.

Click HERE

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

]]> http://rockblogazzurro.wordpress.com/?p=320 Mon, 30 Jun 2008 00:33:59 +0000 MAIDEN http://rockblogazzurro.wordpress.com/?p=320 Como bien ha comentado mi compañero LuBlue en la entrada anterior, sabemos que ha pasado ya una semana desde este magno evento, pero éstos vuestros redactores estaban en recuperación física y mental y además no terminábamos de ponernos de acuerdo en cómo hacerlo, así que... Cada uno va contando su experiencia.

Voy a contaros cómo viví el festival desde la zona VIP, a la que tuve acceso gracias a ser la dj de la discoteca metalera que se montaba en la carpa después de los conciertos.

El viernes, después de ver a Gotthard, mi amigo Sebas y yo junto con el otro dj -Ieltxu- emprendimos la subida a la zona VIP. O, más bien, podría calificarla de Paraíso del Metal.

Lo primero, reconocimiento del terreno: Una txozna (carpa-expendedor de bebidas en recipientes de plástico, propio de las fiestas) en lo alto de la colina, junto con sillas y mesas para degustar tranquilamente la consumición. Frente a la citada txozna, la carpa de camerinos. La entrada estaba formada por un hall bastante grande con sofás, pantallas gigantes para ver los conciertos que estaban teniendo lugar en ese momento y una barra de bar con café, galletas, caramelos y demás. A ambos lados del hall estaban los pasillos con acceso a los camerinos propiamente dichos.

Junto a los camerinos, la carpa de catering, donde había un excelente buffet libre con ensaladas, paella, macarrones, pollo, tarta, fruta y bebida, todo ello servido en mesas grandes redondas con mantel de tela, vasos de cristal y platos y cubiertos como en los restaurantes. Mando un saludo a Jesús y Arantxa, encargados del catering y clientes del Azzurro, por el trato recibido y lo bien que comimos. Seguro que los de Slayer y Shane Embury, guitarrista de Napalm Death -No me preguntéis qué hacía ahí- se lo agradecen tanto como yo, podríamos decir que no podían parar de comer.

Al poco tiempo de llegar aparecieron los miembros de Gotthard, y tuve la ocasión de contarle a Steve Lee con mi inglés guachinero el por qué de que les tiren camisetas del Azzurro cada vez que vienen a Bilbao. Creo que también entendió que la última camiseta era mía, cosa que le hizo bastante gracia. La verdad que es una persona muy sencilla y cercana, daba gusto hablar con él.

Poco después llegaron los chicos de Gamma Ray, me dio pena no poder saludarles porque se les notaba que venían cansados y llevaban las maletas, así que no quise decirles nada. Ya había estado con ellos en su anterior concierto en Bilbao y son gente estupenda.

Después de tomar unos katxis en la campita decidimos bajar a ver a Judas Priest, juntándonos con los demás redactores del blog y clientes-foreros de MOD-PC y el Azzurro. Sólo puedo decir que ese rato me lo pasé de cine, estábamos todos bastante perjudicados y Halford para la edad que tiene está hecho un campeón, nos quedamos sin voz de corear las canciones. Después de Judas tocaban Slayer pero con gran dolor de corazón no pude verles, tenía que ir a cumplir con mis compromisos en la carpa-hangar.

Esa noche con la música tanto Ieltxu como yo lo pasamos casi sin enterarnos, había muy buen rollo y los que fueron participaron muchísimo. Como había unas máquinas de humo bastante potentes no veía bien a la gente, pero aun así la sensación de tener delante a 500 personas saltando a la vez es increíble.

Al día siguiente me levanté después de la hora de comer absolutamente desguazada y con agujetas por todo el cuerpo, pero me armé de valor y volví a subir, llegando al recinto sobre las 6 de la tarde. Después de saludar a todos los que pude, volví a ir al Paraíso con Ieltxu, a la espera de la llegada de Dio. Mientras tanto merendamos algo y pudimos ver a Michael Schenker en un lamentable estado físico, y como ya dije a algunos, ese hombre parece un clon de Mickey Rourke.

