Concert Report by R.B. Araki
Michael Schenker - My Years With UFO Tour
NHK Hall, Tokyo, Japan
January 26, 2026 Added on 01/27/2026
Lineup:
Michael Schenker: Guitars
Erik Grönwall: Vocals
Brian Tichy: Drums
Derek Sherinian: Keyboards
Barry Sparks: Bass
Michael Voss: Vocals, Guitars
Setlist:
Natural Thing
Only You Can Rock Me
Hot 'n' Ready
Doctor Doctor
~Barry's Bass Solo~
Mother Mary
I'm a Loser
This Kid's
Lights Out
~Brian's Drum Solo~
Instrumental Medley (Lipstick Traces / Between the Walls / Belladonna)
Love to Love
Let It Roll
~Derek's Keyboard Solo~
Can You Roll Her
Reasons Love
Rock Bottom
Shoot Shoot
Too Hot to Handle
The band took the stage a little after 7:00 p.m., almost exactly on time, and the first Japanese show of the My Years with UFO tour began.
To everyone's surprise, Michael appeared wearing a blond wig. Perhaps it was meant to evoke the hairstyle he had during his teenage years with UFO. Among fans, the wig was generally very unpopular, but personally, I did not mind it that much. I thought it was fine. As long as the performance is good, it really does not matter.
Throughout the entire show, Michael played only his white Gibson Flying V. As always, his tone was absolutely beautiful-so clear that even the nuances of his picking came through. This is something that truly sets him apart from other guitarists and bands. His performance was flawless, without a single noticeable mistake.
Although this lineup was specially assembled for the Japanese shows, the band sounded remarkably tight and cohesive, never giving the impression of a temporary or ad-hoc project. Barry Sparks, who has previously played with both MSG and UFO, handled the material with complete confidence. Brian Tichy, Derek Sherinian, and Barry each had their own solo spots, all of which became clear highlights of the evening. Grönwall delivered a consistently powerful performance throughout the night, effortlessly handling the demanding high-range vocals with remarkable stability and control. Michael Voss shared guitar solos with Michael on several songs, including Natural Thing and Mother Mary, delivering some very cool licks. He also took on lead vocals for Let It Roll.
While the lineup differed from the European and U.S. legs of the same tour, the setlist itself was not significantly different. I had been hoping for some surprises - aside from the wig - but in that respect, the show felt slightly predictable. I will place my hopes on tomorrow's Budokan show.
Photography was not permitted at the venue, so instead, I am including one artistic impression.
