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Scorpions (band)
Encyclopedia
Scorpions are a heavy metal
/hard rock
band from Hannover, Germany
, formed in 1965 by guitarist Rudolf Schenker
, who is the band's only constant member. They are known for their 1980s rock anthem "Rock You Like a Hurricane
" and many singles, such as "No One Like You
", "Send Me an Angel
", "Still Loving You
", and "Wind of Change". The band was ranked #46 on VH1
's Greatest Artists of Hard Rock program. "Rock You Like a Hurricane
" is also #18 on VH1
's list of the 100 Greatest Hard Rock Songs. On January 24, 2010, after 46 years of performing, the band announced that they will be retiring after touring in support of their new album Sting in the Tail
. The band sold over 100 million albums worldwide.
, the band's rhythm guitarist launched the band in 1965. At first, the band had beat influences and Schenker himself did the vocals. Things began to come together in 1969 when Schenker's younger brother Michael
and vocalist Lobot joined the band. In 1972, the group recorded and released their debut album Lonesome Crow
, with Lothar Heimberg on bass and Wolfgang Dziony on drums. During the Lonesome Crow tour, Scorpions opened for upcoming British band UFO
. Near the end of the tour, the members of UFO offered guitarist Michael Schenker the lead guitar job, an offer which he soon accepted. Uli Roth
, a friend of the Schenker brothers, was then called in temporarily to finish off the great tour.
The departure of Michael Schenker led to the breakup of the band. In 1973, Uli Roth
, who had helped Scorpions complete the Lonesome Crow tour, was offered the role as lead guitarist, but turned the band down, preferring instead to remain in the band Dawn Road. Rudolf Schenker eventually decided that he wanted to work with Roth, but did not want to resurrect the last Scorpions lineup. He attended some of Dawn Road's rehearsals and ultimately decided to join the band, which consisted of Roth, Francis Buchholz
(bass), Achim Kirschning (keyboards) and Jürgen Rosenthal
(drums). Roth and Buchholz persuaded Rudolf Schenker to invite Klaus Meine to join on vocals, which he soon did. While there were more members of Dawn Road than Scorpions in the band, they decided to use the Scorpions name because it was well-known in the German hard rock scene and an album had been released under that name.
. The album proved to be more successful than Lonesome Crow and songs such as "Speedy's Coming" and the title track to established the band's sound. Achim Kirschning decided to leave after the recordings. Soon after, Jürgen Rosenthal
had to leave as he was being drafted into the army. In 1976, he would join a German progressive rock band called Eloy
recording three albums. He was replaced by a Belgian drummer Rudy Lenners.
In 1975 the band released In Trance
, which marked the beginning of Scorpions' long collaboration with German producer Dieter Dierks
. The album was a huge step forward for Scorpions and established their heavy metal formula. It garnered a fan base at home and abroad with cuts such as "Dark Lady", "Robot Man".
In 1976, Scorpions released Virgin Killer
. The album's cover featured a nude
prepubescent girl behind a broken pane of glass. The cover art was designed by Stefan Bohle who was the product manager for RCA Records
, their label at the time. The cover brought the band considerable market exposure but subsequently pulled or replaced in other countries. The album itself garnered demographic praise for its music from select critics and fan base.
The following year, Rudy Lenners resigned for personal reasons and was replaced by Herman Rarebell
.
For the follow-up Taken by Force
, RCA Records made a determined effort to promote the album in stores and on the radio. The album's single, "Steamrock Fever", was added to some of RCA's radio promotional records. Roth was not happy with the commercial direction the band was taking. Although he performed on the band's Japan tour, he departed to form his own band, Electric Sun
prior to the release of the resultant double live album Tokyo Tapes
. Tokyo Tapes was released in the US and Europe six months after its Japanese release. By that time in mid 1978, after auditioning around 140 guitarists, Scorpions recruited new guitarist Matthias Jabs
.
. Just weeks after being ejected from UFO for his alcohol abuse, Michael Schenker also returned to the group for a short period during the recordings for the album. This gave the band three guitarists (though Schenker's contribution to the final release was limited to only three songs). The result was Lovedrive
, an album which some critics consider to be the pinnacle of their career. Containing such fan favourites as "Loving You Sunday Morning", "Always Somewhere", "Holiday" and the instrumental "Coast to Coast", the 'Scorpions formula' of hard rock songs mixed with melodic ballads was firmly cemented. The album's provocative artwork was named "Best album sleeve of 1979" by Playboy magazine
yet ultimately changed for American release. Lovedrive though only managing #55 on the US charts, demonstrated the Scorpions were gathering an international following. After the completion and release of the album the band decided to retain Michael in the band, forcing Jabs to leave. However after a few weeks of the tour, Michael, still coping with alcoholism missed a number of gigs and at one point collapsed on stage. Jabs was brought back to fill in for him on those occasions when he could not perform. In April 1979, during their tour in France, Jabs was brought in permanently to replace Michael.
In 1980 the band released Animal Magnetism, again with a provocative cover this time showing a girl kneeling and a Doberman Pinscher sitting in front of a man. Animal Magnetism contained classics such as "The Zoo
" and "Make It Real". Soon after the album's release, Meine began experiencing throat problems. He required surgery on his vocal cords and doubts were raised about whether he would ever sing again.
Meanwhile, the band began working on their next album, Blackout
in 1981. Don Dokken
was brought in to provide guide and backing vocals while Meine recovered.
Meine eventually healed completely and was able to finish the album. Blackout was released in 1982 and quickly became the band's best selling to date eventually going platinum. Meine's voice showed no signs of weakness and fan response to the album was good. Blackout spawned three singles: "Dynamite", "Blackout", and "No One Like You
".
Gaining in popularity from their success from "Blackout", Scorpions performed to over 375,000 fans on Day 2 at the three-day US Festival concert held in San Bernadino, California during Memorial Day Weekend of 1983. The concert was aired live on MTV, giving the band wide exposure in a live show.
It was not until 1984 and the release of Love at First Sting
that the band finally cemented their status as metal musicians. Propelled by the single "Rock You Like a Hurricane
", Love at First Sting climbed the charts and went double platinum in the USA a few months after its release.
MTV
gave the album's videos "Rock You Like a Hurricane", "Bad Boys Running Wild", "Big City Nights", and the power ballad "Still Loving You
" significant airtime greatly contributing to the album's success. The channel even supplied Scorpions with the nickname "The Ambassadors of Rock" to the chagrin of industry insiders who recognized the executive influence behind the scenes.
The band toured extensively behind Love at First Sting and decided to record and release their second live album, World Wide Live
in 1985. Recorded over a year-long world tour and released at the height of their popularity, the album was another success for the band, peaking at #14 in the charts in the US and at #18 in the UK.
After their extensive world tours, the band finally returned to the studio to record Savage Amusement
. Released in 1988, four years after their previous studio album, Savage Amusement represented a more polished and mature sound similar to the style Def Leppard
had found success. The album sold well but was considered somewhat of a critical disappointment. However, British heavy rock magazine Kerrang!
did award the album five K's out of five.
On the Savage Amusement tour in 1988, Scorpions became only the second Western group (not American) to play in the Soviet Union
. Uriah Heep
had performed in December, 1987 in Leningrad
. The following year the band returned to perform at the Moscow Music Peace Festival
. As a result, Scorpions developed an extended Russian fan base and still return to perform.
