Mike

I think its possible that Michael Schenker is a little frustrated with the level of fame that the Scorpions achieved. And in some ways, rightfully so. 

Yes, Ulrich Roth, Matthias Jabs, and Paul Raymond are/were all fantastic guitarists in their own ways. But MS stood apart from the entire pack of Metal/Hard Rock players from then and now. Hes still more fluid, more energetic, more melodic, more rhythmic, more intense, more powerful than most. Yes the others have their strengths and magic as well. Its just that Michaels magic went unnoticed compared to the Scorpions (Michaels brothers band) and the remaining metal/ hard rock field. 

I dont agree with Michael when he says that the Scorpions career was largely based off of what he was doing. Anyone can see the influence he had on Love Drive. But the Scorpions sound also changed immediately once Uli left or when Matthias joined up. I think a big part of what propelled the Scorpions (regardless of what Michael says about his introducing them to the United States) is their songwriting. And Rudolph and Klaus were not doing all the writing. Matthias wrote. Herman wrote. I just think the Scorpions did a better job of producing music that spoke to more people. I think that gets proved out when their songs are played at sporting events. Michael was never able to achieve that level of popularity with any of his songs, including those with UFO. It seems to me that whats really important to pay attention to, in terms of Michaels influence on the other situations he entered, was the way the bands he played with sounded at the times he was a member. What Michael added to the music created in other bands was always more sturdy, dynamic, melodic, while adding tons and tons of power. UFOs sound changed dramatically when Michael left and Paul Chapman stepped in. Even Michael Schenkers own sound changed when he went solo. Yes, his guitar kept that same half-open whah pedal sound, but the songwriting shifted. Not for the worse. It just shifted. No one would argue otherwise. I think what Michael is missing when he speaks about his significant (to him) influence on the Scorpions is that their writing just naturally ended up more popular with larger numbers of people and Schenkers solo career never came close to the Scorpions in terms of popularity. The Scorpions wrote songs well and in a way that spoke more universally to the masses. Michaels music, after leaving UFO and the Scorpions, spoke very much to me. But there are perhaps not so many mes in the world. 

Michael Schenker, in all his musical endeavors, generates energy unlike anything I know and have ever encountered. He is my number one and will always remain so. He gets to be frustrated. He gets to express that frustration, even if some of what he says is perhaps overstated. He has earned his place in the history of Rock as one of the most fluid and musical Metal players and has achieved plenty with his contributions to the art form. Micheals light always shines bright no matter what he does, maybe sometimes even brighter while orbiting in other bands midsts. But go ahead Mr. Mike, complain away. Nothing but love for all you do on a black and white Flying-V.