UFO was one of those bands that should've been massive, I blame their management for slacking on key opportunities that could have catapulted their standing as one of the what was called the Super Groups back in those days. At the same time it held Schenker back from getting the exposure he deserved to be recognized publicly, as one of the greatest guitar players of our time. I'm just thankful that the guitar players who came after him gave him the recognition he deserved.
discovered UFO in the early 80's...I've only met 3 or 4 people who are fans over the yrs...finding another UFO fan is like finding a long lost family member
Same story here taypax! Discovered them in '79 and still a huge UFO fan today. Only I'm very partial to UFO with Schenker....the ORIGINAL UFO! Not to say the rest weren't talented, but as a guitarist, Schenker was and always will be my GUITAR HERO!!
Speaking of which, Paul Chapman, another former guitar player of the UFO family died on the 9th of June exactly on his 66 birthday (Ridiculous), Paul Raymond died on the 19th of April 2019.
Strangers in the night is the best live album of all time. Saw ufo a couple times without Michael and saw Michael once in MSG and would have loved to see the boys together. Nothing like 70’s hard rock
When I saw them live with Judas Priest, everyone except me and my friend who is a guitar player thought that Pete Way was the lead guitarist of UFO instead of Paul Chapman. 1979 my local community college gymnasium. Pete Way is certainly missed by me.
I'm 58 years old now but I was listening to UFO when I was 13 years old and I fell in love with Michael Schenker's guitar work especially in a song called Rock Bottom, off their live album. his guitar just had that killer instinct that wasn't going to quit until it had murdered you. It was pure and adulterated ear candy. Unfortunately I've never able to go see them in concert, so it is a treat to see him here today on RU-vid. I still would prefer to see him live but this is pretty good and sound quality of this concert is great. Thank you member so UFO for making money teenage years go bye a lot better than some of the crap they had running on the radio back then. For instance the Carpenters hahaha 🖐️🤣👈
The attention Schenker got from the guitar players in the audience must of driven Mogg nuts. The second UFO concert I saw Michael had short hair. I was up front and never took my eyes off him with Mogg directly in front of me. For a brief moment Mogg got my attention. About 10 seconds later I turned back to Schenker. And stayed there to the end. At the time Michael was one of the few rock guitarists that could mix beautiful melodic passages with blistering leads. He was fresh, unique, gifted.
Am I the only person here who was literally in love with Phil Mogg? I saw UFO at Preston Guild Hall (one of the first gigs I ever went to) probably 81 or 82. Who would be lead guitarist back then? I guess I wasn't that bothered🙄 I do love the drumming though. You can't dance without a drum beat.😉
Just got turned on to UFO a few months ago from a friend introduced them to me. AWESOME! I am 65 and have been a hard rocker 4 years (saw Scorpions in Germany ('81 - '83 time frame), always loved Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, etc. All time favorite album is Deep Purple - Made in Japan - Child in Time. Now I gotta get all the UFO albums on vinyl I can!
I've been a huge UFO fan since 1977 when I was 14. I've been lucky enough to see them 6 times in concert including 2 in the front row. And while I really enjoy the Schenker era - if you don't check out their entire discography you are missing out. Even the Misdemeanor and EP from the Mid 80's is pretty good. The Chapman era was great and in Feb of 1982 me and some friends drove from McPherson to WIchita to see UFO open for Ozzy - this was about a month or so before Randy Rhodes plane crash. We got there way early and waited at the front of the door. There was a lawn and garden show at the adjoining complex. It was funny seeing all the old codgers wandering around. This was like noon. We got bored and wandered around and found an open door and ended up back state in the dressing rooms. Some english guy came in to chase us out and we handed him one of our bumper stickers manufactured from McPherson State Bank - it originally said "lucky me I'm from McPherson". Well with some cutting and pasting it became *uck me I"m from Mcpherson - anyhow the guy laughed and showed us around before kicking us out. It was still so early we reassumed our place at the front of the door. Once the doors opened we hauled ass to the front of the barrier and held on for dear life. Ufo was touring Mechanix. The show was unbelieveable. Asa UFO was exiting I called to Pete Way - hey Pete throw me your pick. He did and it bounced off my hand and someone esle got it. Damn!!! Recently I've really gotten into the Vinny Moore era of the band and if you are a UFO fan and don't give all 5 records a spin you are missing out. 6 if you count the cover album. We saw UFO in Sioux City in 2017 with Saxon and again from the front row. Right in front of VInnie and he could not have been cooler. He talked to us between songs and was as cool as any rock star ever and I've been fortunate enough to meet (and work with) quite a few. With apologies to Iron Maiden whom I love and have seen all over the place - UFO is my favorite band. Every era is worth a listen and from 74 on they all kick ass. Check out Black and Blue on the Monkey Puzzle - that stands up with any of the Schenker era stuff. But as we all know - no matter what UFO album you are listening to - you know its gonna rock!
