Michael was born in Sarstedt, Germany. He started playing in his early teens when his brother Rudolph brought home a Flying V guitar, which captured Michael's imagination. His playing style is unusual in that he seems not to use conventionally practiced guitar scales but seems instead to improvise.
Schenker joined UFO under unusual circumstances. The band left the UK to play some dates in Germany. Their guitarist at the time; Bernie Marsden, forgot his passport and was unable to make the first gig. At the venue UFO spotted Michael playing a soundcheck with the Scorpions and managed to persuade him into playing that evening's show. Despite the language barrier; he spoke no English and they spoke no German, something clearly "clicked" and Schenker brought the ellusive X factor to the band and took them to another level musically.
Schenker has had a turbulent career with UFO, often walking out mid song and causing shows to be cancelled. He is evidently as temperamental as he is gifted. Schenker says his playing with UFO is like chocolate: fantastic for a while but once you've had enough....
Clearly a musical prodigy, Schenker was one of the 1970's most inspirational guitarists, influencing later musicians such as Kirk Hammett from the band Metallica.
Michael was offered gigs with Aerosmith and Ozzy Osbourne but decided he wanted to play his own music and not be a hired hand in another group. In 1979, he founded the Michael Schenker Group (M.S.G). The history of the Michael Schenker Group has been strewn with personality conflicts and "incidents" between band members. In 1982, original vocalist Gary Barden was sacked in favor of Graham Bonnet (Rainbow, Alcatrazz) who lasted one album (Assault Attack) and was fired from the band after dropping his pants in a warm-up gig before the Reading festival. Gary Barden was enticed back to the band for Reading and stayed with M.S.G. for the recording of a new studio album (Built to Destroy) and a live album (Rock Will Never Die). After the second departure of vocalist Gary Barden after the Built to Destroy album, Michael reorganized the band around himself and vocalist Robin McAuley as the McAuley Schenker Group. After three albums in that configuration, Michael and Robin parted company.
Michael next rejoined UFO for the album Walk on Water. A short tour punctuated by a fight between Michael and vocalist Phil Mogg ended the reunion.
Michael resurrected the Michael Schenker Group with all new players and recorded three decent albums and toured yearly to appreciative Schenker-heads around the United States and Europe.
Michael fell on hard times in the early 2000's after his divorce in which he lost rights to his own music, his Mercedes and his prized Flying V guitars.
Michael picked himself up and got back to the business of making and performing music. The recording of the album Arachnophobiac and the resulting two years of touring got Michael back in rocking form.
2005 brings the 25th anniversary of the Michael Schenker Group. Michael is putting together a new album of songs called Tales of Rock and Roll honoring that anniversary. Singers from each iteration of the group have been enlisted to sing on a track or two.
A new Michael Schenker Group album is as much about finding out who is left in the band as it is about the music. Devoted fans love him regardless of his personal and personnel problems.
All the Way from Memphis
Michael Schenker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Half way to memphis fore I realized
Well I rang the information, my axe was cold
They said she rides the train to oreoles
Now its a mighty long way down the dusty trail
And the sun burns hot on the cold steel rails
N I look like a bum n I crawl like a snail
Well I got to oreoles ya know, it took a month
And there was my guitar, electric junk.
Some spade said rock n' rollers, you're all the same.
Man that's your instrument. I felt so ashamed.
Now its a mighty long way down rock n' roll
Through the Bradford cities and the oreoles
N you look like a star but you're still on the dole
All the way from memphis
Yeah its a mighty long way down rock n' roll
From the Liverpool docks to the Hollywood bowl
N you climb up the mountains n you fall down the holes
All the way from memphis
Yeah its a mighty long way down rock n'roll
As your name gets hot so your heart grows cold
N you gotta stay young man, you can never be old
All the way from memphis
Yeah its a mighty long way down rock n' roll
Through the Bradford cities and the oreoles
N you look like a star but you're really out on parole!
