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Phil Mogg | |
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 Mogg performing withUFO in 2022 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Phillip John Mogg |
| Born | (1948-04-15)15 April 1948 (age 76) Wood Green,London, England |
| Genres | Hard rock |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1963–present |
| Member of | UFO |
| Formerly of |
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| Website | ufo-music |
Phillip John Mogg (born 15 April 1948,Wood Green,London)[1] is an English singer. He was the lead singer and frontman of the hard rock bandUFO, which he co-founded with longtime friendsPete Way,Andy Parker and Mick Bolton in 1968.[2]
Formed in 1968,[3] UFO first gained notice as aspace rock group with a series of recordings on Beacon/Decca Records. After guitaristMichael Schenker joined in 1973, they signed toChrysalis Records, and changed their musical style from space rock tohard rock andheavy metal, but found only modest commercial success.[4][5] However, UFO are often cited as one of the key influences on the hard rock and heavy metal scenes of the 1980s and 1990s, including bands such asMetallica,Judas Priest,Iron Maiden,Guns N' Roses,Def Leppard,Slayer,Megadeth,Testament,Overkill,Anthrax,Alice in Chains,Tesla andDio.[6] Mogg wrote the majority of UFO's lyrics, with the music being written by Way, Schenker, and later,Paul Raymond, although Schenker left the band in 1978 to launch hissolo band. Mogg is the only member of UFO to appear on all of the band's albums and remained their only permanent member.
In 1997, during UFO's hiatus, Mogg and Way, under the moniker Mogg/Way, released a couple of albums,Edge of the World andChocolate Box.[2] In 2002, he was in a side project, $ign of 4, featuring Cosmosquad membersShane Gaalaas on drums andJeff Kollman on guitar.[7] Kollman had earlier been the guitarist and co-writer on Mogg/Way'sChocolate Box.
In late 2003, having regained the rights to the UFO name from Schenker, Mogg spoke withPete Way andPaul Raymond, and ended up having a reunion tour which later brought the band back for good, with newly hired American guitaristVinnie Moore. UFO have since released six more albums, the latest being the 2017 covers albumThe Salentino Cuts.
UFO announced their "Last Orders: 50th Anniversary" farewell tour in 2019. The band was to tour the United Kingdom from March to April, Europe from June to August, and finally the United States from October to November. The final gig was to be the rock legends cruise, a five-day event in early 2020. Mogg confirmed he was retiring after the tour as a member of UFO, but did not rule out other musical ventures.[8] The final tour was rescheduled to 2022, but cancelled due to Mogg's health status.[9] Mogg confirmed in an April 2024 interview withUltimate Classic Rock that UFO were no more.[10]
Phil Mogg was a junior boxing champion in North London before his music career. He is married to Emma Mogg, a formerpage three girl since 2006 and currently resides inBrighton,East Sussex. He is the uncle of Nigel Mogg, bassist ofThe Quireboys.[11]
In August 2022, Mogg suffered a heart attack.[9][12]
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