Michael Schenker: The Guitar World Interview

Legendary guitarists Michael Schenker opens up with Guitar World about his inspirations for playing guitar, joining the Scorpions, and reflects on his long career with UFO and as a solo artist.
More of this interview can be found at guitarworld.com, where the ex-UFO shredder talks about regrets, gear and guidance in this exclusive video Q&A.

[@markeast1574]

Michael Schenker is a true guitar genius One of the greatest artists ever I never get tired of hearing him play

[@childofthemosthighgod1995]

He has influenced so many great artists! Its insane!

[@motojohnny7175]

This man is so awesome in every way you have no idea what he's been through thank God he is still here 🙏 thank you for everything sir

[@roldirevan2130]

"Coast To Coast" is hands down his greatest creation and yet SO damn underrated.

[@dantierney5563]

I've been to a lot of concerts, and the Scorpions are second to none. They were so tight it was like watching a highly calibrated rock 'n' roll machine. Klaus' voice and showmanship - brilliant. He worked the stage like he was born on it. And those double leads! The melodies that these guys create are uniquely beautiful with lyrics one can easily identify with. There's no one like you, Scorpions. Not even close.

[@ShredReviews]

This is a repost, but it's Michael Schenker and he totally deserves more recognition. Absolutely brilliant player who has been beset by problems but thankfully seems to have overcome them.

[@blueeyes213]

Saw Michael last w/end in Santa Clara, Ca., he's still got the chops!

[@thomasengman7655]

The best rockguitarist ever he's fantastic with his wellcontrolled vibrato and melodyplayin. Saw him in Stockholm 2004 and in Sundsvall 2013 it was fantastic performence, at the age of 65 his still rockin' thanx Michael i've learn so much of you especilly the vibrato the most important and a lots of your licks. Heard you the first time 1975 with UF0 it just blow my mind it's incredible guitarwork thanx Michael your simply the best 💗🎸🙏🏻 love you!

[@DMEB]

saw him live and shook his hand in dublin in whelans... such a good gig.. and a proper gent too

[@Lynch34]

One of the greatest rock guitar players ever!

[@decadence18]

i dont think many ppl realize anything about this man, u like UFO?, SCORPIONS?, Metallica!.... thank this man bow your heads for a living guitar god

[@jamesjackson8058]

Thee MAN !!!!

[@marshallskull6132]

No was not in metallica

[@decadence18]

@@marshallskull6132 your 100% right, he was not in Metallica ….

[@peteyspaletas2023]

I went to see him (MSG)in the early 1980's at the Civic Auditorium in San Jose,California. My hometown,with my old high school friend,Steve. He looked scary to me because he would just semi-squat there,center stage,with his V jammed into his leg,and when he looked into the audience,it was through lidded eyes. Made him look scary to me!🎸🙂 Love you,Michael!

[@clovenwizard]

Saw UFO and MSG in the early days quite a few times and Michael Schenker still inspires me at 57 yrs old.. A very colorful solo player, Amazing guitarist!

[@illyrian3949]

Clovenwizard he is 63

[@Roadking26]

I really wish some of the younger crowed would listen to the old pros like Michael. I have been playing 30+ years and Him, Blackmore and Iommi are my top three influences. I forgot about Frank Marino too. It's not all about speed. Michael can play one note and make it cry, or scream. He has real feeling in his playing, and he can bring the speed when needed.

[@jmromero6381]

Mine, too!

[@shannonfisher2011]

First time I seen Frank Marino live my mouth dropped for the entire show to this day he gives me goose bumps along with Michael

[@Roadking26]

@@shannonfisher2011 for those of you who haven't heard Frank, here is a good start. Listen to the guitar while he is singing. Not many can play that good while singing. It's even better live when you can see it. kzbin.info/www/bejne/q57GZn55rLF3aK8

[@roncaluman8060]

Just imagine growing up as the shenkers neighbor. All them riffs flowing out of their house.

[@lanceross3633]

The Master!!!!!

[@RolandodellaValle]

Ich kenne und höre ihn seit 1975 mit UFO auf dem Album "Force It" und war unglaublich von seiner Virtuosität beeindruckt. Er war und bleibt einer der besten Rockgitarristen.

