We are ready to continue with our Fan Club membership. Bella is now our sales representative. I have a new office manager who's name is Sandy Shaw, and a whole new team. We are ready to bring you our semiannual newsletter on a regular basis. We can give you all of the what, why, how, when, and where of everything that has happened since our last issue (Scorpions, UFO, MSG, and G-3). You will also be brought up to date on all future plans. You will know the names of our contest winners and have the opportunity to take advantage of special offers on collectors items such guitars, stage clothes, etc.

Everyone who renews their current membership or orders a new one at the price of $25./00 will be able to choose one of the following items for free.

- Positive Forward Single with Courage and Confidence on side B of the Thank You album
- Written In The Sand Single
- Michael Schenker Story Live Calender
- 25th Anniversary Frisbee
- Guitar Pick
- Signed Photograph
- Possibly a G-3 Video Clip with Uli J. Roth, Joe Satriani and myself.

Thanks for your support.

KEEP ON ROCKING!

Michael Schenker

Please send your check or money order (no cash or credit cards accepted) for a one year membership. Arizona residents add 6.7% tax. Make your checks payable to: The Michael Schenker Fan Club at the address below. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery.

MICHAEL SCHENKER RECORDS
13610 NORTH SCOTTSDALE ROAD, SCOTTSDATE, ARIZONA 85254, U.S.A.

[07/18/98 update]
Michael Schenker Interview: You can find a Michael Schenker interview at the Graffiti Online site. It includes the Michael's valuable comments on his attitude toward music. You should read it. Some say this interview was taken during the G3 Tour of Europe. However given his comments like "I'm looking forward to recording the next UFO record" and "We tour Europe, with MSG (G3) then we go back to America to do some dates with UFO", I presume it was taken earlier than that.

[07/11/98 update]
Young Guitar: An August issue of the Young Guitar magazine (a Japanese guitar magazine) includes an exclusive interview with G3 Guitar Legends, a report on the 05/15 show at Clyde Auditorium in Glasgow, an analysis of G3 Guitarist's equipment, and an analysis of guitar technique of Michael Schenker, Ritchie Blackmore, Uli Jon Roth and Randy Rhoads which is titled 'Overture to Neo-Classical' plus Captain Nemo guitar tab. For his equipment and rare picture of the broken No.4 Flying V, check out my Miscellaneous stuff page. According to the magazine article, Leon Lawson told the YG writer that Michael doesn't remember that he broke Leon's Flying V.

To my knowledge, this exclusive interview has given us the very first opportunity to hear Michael's public comments after the happening in Tokyo last April. Compared to the other two guitarists, the number of Michael's utterances is very few and his comments sound rather superficial. Maybe Michael was not very willing to join the interview with Uli and Satch. I have picked up some of his comments below. However, please note that the following is not exactly what Michael said in English because I have translated his comments (which were translated into Japanese) back into English.

"I want to apologize for what happened in Tokyo. However, to understand the thing happened, we probably need a psychiatrist. I don't want to talk about it in detail, but I was extremely feeling sick. My mind was wavering and I was disappointed. One thing I can say is that I no longer go on with UFO unless it is reorganized."

(When asked how he feels about the death of Cozy Powell.) "I am wondering how many more people I will have to send off from now on. But, I don't want my mind to be disturbed by that. There was a shock to me though I don't want to admit it. Even if I did not get shocked at the time I heard the news, it influences me later. But, I cannot say nothing. Such a thing can happen to us all, the next may be my turn. I feel sorry, but there's nothing I can do about it. It happened to Princess Diana and other great people. Anyway, it will happen to us all sooner or later."

"I don't like jam session very much. I can only play my music. When I am playing, I concentrate on my music without being conscious of audience. I just play my part. I don't know how to do jam session well. I have never gone outside and jammed with other musicians to memorize other peoples' songs. I'm very poor at that. I am just playing my part, but in the meantime, it seems to have worked well."

