Michael Schenker Rock Bottom Solo

Michael Schenker Fest
Tokyo 2016

[@MrPiccoloFan]

Let's say it clear: if Michael Schenker was american, all the media would say he's the best ever. What a genius.

[@joselopez6990]

Eddie Van Halen was born in the Netherlands

[@KD-nb3mp]

@@joselopez6990 Yeah but became american and grew up in pasadena. Huge differnece to schenker!

[@martinmueller5328]

Exactly they are peanut butter and jealous of this man 🥜🧈

[@martinmueller5328]

@@joselopez6990yup Germans need them as gardeners lol

[@tomb8430]

@@joselopez6990 But he grew up in the USA. That's a huge difference.

[@sabioniguitar]

Perfect tone, vibrato, style, use of dorian mode. Schenker is a guitar hero!

[@repomannv]

He's played it countless times, never the same way twice, and every single one is better than the last. Greatest lead guitarist of all time.

[@mmmcosta]

He's unbelievable!

[@Canrocku2]

What a shame UFO could not settle their differences back in their pomp they could have become one of the best rock band's in the world instead of one of the most influential.

[@adriancrowe5990]

Was lucky enough to see MS play with UFO on the Obsessions Tour in 77, never the same after he left also seen him in Scorpions and MSG.class

[@evetsnitram8866]

I've listened to this for over 40 years now off and on and I believe MS is the Godfather of the rock guitar concerto!

[@deHelli]

Yes, that`s right!

[@MelloGee33]

Amazing talent and creativity. His phrasing is so "Schenker-esque". Nothing else like it. Been following his career since the 70's. Met him a couple times back stage after his concerts. I've seen him live many times. My favorite guitar player of all time.

[@reedpeterson6512]

Absolutely brilliant. There are two things that I find most impressive. One is the way that he improvises and otherwise deviates from the original studio version but it's still clear that it's the solo for "Rock Bottom." He maintains the "personality" of the song. The other is how he starts out relatively controlled, then gradually builds toward chaos, then pulls it all back in for a glorious, focused finale. Just...genius.

[@izzimichaels2892]

well said, and i have to add....."he has a habit of doing that". seriously, most of his riffs are structured that way,some of his best are the songs with a lead break, before the lead break...

[@mmmcosta]

True. Like the best jazzmen.

[@rodderz57]

It's great improv. The only thing I'm not a fan of though is how the structure of the song and solo gets lost. The studio version solo has such great momentum to it as it builds. Always cool to hear a fresh interpretation though!

[@harleyrider76]

@@rodderz57 That’s what music is all about… it’s not all about textbooks🤣

[@morganash88]

The looks of awe from his bandmates says it all, they know they are playing with one of the all time greatest guitarists.

[@michaeldean7220]

This! Look on their faces is priceless

[@chriso5374]

The late great Ted McKenna on drums! R I P... Michael definitely is up there with the greats.

[@stephanchraibi523]

One of the best rock solo I ever heard. He has everything here, the rythm, the melody... Thanks so much Michael!

[@prestonjones4941]

*rhythm

[@mikemoscatomusic1378]

I agree!❤

[@caryverhalen]

Simply one of the most brilliant guitarists. MS has gotten so good it's ridiculous, what a pleasure!

[@monmixer]

He doesn't practice, he tries to improve. Great advice

[@MachDoch74]

if they only got used to this.. the drummer seems to be the one who feels it too. Michael, kann man dich in ´22 irgendwo live erleben?

[@joselopez6990]

Kerry King and Dave Mustaine were inspired by Michael Schenker in playing the Flying V Guitar, Dimebag Darrell was inspired by Michael Schenker just by playing

[@mod7930]

He loved every second of that. And when he'd finished, you can tell from the look on his face, he knew he'd nailed it. 'Kin Genius !!!

[@albacore101]

Greetings from Oregon. I was the designated driver. Drove a taxi in so cal. Won tickets on the radio. My friends and I packed up and went to the show. Way better than expected. We all got home safe. Thanks to my 'ol taxi. Great memory. Thanks!..