[@arnarne]

He looks cool without the cap on his head. I wish he looked like that on stage!

[@snatchsour]

Don't let your demons take you down Michael, I hope you find peace!

[@mdlane3]

The steps of music in my life have always included Micheal's playing...

[@mikepreston-engel8869]

one of the most underrated and underappreciated guitarists in the business. So he's got personal issues. Who of us don't? Michael Schenker ranks with Carlos Santana, Slowhand Clapton, Joe Bonamassa, and the like. He is very talented and has skills beyond belief.

[@mrbruceriddell]

he is not under rated you said that

[@lastdaysguitar]

UFO's "Strangers In The Night" is one of the reasons I picked up a guitar... Rock Bottom, Lights Out, Doctor Doctor, all those great songs - soooo powerful! THANK YOU MIchael!

[@BradEnquist]

What a great albumn!

[@SEKreiver]

"Strangers" is a classic. I played "Too Hot To Handle" in my first band.

[@gabriellashimone6546]

My fave UFO album and concert. His solo at the end of Love to Love moved me to tears, all that emotion pouring out of those stacks from the caresses and hammers of his fingers on the fret board. This man is my favourite guitarist of all time, full stop.

[@odunhops7727]

for me the best album for decades of years!!!!

[@mariacastro7355]

The best metal melodic guitarist ever

[@angelalvarado2329]

my favorite guitar player \,,/

[@georghagglund9338]

"Three Fish Dancing" a song by Michael Schenker. Search it up!

[@evol1349]

Classy man with a killer hook.Rock bottom..nuff said.

[@derrickcunliffe8152]

i like him great player think his best playing is in ufo not heard much of his latest stuff but he seems happy

[@cabbage9398]

It's interesting how many of the really great guitarists started off with The Shadows.

[@SuperAmin1950]

...and as Americans, with the Ventures, Chantays, Santo & Johnny, etc.; surf music. 😮

[@georghagglund9338]

Michael Schenker's Temple of Rock has just put out the album "Spirit On A Mission". There is videos for the songs "Vigilante Man" and "Live & Let Live". Have it a go!

[@MrJohnnyDistortion]

You have impeccable taste in hard rock music.That Eddie Trunk guy on That Metal Show loves 'em to death.You like Thin Lizzy?

[@EUguitarRULE]

Amen to that brother.

[@HolyCrass]

Great guitarist.

[@ironmaidengus25]

Living Legend...

[@jmgmarcus808]

I played my first concert with the scorpions when I was eleven. ....................whoa.

[@fligemon]

Tell the truth.......;you first played with yourself at age 11, not the Scorpions.

[@johnnyM809]

An amazing guitarist

[@michaelventen]

Erstmal Danke das Du kein Sänger geworden bist.^^ Habe dein Interv. in english gut verstanden. - ( im german ) mach weiter so und grüsse Uli and Friends. mfg Animal V

[@dimgrav]

Real guitar legend

[@philipneedham9156]

Elite Guitarist, only a handful are as good.

[@18hayopka]

The guitar god.

[@fraginat0r]

michael come back to the states n play!

[@JohannesYtterstrom]

I did buy Michael Schenker's Temple of Rock the other day!

[@Matkinson123]

We need HQ or HD Videos No?

[@DracoJakeo]

Why do i keep waiting for him to say "ill be back"?

[@enriquecornejo6427]

Super guitarrista , chingonsoteeeeeeeeeee

[@michaelstephen819]

Why is he holding a guitar in a normal interview? We want to hear in play - not talk!

[@scottdunnington-smith9692]

Its called "product placement".

[@breakthispleeez]

whats the song at the start

[@Hue_Nery]

@wwit63 Sorry. I see that someone already pointed that out. My bad.

[@MrPpavlouk]

@arandomname666 like arnold, they have the same accent almost, one is Austrian, the other German

[@obscurebandfan]

Michael Schenker with a Fender Jaguar, I'd pay money to here that.