Nos dirigimos a la carpa de camerinos y una vez allí ocupamos los sofás mientras la gente de nuestro alrededor se mostraba cada vez más frenética. No era para menos, fijándome un poco pude darme cuenta de que entraba Paul Stanley, con un look muy parecido al que llevaba en el video "Lick It Up", solo que con más operaciones. Como le ví muy distendido paseando por allí, intenté acercarme a él, pero uno de los de seguridad casi me come. Decidimos hacer como que no les conocíamos, era lo más adecuado. Unos minutos después entraba Gene Simmons, por Tutatis qué feo es, como un enorme sapo. Se puso delante nuestro a mirar las pantallas donde emitían los conciertos hasta que uno de los jefes de Last Tour nos dijo que nos cambiáramos de sitio, los señoritos querían sentarse en los sofás.

Acto seguido, por fin, llegó Dio. ¡¡Qué nervios!! Conseguí acercarme a él y contarle lo mucho que nos había gustado su aparición en la película "The Pick of Destiny". Hasta le canté un trocito de la canción. El hombre, muy majo, me dijo que era muy amigo de Jack Black y que se lo había pasado muy bien participando en su película.

Llegaron también los miembros de Blind Guardian. Uno de los guitarristas llegó con su mujer e hijos, todos clónicos. Me recordaban a los hermanos Dalton. El vocalista, Hansi, se hizo también unas fotos con nosotros:

En fin, aquella tarde fue un momentazo contínuo. Ahí sentados tranquilamente tomando algo junto a toda esa gente fue muy especial, me quedo con un gran recuerdo.

Esa noche bajamos Sebas y yo a probar la oferta especial de la cervecera de Kobetas: Medio pollo asado, patatas y una cerveza por 8 euros, todo ello en un sitio organizado, tranquilo y con baños limpios. Después, a ver a los Kiss. Tengo que decir que no me gustó demasiado (lo siento por los acérrimos de la banda), aun sabiendo que ese grupo es un espectáculo en sí para mí fue eso: espectáculo. Música, poca. Igual es que estaba ya bastante cansada, o que me quedé muy atrás, el caso es que quitando determinados momentos me dejó bastante fría.

Para finalizar el día, vuelta a la carpa sin poder ver a Saxon (snif). Mi compañero Ieltxu desertó enseguida y me quedé ahí con todo el tinglado hasta las 7 de la mañana que mandaron quitar la música y los metaleros que quedábamos -bastantes a pesar de la hora y el cansancio- comenzamos el descenso del monte. Algunos acabamos en cierto bar de Basurto desayunando cubatas, pero como dijo Michael Ende, eso es otra historia y será contada en otra ocasión...

Os dejo, para finalizar, unas fotos:

El festival desde arriba:

Uno de los componentes de Apocalyptica llegando del concierto:

Unos cuantos del megagrupo:

No Centro-Oeste, o show acontecerá no Ginásio Goiânia Arena, no dia 31 de agosto, num domingo, no dia seguinte à primeira apresentação no Brasil, em plena Praça da apoteose, no Rio. De acordo com informações no sítio www.scorpionsgoiania.com.br,  os ingressos podem ser adquiridos na Tribo. O primeiro lote colocado à venda engloba mil ingressos. Este blogueiro, fã da banda, coloca à disposição dos leitores um serviço da tournê:

31/08/08 – Goiânia
Local: Ginasio Goiania Arena
Ponto de Venda: Tribo
PREÇOS DO PRIMEIRO LOTE DE INGRESSOS:
R$ 50 - Arquibancada Superior
R$ 80 - Arquibancada Inferior/Pista
R$ 120 - Área Vip (em frente ao palco)
R$ 200 - Camarote VIP Open Bar
* Somente para o 1º Lote - 1000 ingressos de cada setor
(valores referentes a meia entrada mediante a apresentação de carteira de estudante)
Maiores informações: (62) 3624-9655 / 8408-7736 / 99791039.

