MICHAEL SCHENKER – "I Am Working On Making TEMPLE OF ROCK Stand On Its Own Feet; I Like Being With These Guys"

Legendary UFO/Scorpions guitarist, Michael Schenker – working under the moniker Michael Schenker’s Temple Of Rock –  has released a new studio album entitled Spirit On A Mission and is touring North America for the release. He recently spoke with Classic Rock Revisited founder Jeb Wright about the new album and his current band line-up. An excerpt from the interview is available below:

Michael: “I am working on making Temple of Rock stand on its own feet.  We are still using the Michael Schenker platform, but we are getting close to being independent.”

Jeb: Why is that important?  Most guitar players like having their name out there…

Michael: “My whole life has been upside down compared to other people.  I am doing now what they used to do. You know, to me it looks like the ‘80s and ‘90s was a perfect time for me to be outside of the loop of rock and roll.  My place was the ‘70s, so now I can feel that energy coming out and it is meant to be for now. I forgot the question that you asked…” 

Jeb: We were talking about what you were saying, using the Schenker platform, but how you’re doing this now and collaborating… 

Michael: “Oh yes, putting my name out there. It is like this. I couldn’t have put this band out calculated. It all started out in steps. We started with Herman Rarebell and then Pete Way and then Michael Voss. We had various different incarnations. Pete wasn’t doing too well and we got Francis in. You know, that chemistry was born.  It is not something you can buy in a book. These things happen, or they don’t happen. 

I have been with Herman and Francis before in the band called the Scorpions.  Maybe that is one of the reasons. Maybe it reminds me that I can create something like that. It is like the feeling of being in the band, or something like that. I have done a lot of things like acoustic instrumentals and acoustic instrumentals and jammed with others and I have done who knows how may solo albums. This is something that is showing up and I like being with these guys. It is fun to play together and the outcome is great.

Go to this location for the complete interview.

Schenker’s tour schedule is currently as follows:

April
16 – Eclipse – Binghamton, NY
17 – Newton Theatre – Newton, NJ
18 – The Stone Pony – Asbury Park, NJ           
20 – Sellersville Theater – Sellersville, PA           
22 – Rockpile West – Toronto, ON
23 – Concord Music Hall – Chicago, IL  (Enuff Z Nuff guests on this performance)
24 – Harpos Concert Hall – Detroit, MI           
25 – Arcada Theatre – St. Charles, IL  (Enuff Z Nuff guests on this performance)        
26 – Freaksters – Pontiac, IL           
28 – Buffalo Rose – Golden, CO           
30 – Ramona Mainstage – Ramona, CA          

May
1 – Coach House – San Juan Capistrano, CA           
2 – Canyon Club – Agoura Hills, CA (Special Guest Don Dokken)
3 – Rockbar Theatre – San Jose, CA
5 – Studio Seven – Seattle, WA
6 – Bossanova – Portland, OR

Spirit On A Mission, the album of all-new material, features Schenker’s Temple of Rock band including ex-Scorpions Herman Rarebell (drums) and Francis Buchholz (bass), ex-Rainbow’s Doogie White (vocals) and Wayne Findlay (guitar, keyboards). The album will be released on CD, Deluxe Edition (CD+DVD), Deluxe 180 gram vinyl (special DMM-Cut), and digital download.

The album features 12 classic rock guitar-driven songs that highlight Schenker’s distinctive and dynamic guitar playing, valiantly underpinned by the ferocious rhythm section of Rarebell and Buchholz, the same rhythm section that originally performed together on the Scorpions’ 1979 album Lovedrive.

Spirit On A Mission tracklisting:

“Live And Let Live”
“Communion”
“Vigilante Man”
“Rock City”
‘Saviour Machine”
“Something Of The Night”
“All Our Yesterdays”
“Bulletproof”
“Let The Devil Scream”
“Good Times”
“Restless Heart”
“Wicked”

Check out the promo video of the new single “Vigilante Man” below.