[@wwit63]

@ScreamingBloodyGore lol my bad, I shouldnt post stuff late at night when Im more asleep then awake. good catch

[@hectorheath]

I wish he'd go back to Gibson,I hate the headstock on the Dean V's

[@mouloudo]

@GeeFunk84 james main inspiration was him so that mkes sense

[@ultrakool]

ve have vays of making you rock... tschuss!

[@lifeson46]

@MattRing his fasha fiddled with the violin

[@Growl60]

@AHMADF93 yep

[@Roggiedodgie]

@MattRing too funny awesome comment

[@MrJohnnyDistortion]

You shouldn't judge a man until/unless you've walked a mile in his shoes.There are always 2 sides to every story.I don't know what you know that makes you speak poorly of M. Schenker but it's sometimes wrong to define a man based on 1 situation or decision that he made that you or I may not agree with.

[@samanosukkia]

@AHMADF93 Ya ;D

[@Firebrandrock]

Europe’s version of America’s EVH....top 10 guitar players of all rock maybe top 5

[@lifeisnice23]

Sorry but Schenker's a way more accomplished guitarist than Van Halen.

[@pulse4503]

Van halen Is Dutch 😊

[@Firebrandrock]

You misunderstood me. I know he’s from Holland, what I meant was EVH is “America’s version of schenker. If you go by record sales EVH crushes schenker. Is schenker a better player? It depends on many factors but certainly he’s one of the best players from Europe, probably top five of all time for Rock, no doubt….

[@pulse4503]

@@Firebrandrock agreed, he comes across as a very gifted player, his sound is very smooth amd classy like metal and jazz melted into something one

[@Firebrandrock]

Schenker has a unique style of playing. His scaling is absolutely epic….his vibrato is wonderful. His phrasing is very different in that he incorporates many half steps in his lead work. His tone is superb, clean player, doesn’t miss a note. Epic guitarist!!!!

[@ChrisTarpleyAsylumOfCerberus]

@Trullrocker he also has the red nose...

[@mikeferris408]

He gets a pass on the wearing of sunglasses indoors only bcz you can see his eyes still.

[@LordGandor3]

@MattRing He actually is a dead ringer for one of the best song writers ever, you may have heard of him Rudolf.... uhhh I can`t remember his last name LOL

[@TheNewAeon2012]

wait, in recent years he's completely switched this story around and is saying that he was the first to play a V in Scorps and that he was the one who "brought the early band together," by introducing Klaus into the band, etc. Wtf is wrong with him, how can he blatantly fabricate the actual historical facts. And it's his own brother no less. I'd hate to be in Rudolf's position. Sorry, but this guy seems to be the German D. Mustaine, personality wise.

[@lifeisnice23]

Michael has always been sticking to the real facts, never changed his version as you're saying. He's always said that he took the V from his brother after the broken string incident but he was the first to actually play the black and white model in 1980! Later Rudolf asked him if he could use that colors matching too and it was the period when he suddenly signed with Gibson for a guitar that, let's be honest, should have been dedicated to Michael first years before !! Shame on Gibson! About the early bands story, Rudolf for sure heard first about Klaus, they're the same age, but he didn't actually know him in person. He send Michael forward to meet him and form a band because he knew his younger brother already was a great appealing guitarist while he Rudolf couldn't offer that much to Klaus as guitarist. It was a smart subtle move from Rudolf! After he understood that there was a great chemistry between Michael and Klaus, he invited the two to join the band he's dismissed and the early Scorpions who played on Lonesome Crow were formed .. Rudolf has always been using Michael talent for his own business, it was easy for him to influence his way younger brother's choices, Michael has always been a candid and naive guy, he was just happy playing his music and having a beer after the show, Rudolf was the business man who aimed for fame and money at all cost. Two brothers with two completely different visions, the godly talented kid that wanted just to express himself, the basic talented older brother who just wanted to take all the cake and more...

[@scatcatcnut]

You're wrong - just interviewed him on Friday - he still says Rudolf had the V first. Stop trying to create a shit storm! His playing is better than ever - he is truly a legendary guitar hero.

[@_witchyy_]

So they're pounding on their highest string? CONTINUITY FAIL.