Scorpions em Belém
Dia: 03/09
Local: Cidade Folia
Scorpions em Manaus
Dia 04/09
Local: Arena Amadeu Teixeira

Scorpions em São Paulo
Dia: 06/09
Local: Credicard Hall
Ingressos
Platéia Superior 1 - R$130 / R$65 (meia-entrada)
Platéia Superior 2 - R$120 / R$60 (meia-entrada)
Platéia Superior 3 - R$110 / R$55 (meia-entrada)
Pista - R$180 - R$90 (meia-entrada)
Camarote 2 - R$500 / R$250 (meia-entrada)
Camarote 1 - R$600 / R$300 (meia-entrada).
Vendas: Ticketmaster
Scorpions em Recife
Dia: 07/09
Local: Chevrolet Hall
Preço: 60,00 Pista (Meia)
Scorpions em Belo Horizonte
Dia: 10/09
Local: Minerinho
Scorpions em Ponta Grossa
Dia: 12/09
Local: Centro de Eventos

 
E para incendiar ainda mais os fãs do Scorpions, vasculhei a blogesfera para encontrar informações sobre o grupo. O texto que reproduzo abaixo é de um sítio especializado em música:

“Não há como negar a importância dos Scorpions, banda que revolucionou o Hard Rock. A banda foi formada na Alemanha em 1966 pelos irmãos Michael e Rudolf Schenker, ambos excelentes guitarristas. Junto a eles estavam Klaus Meine (Vocal), Lothar Heinberg (Baixo) e Wolfgang Dziony (bateria), em 1972, lançaram o album Lonesome Crow, e explodiram na cena Heavy Rock de varias países.

Após o primeiro álbum Heinberg, Dziony e Michael Schenker saíram da banda (este último formaria o UFO). Entraram na banda Francis Buchholz (baixo) e Jurgen Rosenthal (bateria) e o excelente Ulrich Roth (guitarra). Com esta formação gravaram o album Fly To The Rainbow, com destaques para Speddy’s Coming e para a faixa-titulo. Com Rudy Lenners nas baquetas gravaram o album In Trance, com as clássicas In Trance e Robot Man.

Em 1977 gravaram Virgin Killer, com destaque para Pictured Life, Backstage Queen, e Hell Cat, cantada por Uli Roth. O Scorpions já era nessa época uma banda bastante conhecida na Europa, o que rendeu uma longa e exaustiva tour.

O album seguinte, Taken By Force, que conta com Sails Of Charon e o hino Steam Rock Fever, traz Herman Rarebell assumindo o lugar de Lenners. Um album ao vivo foi lançado durante a tour e levou o nome de Tokyo Tapes, excelente album, por sinal.

Uli Roth que já não estava feliz no Scorpions, saiu da banda e formou o Eletric Sun. Mathias Jabs foi recrutado para o seu lugar e a sua a estreia foi no album Lovedrive, que conta também com a participação de Michael Schenker em três musicas. Grandes destaques para as musicas Loving You Sunday Morning, Holiday e a faixa-titulo. Essa formação foi a que a mais durou no Scorpions.

Gravam Animal Magnetism, destaques para Make It Real e a excelente The Zoo. O album que se seguiu foi Blackout, que entrou direto no Top 10 da Billboard, logo seguido por talvez o melhor do Scorpions, Love At First Sting. Os hits desse album foram Rock You Like A Hurricane, Big City Nights e a excelente balada Still Loving You. Segue-se um album ao vivo chamado World Wide Live, que consegue o numero 14 em paradas de sucesso americanas.

A banda fica quatro anos sem gravar, voltando com o mediano Savage Amusement, com destaque para a balada Believe In Love, e no ano seguinte solta a coletânea chamada Best Of Rockers ‘N’ Ballads, com destaque para o cover I Can’t Explain do The Who.

Em 1990 é gravado o album Crazy World, com as belas Tease Me Please Me, Hit Between The Eyes, e o super-ultra-hiper-mega sucesso Wind Of Change. Segue-se o album Face The Heat, com destaque para Alien Nation, Woman e Under The Same Sun. Após este album Buchholz sai da banda, dando lugar para Ralph Rieckermann. Com essa formação (Meine, Schenker, Jabs, Rieckermann e Rabebell), é gravado, em 1996, o bom album Pure Instinct. No mesmo ano Rarebell sai da banda, e James Kottak, assume o banquinho. A estréia de Kottak na banda foi aqui no Brasil, no festival Skol Rock.”

