye		Ted McKenna
Perfect Timing (1987)	McAuley Schenker Group	Robin McAuley		Mitch Perry, Steve Mann (session)	Steve Mann (session)	Rocky Newton	Bodo Schopf
Save Yourself (1989)				Steve Mann		Rocky Newton	Bodo Schopf
M.S.G. (1991)				Michael Schenker	Jesse Harms, Steve Mann (session)	Jeff Pilson	James Kottak
Written in the Sand (1996)	Michael Schenker Group	Leif Sundin		Michael Schenker	Claude Gaudette (session)	Barry Sparks	Shane Gaalaas
The Unforgiven (1999)		Kelly Keeling		Seth Bernstein, Louis Maldonado (session)	Seth Bernstein, Jesse Bradman (session)	John Onder	Shane Gaalaas
Be Aware of Scorpions (2001)		Chris Logan, Jeff Martin		Michael Schenker	no-one	Reverend Jones	Jeff Martin
Arachnophobiac (2003)		Chris Logan		Michael Schenker	no-one	Stuart Hamm	Jeremy Colson
Tales of Rock'n'Roll (2006)		Jari Tiura, various musicians[lower-alpha 1]		Wayne Findlay		Pete Way	Jeff Martin
In the Midst of Beauty (2008)		Gary Barden		Michael Schenker	Don Airey	Neil Murray	Simon Phillips
Heavy Hitters (2005)		various musicians[lower-alpha 2]		Bob Kulick, Pete Fletcher	Jeremy Rubolino	various musicians[lower-alpha 3]	various musicians[lower-alpha 4]
By Invitation Only (2008)		various musicians[lower-alpha 2]		Bob Kulick, Pete Fletcher	Jeremy Rubolino	various musicians[lower-alpha 3]	various musicians[lower-alpha 4]
Gipsy Lady (2009)	Schenker Barden Acoustic Project	Gary Barden		Michael Voss			no-one
Temple of Rock (2011)	Schenker's Temple of Rock	Michael Voss[lower-alpha 5]		Michael Schenker[lower-alpha 6]	Wayne Findlay[lower-alpha 7]	Pete Way[lower-alpha 8]	Herman Rarebell[lower-alpha 9]
Bridge the Gap (2013)		Doogie White		Wayne Findlay		Francis Buchholz	Herman Rarebell
Spirit on a Mission (2015)		Doogie White		Wayne Findlay		Francis Buchholz	Herman Rarebell
Resurrection (2018)	Michael Schenker Fest	Gary Barden, Graham Bonnet, Robin McAuley, Doogie White		Steve Mann		Chris Glen	Ted McKenna
Revelation (2019)	Michael Schenker Fest	Gary Barden, Graham Bonnet, Robin McAuley, Doogie White		Steve Mann		Chris Glen	Bodo Schopf, Simon Phillips
Immortal (2021)	Michael Schenker Group	Ronnie Romero, Joe Lynn Turner, Michael Voss, Ralf Scheepers		Michael Schenker	Steve Mann, Derek Sherinian	Barry Sparks	Bodo Schopf, Simon Phillips, Brian Tichy
Universal (2022)	Michael Schenker Group	Ronnie Romero, Michael Kiske, Ralf Scheepers		Michael Schenker	Steve Mann, Tony Carey	Bob Daisley, Barry Sparks, Barend Courbois	Bodo Schopf, Simon Phillips, Brian Tichy, Bobby Rondinelli

References

Colin Larkin, ed. (1995). The Guinness Who's Who of Heavy Metal (Second ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 241/2. ISBN 0-85112-656-1.
Saulnier, Jason (23 January 2009). "Michael Schenker Interview". Music Legends. Retrieved 6 May 2013.
"Loudersoud Reviews". 30 July 2019.
"MICHAEL SCHENKER's New MSG Album 'Immortal' To Feature JOE LYNN TURNER, RALF SCHEEPERS And RONNIE ROMERO". Blabbermouth.net. 10 August 2020. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
"Revelation by Michael Schenker Fest". Apple Music. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
"Robin McAuley joins MSG for April and May tour dates – Michael Schenker Himself". michaelschenkerhimself.com. Retrieved 23 November 2022.

Other singers on this album are Gary Barden, Graham Bonnet, Robin McAuley, Kelly Keeling, Leif Sundin and Chris Logan. All are former members and credited as session members.
singers on these albums were; Joe Lynn Turner, Leslie West, Jeff Scott Soto, Tim "Ripper" Owens, Mark Slaughter, Tommy Shaw, Gary Barden, Robin McAuley, Paul Di'Anno, Sebastian Bach and Jeff Pilson
Bassists on these albums are: Tony Franklin, Jeff Pilson, Rudy Sarzo, Marco Mendoza, Mike Inez, Tony Levin, Chuck Wright, Phil Soussan.
Drummers on these albums were: Aynsley Dunbar, Simon Wright, Brent Chassen, Mike Baird, Vinny Appice, Eric Singer and Brian Tichy.
Also William Shatner, Robin McAuley and Doogie White
Also Rudolf Schenker, Michael Amott and Leslie West (possibly on lead guitar as well)
Also Don Airey and Paul Raymond.
Also Chris Glen, Neil Murray and Elliott "Dean" Rubinson
Also Carmine Appice, Simon Philips, Chris Slade and Brian Tichy.