[@MattRing]

He looks like a cross between Val Kilmer, Boris Becker and Gold Member!!!! Can I spray his yoo hoo gold?.

[@GermanNightmare1976]

Number 1 and number 2. Then flush, wash your hands and brush your teeth. ;)

[@wwit63]

Micheal and Rudolph Schenker along with Mathias Jabs are all way underated as musicians go. These guys all lead the way back when metal rock was first realy taking shape. Most of these drop D players pounding on the E string today couldnt hold a candle to those guys.

[@paulterl4563]

Yeah, is the difference betwen good and bad music!! You are so right!!

[@shrimpback]

But Michael Schenker has never been underrated. As far as I know he's always been highly rated. Just about every guitar player I've ever known has named Michael Schenker as a major influence. I think he's always been highly regarded and highly rated.

[@KingCrofty]

@@shrimpback That's true, but very few non-guitar players ever mention him

[@SuperAmin1950]

​@shrimpback This entire 'underrated' thing is so misused and misinterpreted, as to be ignored and not spoken of anymore. 😮 Those of us that know of the music, the songs, the instruments, and the artists, know fully-well who Michael Schenker is¡☆! 😉

[@muleblues71]

He's a survivor. One of the best. Temple of rock is a must see

[@doblegcanusee9311]

Love this guys guitar playing. Never plays the same guitar solo twice. His performance on UFO's live strangers in the night album is considered one of the top 5 in rock history. A true legend in rock history.

[@sgtgiggles]

This guy played in UFO before he could speak English. His English clearly has gotten pretty nice over the years. Goes to show you can do anything you put your mind to.....oh yeah, and he's an amazing guitarist too!!!!

[@jmromero6381]

Cool accent. Better than mine.

[@onpsxmember]

It's still a pretty strong accent. But it's part of him. Especially being german, it's funny when he is using german expressions translated word for word in english. But the really broken english in his youth put the focus more on talking through the music than words, which had benefits but maybe it also lead to some of his problems cause he didn't communicated when in need.

[@pulse4503]

Born and Raised in Germany, so no wonder 🙂

[@donfawcett8460]

I know Michael is broken as a person and has demons, but there is no reason to trash him here. He is a phenom talent and musical genius. We know of his troubles, but they do not totally define him. And he seems to have made much peace with himself and others the last few years and appears happy. I am happy for him. All of us are broken.

[@bankruptbritain6103]

people with troubles are always the most interesting ones, successful people are as boring as hell

[@claudiocruzat4624]

I agree as hell!

[@michaelquintana678]

Amen God bless u...

[@jmromero6381]

No argument here.

[@gabriellashimone6546]

@@bankruptbritain6103 Schenker is successful, has been successful. Broken, beat and scarred (yes I know that's a Metallica song but it may as well have been written about Schenker).

[@daverunner3397]

Ze German has the skills......

[@appacana]

his wife left him and went home to Thailand with his son, sad story.

[@MickLoud999]

If you haven't heard Lonesome Crow..just do it. The whole album is awesome. There are some hiccups here and there as they were trying to "find themselves'. The title track showcases MS. It is unimaginable he is 17 when they recorded this album.

[@jamesbarlow6725]

Really he was probably only 15 or 16 when they recorded Lonesome crow. He had just turned 17 when the album was released in 1972. Lonesome crow is a great album.... One of my all time favs, Its so raw and almost psychedelic.

[@ianstuart5660]

Agreed love that album!

[@JAEZSC90]

my favorite, saw him last year and the year before at his age he plays 2 and a half hours straight no breaks except to change guitars. amazing.

[@rosejackson9588]

I love Michael Schenker and always have, he's awesome and I will listen to his music every chance I get (especially since I have all his albums and all of UFO and Scorpions) so I'm a happy camper.....plus always loved seeing them live (Rudy & Michael) in Germany when I lived there.

[@tacomadc]

If you think about it Michael's sound always has been very clean, not super distorted, maybe he does take after the Shadows and Ventures than people think.

[@dewdude2112]

I think Schenker is one of our finest rock guitarists ever. He was doing long flowing melodic guitars solos when Eddie was figuring out how to tap ...lol.