I saw them with Paul Chapman in 1979. It was almost hard to appreciate them because Judas Priest had literally just blown the roof off of that place. Tiny venue full volume full throttle microphone held to the tailpipe of a Harley Davidson, Flying V literally flying. UFO was still great, also very loud maybe louder. I was not familiar with any of either band's songs yet but it changed my life.
Without doubt, the greatest rock and roll band of all time. I've seen them twice. I seen them at the1:21:4 shark club in Las Vegas. And I've seen them in Chicago for the lights out, album lights out Chicago. I love the walk on water album when they get back together. I love everything about the band..❤
33.30 Paul Raymond playing keyboards with his Gibson SG still strapped on ready to start hammering out some rhythm guitar. What band wouldn't want a guy like that.
He's right UFO never caught on in the US until 78 with Lights Out and they had a killer discography before that came out. UFO is my go to band. I can almost tear up when listening to any. Of their stuff from Phenomenon to Obsession because of their tightness and Schenkers amazing guitar work. What a DAMN band!
No one ever talks about Andy Parker, on drums, but I think he was quite exceptional! All this music from a guitar, a base a piano and a drum set! Great stuff!
@@tieukhavu8832 ...UFOs "Walk on Water" from 96' was one of the best, Angely Dunbar played on the next & Jason Bonham played on a surperb album called "You are here"...check it out, it's one of thier best with a killer drum sound !
@@patrickdevinelntervention2683 When the daylight goes to town is a great song. To me, it's like the classic period when Michael was still in the band. "Walk on Water" was released on the 14th of April 1995.
It's a shame they were not 10 times bigger because they were great in every aspect.. and as a guitarist Michael Schenker always went places that were surprising in his playing.. always very interesting and kept you guessing with his lead work one of my favorite guitar players ever
You nailed it Janiter, absolutely correct. They should have been 1,000 times bigger. Michael Schenker was a total guitar monster. UFOs creativity as a group cannot be understated.
I agree 100%, I feel their management really dropped the ball on these guys in getting the exposure they needed in the US during the beginning of the Super Group era.
I saw them in October of 1978 with Foreigner. My brother had seen UFO at Day on the Green in 1976 and he told me Michael Schenker was going to blow me away, and he did!! The whole band was AWESOME. Pete Way, Phil Moog, Andy Parker and Paul Raymond. UFO KICKED ASS!!
A music documentary featuring full uncut clips of music?? Such a simple concept but we don't see it quite often... Well done, whoever you are out there!
My second ever gig at Gloucester leisure centre when I was 15 and hung about afterwards for autographs but told to go home they’re not coming out. Kept waiting and then a roadie said we could go up to the dressing room and there was Pete Way and Andy Parker who couldn’t have been nice to us. RIP Pete.