[@mikenealon4042]

composed the riff and solos when he was, what, like, 17? still rippin' it in his 60's. stupefying schenker

[@lifeisnice23]

Wolfgang Amadeus Schenker! He's such a genius on playing guitar, not many lead guitarists can improvise solos with such easiness, emphasis and taste! God bless him 🤘🤘🇩🇪

[@deHelli]

Ludwig van Schenker not Wolfgang Amadeus.

[@lifeisnice23]

@@deHelliI compared him to Mozart because of their precocious genius talent,their candid and sometimes naive behaviour, the heartfelt devotion to music as the highest form of self expression and not just for money making,the purest melodic lines, the ups and downs of their lives and the crystal clear influence on other musicians... That's why I think of Schenker as the Mozart of hard n heavy! Nationality got nothing to do with it...

[@lifeisnice23]

@Hani Farjo once again, it's not about nationality it's about the similar background they share.. Music and arts are universal things !!

[@ericbrewerguitar1499]

The greatest improviser in all of hard rock and metal guitar in my humble opinion. His melodic sense, phrasing and vibrato is untouchable.

[@TheBfutgreg]

Andy Timmons is on a close level, there's a vid of him doing improv among others and he just nails it....sorry that I can't remember the video though

[@mtlman906]

Him and Guthrie Govan

[@scottwaszak698]

Spot on.

[@cheeseandonions9558]

After performing this song for nearly 50 years, it's a amazing that he's not sick of it

[@BigboyRoy100]

Tonality, timing, melody, vibrato... Schenker is a legend of the rock world, if you know then you know!

[@landajimmy]

I'm a jazz guy and must say this guy has taste.

[@cnelly4582]

I know I'm a year late, but Jazz is the shit man. A lot of my favorite metal musicians are heavily Jazz orientated and it's awesome. It adds such a great style to the licks and full on solos.

[@mrJimCharles]

He can somehow shred tastefully

[@stevelundquist7702]

Michael Schenker you killed my dream 😄 I wanted to become a guitar god and the first time I saw this solo I thought well there is no way I will ever get THAT good. So I became a backhoe operater.

[@jpcpm1340]

I admire a pragmatist

[@prestonjones4941]

😂

[@titlecheetarak4930]

​​@@jpcpm1340Dont worry I hope 50 year later you will can play this version 😂

[@martinmueller5328]

But you recognize the best ever

[@SilverSurfer5150]

Good job you haven’t seen Eddie Van Halen’s Eruption Live Without A Net performance then, otherwise you might have just killed yourself.

[@christophergovernali4305]

Simply the greatest guitarist of all time.

[@phihelix8777]

God Damn Michael is simply unbelievable. I've listened to his music for a lot of years but i barley can comprehend what i just saw and heard.

[@Nugliscious]

Just when you think he's about finished he cranks it up a couple of notches. DAMN!!!

[@sahayramusic4818]

My new absolute FAVORITE guitar solo!!!!

[@mikedervos5974]

i can hear him all day ! never gets bored!

[@coachgeflores]

That playing is beyond human...brilliant.

[@keithalvis8954]

Michael has ALWAYS BEEN MY FAV!! Moved to Dallas in 83 just a Southern Rocker until I heard Mike Bad F’n ASS! My mentor!!!!

[@0sumgamezzz435]

I guess this is what they call, being in the zone.

[@gypsyroadrunner8049]

The Greatest Guitarist that lived on the face of this Planet 🤘🤘

[@mrdigits1]

without a doubt

[@HorrorVet]

Guitarist NOT named Halen

[@Paul-om3kx]

Amen!

[@manelgar]

amazing, incredible solo of Mr Schenker

[@avrilfarrell8671]

Was listening to this when I was 16 and he is still going strong!!!

[@ChrisCorleyMusic]

The definition of improv, melody and phrasing. Inspiring me since I was a child and to this day. Thank you Michael Schenker.

[@matthewdelap5404]

I can't quite get my head around how damn good he is ! Indefatigable too !