[@Roadking26]

Eddie list Michael as one of his main influences. I have a guitar player with Michael on the cover from around 85 or 86, and they mentioned all of the Guitarist he influenced. You would be surprised how many there are.

[@Roadking26]

@Dissonant Timbres I would have to agree with that.

[@Broadfieldpoint]

Vinnie Moore will never touch the feel, melodic sensibilities and incredible use of vibrato that defines MS style. They dont make them like this anymore.

[@BornToShred6900]

Ehy the hate on Vinnie Moore? Hes a force to be reckoned with. His first 5 albums are MINDBLOWING

[@scottdunnington-smith9692]

You're comparing apples to oranges. There is NOBODY that can flow licks like Vinnie; particularly his first 2 or 3 albums.

[@hazor777]

For years I was always into all the other players, and many would reference Michael Schenker in interviews, but I just never bothered checking his material out. I do remember the McAuley/Schenker single in 1988/89? , but at the time it sounded too commercial . Anyways, started to check him out about 13 years ago , NOW I see and know what everyone has been saying all these years. Some of the UFO LIVE footage on here is amazing. Pretty much everything I've heard him do(so far) I really like. The guy is a LEGEND.

[@scottdunnington-smith9692]

I started playing after hearing Van Halen in '78. Then there was the "Malmsteen" epiphany a few years later. BUT, the first "method" lessons I ever paid money for out of my own pocket was an instructional cassette and tab booklet of Michael Schenker solo licks. The man is an absolute master of combining great tone, articulation, melody and lyric, speed and clean execution, who can step in and out of dogmatic classical riffs into blues and then into heavy metal. Pure genius!!!!!

[@dmedrano12]

That sweet guitar tone...

[@AHMADF93]

Rudolf is the elder brother right?

[@deHelli]

Yes Rudolf is older Babara is the young Sister (geb.1966)

[@davevonbeelzebub4782]

It is the best .... it is number 1. Always always MICHAEL SCHENKER!!!!!!!!!

[@The67flyingV]

Michael Schenker is simply a fucking genius, greatest guitarist to ever hit the scene, Schenker's the best FTR.

[@phildale8451]

Fantastic player, he blew the finger tapping vh out of the water.

[@michaelgarcia2050]

Not sure I'd make that assertion... When you get to the level of EVH, Schenker, etc., there's no "better than....". It's all a matter of style preference at that point.

[@phildale8451]

@@michaelgarcia2050 And my preference was Schenker.

[@ianstuart5660]

@@phildale8451 mine too!

[@MegadethPWNMetallica]

rock bottom - UFO

[@slantyrock]

He reminds me of Christopher Walken in A View To A Kill.

[@SEKreiver]

Well, they're both of German descent. I see what you're getting at, though.

[@jakeboynz]

Great guitarist..Love his style...

[@dascooker]

always reminds me of my dad minus the long hair lol. Thankyou Michael for your great music that you have given to the people!

[@Newtrus]

Got me a Michael Schenker signature V Dean Guitar (b&w flames). Awesome tone through my 50W Carvin combo amp!..

[@SeattleLA]

@fraginat0r He has a tour upcoming very soon, in USA, look at his website.

[@7883wendy]

his stuff with mcauley was his most commercial radio stuff nothing wrong with reaching the masses but honestly graham bonnet cozy powell and the material on his early solo stuff is bar none his best stuff (in my opinion)

[@lastdaysguitar]

Yep Thin Lizzy was great too!

[@jbuck594]

I have an old friend named Michael Schenker, I laugh at that so much

[@s0ulfire]

holy shit michael schenker!!

[@guitwizzz]

Classy rocker, to the max!

[@mdlane3]

Always good to see Michael, he is such an incredible guitarist with a gift only a few can have.

[@RjRocker80]

Sweet Guitar

[@playerofrock04]

this guy is cool

[@BigBlackPug]

Saw him in Dublin about 8 years ago in a "G3" with Uli Jon Roth and Satch. He was still playing a Gibson and had the best live rock guitar sound I have ever heard.