External links

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[LarkinHM-1] Colin Larkin, ed. (1995). The Guinness Who's Who of Heavy Metal (Second ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 241/2. ISBN 0-85112-656-1.

[Music_Legends-2] Saulnier, Jason (23 January 2009). "Michael Schenker Interview". Music Legends. Retrieved 6 May 2013.

[3] "Loudersoud Reviews". 30 July 2019.

[4] "MICHAEL SCHENKER's New MSG Album 'Immortal' To Feature JOE LYNN TURNER, RALF SCHEEPERS And RONNIE ROMERO". Blabbermouth.net. 10 August 2020. Retrieved 10 August 2020.

[5] "Revelation by Michael Schenker Fest". Apple Music. Retrieved 25 September 2019.

[6] "Robin McAuley joins MSG for April and May tour dates – Michael Schenker Himself". michaelschenkerhimself.com. Retrieved 23 November 2022.

[7] Other singers on this album are Gary Barden, Graham Bonnet, Robin McAuley, Kelly Keeling, Leif Sundin and Chris Logan. All are former members and credited as session members.

[8] singers on these albums were; Joe Lynn Turner, Leslie West, Jeff Scott Soto, Tim "Ripper" Owens, Mark Slaughter, Tommy Shaw, Gary Barden, Robin McAuley, Paul Di'Anno, Sebastian Bach and Jeff Pilson

[9] Bassists on these albums are: Tony Franklin, Jeff Pilson, Rudy Sarzo, Marco Mendoza, Mike Inez, Tony Levin, Chuck Wright, Phil Soussan.

[10] Drummers on these albums were: Aynsley Dunbar, Simon Wright, Brent Chassen, Mike Baird, Vinny Appice, Eric Singer and Brian Tichy.

[11] Also William Shatner, Robin McAuley and Doogie White

[12] Also Rudolf Schenker, Michael Amott and Leslie West (possibly on lead guitar as well)

[13] Also Don Airey and Paul Raymond.

[14] Also Chris Glen, Neil Murray and Elliott "Dean" Rubinson

[15] Also Carmine Appice, Simon Philips, Chris Slade and Brian Tichy.

Michael Schenker Group
Michael Schenker Gary Barden Robin McAuley Doogie White Steve Mann Bodo Schopf Barry Sparks Raymond Louis Kennedy Leif Sundin David VanLanding Kelly Keeling Graham Bonnet Don Airey Paul Raymond Tommy Eyre Andy Nye Jesse Harms Derek St. Holmes Billy Sheehan Mo Foster Jeff Pilson Jeff Kollman Stuart Hamm Pete Way Neil Murray Francis Buchholz Chris Glen Denny Carmassi Cozy Powell Simon Phillips Ted McKenna James Kottak Shane Gaalaas Jeff Martin Chris Slade Carmine Appice Brian Tichy Herman Rarebell
Studio albums	The Michael Schenker Group (1980) MSG (1981) Assault Attack (1982) Built to Destroy (1983) Written in the Sand (1996) The Unforgiven (1999) Be Aware of Scorpions (2001) Arachnophobiac (2003) Tales of Rock'n'Roll (2006) In the Midst of Beauty (2008)
Live albums	One Night at Budokan (1982) Rock Will Never Die (1984) The Michael Schenker Story Live (1997) The Unforgiven World Tour (1999) The 30th Anniversary Concert: Live in Tokyo (2010)
Cover albums	Heavy Hitters (2005)
Related	Members Discography

UFO
Phil Mogg Andy Parker Neil Carter Vinnie Moore Rob De Luca Paul Raymond Pete Way Michael Schenker Paul Chapman Paul Gray Aynsley Dunbar Jason Bonham Danny Peyronel Clive Edwards Simon Wright Laurence Archer John Norum Bernie Marsden John Sloman Tommy McClendon Larry Wallis Robbie France
Studio albums	UFO 1 UFO 2: Flying Phenomenon Force It No Heavy Petting Lights Out Obsession No Place to Run The Wild, the Willing and the Innocent Mechanix Making Contact Misdemeanor Ain't Misbehavin' High Stakes & Dangerous Men Walk on Water Covenant Sharks You Are Here The Monkey Puzzle The Visitor Seven Deadly A Conspiracy of Stars The Salentino Cuts
Live albums	Live Strangers in the Night Regenerator – Live 1982 Live on Earth
Compilations	Space Metal Anthology The Best of the Rest The Essential UFO The Best of UFO: Gold Collection The Best of UFO: Ten Best Series Flying: The Early Years 1970 – 1973 An Introduction to UFO The Best of UFO (1974-1983) One of Those Nights: The Anthology
Songs	"C'mon Everybody" "(Come Away) Melinda" "Who Do You Love?" "Doctor Doctor" "All or Nothing" "Alone Again Or" "Mystery Train" "Heart Full of Soul" "Break On Through (to the Other Side)" "River of Deceit" "The Pusher" "Paper in Fire" "Rock Candy" "Mississippi Queen" "Ain't No Sunshine" "It's My Life"
Related articles	Discography Members Michael Schenker Group

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