[@jimh6391]

A very unique ,immediately identifiable style, and you can tell when another guitarist is a fan.

[@ClassNav]

He has a great sound. Just cosmic.

[@stevenbardsley2489]

Wow! Michael is in tip top form here!! Remarkable musician!! The band is killing it too!!🤟

[@SacredKaw]

The best 8-point oh three minutes of my day!

[@mrawesome5495]

Drummer is having a blast......I love all great musicians but Schenker is on his one his own level. All his solos are so unique you can tell what song they are from.

[@jonathansimmons1550]

One of the most underrated guitar players of all time. It's a shame that he's so overlooked

[@rcruz262]

he's not overlooked at all

[@hybris159]

Sorry, everybody knows he is great ;-)

[@harleyrider76]

He’s no way underrated. Everyone mentions him as a influence. The band ”UFO” that he was a part or was criminally underrated….

[@Gcssdvnkloiutesc]

Underrated? I came to this video because of how widely and highly rated he is.

[@michaelquintana1098]

How many in here think that if he had a guitar battle with Eddie Van Halen. Michael would a played a circle around Eddie..Because I can tell how he played he can improvise to no end.. I heard some of Eddies improvising. Not nearly as vast.. I give Eddie the nods for his play . But Michael is king of playing it off the fly.

[@r.muller5050]

Michael, ich wünsch Dir alles Gute. Du hast meine Zeit mit Deiner tollen Musik erfreut!

[@frederickthompson4061]

Absolutely amazing. Nothing like that anywhere.

[@ConcezioPellegrini]

Utterly FANTASTIC

[@tommyslow218]

The Man!

[@1847thomash]

Him and gary moore have the best vibrato and bending ever

[@tommyseibel7902]

And ritchie Blackmore and yngwie

[@terenceflood2861]

Gary was a big admirer.

[@wanker9621]

Well said !

[@johnlannikk2701]

Terence: That's interesting. Actually I can hear the influences. Gary was a great believer in making each note count, and yes he is my hero out of all the wonderful guitarists

[@nirvanarock3925]

Yngwie and Pop the sun.

[@jamesgracefull7567]

taste, ellegance, feeling, melody......that's enough for me....

[@lukecho9225]

The last solo in the song is one of my all time favorite schenker guitar pieces. Haunting and intense with the subtle echo. Takes you in a journey. Just the best at capturing a mood. This is true art.

[@johnnydunne4614]

First time seeing this. Mind is blown. As an aspiring guitar player, I don't know whether to be inspired or give up haha. His technique is almost as immaculate as his feel for the instrument. God tier

[@johncarusone5635]

Wow. Now this just blew me away. That tone, that technique, that sound. Way to go MS.

[@philfyphil]

I love his fluent style. Instantly recognisable.

[@vincecox2916]

The first time I ever heard Rock Bottom was back in 79, the timeless 'Strangers in the Night' album. It completely blew me away. One of the best riffs ever and always a scorching solo from the master. Seen him live with MSG and had an old retro poster on my bedroom wall of him and the top 100 rock guitarists of all time with Michael at number one. Long live Michael Schenker!

[@rolandlorin]

it seams so easy for him, so amazing!

[@renaudlecigne8859]

Simplement le meilleur guitariste Hard Rock du monde et depuis des décennies ! Feeling , dextérité, rapidité, précision, créativité, mélodies incroyables. Il a tout ! Merci Michael.

[@nathaliecl2602]

Merci renaud daccord 100 pour 100 je me lasse jaimer de lecouter

[@renaudlecigne8859]

@@nathaliecl2602 Merci à Toi. Je crois que j écoute Michael Schenker depuis 45 ans environ.... Tjrs fan !!

[@nathaliecl2602]

@@renaudlecigne8859 mois ca fait une vintaine je men lasse jamai cest un genie ce guitariste

[@ivanmay7890]

Every hard rock guitarist who plays a Flying V owes quite a debt or two to Michael Schenker and Rudolf Schenker.