Wishing to distance themselves from the Savage Amusement style, the band separated from their long-time producer and "Sixth Scorpion", Dieter Dierks
, replacing him with Keith Olsen when they returned to the studio in 1990. Crazy World
was released that same year and displayed a less polished sound. The album was propelled in large part by the massive success of the ballad "Wind of Change". The song muses on the socio-political changes that were occurring in Eastern Europe
and in other parts of the world at the end of the Cold War
. On July 21, 1990 they joined many other guests for Roger Waters
' massive performance
of The Wall
in Berlin. Scorpions performed both versions of "In the Flesh" from The Wall.
After the Crazy World
tour Francis Buchholz, the band's long-serving bassist, left the group.
. Bass was handled by Ralph Rieckermann. For the recording process, Scorpions brought in producer Bruce Fairbairn
. The album's sound was more metal than melodic and divided the band's fan base. Many "headbangers" responded positively to the album while many longtime fans were put off. Neither the hard rock single "Alien Nation" nor the ballad "Under The Same Sun" came close to matching the success of "Wind of Change". Face the Heat was a moderate success.
In 1995, a new album, Live Bites, was produced. The disc documented retro live performances from their Savage Amusement Tour in 1988, all the way through the Face the Heat Tour in 1994. While the album had a technologically cleaner sound in comparison to their best-selling live album, World Wide Live, it was not as successful.
Prior to recording their 13th studio album, 1996s Pure Instinct
, drummer Herman Rarebell left the band to set up a recording label. Curt Cress took charge of the drumsticks for the album before Kentucky-born James Kottak
took over permanently. Many feel Pure Instinct is a response to the complaints levied against Face the Heat. The album had many ballads. Still, the album's singles "Wild Child" and the soothing ballad "You and I" both enjoyed moderate success.
1999 saw the release of Eye II Eye
and a significant change in the band's style, mixing in elements of pop and techno. While the album was slickly produced, fans were unsure what to make of the band, responding negatively to almost everything from pop-soul backup singers to the electronic drums present on several songs. The video to the album's first European single, "To Be No. 1", featured a Monica Lewinsky
look-alike which did little to improve its popularity.
The following year, Scorpions had an artistic collaboration with the Berlin Philharmonic that resulted in a 10-song album named Moment of Glory
. The album went a long way toward rebuilding the band's reputation after the harsh criticism of Eye II Eye
. However, critics accused them of following on the coattails of Metallica
's similar collaboration (S&M
) with the San Francisco Symphony
which had been released the previous year, even though the orchestra had first approached Scorpions with the idea in 1995.
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In 2001, Scorpions released Acoustica
, a live unplugged album featuring acoustic reworkings of the band's biggest hits, plus new tracks. While appreciated by fans, the lack of a new studio album was frustrating to some, and Acoustica did little to return the band to the spotlight.
In 2004, the band released Unbreakable
, an album that was hailed by critics as a long-awaited return to form. The album was the heaviest the band had released since Face the Heat, and fans responded well to tracks such as "New Generation", "Love 'em or Leave 'em" and "Deep and Dark". Whether a result of poor promotion by the band's label or the long time between studio releases, Unbreakable received little airplay and did not chart. Scorpions toured extensively behind the album and played as 'Special Guests' with Judas Priest
during the 2005 British tour—these were the Scorpions' first dates in the UK since 1999.
In early 2006, Scorpions released the DVD 1 Night in Vienna that included 14 live tracks and a complete rockumentary
. In LA
, the band spent about four months in the studio with producers James Michael and Desmond Child
working on their new concept album
titled Humanity: Hour I
, which was released in late May 2007.
Followed by the "Humanity World Tour
".
In 2007, the band collaborated with two of their signature tracks in the video game series, "Guitar Hero." "No One Like You" was featured on the "Rocks the '80s" version of the game while "Rock You Like A Hurricane" was released on "Guitar Hero 3: Legends of Rock."
On May 14, 2007, Scorpions released Humanity – Hour I in Europe. Humanity – Hour I became available in the U.S. on August 28 on New Door Records
, entering the Billboard
charts at number #63.
In a September 2007 podcast interview, Meine said the new album was not so much a "concept album" as it was a collection of songs with a common theme. "We didn't want to make another record with songs about boys chasing girls. I mean, come on, give me a break," Meine said.
Asked in 2007 if the band was planning to release a Humanity – Hour II, Meine replied:
On December 20, 2007, Scorpions played at a concert for the elite of Russia’s security forces in the Kremlin
. The concert was a celebration of the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Cheka
—predecessor of the KGB
. The band has claimed that they thought they were performing a Christmas
concert. They have said that their concert was by no means a tribute to the Cheka, communism, or Russia's brutal past
. Members of the audience included Vladimir Putin
and Dmitry Medvedev
.
On February 21, 2009, Scorpions received Germany's ECHO Honorary Award for lifetime achievement at Berlin's O2 World
.
, would be released in early 2010, recorded in Hannover with Swedish producers Mikael "Nord" Andersson and Martin Hansen. Sting in the Tail was released on March 23, 2010.
On January 24, 2010, the band announced that Sting in the Tail will be their last album and that the tour supporting it will be their final tour. Dokken
was scheduled to open for them but canceled after a dispute. The tour is expected to end in 2012 or 2013.
On 6 April 2010, Scorpions were enshrined in Hollywood's Rock Walk in a handprint ceremony, with the band members placing their hands in a long slab of wet cement. The slab will be placed in the ground next to other musical artists on the Rock Walk.
According to bassist Paweł Mąciwoda, Scorpions will enter the studio in the fall of 2011 to re-record versions of their older material. At the beginning this retro collection was tentatively due for release in early 2012. The album was titled Comeblack
and was released on 7 November 2011.
Frontman Klaus Meine
was asked in a July 2011 interview about the future of Scorpions and whether the band was going to make another album. He replied, "Our newest project comes out in the next few months. It gives you a chance to experience the Scorpions in 3D. You can actually feel the smoke string out of the guitar like it is a live show. It is an incredible experience. The DVD features our concerts in 3D in Germany. We are just about to do the mix and it should be in the Middle East and Saudi Arabia hopefully soon. Indeed, the strong 3D technology makes us feel like pioneers after all these years (he says, laughing). We have an album coming out later this year featuring classics. You know our love for them. The '60s was the era for our inspiration. Our movie/documentary also is soon to be released. We have cameras with us on tours, so this documentary is being made during our tours. It also gives you a picture of the Scorpions career and journey."
Almost a year in advance it was announced Scorpions would headline the Wacken Open Air Festival
on 4 August.
Live albums
.
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
/hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
band from Hannover, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, formed in 1965 by guitarist Rudolf Schenker
Rudolf Schenker
Rudolf Schenker is a German guitarist and founding member of heavy metal band Scorpions, being the rhythm/lead guitarist and one of the main song-writers of the band...
, who is the band's only constant member. They are known for their 1980s rock anthem "Rock You Like a Hurricane
Rock You Like a Hurricane
"Rock You Like a Hurricane" a song by the German heavy metal band Scorpions. The song was released as the second track of their 1984 album Love at First Sting.-Description:...
" and many singles, such as "No One Like You
No One Like You
"No One Like You" is a song by the German heavy metal band Scorpions, written by band members Rudolf Schenker and Klaus Meine . It first appeared on the band's 1982 album Blackout, and was one of three hits from the album...
", "Send Me an Angel
Send Me an Angel (Scorpions song)
"Send Me an Angel" is a power ballad by German heavy metal band Scorpions, released on their 1990 album Crazy World. Along with "Wind of Change", it became the album's signature track, reaching number 44 on Billboard Hot 100 Chart, number 8 on the Mainstream Rock Chart and high chart positions in...
", "Still Loving You
Still Loving You
"Still Loving You" is a song of Scorpions from their 1984 album Love at First Sting. It was the second single of the album, reaching #64 on Billboard Hot 100. In France, the single sold 1.7 million copies...