 

MSG - In The Midst Of Beauty (2008, Inakustik Records)

1. City Lights
2. Competition
3. I Want You
4. End Of The Line
5. Summerdays
6. A Night To Remember
7. Wings Of Emotion
8. Come Closer
9. The Cross Of Crosses
10. Na Na
11. I Am The One
12. Ride On My Way

Band Lineup:
Michael Schenker - Guitars
Gary Barden - Vocals
Don Airey - Keyboards, B3 Organ
Neil Murray - Bass
Simon Phillips - Drums

Produced by: Michael Schenker, Romi Schickle, Siggi Schwarz

Total Time = 49:41

Michael Schenker official website
Michael Schenker MySpace page
In-Akustik Records

Michael Schenker is a guitar legend who's creativity is unbound.....when he allows himself to be creative. Despite all of the substance abuse and organizational problems, Schenker continues his career with the Michael Schenker Group. In 2006, Michael released TALES OF ROCK 'N' ROLL: 25 YEARS CELEBRATION, an album that comprised of 19 songs and featured every MSG vocalist on at least one song. Original MSG vocalist Gary Barden took part in the project, singing on the excellent 'Life Vacation', and that collaboration between himself and the Mad Axeman turned into a reunion of the two men for the latest MSG offering......IN THE MIDST OF BEAUTY.

In addition to Gary Barden and Michael Schenker, original MSG keyboardist Don Airey (Deep Purple) and drummer Simon Phillips (Toto) re-join the fold to add stability and quality musicianship to the band. The only missing original member is bassist Mo Foster but his absence is no big deal because former Whitesnake and Black Sabbath bassist Neil Murray fills the slot nicely. With the lineup set with strong musicians, and personalities, Michael Schenker has a new found creativity and drive.

If there were any questions or doubts then the album's opener, 'City Lights', dispells them quickly. Schenker immeadiately turns a classic Hard Rock riff that blends into the song with Airey playing just over the top of the guitar, the Murray/Phillips rhythm section keeping solid time, and Barden providing a silky smooth vocal. Michael lets loose on this uptempo rocker with searing solos weaving in and out of the main riff while everyone remains rooted to the song. The thing I notice right away is that this sounds like a true band, the chemistry is obviously there. Another serious Schenker riff powers the faster 'Competition' with more expert soloing but retaining a sense of melody to hook the listener in. I really enjoy the organ flourishes that follow the chorus, Don Airey is a master on the keys and he just adds to the overall sound. 'I Want You' keeps the momentum high with it's equally fast pace (listen for Murray & Phillips driving this track) and exotic guitar tone that reminds me of Ritchie Blackmore. Schenker really shines at the solo but it's his ability to make the main riff a solo and vary it thoughout the song that shows his genius.  More hard rockin' comes with one of my favorites 'End Of The Line'. Every song is a Schenker showcase but there is something about this main riff that just stays in my head. Gary Barden starts to branch out a little with his vocals. So far he has been mostly in a calm low to mid-range but there are lines in 'End Of The Line' where he gets a bit higher, not for long mind you, but he does add some variety. Listen for Don Airey's piano as it mirrors the vocal.

Michael is known the world over as a premier Rock guitarist but what is usually never mentioned is his acoustic work. 'Summerdays' opens with a nice acoustic intro that moves into a subdued electric power chord. Add the haunting keys and saddened vocals and this ballad sounds like it could have come from the MSG debut of ASSAULT ATTACK (1982). Even the solo is subdued but beautiful nontheless, fitting into the somber tone but also being uplifting. 'A Night To Remember' is a UFO/Deep Purple/Rainbow flavored track probably due to the organ being right up front with the guitar in the mix. The song has a '70s heavy mid-tempo vibe to it that fits Barden's low-key approach. Schenker solos in and out of the main riff throughout the song proving his guitar hero status and lending that unique eccentricity to the song. 'Wings Of Emotion' skirts along the lines of mid-tempo and ballad and sounds very similar to Schenker's '70s heyday with UFO. No doubt that UFO singer Phil Mogg and Gary Barden share a similar low-key, bluesy style and mood making the song sound like Michael's previous band. There are a few Barden highs just like on 'End Of The Line' but he keeps an even sound for most of the track. 'Come Closer' speeds up some during the verses and solo but it slows come the chorus. This ebb and flow keep things interesting with another solid backing performance from Murray & Phillips (listen for some quick fills by Simon) and Airey continuing to use the organ to complement Michael's guitar.

