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Michael Schenker Group | |
|---|---|
 MSG performing in 2022 | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | MSG |
| Origin | London, England |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 1979 (1979)–present |
| Labels | |
| Spinoffs | McAuley Schenker Group |
| Spinoff of | UFO |
| Members | Michael Schenker Steve Mann Bodo Schopf Barend Courbois Erik Grönwall |
| Past members | See list |
TheMichael Schenker Group (often abbreviated asMSG) are an Englishhard rock band, formed in London in 1979 by formerScorpions andUFO guitaristMichael Schenker.[1] After the release of their second live album, 1984'sRock Will Never Die, the band went on a two-year hiatus and Schenker disbanded the Michael Schenker Group in 1986, when he and vocalistRobin McAuley formed theMcAuley Schenker Group.[1]
Following the disbandment of the McAuley Schenker Group in 1993 and his initial return to UFO, Schenker reformed the Michael Schenker Group in 1995 and the band is still recording and performing to this day, sometimes under different names, including Michael Schenker's Temple of Rock and Michael Schenker Fest.[1][2]
The Michael Schenker Group have had many different members over the years, with Schenker the only constant presence.
The band was formed in 1979, followingMichael Schenker's departure fromUFO the previous year, in an attempt to have a band that better suited his style. He therefore decided to move toLondon; a few weeks after his arrival in the city, he metGary Barden, vocalist of Fraser Nash, who along with bassistBilly Sheehan and drummerDenny Carmassi formed a new band, simply called Michael Schenker Group.[3] The following year, the band recorded their second album,MSG, which placed at No. 14 on the UK charts. During their promotional tour, they played at Tokyo's Nippon Budokan in Japan, where their first live album was recorded titledOne Night at Budokan. It was released in 1982 with great success in the UK where it was certifiedsilver after exceeding 60,000 copies sold.[citation needed]
In October 1983, the band releasedBuilt to Destroy, the first with keyboardistAndy Nye and which also featuredDerek St. Holmes, best known at the time asTed Nugent's vocalist and rhythm guitarist.[citation needed] To promote it, they gave several concerts in the UK and later went on tour to other European countries as the opening band ofIron Maiden.[citation needed] Their farewell concert was held on 18 December 1983 at the Dortmund festival, after which the band disbanded, and the guitarist founded theMcAuley Schenker Group.
After disbanding the McAuley Schenker Group and briefly returning to UFO, Schenker reformed the Michael Schenker Group around 1995 withLeif Sundin on vocals,Barry Sparks on bass andShane Gaalaas on drums; this line-up recorded the albumWritten in the Sand, which was released in the following year. It was followed in 1999 byThe Unforgiven, withKelly Keeling replacing Sundin and with John Onder replacing Sparks.
Michael Schenker Group
Current members
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