The enigmatic Michael Schenker will be hoping history doesn’t repeat itself when he returns to the stage of the Ulster Hall on Saturday 19 December.
The last time Der Schenk graced the stage of The Grand Dame of Bedford Street, way back in August 1986, marking the debut his then latest project, the McAuley Schenker Group, it (nearly?) marked the demise of one of his trademark Flying Vs.
I was backstage with support act Rogue Male at the time, making light work of their rather large rider, when we heard an almighty kerfuffle from the backstage area. Rushing (ok, staggering) to the scene, we saw Mikey boy’s roadcrew running around like someone had lit a Hallowe’en sparkler in their leiderhosen. Apparently, he had leaned out over the front row, holding said white V aloft for his adoring legions to touch – when some crafty bugger only went and swiped the thing from his grasp!
Here, stories diverge: some say the instrument was hastily retrieved, while others say it came back in pieces. I have a half-drunken memory of bits of what looked like a guitar lying around in the corridors a few minutes later – which would have explained the fireworks-filled trousers!
Maybe someone who was there that night can give me the definitive answer…
Seriously, it’s hard to believe that Der Schenker has been around for almost four decades, having first appeared in 1970 at the age of 15 alongside brother Rudolf in Der Scorpions. They released one album, ‘Lonesome Crow’ before Michael upped and left to join up with UFO in 1973. In fact, upping and leaving became nearly as much of a trademark as that Flying V, as the famously temperamental Schenker walked out of studios, tours and shows and in and out of bands more often than a revolving door over the next three decades.
Michael Schenker returns to the Ulster Hall after a 23 year absence (not from Belfast, but from the UH, for all you pedants), on Saturday 19 December. Tickets are a mere £18, with support from our very own Sweet Savage (hey, Ramie, don’t you owe me a beer? Or is it the other way round?).
The last time Der Schenk graced the stage of The Grand Dame of Bedford Street, way back in August 1986, marking the debut his then latest project, the McAuley Schenker Group, it (nearly?) marked the demise of one of his trademark Flying Vs.
I was backstage with support act Rogue Male at the time, making light work of their rather large rider, when we heard an almighty kerfuffle from the backstage area. Rushing (ok, staggering) to the scene, we saw Mikey boy’s roadcrew running around like someone had lit a Hallowe’en sparkler in their leiderhosen. Apparently, he had leaned out over the front row, holding said white V aloft for his adoring legions to touch – when some crafty bugger only went and swiped the thing from his grasp!
Here, stories diverge: some say the instrument was hastily retrieved, while others say it came back in pieces. I have a half-drunken memory of bits of what looked like a guitar lying around in the corridors a few minutes later – which would have explained the fireworks-filled trousers!
Maybe someone who was there that night can give me the definitive answer…
Seriously, it’s hard to believe that Der Schenker has been around for almost four decades, having first appeared in 1970 at the age of 15 alongside brother Rudolf in Der Scorpions. They released one album, ‘Lonesome Crow’ before Michael upped and left to join up with UFO in 1973. In fact, upping and leaving became nearly as much of a trademark as that Flying V, as the famously temperamental Schenker walked out of studios, tours and shows and in and out of bands more often than a revolving door over the next three decades.
Michael Schenker returns to the Ulster Hall after a 23 year absence (not from Belfast, but from the UH, for all you pedants), on Saturday 19 December. Tickets are a mere £18, with support from our very own Sweet Savage (hey, Ramie, don’t you owe me a beer? Or is it the other way round?).
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ReplyDeleteThe Machester metal trio, Fury UK, will be main support on the whole Schenker tour.
Great band,great guitarist!
They have played Hellfire Festival at NEC, Bulldog Bash and Bloodstock festivals. Toured with Blaze Bayley across UK and Europe.
It's their first time in Belfast too, hope you like them as much as we do over here.
check out www.furyuk.com
www.myspace.com/furyuk
Hailz !!