When I heard or first heard of UFO, I had a bright green UFO 8-track called FORCE IT and it just came out.. I carried around with me and I'd pop it in different friends 8tracks and I'd brag because everybody loved it.. it was so different than anything else.. and I was the one that turned everybody onto UFO and basically they just came out well force it anywayz.. Then I had all my friends listening to UFO and then no heavy petting, lights out and the rest of UFOs albums..The first time I did Acid I was listening to obsession I quit doing it though cuz it weirded me out LOL... I was listening to no heavy petting when I met my wife..UFOs a part of my life and then Michael put his first album out and I was still pretty young.. I started listening to UFO when I was a teenager and now I'm 65.. Every album All My Life reminds me of past memories all my life thanks Phil and Michael and the rest.. your like family to me!!!
Its always surprising to find out how many albums bands that weren't considered commercial giants sold over the years. Over 20 million worldwide for UFO, bands these days would kill for that.
I grew up in Germany where they were pretty big. I remember listening to them in 77/78 when I was 14/15. They were one of my favorites and later became the favorite. I live in Ohio and was lucky to see the reunion/walk on water tour in Cleveland w Schenker which was great of course but the highlight for me was they had a signing afterwards and I got to talk to each one for a bit and Michael was all surprised when I spoke to him in german and really nice like all of them. Pete told me a cute little story I will always remember. RIP The next year I named my horse UFO (one word in german) favorite group and he was really fast ,an unidentified flying object sometimes !
I´m still living in Bremen and in our "Tanzschule" back in 1973 the teacher played "Galactic Love" to warm up. This single is still in my record collection, just like some other early records from them. I couldn´t help and bought a Gibson Flying V. From time to time I play some songs I´ve learned long ago. Liebe Grüße !
SCHENKER WAS THEN LIKE A PRESENCE WHILE ON STAGE. HE WASN'T FLIPPING OVERLY TEASED PERMANENT BURNT HAIR AT THE FLEWSIES. HE KEPT A HAWK EYE ON THE FRETBOARD JUST AS IF HE WAS STILL LEARNING ABOUT HIS OWN PLAYING... MENTALLY TAKING NOTES ON HOW TO KEEP GETTING FASTER.. IF THAT WAS EVEN POSSIBLE. I KNOW .. UNFORTUNATELY .. I HAD THE ONE AND ONLY TIME TO SEE THEM OPEN FOR AEROSMITH IN PROBABLY 1978 AT ROBERT'S MUNICIPAL STADIUM IN EVANSVILLE INDIANA. I DON'T BELIEVE THEY EVER INCLUDED EVANSVILLE IN ON ANY TOURS OR I'D BEEN THERE TO EXPERIENCE WHAT I HAD BEFORE. I TOLD PEOPLE AROUND US... THAT IS GOING TO BE A DAMN TOUGH TASK FOR EVEN AEROSMITH TO COME OUT IN THE " ELECTRIC PHASE " UFO HAD CAST ACROSS THE EARS OF PROBABLY 12,000 BLOWN AWAY FANS VOWING TO BE AT KARMA RECORD STORE THE NEXT DAY. I DID NOTICE UFO DID NOT DO BUT FEW MORE SHOWS OPENING AND THEN HIT THE FIRST BILLING WITH A VENGEANCE.
I too was turned on to UFO & many great bands from older siblings. Hearing this music changed my life and made me become a musician . Getting to see this band live with my sisters and brother was awesome back in the 70s. I can't much say anything about music today . I know there are many great artists out there but this music is what it's all about .
Bought 'Force It' after seeing half a UFO song live on German TV, there was this guy with blond hair all over, no face and no shirt, bent over a Flying V, waving it and playing like I had never heard before. I was sold instantly. Bought a natural colored Gibson Flying V myself not too long after, I still own two.