(After Uli and Satch talked very enthusiastically about the influence by Jimi Hendrix) "Sorry for both of you, but I have nothing to do with Jimi's influence. When I was asked to play Jimi's material for the finale, I just said 'O.K.' That's why I don't think about Jimi when I play 'Voodoo Chile.' When my part comes, I become Michael Schenker. That's all."

(When asked how he thinks of Uli's play) "Of course, Uli is a fantastic guitarist. When I left Scorpions, I thought it was only Uli that I could surely hand over my post to. For my brother, I didn't want any guy who is poor at playing to do my job."

Joe Satriani, a proposer of this gorgeous tour, stated: "... I have wanted to play with various guitarists of different types. Michael Schenker is one of the guitarists that came into my mind first. That's why I am really glad his schedule has allowed him to join the tour. I have long wanted to do some works with him and his guitar play has won my sympathy..." ... This coacting of 'Gods' started from Point Depot, Dublin, Ireland on May 14. This venue is a warehouse-like building near Dublin port where the G3 finale jam session was rehearsed on the previous day. However, on the day of the gig, an incredible happening put the backstage into turmoil. I arrived there on 6:30 p.m., but no audience was there although the show by Uli Jon Roth was supposed to start at 7:00 p.m. When I got a ticket, I found the reason. It said the show will start at 8:00 and the door will open at 7:00. Uli saw the ticket and stormed at the production staff at which point the backstage was thrown into an uproar. He may well get angry. His first show in about 13 years has no audience!! This may be a nightmare. If it is a joke, I cannot laugh at it. Uli, a hermit-kind of guitarist stormed. It was certainly an emergency!! After all, the starting time was changed to 7:20, and Uli consented to shorten his part of the show. ... Talking about another God, I felt strange when I saw Michael Schenker who disappeared from Japan unexpectedly looking fine. His new wife called me Tomato. According to her, she watched videos of Michael in his golden era at his home and I appeared in one of the videos which was taken from the program called Music Tomato World hosted by me. She said she called me Tomato because she didn't know my name. Michael didn't tell her my name. He never forgot my name. He appointed me to come to Osaka to see him during the latest UFO tour in Japan. I dared not bring up the happening during the Japan tour. If it should cut down his circuit, the G3 must be put into danger.

The MSG set was a shortened version of the Story Live Tour album. ... During the MSG set, I was just wondering when Gary Barden would appear on the stage. It is true that the accuracy of play by other members firmly support Michael who only concentrated on playing. ... it should be specially noted that David Van Landing gave rather insipid MSG a positive impact. And, he used his ability to the fullest extent during the finale jam session. I am just wondering from when Michael's guitar play become so plain. Where has his unique play with sensual beauty gone? He was just tracing his own songs. When compared with the deep and thick performance by Uli, Michael's performance seemed to lack something. Gary appeared on the stage as a special guest at the end of the set. He was introduced by Van Landing and audience in the front row gave him a big hand. The show of this night attracted only about the half of venue's capacity. However, the original Schenker/Gary combination was received much better than I expected. ...Joe Satriani commented on the historical jam session, "We rehearsed very carefully to make the show good. However, once we get on the stage in front of the audience, things sometimes go differently from we plan. Since both Uli and Michael are good at ad-lib, I believe we expressed what we could even though anything which was never planned would happened suddenly. Roth was fantastic and Michael was perfect. As I watched Michael play besides him on stage, I could see every motion of him which was very good". ...Van Landing was extraordinary good. It may be his performance which coordinated the three guitarists of marked individuality. Dream time has passed.

The tour of this European G3 (Joe, Uli, and Michael) might not be realized in Japan. However, it would be possible that the American G3 (Joe, Steve Vai, and Eric Johnson) will tour in Japan. Joe mentioned, "Japanese promoters have an interest in it. I want it, too. Steve Vai must feel the same. But, Eric Johnson is a kind of person who cannot be reached easily. Even if I leave messages for him, he never rings me back. If he has a same interest, I would love to go to Japan and want Japanese audience to enjoy the tour".

Latest News

See the news updated between 01/08/1999 and 05/06/1999

See the news updated before 06/16/1998

Back to "I Love Michael Schenker" page