Another favorite is 'The Cross Of Crosses', a Tony Martin-era Black Sabbath song title if I ever heard one! This has to be one of my favorites on the record because of Michael's soloing: it's powerful, passionate, and inspired. When he wants to work, Michael puts some of the most mind blowing guitar to tape. He just seems rejuvenated across the whole album but on 'The Cross Of Crosses' he sounds like he has transported back to the late '70s/early '80s and is channelling his former self. This song sounds very Euro-Metal without being true Heavy metal, more like a bluesed up hybrid with all the power of the first three MSG records. 'Na Na' has some interesting parts and is catchy but the chorus bothers me, not my favorite song on the record. It does have a solid solo (just like every song on the album) and solid accompanying keyboards but Gary Barden shows off his higher register like a grittier David Coverdale on this year's GOOD TO BE BAD. 'Na Na' is uptempo but it does have that slow breakdown throughtout the song to give it variety. 'I Am The One' is another solid melodic hard rocker that really hooks the listener in to the chorus with a solid vocal and some cool Schenker leads. That guitar in the chorus is so catchy that I prefer to whistle the guitar than sing the chorus! 'Ride On My Way' starts off with an inspired opening intro that features a melodic Schenker lead that weaves in and out of the song. Again, the pairing of Neil Murray and Simon Phillips provide a solid backbone while Don Airey complements the sound with a subdued organ. The vocals are very good from Gary Barden, who uses a higher register on the chorus but you can tell his comfort zone is that mid-range rasp. Uptempo and melodic, 'Ride On My Way' ends the album on a high note.

Bottom Line:
Despite all the personal and organizational problems that plagued him in 2006 and most of 2007, Michael Schenker has roared back to his classic form as one of Rock's premier talents. A solid supporting cast that is almost a full reunion of the original MSG lineup helps stabilize and complement the guitar heroics that make Michael the legend he is. I've had an advance copy for about two months and I have not stopped playing it, this album has received at least two spins a day! I kept delaying the review because I didn't want to spoil my enjoyment by picking it apart but the problem is that there isn't anything really bad about the album. Every song is well written, every band member's performance is solid, and the axe-work is pure classic Schenker. If I had to pick one small detail I didn't like it would have to be the simplistic chorus of 'Na Na'.....that's it. I have been somewhat disappointed with Schenker's last few albums, especially TALES OF ROCK 'N' ROLL and ARACHNOPHOBIAC (2003), but also all the cover albums and collaborations. I have always thought that a solid vocalist and lyricist bring out the best in Michael (Phil Mogg, Graham Bonnet, Klaus Meine, Robin McAuley) and Gary Barden continues the excellence that reminds of the first two MSG albums and pairs well with Schenker's innovative unique style. IN THE MIDST OF BEAUTY is one of my favorite albums of the year.

Favorite songs: 'City Lights', 'Competition', 'I Am The One', 'The Cross Of Crosses', 'Summerdays'......actually, I like every song on the album.

Okay, is it cool to like 80's Metal again? With the hugely triumphant return of David Lee Roth-era Van Halen to the old hair metal guys even having their very own 4-day Bonnaroo-like camping festival, Rocklahoma, in July, it seems like the scene is set for the 80's Metal Gods to rise again. So you'll definitely see a hasty repackaging of catalogs and best-ofs from bands like Ratt and Poison and Motley Crue and Dokken, and even new albums from some of these guys. Some will be be great and make us wonder why we ever stopped listening to them and some will be quite the opposite... as with any genre of music.

Then if you're really searching, you'll find a brilliant compilation of songs from a band whose music informed that whole genre; a band who actually had little to no success in the 80s, but whose sound you could find all over the popular hard rock music of the decade. The band is UFO and the new compilation is Chrysalis Records' The Best of UFO (1974-1983).

Now, as the band was coming to the end of their powers in 1983, I was turning 11-years old and beginning to be turned on to hard rock and metal. So I had definitely heard the name Michael Schenker since the Scorpions were just starting to see huge success in the States, as I was eating up their Animal Magnetism, Blackout and Love At First Sting albums, and knew that Scorps guitarist Rudy Schenker had a brother who was once in the Scorpions in the 70s and currently had his own creatively-named Michael Schenker Group. But I had not properly been introduced to the work of Michael Schenker in UFO until the last couple years. That's pretty damn late for a band that formed in 1969 and who started hitting their creative stride in 1974, when I was 2-years old!