", and "Wind of Change". The band was ranked #46 on VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
's Greatest Artists of Hard Rock program. "Rock You Like a Hurricane
Rock You Like a Hurricane
"Rock You Like a Hurricane" a song by the German heavy metal band Scorpions. The song was released as the second track of their 1984 album Love at First Sting.-Description:...
" is also #18 on VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
's list of the 100 Greatest Hard Rock Songs. On January 24, 2010, after 46 years of performing, the band announced that they will be retiring after touring in support of their new album Sting in the Tail
Sting in the Tail
Sting in the Tail is the seventeenth studio album by German heavy metal band Scorpions. It was released on March 19, 2010 in Europe and was released on March 23 in North America...
. The band sold over 100 million albums worldwide.
Formation and early history (1965–1973)
Rudolf SchenkerRudolf Schenker
Rudolf Schenker is a German guitarist and founding member of heavy metal band Scorpions, being the rhythm/lead guitarist and one of the main song-writers of the band...
, the band's rhythm guitarist launched the band in 1965. At first, the band had beat influences and Schenker himself did the vocals. Things began to come together in 1969 when Schenker's younger brother Michael
Michael Schenker
Michael Schenker is a German rock guitarist, best known for his tenure in UFO, in addition to his solo band. He first rose to fame as a founding member of the Scorpions, then achieved fame in the mid 1970s as the lead guitar player for UFO. Since leaving UFO in 1978, he has been leading the...
and vocalist Lobot joined the band. In 1972, the group recorded and released their debut album Lonesome Crow
Lonesome Crow
-Personnel:Credits for Lonesome Crow adapted from Allmusic.Scorpions*Klaus Meine - vocals*Michael Schenker - lead guitar, backing vocals*Rudolf Schenker - rhythm guitar, backing vocals*Lothar Heimberg - bass guitar, backing vocals...
, with Lothar Heimberg on bass and Wolfgang Dziony on drums. During the Lonesome Crow tour, Scorpions opened for upcoming British band UFO
UFO (band)
UFO are an English heavy metal and hard rock band, who were formed in 1969. UFO became a transitional group between early hard rock and heavy metal and the New Wave of British Heavy Metal...
. Near the end of the tour, the members of UFO offered guitarist Michael Schenker the lead guitar job, an offer which he soon accepted. Uli Roth
Ulrich Roth
Ulrich Roth , more commonly known as Uli Jon Roth, is a Germanguitarist and one of the earliest contributors to the neo-classical metal genre. He is also the founder of Sky Academy and inventor of the Sky Guitar. He is the older brother of fellow guitarist and artist Zeno Roth.-Career:In the early...
, a friend of the Schenker brothers, was then called in temporarily to finish off the great tour.
The departure of Michael Schenker led to the breakup of the band. In 1973, Uli Roth
Ulrich Roth
Ulrich Roth , more commonly known as Uli Jon Roth, is a Germanguitarist and one of the earliest contributors to the neo-classical metal genre. He is also the founder of Sky Academy and inventor of the Sky Guitar. He is the older brother of fellow guitarist and artist Zeno Roth.-Career:In the early...
, who had helped Scorpions complete the Lonesome Crow tour, was offered the role as lead guitarist, but turned the band down, preferring instead to remain in the band Dawn Road. Rudolf Schenker eventually decided that he wanted to work with Roth, but did not want to resurrect the last Scorpions lineup. He attended some of Dawn Road's rehearsals and ultimately decided to join the band, which consisted of Roth, Francis Buchholz
Francis Buchholz
Francis Buchholz is a German bassist best known as a member of the rock/hard rock band, the Scorpions....
(bass), Achim Kirschning (keyboards) and Jürgen Rosenthal
Jurgen Rosenthal
Jürgen Rosenthal is a German rock drummer. He was a member of Uli Jon Roth's band Dawn Road, but became a member of the Scorpions, along with Roth and Francis Buchholz, when Dawn Road was annexed into a lineup with Klaus Meine and Rudolf Schenker. He appeared on one album, Fly to the Rainbow,...
(drums). Roth and Buchholz persuaded Rudolf Schenker to invite Klaus Meine to join on vocals, which he soon did. While there were more members of Dawn Road than Scorpions in the band, they decided to use the Scorpions name because it was well-known in the German hard rock scene and an album had been released under that name.
Rise to fame (1974–1978)
In 1974 the new line-up of Scorpions released Fly to the RainbowFly to the Rainbow
-Personnel:Scorpions*Klaus Meine – lead vocals*Ulrich Roth – lead guitar, backing vocals, lead vocals on "Drifting Sun" and co lead-vocals in "Fly To The Rainbow"...
. The album proved to be more successful than Lonesome Crow and songs such as "Speedy's Coming" and the title track to established the band's sound. Achim Kirschning decided to leave after the recordings. Soon after, Jürgen Rosenthal
Jurgen Rosenthal
Jürgen Rosenthal is a German rock drummer. He was a member of Uli Jon Roth's band Dawn Road, but became a member of the Scorpions, along with Roth and Francis Buchholz, when Dawn Road was annexed into a lineup with Klaus Meine and Rudolf Schenker. He appeared on one album, Fly to the Rainbow,...
had to leave as he was being drafted into the army. In 1976, he would join a German progressive rock band called Eloy
Eloy
Eloy is a German progressive rock band, whose musical style includes symphonic and space rock, the latter theme being more prevalent on earlier albums...
recording three albums. He was replaced by a Belgian drummer Rudy Lenners.
In 1975 the band released In Trance
In Trance
-Personnel:* Klaus Meine – lead vocals* Ulrich Roth – lead guitar, backing vocals, lead vocals on "Dark Lady" and "Sun In My Hand"* Rudolf Schenker – rhythm guitar, backing vocals* Francis Buchholz – bass guitar, backing vocals* Rudy Lenners – drums, percussion...
, which marked the beginning of Scorpions' long collaboration with German producer Dieter Dierks
Dieter Dierks
Dieter Dierks is a German record producer mostly known for his collaboration with the rock band Scorpions.- Youth :...
. The album was a huge step forward for Scorpions and established their heavy metal formula. It garnered a fan base at home and abroad with cuts such as "Dark Lady", "Robot Man".
In 1976, Scorpions released Virgin Killer
Virgin Killer
Virgin Killer is the fourth studio album by the German heavy metal band Scorpions. It was released in 1976 and was the first album of the band to attract attention outside Europe. The title is described as being a reference to time as the killer of innocence. The original cover featured a nude...
. The album's cover featured a nude
Nudity
Nudity is the state of wearing no clothing. The wearing of clothing is exclusively a human characteristic. The amount of clothing worn depends on functional considerations and social considerations...
prepubescent girl behind a broken pane of glass. The cover art was designed by Stefan Bohle who was the product manager for RCA Records
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
, their label at the time. The cover brought the band considerable market exposure but subsequently pulled or replaced in other countries. The album itself garnered demographic praise for its music from select critics and fan base.
The following year, Rudy Lenners resigned for personal reasons and was replaced by Herman Rarebell
Herman Rarebell
Herman 'Ze German' Rarebell is a German drummer, best known for his time in the band Scorpions from 1977 to 1995, playing on 8 studio albums...
.
For the follow-up Taken by Force
Taken by Force
Note that most versions of this album feature an edited version of 'The Sails of Charon'. The editing removes a "psychedelic" like sound-effects introduction. The intro doesn't actually contain any music performed by the band...