I first saw them at Winterland in 1975 as the opening band for Montrose and Journey ($5!). They didn't exactly steal the show, but I did go out and buy Phenomenon. Their first three albums (w/ L Lyons), in my opinion, have some of the best songs and guitar work from the seventies. The difference between the MS shows and post-MS shows is like there's an frantic urgency by the rest of the band to keep up with Schenker's power and virtuosity which creates a great live act.
spot on. Especially Lights Out on the SITN album. By the urgent feeling of the song I thought it was about the WWII air raids in London where everyone had to turn their lights out and run into the bomb shelters.
saw UFO at Ventura Theatre in 1995 right before their failed world tour with classic lineup and they basically played the live album "Strangers" plus 1 or 2 off their upcoming album. AWESOME! It was a sausage fest of 30 and 40 year old long hairs, everyone air guitaring and singing along. The band was totally into it, even Schenker with his backwards baseball hat was vibing. One of the best shows I ever saw.
UFO Arguably the best rock bands of all time. Strangers in the night the best album of all time it is just relentless the power just keeps building, nothing else has hit the spot quite like it. Love you boys...
If you don't get it you never will, it was a part of rock history and they fit in quite well, theirs was a mellow kick ass rock that I miss. The two playing the same note with one an octive down made it for me. They will forever live in my mind as one of the greatest bands too come out of the late 1970's their songs touched my life as it were at the time as if they were singing about me and my freinds,Rockon UFO.
i first heard ufo when the album phenomenon was released. and i was amazed by them. and what most struck me was the exceptionally great songwriting, the one of a kind sound, and most of all phil moggs unique voice and beautiful melodys. always i have loved this band.🌪👻
romiustexis,I remember dropn the needle down on natural thing, from strangers. I didn't know what to expect. I was 14 years old. Just getting into rock.never even heard led zep. I knew stairway. That's it.all I listened to was kiss and aerosmith and when I heard this album I knew what great hard rock music should sound like. Schenkers leads blew me away. Myfav. Guitarist and moggs vocals are what hard rock vocals should sound.everyone talks about Paul Rodgers.mogg is just as good.maybe better.and ways bass was what carried the song parker kept it together and Paul Raymond added melodic to the songs and kept the rythen on schenkers leads and I lived the streetwise lyric.most under rated band in hard rock history!!!
@@neilthompson5748 I agree I was just scrolling through the comments to see if anyone would claim they were underrated and sure enough, here it is. Everyone rates UFO.
Strangers in the night live album a favorite with M SHENKERS GUITAR LICKS KILL IT BUT THE WHOLE BAND JUST CHIMED TOGETHER,,, MAN TURN IT UP WHOLE CONCERT STRANGERS
UFO in the 70's and 80's was the greatest rock band on the planet. Michael Schenker was the greatest rock guitarist to ever come out of Germany. They blew away American rock bands. The solo in "out in the streets" made Michael Schenker the most important and influential guitar player until EVH.
In late 70s they were undeniably among the leading group. By mid-80s, however, they were not anymore, suffering a disintegration, half-hearted reformations and a crisis until Walk on Water. Don't forget early 80s brought an unexpected decline to many fine bands: UFO, Budgie, Nazareth, Styx, Rainbow, ELO, Peter Frampton and more.
My stepbrother took me to my first show. I was 13yo and he was 19yo. Memphis TN 1976. UFO and RUSH. 2112 tour and I was hooked. I saw Schenker in 2022 in Nashville with Damen Johnson warm up Great show. I took my 18yo nephew and he loved it. Thanks for the vid GREAT STUFF !!
Seen them in Oshkosh wi at the college in 78 they were the best schenker era and the chapman era all great🙏😅 Tonka was amazing guitarist underated who was the guitarist playing borderline
UFO was probably the King of the Swing Auditorium in San Bernardino Ca , we had a reputation for throwing bands off the stage, if they weren't heavy enough. but the three times I saw UFO (2 with MS) I got my ass kicked! there wasn't any other band that got so much love..and respect Phil's not kidding when he said they had success in the states.
He had a GREAT Rock voice. It came at you cutting sideways, ducking & swinging with power. And its perfect counterpoint was Schenkers guitar. It was a hot slicing sword being wielded by a master!