Over the past year, I've slowly been acquiring classic UFO albums and digging further into their catalog and just now, somewhat serendipitously, I was called upon to review the new Best Of UFO (1974-1983) collection, as it saw its April 2008 release.

I was happy to hear a great sequencing of songs when I first popped on the album, and a pristine remastering job! The comp kicks off with the 6 1/2-minute scorcher, "Rock Bottom", from the time when the band lost their trippy space rock sound of old (another era of UFO I like a lot for different reasons) and picked up the aforementioned German guitar guru, Michael Schenker who gave them a more straight-ahead rock sound for their 1974 Shenker-debut album, Phenomenon. If this song doesn't hook you, then you may want to check your pulse, for perhaps you've expired!

The comp continues on chronologically with rocker after rocker, certain to turn the uninitiated listener into UFO believer by mid-disc. The Schenker-era tracks roll, including the highlights "Shoot Shoot", "Lights Out", and "Too Hot To Handle", from the 6 classic Schenker-era albums, punctuated with "Doctor Doctor" from the highly successful live album, "Strangers In The Night" which would go down as Schenker's last with the band, at least for many years, as he stormed out of the studio as the live album was being mixed. Schenker has returned and quit the band since then almost a countless number of times. It's rumored that he's not the easiest guy in the world to get along with.

The remaining seven tracks out of the healthy nineteen total are all after 1978 and all post-Schenker. Surprisingly enough, the songs never lose steam and the band keeps firing on all cylinders pretty much right up until 1983 when UFO realized they weren't selling any records. They disbanded (but not forever) and made way for the next generation of rockers on whom UFO undeniably left their stamp.

It's the last track in the collection that Michael Schenker plays on where I think I run into my only issue with Chrysalis' compilation. That's the inclusion of the live version of "Doctor Doctor" instead of the rippin' studio version that I personally just like so much better. If it were up to me, I would have put the Strangers In the Night live version of "Out in the Street" and the studio version of "Doctor Doctor". Now that's a minor discrepancy with an otherwise spotless compilation of widely-forgotten rock gems. Well... and the fact that the live version of "Doctor Doctor" is edited will not please some of UFO's hardcore fans.

But then again, this is not a compilation for the hardcore fan. It is more the hard rock fan that somehow missed out on one of the genre's most important bands who influenced the 80's-era rockers as much as did Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Sweet, Slade and perhaps even Zeppelin. And we shouldn't forget the guy who had plenty of UFO on vinyl in the 70s and departed with the whole collection and the turntable at a garage sale in the 90s, after he had kids and just didn't seem to find the time to rock like he used to. This compilation is for you, That Guy, so you can get back to your metal roots and show the world that you're never too old to rock!

Link to this article on Blog Critics

Ratt drummer Bobby Blotzer was involved in a similar "supergroup" back in 1991 when he teamed with Michael Schenker, Share Pedersen (Vixen), Richard Black (Shark Island), and Tracii Guns (L.A. Guns) for the Contraband project. This installment of Metal Mixtape will celebrate these two projects and all their members by playing one song involving each member.....Bobby Blotzer gets two because he was involved in both! Saints members 1st, Contraband members 2nd.....and, yes, I own all of these albums!

Warrant - 'Uncle Tom's Cabin' (1988): Probably the best Warrant song I've ever heard. I hate the band now but back in the mid-'80s they were everywhere and I liked the tunes. 'Uncle Tom's Cabin' is a great tune, better than 'Cherry Pie'.

Ratt - 'Slip Of The Lip' (1986): I liked DANCING UNDERCOVER but it gets a bad rep for the first single 'Dance'. This song has a sleazy groove to it and it should have been the first single.

Big Bang Babies - 'Everybody Needs A Hero' (1992): Glam, glam, glam! Keri Kelli played guitar in the Big Bang Babies way back when and this is the opening song of their self-titled album. I don't think I've played this whole record in a long time.....maybe it will make the weekend's playlist.