, RCA Records made a determined effort to promote the album in stores and on the radio. The album's single, "Steamrock Fever", was added to some of RCA's radio promotional records. Roth was not happy with the commercial direction the band was taking. Although he performed on the band's Japan tour, he departed to form his own band, Electric Sun
Electric Sun
Electric Sun was a music group formed by Uli Jon Roth after his departure from the Scorpions in 1978. They recorded three albums between 1979 and 1985....
prior to the release of the resultant double live album Tokyo Tapes
Tokyo Tapes (album)
Tokyo Tapes is a live album by German heavy metal band Scorpions."Tokyo Tapes" was Scorpions' first live album, recorded at Nakano Sun Plaza on April 24 and 27, during the band's Japanese tour in 1978....
. Tokyo Tapes was released in the US and Europe six months after its Japanese release. By that time in mid 1978, after auditioning around 140 guitarists, Scorpions recruited new guitarist Matthias Jabs
Matthias Jabs
Matthias Jabs is a German guitarist and songwriter. He is a member of the heavy metal band Scorpions. Before joining the Scorpions, Jabs had played for the bands Lady, Fargo and Deadlock....
.
Commercial success (1979–1991)
Following the addition of Jabs, Scorpions left RCA for Mercury Records in the States and Harvest/EMI Electrola worldwide to record their next album LovedriveLovedrive
Lovedrive is the sixth studio album by the German heavy metal band Scorpions, released in 1979. Lovedrive was a major evolution of the band's sound, which exhibited their "classic style" that would be later developed over their next few albums. Michael Schenker, younger brother of rhythm guitarist...
. Just weeks after being ejected from UFO for his alcohol abuse, Michael Schenker also returned to the group for a short period during the recordings for the album. This gave the band three guitarists (though Schenker's contribution to the final release was limited to only three songs). The result was Lovedrive
Lovedrive
Lovedrive is the sixth studio album by the German heavy metal band Scorpions, released in 1979. Lovedrive was a major evolution of the band's sound, which exhibited their "classic style" that would be later developed over their next few albums. Michael Schenker, younger brother of rhythm guitarist...
, an album which some critics consider to be the pinnacle of their career. Containing such fan favourites as "Loving You Sunday Morning", "Always Somewhere", "Holiday" and the instrumental "Coast to Coast", the 'Scorpions formula' of hard rock songs mixed with melodic ballads was firmly cemented. The album's provocative artwork was named "Best album sleeve of 1979" by Playboy magazine
Playboy
Playboy is an American men's magazine that features photographs of nude women as well as journalism and fiction. It was founded in Chicago in 1953 by Hugh Hefner and his associates, and funded in part by a $1,000 loan from Hefner's mother. The magazine has grown into Playboy Enterprises, Inc., with...
yet ultimately changed for American release. Lovedrive though only managing #55 on the US charts, demonstrated the Scorpions were gathering an international following. After the completion and release of the album the band decided to retain Michael in the band, forcing Jabs to leave. However after a few weeks of the tour, Michael, still coping with alcoholism missed a number of gigs and at one point collapsed on stage. Jabs was brought back to fill in for him on those occasions when he could not perform. In April 1979, during their tour in France, Jabs was brought in permanently to replace Michael.
The Zoo (Scorpions song)
"The Zoo" is a song by the German heavy metal band Scorpions, written by band members Rudolf Schenker and Klaus Meine . It first appeared on the band's 1980 album Animal Magnetism.The song has been featured on a few of Scorpions "Best-Of" compilations, including Deadly Sting: The Mercury Years,...
" and "Make It Real". Soon after the album's release, Meine began experiencing throat problems. He required surgery on his vocal cords and doubts were raised about whether he would ever sing again.
Meanwhile, the band began working on their next album, Blackout
Blackout (Scorpions album)
- Personnel :* Klaus Meine – Lead vocals* Matthias Jabs – Lead guitar, Backing vocals* Rudolf Schenker – Rhythm guitar, Backing vocals* Francis Buchholz – Bass, Backing vocals* Herman Rarebell – Drums, Percussion, Backing vocals...
in 1981. Don Dokken
Don Dokken
Donald Maynard Dokken is best known for being the lead singer and founder of the band Dokken. He is known for his vibrato-laden, melodic vocal style which has made him an influential figure in American heavy metal. After enjoying mainstream success with Dokken, he parted ways with the band in 1988...
was brought in to provide guide and backing vocals while Meine recovered.
Meine eventually healed completely and was able to finish the album. Blackout was released in 1982 and quickly became the band's best selling to date eventually going platinum. Meine's voice showed no signs of weakness and fan response to the album was good. Blackout spawned three singles: "Dynamite", "Blackout", and "No One Like You
No One Like You
"No One Like You" is a song by the German heavy metal band Scorpions, written by band members Rudolf Schenker and Klaus Meine . It first appeared on the band's 1982 album Blackout, and was one of three hits from the album...
".
Gaining in popularity from their success from "Blackout", Scorpions performed to over 375,000 fans on Day 2 at the three-day US Festival concert held in San Bernadino, California during Memorial Day Weekend of 1983. The concert was aired live on MTV, giving the band wide exposure in a live show.
It was not until 1984 and the release of Love at First Sting
Love at First Sting
Love at First Sting is the ninth studio album by the German heavy metal band Scorpions, released in 1984 . Love at First Sting became the most successful album of the band in the USA where it peaked at number 6 on the Billboard 200 chart in 1984 and went triple platinum...
that the band finally cemented their status as metal musicians. Propelled by the single "Rock You Like a Hurricane
Rock You Like a Hurricane
"Rock You Like a Hurricane" a song by the German heavy metal band Scorpions. The song was released as the second track of their 1984 album Love at First Sting.-Description:...
", Love at First Sting climbed the charts and went double platinum in the USA a few months after its release.
MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
gave the album's videos "Rock You Like a Hurricane", "Bad Boys Running Wild", "Big City Nights", and the power ballad "Still Loving You
Still Loving You
"Still Loving You" is a song of Scorpions from their 1984 album Love at First Sting. It was the second single of the album, reaching #64 on Billboard Hot 100. In France, the single sold 1.7 million copies...
" significant airtime greatly contributing to the album's success. The channel even supplied Scorpions with the nickname "The Ambassadors of Rock" to the chagrin of industry insiders who recognized the executive influence behind the scenes.
The band toured extensively behind Love at First Sting and decided to record and release their second live album, World Wide Live
World Wide Live
World Wide Live is a live album by German heavy metal band Scorpions released in 1985, produced by Dieter Dierks.It was originally released as a 2LP vinyl set, in a gatefold-sleeve, and a cassette...
in 1985. Recorded over a year-long world tour and released at the height of their popularity, the album was another success for the band, peaking at #14 in the charts in the US and at #18 in the UK.
After their extensive world tours, the band finally returned to the studio to record Savage Amusement
Savage Amusement
Savage Amusement is the tenth studio album by the German heavy metal band Scorpions, released in 1988. It peaked at #5 in the USA where it became platinum on June 20, 1988. It was also the last Scorpions record to be produced by Dieter Dierks....
. Released in 1988, four years after their previous studio album, Savage Amusement represented a more polished and mature sound similar to the style Def Leppard
Def Leppard
Def Leppard are an English rock band formed in 1977 in Sheffield as part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement. Since 1992, the band have consisted of Joe Elliott , Rick Savage , Rick Allen , Phil Collen , and Vivian Campbell...
had found success. The album sold well but was considered somewhat of a critical disappointment. However, British heavy rock magazine Kerrang!
Kerrang!
Kerrang! is a UK-based magazine devoted to rock music published by Bauer Media Group. It was first published on June 6, 1981 as a one-off supplement in the Sounds newspaper...
did award the album five K's out of five.