[@wiwat5150]

He's my super hero and idol

[@bandog0000]

R.I.P drummer Ted McKenna

[@xDPx-zh7vr]

He's having the time of his life in this video. Sucks he's gone too soon.

[@Cat-hw1vh]

Met him in 2006, lovely, down to earth guy!

[@PL-fg2du]

@@xDPx-zh7vr He certainly is...

[@larryesser9024]

I saw him a couple of times with Davey Knowles. Shock when he died.

[@superman-el9jd]

I was just going to ask who that damn great drummer is! 😢

[@thomaskauser8978]

One of the best things about being a teenage American in Germany was learning about MSG. Thin lizzy + MSG.

[@tg2923]

OMG Mr Schenker, this version of Rock Bottom is simply outstanding , f...en incredible solo, proper video, no phone rubbish

[@jmk1987]

THE BEST !!

[@wiwat5150]

Michael Schenker is my great influential and inspirational guitarist

[@muythaimutha]

Absolutely phenomenal 👏 just a living legend! His phrasing never gets old one of rocks finest players without a doubt

[@Dan53196]

First time hearing this. INCREDIBLE!

[@stephencastro1437]

I agree with Supermoto below. A phenomenal guitarist. I was lucky enough to see him on this tour, three feet from the stage, right in front of me, and I was transfixed. A superlative solo from a gifted musician. Thank you again Michael, iit's so good to have you back. Peace and God bless!

[@mrdigits1]

The only guy who can play totally melodic and still sound mean and rockin as hell at the same time

[@AlexZander688]

Nope. A multitude of legendary guitarists through the decades. Cracks me the !##$% up with KZbin comments. So many think there is only '1' greatest.

[@antonbieber1871]

@@AlexZander688 agree one of them - there is Yannick Gers or Steve Morse playing with Dixie Dregs not DP

[@rensback]

... Uli Jon Roth... and EVH... and so many others. But yeah, what a great player he is!

[@hopeforeveryone9808]

@@AlexZander688 what cracks me up is dude was just hyped on it and you show up with your buzzkill. stfu dumbass

[@hammmodjabeer7278]

The best guitarist in the world... .It didn't happen again.🇩🇪

[@gh2568]

Today’s rockers focus on speed and legato 😩 I miss melodies and rocking licks!

[@stephanchraibi523]

Full agree!

[@KCartisant1]

Every times sounds different ...but always perfect ! Michael Senker's guitar playing is resurrection for the dead ! Great guitarist !

[@boboplex]

Michael has the coolest choppy but melodic soloing technique of any guitarist. He is one of the top guitarists that have their own unique signature sound. When you hear it you know it's him.

[@diehard-schenker-fan7233]

Love Schenker!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@vacationpromo1669]

Albert Einstein Doin Work !! That's Right Michael Schenker The Albert Einstein Of All Guitar !!!!

[@martinmueller5328]

Like a fine oiled German machine with heart and soul ❤

[@cbxade]

Boy was he on fire that night

[@markdavid294]

The Guitar really amped up towards the end of the song for a strong finish 👏👏

[@na1.5nsx5]

God of Flying V

[@robertwhitcomb6105]

na1.5 nsx not crazy about the Dean...but it sounds glorious

[@SteveSingsThings]

Just watched a recent video of his brother Rudolf who told the story of the Gibson Flying V guitar. It was inspired by Johnny Winter who he saw in a poster as a kid. Rudolf wanted that guitar and when Michael saw it on display, he called Rudolf. He rushed down to buy it. Some time later, Rudolph lent his Flying V to Michael who needed it for a show because he left his behind while traveling. He fell in love with it too, and the rest is history.

[@BloodyArmourKnight]

This guy is my hero, one of my favorite guitarist of all time, unique, great at improvisation and with lots of fucking style. Along with Duane Allman, Randy Rhoads and Chuck Schuldiner, my inspiration for playing and trying to be good every day.

[@gilldanier4129]

Wonderful style. I keep using this to guage my tone and style on. Master.