Vince Neil - 'Sister Of Pain' (1993): Robbie Crane played bass on Vince's two solo albums when he left/was fired from Motley Crue. I liked this single better than 'You're Invited (But Your Friend Can't Come)' and the album was the Motley Crue record we all missed out on.

Ratt - 'Wanted Man' (1984): Like I said, Blotzer gets two songs and this is the best song from OUT OF THE CELLAR.

MSG - 'Samurai' (1982): Michael Schenker is a guitar god despite his demons. His career has been noted more for his odd behaviors and addictions rather then his music. 'Samurai' is one smoking track off of ASSAULT ATTACK with Graham Bonnet on vocals.

Vixen - 'Cryin' (1988): Single #2 for Vixen off their first album, I like this one better than 'Edge Of A Broken Heart'.

Shark Island - 'Paris Calling' (1989): I thought Shark Island was going to be huge back in the day and LAW OF THE ORDER has been one of those forgotten gems that I pull out once in awhile. 'Paris Calling' was the first single off this record.

L.A. Guns - 'Sex Action' (1988): Back in the day we used to play the first L.A. Guns album to death! 'Sex Action' was a favorite at the parking lot parties we used to have.

I wish I had the extra money for this beauty. This is one of the guitars Michael starting purging a few years back.

Temporary insanity.

Anyway, if you have the extra cash and want it, go here.

After seeing UFO saturday night in New York City, Times Square (above) — with Vinnie Moore on guitar — I can only say that it all felt somewhat out of whack. Sure, I enjoyed it — I'm a UFO fan, afterall — but the scale geek, Vinnie Moore, was not quite a match to the style of Michael Schenker.

Read More of the show review here.

Gary Barden, who is often considered the best MSG vocalist, returns to the microphone on In the Midst of Beauty.

This disc also features the talent of Neil Murray (Whitesnake), Don Airey (Whitesnake, Deep Purple) and Simon Phillips (MSG, Satriani, Toto).

As always, MSG features the stellar guitar work of Michael Schenker. If you are familiar with any of MSG's prior albums, you know you are going you are going to hear plenty of guitar riffs with that great Schenker trademark sound.

What is cool about this album, is that it seems to be more of a complete band output, than just Schenker playing over the top. Don Airey's Purple-esque keyboards are often present adding a whole new layer to MSG's music. This disc has a 70's classic rock vibe about it, but the production and sound is top notch.

The last couple of MSG albums have been somewhat disappointing, and this is definitely a return to form for Schenker and company. This is easily the best album by MSG since the Robin McAuley era.

This CD will be released in May, and you will definitely want to add this to your list of discs to purchase soon! In the Midst of Beauty will likely find itself in many top album lists at the end of 2008!.

Rating:Out of 10

Track Listing:

1. City Lights
2. Competition
3. I Want You
4. End of the Line
5. Summerdays
6. Night To Remember
7. Wings of Emotion
8. Come Closer
9. Cross of Crosses
10. Nana
11. The One
12. This Time

Michael Schenker Group is:

Michael Schenker - Guitars
Gary Barden - Vocals
Don Airey - Keyboards
Neil Murray - Bass
Simon Phillips - Drums

Anvil - This Is Thirteen (2007): I always liked Anvil. They may be looked at as Spinal Tap now but they have been a consistent Metal band for over two decades. This is the limited edition pressed by the band themselves as they are without a label at the moment. Only 1000 were pressed.

Benedictum - Uncreation (2006): I wanted to check this band out for a couple of years and I grab this record about two weeks before they released their new album, SEASONS OF TRAGEDY. Solid Metal!

Benedictum - Seasons Of Tragedy (2008): Only gave it the initial spin but I like it. I'll be playing this a lot this week.

Helloween - Gambling With The Devil (2007): I had to put this down for a while because I was getting Weenie overload! It made the Top 15 Albums of 2007 (#12) but I haven't reviewed it yet.

Don Dokken - Solitary (2008): Another CD I bought and only gave one spin. I want to get a review out on this in the next week or so.

Dokken - The Very Best Of (1999): I always liked me some Dokken and I've been a fan since the beginning. This is the best Dokken compilation out there, and there are many! Favorite track has to be 'Burning Like A Flame' right now.