On the Savage Amusement tour in 1988, Scorpions became only the second Western group (not American) to play in the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. Uriah Heep
Uriah Heep (band)
Uriah Heep are an English rock band formed in London in 1969 and regarded as a seminal classic hard rock act of the 1970s. Uriah Heep's progressive/art rock/heavy metal fusion's distinctive features have always been massive keyboards sound, strong vocal harmonies and David Byron's operatic vocals...
had performed in December, 1987 in Leningrad
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
. The following year the band returned to perform at the Moscow Music Peace Festival
Moscow Music Peace Festival
The Moscow Music Peace Festival was a one-time gathering of high-profile hard rock acts for a performance in Moscow, Soviet Union on 12 and 13 August 1989 to promote world peace and establish international cooperation in fighting the drug war in Russia. It was part of an era of momentous change in...
. As a result, Scorpions developed an extended Russian fan base and still return to perform.
Wishing to distance themselves from the Savage Amusement style, the band separated from their long-time producer and "Sixth Scorpion", Dieter Dierks
Dieter Dierks
Dieter Dierks is a German record producer mostly known for his collaboration with the rock band Scorpions.- Youth :...
, replacing him with Keith Olsen when they returned to the studio in 1990. Crazy World
Crazy World
Crazy World is the eleventh studio album by the German heavy metal band Scorpions released in November 1990. Crazy World peaked at number 21 on Billboard 200 Chart for albums in 1991...
was released that same year and displayed a less polished sound. The album was propelled in large part by the massive success of the ballad "Wind of Change". The song muses on the socio-political changes that were occurring in Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe is the eastern part of Europe. The term has widely disparate geopolitical, geographical, cultural and socioeconomic readings, which makes it highly context-dependent and even volatile, and there are "almost as many definitions of Eastern Europe as there are scholars of the region"...
and in other parts of the world at the end of the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
. On July 21, 1990 they joined many other guests for Roger Waters
Roger Waters
George Roger Waters is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. He was a founding member of the progressive rock band Pink Floyd, serving as bassist and co-lead vocalist. Following the departure of bandmate Syd Barrett in 1968, Waters became the band's lyricist, principal songwriter...
' massive performance
The Wall Concert in Berlin
The Wall – Live in Berlin was a live concert performance by Roger Waters and numerous guest artists, of the Pink Floyd studio album, The Wall, itself largely written by Waters during his time with the band. The show was held in Berlin, Germany, on 21 July 1990, to commemorate the fall of the Berlin...
of The Wall
The Wall
The Wall is the eleventh studio album by English progressive rock group Pink Floyd. Released as a double album on 30 November 1979, it was subsequently performed live with elaborate theatrical effects, and adapted into a feature film, Pink Floyd—The Wall.As with the band's previous three...
in Berlin. Scorpions performed both versions of "In the Flesh" from The Wall.
After the Crazy World
Crazy World
Crazy World is the eleventh studio album by the German heavy metal band Scorpions released in November 1990. Crazy World peaked at number 21 on Billboard 200 Chart for albums in 1991...
tour Francis Buchholz, the band's long-serving bassist, left the group.
Later days (1992–2009)
In 1993, Scorpions released Face the HeatFace the Heat
Face the Heat is the twelfth studio album released by the German heavy metal band Scorpions in 1993....
. Bass was handled by Ralph Rieckermann. For the recording process, Scorpions brought in producer Bruce Fairbairn
Bruce Fairbairn
Bruce Earl Fairbairn was a Canadian musician and international record producer from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He was active as a producer from 1976 to 1999 and is considered one of the best of his era...
. The album's sound was more metal than melodic and divided the band's fan base. Many "headbangers" responded positively to the album while many longtime fans were put off. Neither the hard rock single "Alien Nation" nor the ballad "Under The Same Sun" came close to matching the success of "Wind of Change". Face the Heat was a moderate success.
In 1995, a new album, Live Bites, was produced. The disc documented retro live performances from their Savage Amusement Tour in 1988, all the way through the Face the Heat Tour in 1994. While the album had a technologically cleaner sound in comparison to their best-selling live album, World Wide Live, it was not as successful.
Prior to recording their 13th studio album, 1996s Pure Instinct
Pure Instinct
Pure Instinct is the thirteenth studio album by German heavy metal band Scorpions, released in 1996.The cover art for this album like many previous Scorpions album cover was replaced with an alternative cover for some releases due to the nudity on the original cover...
, drummer Herman Rarebell left the band to set up a recording label. Curt Cress took charge of the drumsticks for the album before Kentucky-born James Kottak
James Kottak
James Kottak is an American drummer for the heavy metal band Scorpions, which he joined in 1996....
took over permanently. Many feel Pure Instinct is a response to the complaints levied against Face the Heat. The album had many ballads. Still, the album's singles "Wild Child" and the soothing ballad "You and I" both enjoyed moderate success.
1999 saw the release of Eye II Eye
Eye II Eye
Eye II Eye is the fourteenth studio album by German heavy metal band Scorpions, released in 1999. It is a radical departure in that Eye II Eye is much more pop-oriented than their previous work, which alienated some fans, despite lead single "Mysterious" reaching number 26 on the Billboard...
and a significant change in the band's style, mixing in elements of pop and techno. While the album was slickly produced, fans were unsure what to make of the band, responding negatively to almost everything from pop-soul backup singers to the electronic drums present on several songs. The video to the album's first European single, "To Be No. 1", featured a Monica Lewinsky
Monica Lewinsky
Monica Samille Lewinsky is an American woman with whom United States President Bill Clinton admitted to having had an "improper relationship" while she worked at the White House in 1995 and 1996...
look-alike which did little to improve its popularity.
The following year, Scorpions had an artistic collaboration with the Berlin Philharmonic that resulted in a 10-song album named Moment of Glory
Moment of Glory
Moment of Glory is the fifteenth studio album by German heavy metal band Scorpions with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. At first the English composer Andrew Powell was asked to provide arrangements. As they would have reduced the orchestra too much, being only a symphonic accompaniment, both the...
. The album went a long way toward rebuilding the band's reputation after the harsh criticism of Eye II Eye
Eye II Eye
Eye II Eye is the fourteenth studio album by German heavy metal band Scorpions, released in 1999. It is a radical departure in that Eye II Eye is much more pop-oriented than their previous work, which alienated some fans, despite lead single "Mysterious" reaching number 26 on the Billboard...
. However, critics accused them of following on the coattails of Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
's similar collaboration (S&M
S&M (album)
-Video release:Metallica also filmed and released the concert in DVD and VHS with direction by Wayne Isham. The VHS set has only the concert video, while the double DVD set has 5.1 sound , 41 minute documentary about the concert, and two "No Leaf Clover" music videos: "Slice & Dice" version and the...
) with the San Francisco Symphony
San Francisco Symphony
The San Francisco Symphony is an orchestra based in San Francisco, California. Since 1980, the orchestra has performed at the Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall. The San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra and the San Francisco Symphony Chorus are part of the organization...
which had been released the previous year, even though the orchestra had first approached Scorpions with the idea in 1995.
Acoustica (Scorpions album)
Acoustica is a 2001 unplugged album by German heavy metal band Scorpions.Acoustica was recorded during three concerts, at Convento do Beato, Lisbon, Portugal, in February 2001. It was a most unusual set for the band, as Klaus Meine comments on the DVD...
, a live unplugged album featuring acoustic reworkings of the band's biggest hits, plus new tracks. While appreciated by fans, the lack of a new studio album was frustrating to some, and Acoustica did little to return the band to the spotlight.
In 2004, the band released Unbreakable
Unbreakable (Scorpions album)
Unbreakable is the fifteenth studio album by the German heavy metal band Scorpions, released in 2004. In this album, Scorpions return to their original, more raw style of music after many concept albums and experimenting with different styles....