All the way from memphis
The lyrics to Michael Schenker’s song “All the Way from Memphis” tell the story of a musician who sets out on a journey to retrieve his guitar which he forgot at a previous gig. The journey takes him through various cities and he describes the hardships of traveling by train and the struggle of being a rock and roll musician. The first verse describes the forgetfulness of the musician as he realizes halfway to Memphis that he has forgotten his guitar. He calls the venue he played at before and finds out that his guitar is on a train to Oreoles. The second verse describes the difficult journey to retrieve his guitar as he travels on the train, dressed poorly and feeling ashamed. The third and final verse talks about the struggles of being a rock and roll musician as he travels from city to city, struggling to make ends meet and stay relevant in the industry. The lyrics suggest that the life of a rock and roll musician may be glamorous on the surface, but behind the scenes it is a difficult and lonely journey.
Overall, “All the Way from Memphis” is a commentary on the rock and roll lifestyle and the challenges that musicians face while trying to achieve success in the industry. The lyrics are cleverly written and paint a vivid picture of the musician's journey, conveying the difficulties of the lifestyle with humor and wit.
Line by Line Meaning
Forgot my six-string razor, hit the sky
I left home without my guitar and flew to Memphis
Half way to memphis fore I realized
I realized halfway through my trip that I didn't have my guitar
Well I rang the information, my axe was cold
I called information to find out where my guitar was and it had been sitting in the cold for a while
They said she rides the train to oreoles
They told me my guitar was on a train to Oreoles
Now its a mighty long way down the dusty trail
The journey to becoming a successful musician is long and difficult
And the sun burns hot on the cold steel rails
The journey is physically and mentally exhausting
N I look like a bum n I crawl like a snail
I feel and look like a mess from the grueling journey
Well I got to oreoles ya know, it took a month
It took a month to finally get my guitar in Oreoles
And there was my guitar, electric junk.
My guitar was there but it was in bad shape
Some spade said rock n' rollers, you're all the same.
Someone said that all rock musicians are the same
Man that's your instrument. I felt so ashamed.
It felt embarrassing to be defined by my guitar and music
Now its a mighty long way down rock n' roll
Becoming successful in the rock music industry is a difficult journey
Through the Bradford cities and the oreoles
Traveling through different cities and towns, facing different challenges
N you look like a star but you're still on the dole
People see you as a successful musician but you may still be struggling financially
From the Liverpool docks to the Hollywood bowl
The journey to success can take you from one end of the world to the other
N you climb up the mountains n you fall down the holes
There are highs and lows in the journey to success
As your name gets hot so your heart grows cold
As you become more successful, it's easy to lose touch with your emotions and become disconnected from your true self
N you gotta stay young man, you can never be old
It's important to stay youthful and adapt to the changing times in the rock music industry
N you look like a star but you're really out on parole!
Even though you may appear successful, you may still have some legal issues or personal struggles
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: IAN HUNTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mikeauriemma3975
Michael Schenker is on a Level of His own...He's a Legend!!!
@mikes.7836
schenker never dissapoints. he is the rock guitar god!!!!!!
@SPONDNO8
My God what a solo in the middle absolute genius.
@blndrckr
Tonemonster.... still kills me after all these years
@konnors62
...this is why I humbly respect Michael Schenker and still try to play guitar...great video again, MDXMN...
@AXEFLYERFV
Right on , thank you for comment & tuning in! Regards!
@UnitedSoundVideo
Excellent! Too bad the camera op didn’t know when the solos came in. He should of just left the frame on MS the whole time. Great audio. Thx 4 sharing!
@sovaine
Schenker has a very similar tone to the legendary Mick Ronson, schenker is one shit hot guitarist who has amazing feel and emphasis:-)
@Maxx61
The lead singer looked incredibly uncomfortable here...this song deserved a bit more interaction but of course Michael saved the day.🤘
@hefner3hefner393
Thought the same thing.......Mott the Hoople probably wasn't in his wheelhouse of songs