[@loulagro2315]

Just saw him last weekend and he's every bit this good. Absolutely blown away, I simply forgot how good he is. He is second to NONE

[@Paul-om3kx]

Schenker is God!

[@gypsyroadrunner8049]

The greatest guitarist of hard rock genre...no doubts ever👍👍

[@earlofrednecks9533]

He's quite mysterious.

[@danromero3385]

Sooo underated...love this solo...

[@Plaza_and_Mote]

Did you like your own comment?

[@rush2112pete]

Straight up Schenker… 👊🏻 Period ➡️ ⏺

[@normcook9335]

That was a piece of work. Amazing.

[@rudymagnan2781]

I truly believe that Michael schenker is by far one of the greatest guitar players out there ever since I heard the album force it all the way up till now it just keeps getting better all the time God bless you Michael shanker keep it rocking all the time you're the very best thank you so much ! ! !

[@lovehategoddie]

One of the best for sure, huge impact on me in 1978, he simply owns without reservation, the instrument.

[@JackMcLeodJr]

The OG Flying V Hero! 🎸

[@pattydujmovich4117]

So excited to see him play tonight! Wow... just incredibly brilliant!!!!

[@BMIGuitarist]

No one plays this level guitar... except Schenker.

[@michaeljcaudle]

Love this! What tone and melody!

[@jamesconnelly7923]

Michael Schenker I saw you at Bogart's last night and as luck would have it my tickets put me right in front of you and you did not disappoint. One of the biggest thrills of my life to stand and watch you play guitar right in front of me. WOW. I had a conversation with an old man in Germany who worked at the talent agency in Hanover and he told me the story of the pre Ulrich Roth days. He said you guys would go hang around the agency frequently - smoking joints and trying to get signed on as new talent. He said he made you guys give a performance for his ears only and when you finished he said there was no way he could work with you guys. He said now they are very rich and that he is still very poor. He regrets his decision. Anyway you are a huge inspiration to this 56 year old man that gets no greater pleasure than cranking my Gibson through my Marshall. You are truly awesome my friend.

[@PhilipAlexanderHassialis]

All I see when I look at him is the enthusiasm of a crazy adolescent guy. Extra kudos for the jacket with stamps of both UFO and Scorpions on it!

[@Sebastian_Mroczek]

Apart from the obvious great melodic playing, interesting phrasing, and uniqueness, what I find amazing and what people might not notice that his bends and vibrato sound like as if he was using the tremolo bar. Dive bombs and stuff like that, outstanding!

[@sabioniguitar]

Genius!!!!!

[@V3ga77]

What a player! He's the most tasteful guitar player out there! He never plays his solos the same way twice. Great improvisation skill, great choice of notes...his vibrato...starts slow and then goes faster...he's never trivial. He's underrated between the most and he's not given the credit he deserves as a musician and a influencer but i heard many hard rock guitar stars citing Mr. Schenker as a great influence for them. I'm talking about Randy Rhoads, Kirk Hammett, Dimebag, Zakk Wylde, Slash, Richie Faulkner with the latter being the most similar to me. R.I.P. Pete Way

[@osvaldopenagutierrez8563]

Excelente improvisación y un solo poderoso y hermoso, sonidos mágicos que grande michael

[@elpeladorobles5013]

Saw him live for the first time last year and holy.. thats the first time I can say I saw a real guitar genius live

[@tunnelportterror]

I saw UFO from the 3rd row at the Paramount theater in Wilkes-Barre, PA. USA in 1979. somewhere I have Kodak pictures of Schenker from that show. it was epic. my right ear rang for 3 days. I was standing right in front of him. 10-15 feet away.

[@aaidhh123456]

An incredible talent, Michael is a much better guitarist than many of those who are more famous and well-known than him.

[@cheeseandonions9558]

he still has it

[@ralitsaillievablaginova-ma2763]

ausgezeichnetttttt !

[@leebadgerslim7107]

Masterpiece solo

[@zainpunka1703]

Lovely clear tone!