, an album that was hailed by critics as a long-awaited return to form. The album was the heaviest the band had released since Face the Heat, and fans responded well to tracks such as "New Generation", "Love 'em or Leave 'em" and "Deep and Dark". Whether a result of poor promotion by the band's label or the long time between studio releases, Unbreakable received little airplay and did not chart. Scorpions toured extensively behind the album and played as 'Special Guests' with Judas Priest
Judas Priest
Judas Priest are an English heavy metal band from Birmingham, England, formed in 1969. The current line-up consists of lead vocalist Rob Halford, guitarists Glenn Tipton and Richie Faulkner, bassist Ian Hill, and drummer Scott Travis. The band has gone through several drummers over the years,...
during the 2005 British tour—these were the Scorpions' first dates in the UK since 1999.
In early 2006, Scorpions released the DVD 1 Night in Vienna that included 14 live tracks and a complete rockumentary
Rockumentary
The term rockumentary is a neologism denoting a documentary about rock music or its musicians. The term was used by Bill Drake in the 1969 History of Rock & Roll radio broadcast, and by Rob Reiner in the 1984 mockumentary film This Is Spinal Tap....
. In LA
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, the band spent about four months in the studio with producers James Michael and Desmond Child
Desmond Child
Desmond Child is an American musician, songwriter, and producer. He is a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame.-Career:...
working on their new concept album
Concept album
In music, a concept album is an album that is "unified by a theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, narrative, or lyrical." Commonly, concept albums tend to incorporate preconceived musical or lyrical ideas rather than being improvised or composed in the studio, with all songs contributing...
titled Humanity: Hour I
Humanity: Hour I
Humanity: Hour I is a concept album by the German heavy metal band Scorpions, which was released in Europe on May 14, 2007 and in the United States and Canada on August 28, 2007...
, which was released in late May 2007.
Followed by the "Humanity World Tour
Humanity World Tour
The Humanity World Tour was a worldwide concert tour by German heavy metal band Scorpions.The tour began on March 2, 2007 and finished on December 6, 2009.-Personnel:*Klaus Meine: Lead vocals*Matthias Jabs: Lead guitar, Backing vocals...
".
In 2007, the band collaborated with two of their signature tracks in the video game series, "Guitar Hero." "No One Like You" was featured on the "Rocks the '80s" version of the game while "Rock You Like A Hurricane" was released on "Guitar Hero 3: Legends of Rock."
On May 14, 2007, Scorpions released Humanity – Hour I in Europe. Humanity – Hour I became available in the U.S. on August 28 on New Door Records
Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group is an American music group, the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations...
, entering the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
charts at number #63.
In a September 2007 podcast interview, Meine said the new album was not so much a "concept album" as it was a collection of songs with a common theme. "We didn't want to make another record with songs about boys chasing girls. I mean, come on, give me a break," Meine said.
Asked in 2007 if the band was planning to release a Humanity – Hour II, Meine replied:
On December 20, 2007, Scorpions played at a concert for the elite of Russia’s security forces in the Kremlin
Kremlin
A kremlin , same root as in kremen is a major fortified central complex found in historic Russian cities. This word is often used to refer to the best-known one, the Moscow Kremlin, or metonymically to the government that is based there...
. The concert was a celebration of the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Cheka
Cheka
Cheka was the first of a succession of Soviet state security organizations. It was created by a decree issued on December 20, 1917, by Vladimir Lenin and subsequently led by aristocrat-turned-communist Felix Dzerzhinsky...
—predecessor of the KGB
KGB
The KGB was the commonly used acronym for the . It was the national security agency of the Soviet Union from 1954 until 1991, and was the premier internal security, intelligence, and secret police organization during that time.The State Security Agency of the Republic of Belarus currently uses the...
. The band has claimed that they thought they were performing a Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
concert. They have said that their concert was by no means a tribute to the Cheka, communism, or Russia's brutal past
Human rights in the Soviet Union
Human rights in the Soviet Union have been viewed differently, one view by the communist ideology adopted by the Soviet Union and another by its critics. The Soviet Union was established after a revolution that ended centuries of Tsarist monarchy...
. Members of the audience included Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin served as the second President of the Russian Federation and is the current Prime Minister of Russia, as well as chairman of United Russia and Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Union of Russia and Belarus. He became acting President on 31 December 1999, when...
and Dmitry Medvedev
Dmitry Medvedev
Dmitry Anatolyevich Medvedev is the third President of the Russian Federation.Born to a family of academics, Medvedev graduated from the Law Department of Leningrad State University in 1987. He defended his dissertation in 1990 and worked as a docent at his alma mater, now renamed to Saint...
.
On February 21, 2009, Scorpions received Germany's ECHO Honorary Award for lifetime achievement at Berlin's O2 World
O2 World
O2 World is a multi-use indoor arena, in the Friedrichshain neighborhood, of Berlin, that opened in September 2008. Developed by Anschutz Entertainment Group, it was named O2 World, when O2 Germany purchased the naming rights...
.
New album and retirement (2010–present)
In November 2009, Scorpions announced that their 17th studio album, Sting in the TailSting in the Tail
Sting in the Tail is the seventeenth studio album by German heavy metal band Scorpions. It was released on March 19, 2010 in Europe and was released on March 23 in North America...
, would be released in early 2010, recorded in Hannover with Swedish producers Mikael "Nord" Andersson and Martin Hansen. Sting in the Tail was released on March 23, 2010.
On January 24, 2010, the band announced that Sting in the Tail will be their last album and that the tour supporting it will be their final tour. Dokken
Dokken
Dokken is an American heavy metal and hard rock band formed in 1978. They split up in 1989 but reformed four years later. The group accumulated numerous charting singles and has sold more than 10 million albums worldwide...
was scheduled to open for them but canceled after a dispute. The tour is expected to end in 2012 or 2013.
On 6 April 2010, Scorpions were enshrined in Hollywood's Rock Walk in a handprint ceremony, with the band members placing their hands in a long slab of wet cement. The slab will be placed in the ground next to other musical artists on the Rock Walk.
According to bassist Paweł Mąciwoda, Scorpions will enter the studio in the fall of 2011 to re-record versions of their older material. At the beginning this retro collection was tentatively due for release in early 2012. The album was titled Comeblack
Comeblack
Comeblack is the nineteenth studio album by German heavy metal band Scorpions.The album is composed half of their own classics' re-recorded versions and half cover versions of 60s' and early 70s' popular rock songs. It was announced on 3 October 2011, with a planned release date of 4 November...
and was released on 7 November 2011.
Frontman Klaus Meine
Klaus Meine
Klaus Meine is a German singer, best known as the lead vocalist and occasional rhythm guitarist of the heavy metal band Scorpions...
was asked in a July 2011 interview about the future of Scorpions and whether the band was going to make another album. He replied, "Our newest project comes out in the next few months. It gives you a chance to experience the Scorpions in 3D. You can actually feel the smoke string out of the guitar like it is a live show. It is an incredible experience. The DVD features our concerts in 3D in Germany. We are just about to do the mix and it should be in the Middle East and Saudi Arabia hopefully soon. Indeed, the strong 3D technology makes us feel like pioneers after all these years (he says, laughing). We have an album coming out later this year featuring classics. You know our love for them. The '60s was the era for our inspiration. Our movie/documentary also is soon to be released. We have cameras with us on tours, so this documentary is being made during our tours. It also gives you a picture of the Scorpions career and journey."
Almost a year in advance it was announced Scorpions would headline the Wacken Open Air Festival
Wacken Open Air
Wacken Open Air is a summer open air heavy metal music festival. It takes place annually in the small town of Wacken in Schleswig-Holstein, northern Germany...
on 4 August.