I first heard UFO when Strangers was released, arguably one of the best ever live albums even if the artists aren't happy with the takes used...artists often aren't but as a listener to the finished product we don't know the details and just hear it as an amazing piece of work. It's still in my top albums list. What often doesn't get mentioned is how beautiful and emotional a lot of UFO songs are. They can still bring me to tears and not just with the MS line up, Black and Blue and Young Blood are made into beautiful songs by Phils vocals. An influential and inspirational band. My friend used to hang out with Paul Chapmans sister in the mid 80's but she had no idea who UFO were having to ask me and my mate who lived with her if we'd heard of UFO....'heard of them?!' we said, lol! For anyone in the UK who is interested in trivia, the red vinyl single that falls during the Top of the Pops intro of the late 70's or maybe 80's is Young Blood. Blessings all!🤘
You can say that again! I find it hard to comprehend they didn’t make it big! Only You Can Rock Me, Doctor Doctor, Lights Out, Rock Bottom, for Fuxks sake! Excellent songs! I liked them over Saxon and Whitesnake, Judas Priest, who all made it out of the NWOBHM bands!
Michael Guitar God Schenker. I was into UFO in 8th grade, with Phenomenon. Still love that album, pull it out and listen to it. Well, figuratively. I no longer have the vinyl sadly.
First album i ever liteted to UFO was my senior ye jn High School. In Sqaw Valley California. Obsession! Bought up every album. Phenomenon album my favorite.
I was a Kiss fan back in the day.....so were these other kids in my HS class back in 75........and they said.......Man...Kiss 's badest song was ....to them at the time....Rock Bottom.......then I said ....I know a killer better.........UFOs Rock Bottom.....after that....it was just.......WOW......Geeze.....my brain hurts after that.........blown away
Wow amazing! Love Michael's guitar playing .🎸🎸 Strangers In The Night has to be one of the greatest live releases of the 70's. Fantastic performances and excellent sound.
UFO rocked my childhood and still rocks me in decade#6! BTW, notice how you don't see any pedals on the stage? Schenker didn't need all that shit...just a Gibson, a Marshall and a wah-wah from time to time :)
Michael didn't use the Wah pedal in the way one would expect. Most of the time he had the pedal dialed to a certain position permanently, so it would filter the guitar sound with a strong Mids bell, therefore making his guitar sound cut through the mix better, genius in a lot of aspects. Later he'd also use a delay and a volume pedal, in his Monitor leads (the sound of those never went to the P.A.) so he could control the volume of his fold back speakers himself and the delay allegedly helped him to find the next harmonizing notes to play.
Wow, that was great. Finally got to the end. (Got a bit bogged down for a while in the Paul Chapman segment.) Really made me wish I'd been more aware of Pete Way when he'd been around. Seemed really nice and very cognizant of the key band chemistry elements. Got the feeling maybe Schenker's being a bit concerned about going full super-star might've been what kept them from hitting it SO big, and he well might've been right. Just finished watching KISStory. Goodness knows that path is fraught with challenges. Sure some great footage in there!
Was first turned on to UFO in 1978. Unfortunately i never got an opportunity to see them live. They were and still are one of my favorite rock bands. Michael Schenker was young and totally a underrated guitarist
Saw this band 3 times (one time when they opened for Cheap Trick around 1981)....great show every time. Love the Deluxe "Stangers in The Night" box set........Schenker-fest deluxe...
that's awesome, i saw them one night on Don Kirshners rock concert on TV, and went out and bought Strangers...what an album...mid 80's i saw them at a club in Boston, and got there early and watched soundcheck
If they were on a bigger label with a larger promotion budget like Atlantic (Zeppelin) or Warner Bothers (Black Sabbath), I have no doubt they would have been just as big as those 2 bands
Best original heavy metal band bar none. Everybody else was a cheap commercial imitation and boring. Senior year of high school (1979) saw them in Chicago's amphitheater. Unforgettable night. Thanks for the video.