Pharoah - Be Gone (2008): Promo of the upcoming 3rd album. It's out in Europe at the end of the month on Cruz Del Sur.

W.A.S.P - Dominator (2007): Just popped the shrinkwrap on my Russian pressing (Argh!) of the latest W.A.S.P. record. I haven't actually spun this one but it's in the queue. I hope it's better than the NEON GOD albums.....

Bullet - No Mercy (1983/1997 reissue): Another one I have in the queue but I've been after it for a long time. This is the High Vaultage reissue with two bonus demos added to the album.

The Sword - Gods Of The Earth (2008): Just picked this up this past Tuesday and I am listening to it right now!

Michael Schenker - Thank You (1993): Michael Schenker is one of my all-time favorite guitarists and this is the first installment if his THANK YOU albums. Instrumental acoustic guitar that just sounds awesome. Michael may have his problems but he is full of talent. This is one of those albums I listen to when I really need to calm down and relax.....I hate to say it but it puts me to sleep! It's a good album and yes I have listened to the whole record without falling asleep!

It won't be a full-scale reunion as the original bassist Michael Anthony won't be returning - but tell me this isn't bad ass: Van Halen's sixteen-year old son Wolfgang will be bassing it up! How many legendary moments like that come along before you even hit senior prom? "Yeah, I rocked out with VH on stage for a couple months. What? He's just my dad." The tour's expected to evolve into a full-blown globetrot, but as of right now here are the dates (with Dallas, even Texas altogether, notably absent; prepare for road trippage!).

Sep. 27 Charlotte, NC Charlotte Bobcats Arena
Sep. 29 Greensboro, NC Greensboro Coliseum
Oct. 01 Philadelphia, PA Wachovia Center
Oct. 07 Toronto, ON Air Canada Centre
Oct. 10 Cleveland, OH Quicken Loans Arena
Oct. 14 Indianapolis, IN Conseco Field House
Oct. 16 Chicago, IL Allstate Arena
Oct. 18 Chicago, IL United Center
Oct. 22 Auburn Hills, MI Palace of Auburn Hills
Oct. 24 Minneapolis, MN Target Center
Oct. 26 Kansas City, MO Sprint Center
Oct. 28 St. Louis, MO Scottrade Center
Oct. 30 Boston, MA TD Banknorth Garden
Nov. 03 E. Rutherford, NJ Continental Airlines Arena
Nov. 13 New York, NY Madison Square Garden
Nov. 20 Los Angeles, CA Staples Center
Nov. 23 Glendale, AZ Jobing.Com Arena
Nov. 25 San Diego, CA Cox Arena
Nov. 27 Sacramento, CA Arco Arena
Nov. 29 San Jose, CA HP Pavilion at San Jose
Dec. 01 Portland, OR Rose Garden
Dec. 03 Seattle, WA Key Arena
Dec. 05 Vancouver, BC General Motors Place
Dec. 09 Edmonton, AB Rexall Place
Dec. 11 Calgary, AB Pengrowth Saddledome

I checked antiMUSIC today and saw that there was a headline titled "Schenker Rehab Intervention". Most of us have a natural, morbid fascination with the shit others get themselves into, which explains the reason you say "Oh ANOTHER Pete Doherty story oh my god when is he gonna [insert phrase for 'make positive progress' such as 'get a life', 'grow up', 'die', etc]". I am no different - I suffer the same curiosity. So I checked out the story to see who had fucked up this time. antiMUSIC reported that the ex-UFO and Scorpions member was performing awfully at an August 3 appearance midway through the Michael Schenker Group's tour when his band appeared to huddle around and confront him onstage before thanking the crowd and cutting the set quite abruptly. The group's drummer Bodo Schopf posted on his website that "a man who plays from his heart was really hurt in his heart", but that he is "now in good hands", presumably rehab, "where he gets a really good treatment". The tour is obviously off for the band, but I wonder why the man wasn't perhaps approached earlier about the issue, as fan/flamer comments on a Blabbermouth post about the show indicate that the problem has been long-running.

I hope that, unlike Lindsnort Lohan, this can be a new start for the man. It really is painful to hear him attempt such a weak solo after watching numerous other YouTube videos of him shredding like a maniac. I wish him well.