Current members
- Rudolf SchenkerRudolf SchenkerRudolf Schenker is a German guitarist and founding member of heavy metal band Scorpions, being the rhythm/lead guitarist and one of the main song-writers of the band...
— rhythm guitar, backing vocals (1965–present) - Klaus MeineKlaus MeineKlaus Meine is a German singer, best known as the lead vocalist and occasional rhythm guitarist of the heavy metal band Scorpions...
— lead vocals (1970–present) - Matthias JabsMatthias JabsMatthias Jabs is a German guitarist and songwriter. He is a member of the heavy metal band Scorpions. Before joining the Scorpions, Jabs had played for the bands Lady, Fargo and Deadlock....
— lead guitar, backing vocals (1978, 1979–present) - James KottakJames KottakJames Kottak is an American drummer for the heavy metal band Scorpions, which he joined in 1996....
— drums, percussion, backing vocals (1996–present) - Paweł Mąciwoda — bass, backing vocals (2004–present)
Former members
- Lothar Heimberg — bass, backing vocals (1965–1973)
- Wolfgang DzionyWolfgang DzionyWolfgang Dziony was born in 1949 in Elze, Germany. He was a drummer and percussionist with the German heavy metal/hard rock band The Scorpions from 1964 to 1973.He appeared on:* Lonesome Crow * History Of German Rock 1972 - 1976...
— drums, percussion, backing vocals (1965–1973) - Karl-Heinz Vollmer – lead & rhythm guitars, backing vocals (1965–1970)
- Michael SchenkerMichael SchenkerMichael Schenker is a German rock guitarist, best known for his tenure in UFO, in addition to his solo band. He first rose to fame as a founding member of the Scorpions, then achieved fame in the mid 1970s as the lead guitar player for UFO. Since leaving UFO in 1978, he has been leading the...
— lead & rhythm guitars, backing vocals (1970–1973, 1978-1979) - Francis BuchholzFrancis BuchholzFrancis Buchholz is a German bassist best known as a member of the rock/hard rock band, the Scorpions....
— bass, backing vocals (1973–1983, 1984–1992) - Uli Jon RothUlrich RothUlrich Roth , more commonly known as Uli Jon Roth, is a Germanguitarist and one of the earliest contributors to the neo-classical metal genre. He is also the founder of Sky Academy and inventor of the Sky Guitar. He is the older brother of fellow guitarist and artist Zeno Roth.-Career:In the early...
— lead & rhythm guitars, backing vocals, lead vocals on "Drifting Sun", "Fly to the Rainbow", "Dark Lady", "Sun in My Hand", "Hell Cat", "Polar Nights" (1973–1978) - Jürgen RosenthalJurgen RosenthalJürgen Rosenthal is a German rock drummer. He was a member of Uli Jon Roth's band Dawn Road, but became a member of the Scorpions, along with Roth and Francis Buchholz, when Dawn Road was annexed into a lineup with Klaus Meine and Rudolf Schenker. He appeared on one album, Fly to the Rainbow,...
— drums, percussion, backing vocals (1973–1975) - Achim Kirschning — keyboards (1973–1974)
- Rudy Lenners — drums, percussion (1975–1977)
- Joe Wyman - drums, percussion (1977)
- Herman RarebellHerman RarebellHerman 'Ze German' Rarebell is a German drummer, best known for his time in the band Scorpions from 1977 to 1995, playing on 8 studio albums...
— drums, percussion, backing vocals (1977–1983, 1984–1995) - Ralph Rieckermann — bass, backing vocals (1993–2000, 2000–2003)
- Curt Cress — drums, percussion (1996)
- Ken Taylor — bass, backing vocals (2000)
- Ingo Powitzer — bass, backing vocals (2004)
Manager
- Stewart Young (1995–present)
- Tom Consolo ( Front Line Management;Frontline Management Group, Azoffmusic Management; North-America)
- Peter F. Amend (Lawer, Booker and Manager 1991-present)
Discography
Studio albums- Lonesome CrowLonesome Crow-Personnel:Credits for Lonesome Crow adapted from Allmusic.Scorpions*Klaus Meine - vocals*Michael Schenker - lead guitar, backing vocals*Rudolf Schenker - rhythm guitar, backing vocals*Lothar Heimberg - bass guitar, backing vocals...
(1972) - Fly to the RainbowFly to the Rainbow-Personnel:Scorpions*Klaus Meine – lead vocals*Ulrich Roth – lead guitar, backing vocals, lead vocals on "Drifting Sun" and co lead-vocals in "Fly To The Rainbow"...
(1974) - In TranceIn Trance-Personnel:* Klaus Meine – lead vocals* Ulrich Roth – lead guitar, backing vocals, lead vocals on "Dark Lady" and "Sun In My Hand"* Rudolf Schenker – rhythm guitar, backing vocals* Francis Buchholz – bass guitar, backing vocals* Rudy Lenners – drums, percussion...
(1975) - Virgin KillerVirgin KillerVirgin Killer is the fourth studio album by the German heavy metal band Scorpions. It was released in 1976 and was the first album of the band to attract attention outside Europe. The title is described as being a reference to time as the killer of innocence. The original cover featured a nude...
(1976) - Taken by ForceTaken by ForceNote that most versions of this album feature an edited version of 'The Sails of Charon'. The editing removes a "psychedelic" like sound-effects introduction. The intro doesn't actually contain any music performed by the band...
(1977) - LovedriveLovedriveLovedrive is the sixth studio album by the German heavy metal band Scorpions, released in 1979. Lovedrive was a major evolution of the band's sound, which exhibited their "classic style" that would be later developed over their next few albums. Michael Schenker, younger brother of rhythm guitarist...
(1979) - Animal Magnetism (1980)
- BlackoutBlackout (Scorpions album)- Personnel :* Klaus Meine – Lead vocals* Matthias Jabs – Lead guitar, Backing vocals* Rudolf Schenker – Rhythm guitar, Backing vocals* Francis Buchholz – Bass, Backing vocals* Herman Rarebell – Drums, Percussion, Backing vocals...
(1982) - Love at First StingLove at First StingLove at First Sting is the ninth studio album by the German heavy metal band Scorpions, released in 1984 . Love at First Sting became the most successful album of the band in the USA where it peaked at number 6 on the Billboard 200 chart in 1984 and went triple platinum...
(1984) - Savage AmusementSavage AmusementSavage Amusement is the tenth studio album by the German heavy metal band Scorpions, released in 1988. It peaked at #5 in the USA where it became platinum on June 20, 1988. It was also the last Scorpions record to be produced by Dieter Dierks....
(1988) - Crazy WorldCrazy WorldCrazy World is the eleventh studio album by the German heavy metal band Scorpions released in November 1990. Crazy World peaked at number 21 on Billboard 200 Chart for albums in 1991...
(1990) - Face the HeatFace the HeatFace the Heat is the twelfth studio album released by the German heavy metal band Scorpions in 1993....
(1993) - Pure InstinctPure InstinctPure Instinct is the thirteenth studio album by German heavy metal band Scorpions, released in 1996.The cover art for this album like many previous Scorpions album cover was replaced with an alternative cover for some releases due to the nudity on the original cover...
(1996) - Eye II EyeEye II EyeEye II Eye is the fourteenth studio album by German heavy metal band Scorpions, released in 1999. It is a radical departure in that Eye II Eye is much more pop-oriented than their previous work, which alienated some fans, despite lead single "Mysterious" reaching number 26 on the Billboard...
(1999) - Moment Of GloryMoment of GloryMoment of Glory is the fifteenth studio album by German heavy metal band Scorpions with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. At first the English composer Andrew Powell was asked to provide arrangements. As they would have reduced the orchestra too much, being only a symphonic accompaniment, both the...
(2000) - UnbreakableUnbreakable (Scorpions album)Unbreakable is the fifteenth studio album by the German heavy metal band Scorpions, released in 2004. In this album, Scorpions return to their original, more raw style of music after many concept albums and experimenting with different styles....
(2004) - Humanity: Hour IHumanity: Hour IHumanity: Hour I is a concept album by the German heavy metal band Scorpions, which was released in Europe on May 14, 2007 and in the United States and Canada on August 28, 2007...
(2007) - Sting in the TailSting in the TailSting in the Tail is the seventeenth studio album by German heavy metal band Scorpions. It was released on March 19, 2010 in Europe and was released on March 23 in North America...
(2010) - ComeblackComeblackComeblack is the nineteenth studio album by German heavy metal band Scorpions.The album is composed half of their own classics' re-recorded versions and half cover versions of 60s' and early 70s' popular rock songs. It was announced on 3 October 2011, with a planned release date of 4 November...
(2011)
Live albums
- Tokyo TapesTokyo Tapes (album)Tokyo Tapes is a live album by German heavy metal band Scorpions."Tokyo Tapes" was Scorpions' first live album, recorded at Nakano Sun Plaza on April 24 and 27, during the band's Japanese tour in 1978....
(1978) - World Wide LiveWorld Wide LiveWorld Wide Live is a live album by German heavy metal band Scorpions released in 1985, produced by Dieter Dierks.It was originally released as a 2LP vinyl set, in a gatefold-sleeve, and a cassette...
(1985) - Live BitesLive BitesLive Bites is a live album by German heavy metal band Scorpions released in 1995.It was recorded between 1988 and 1994 in Leningrad , San Francisco , Mexico City , Berlin and Munich .-International version:...
(1995) - AcousticaAcoustica (Scorpions album)Acoustica is a 2001 unplugged album by German heavy metal band Scorpions.Acoustica was recorded during three concerts, at Convento do Beato, Lisbon, Portugal, in February 2001. It was a most unusual set for the band, as Klaus Meine comments on the DVD...
(2001) - Get your sting and blackout (2011)
Tours
- 1972: Lonsome Crow Tour
- 1974: Fly to the Rainbow Tour
- 1975–1976: In Trance Tour
- 1976: Virgin Killer Tour
- 1977–1978: Taken by Force Tour
- 1979: Lovedrive Tour
- 1980: Animal Magnetism Tour
- 1982–1983: Blackout TourBlackout TourThe Blackout Tour was a concert tour by the heavy metal band Scorpions from March 16, 1982 to December 18, 1983. The North American leg of the tour was supported by Iron Maiden.-Tour dates:...
- 1984–1986: Love at First Sting Tour
- 1988–1989: Savage Amusement Tour
- 1990–1991: Crazy World Tour
- 1993–1994: Face the Heat Tour
- 1996–1997: Pure Instinct Tour
- 1999: Eye to Eye TourEye To Eye TourThe Eye to Eye Tour was a concert tour by the German heavy metal band Scorpions which took place in 1999 in support of their album Eye II Eye.-Personnel:*Klaus Meine: Lead Vocals, Guitar...
- 2000: Moment of Glory Tour
- 2001: Acoustica Tour
- 2002: Scorpions Tour 2002Scorpions Tour 2002The Scorpions Tour 2002 was a concert tour by the German based heavy metal band Scorpions. They performed in Europe, North America and Jamaica.-Tour dates:...
- 2003: Scorpions Tour 2003Scorpions Tour 2003The Scorpions Tour 2003 was a concert tour headlining by the German heavy metal band Scorpions. The band played 38 show in North America and couple of show in Europe.Like the Scorpions Tour 2002 the band played most of their classic songs from the 80's....
- 2004–2006:Unbreakable World TourUnbreakable World TourThe Unbreakable World Tour was a worldwide concert tour by the German heavy metal band Scorpions, in support of their latest album Unbreakable...
- 2007–2009: Humanity World TourHumanity World TourThe Humanity World Tour was a worldwide concert tour by German heavy metal band Scorpions.The tour began on March 2, 2007 and finished on December 6, 2009.-Personnel:*Klaus Meine: Lead vocals*Matthias Jabs: Lead guitar, Backing vocals...
- 2010–2013: Get Your Sting and Blackout World TourGet Your Sting and Blackout World TourGet Your Sting and Blackout World Tour is a worldwide concert tour by German rock band Scorpions. It follows the release of the album Sting in the Tail.The European dates were followed by dates in the United States, South America and Asia...
Musical theatre
The Scorpions song "Winds of Change" appears in the Off-Broadway production Power BalladzPower Balladz
Power Balladz is a live comedy performance featuring a mixture of comedy, trivia, and iconic rock n' roll songs from the 70s, 80s & 90s for which it is also named...
.
Awards and Honors
- 1975: Best German Live Band
- 1976: Album of the Year in Germany Virgin Killer
- 1979: PlayboyPlayboyPlayboy is an American men's magazine that features photographs of nude women as well as journalism and fiction. It was founded in Chicago in 1953 by Hugh Hefner and his associates, and funded in part by a $1,000 loan from Hefner's mother. The magazine has grown into Playboy Enterprises, Inc., with...
magazine : Best artwork of the year for the Lovedrive cover - 1985: Entry into the Golden Book of Hanover
- 1986: Bravo-Otto Band in Silver Category Hard n Heavy
- 1991: Bravo Otto in Gold Category band Hard n Heavy
- 1991: Invitation to the KremlinKremlinA kremlin , same root as in kremen is a major fortified central complex found in historic Russian cities. This word is often used to refer to the best-known one, the Moscow Kremlin, or metonymically to the government that is based there...
, reception at the former Soviet state and party leader Gorbachev - 1992: Bravo Otto in bronze category band Hard n Heavy
- 1992: World Music Award as the most successful German rock act
- 1992: Echo as the best national group
- 1992: Europe Golden (German: Goldene Europa)
- 1994: World Music Award
- 1998: Radio Regenbogen Award Rock International
- 2000: Town of Hanover Plaque (German: Stadtplakette)
- 2000: Entry into the Golden Book of Hanover
- 2000: Cultural Prize of the City of Hannover
- 2001: Scorpions street in Leganes, Spain
- 2009: Echo Lifetime Achievement
- 2010: Star on the Hollywood Rock Walk Los Angeles
- 2010: Rock Legend Award the World Music Award (special award for her outstanding contribution to the development of rock music)
- 2010: Special postage stampforScorpions tour in Brazil, published by the Brazilian Post
- 2010: Lifetime Achievement Awards, the Hard Rock CafeHard Rock CafeHard Rock Cafe is a chain of theme restaurants founded in 1971 by Americans Peter Morton & Isaac Tigrett. In 1979, the cafe began covering its walls with rock and roll memorabilia, a tradition which expanded to others in the chain. In 2006, Hard Rock was sold to the Seminole Tribe of Florida, and...
chain - 2011: Radio Regenbogen Award in the Category Lifetime Rock
- 2011: Pioneer of Pop-Award of SWR3-New-Pop-Festival
- 2011:Metal Guru Award from Classic Rock (magazine)Classic Rock (magazine)Classic Rock is a British magazine dedicated to the radio format of classic rock, published by Future Publishing, who are also responsible for its "sister" publication Metal Hammer. Although firmly focusing on key bands from the 1960s through early 1990s, it also includes articles and reviews of...
See also
- List of best-selling music artists
- List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Mainstream Rock chart