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.
Armed And Ready
Michael Schenker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cause I need you now, like I never did before,
Is it hard enough, is it loud enough
Cause if you don't approve,you can use the door
Armed and ready, I gotta gun sight trained on you
I'm in overdrive,and I feel alive,
Got everything I need, and that ain't all,
Got a thing to do, I want to do for you,
Armed and ready, I gotta spotlight trained on you
Armed and ready, don't let me down tonight
Are you high tonight, are you feeling right,
Cause I need you now, like I never did before,
Is it hard enough, is It loud enough
Cause if you don't approve,you can use the door
Armed and ready, I got my gun sight trained on you
Armed and ready, don't let me down tonight
Are you high tonight, are you feelin' right,
Is it hard enough, is it loud enough,
Are you high!
The lyrics of Michael Schenker Group's song "Armed And Ready" convey a sense of urgency and excitement as the singer seeks approval and connection with someone. The lyrics suggest that the singer needs this person more than ever before and is armed and ready to do whatever it takes to get their attention and affection. The refrain "Armed and ready" conveys a sense of confidence and determination, while the repetition of the question "Are you high tonight, are you feeling right" implies a sense of rebelliousness and a desire for something more exciting than the mundane.
The use of the metaphor "gun sight" and "spotlight" in the lyrics creates a sense of power and control the singer has over their desired target. They want to see that person jump like hell when they call, indicating a sense of dominance and desire to control the situation. The repeated question "Are you high" suggests a sense of drug use and rebellion to juxtapose against the mundane and ordinary life the singer is trying to escape.
Overall, the lyrics of "Armed And Ready" are about the desire for connection and validation as well as a sense of rebel attitude and excitement.
Line by Line Meaning
Are you high tonight, are you feeling right,
Are you intoxicated or in a good mood tonight?
Cause I need you now, like I never did before,
I need you urgently and more than ever before.
Is it hard enough, is it loud enough
Is the music hard and loud enough for you?
Cause if you don't approve,you can use the door
If you don't like it, you can leave.
Armed and ready, I gotta gun sight trained on you
I am prepared and focused on you with my weapon ready to strike.
I'm in overdrive,and I feel alive,
I am in a state of high energy and I feel alive and excited.
Got everything I need, and that ain't all,
I have all that I need and more.
Got a thing to do, I want to do for you,
I have a task I want to perform for you.
I want to see you jump like hell when I call
I want to see you move and react quickly when I give you directions.
Armed and ready, I gotta spotlight trained on you
I am ready and focused on you with my spotlight.
Armed and ready, don't let me down tonight
I am prepared and focused, don't disappoint me.
Are you high tonight, are you feeling right,
Are you intoxicated or in a good mood tonight?
Cause I need you now, like I never did before,
I need you urgently and more than ever before.
Is it hard enough, is It loud enough
Is the music hard and loud enough for you?
Cause if you don't approve,you can use the door
If you don't like it, you can leave.
Armed and ready, I got my gun sight trained on you
I am prepared and focused on you with my weapon ready to strike.
Armed and ready, don't let me down tonight
I am prepared and focused, don't disappoint me.
Are you high tonight, are you feelin' right,
Are you intoxicated or in a good mood tonight?
Is it hard enough, is it loud enough,
Is the music hard and loud enough for you?
Are you high!
Are you intoxicated?
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: GARY BARDEN, MICHAEL SCHENKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@user-xf7kz1sl7l
Are you high tonight, are you feeling right,
Cause I need you now, like I never did before,
Is it hard enough, is it loud enough
Cause if you don't approve,you can use the door
Armed and ready, I gotta gun sight trained on you
I'm in overdrive,and I feel alive,
Got everything I need, and that ain't all,
Got a thing to do, I want to do for you,
I want to see you jump like hell when I call
Armed and ready, I gotta spotlight trained on you
Armed and ready, don't let me down tonight
Are you high tonight, are you feeling right,
Cause I need you now, like I never did before,
Is it hard enough, is It loud enough
Cause if you don't approve,you can use the door
Armed and ready, I got my gun sight trained on you
Armed and ready, don't let me down tonight
Are you high tonight, are you feelin' right,
Is it hard enough, is it loud enough,
Are you high!
@WilsonEatsASMR
Man, Micheal wrote some of the tastiest riffs and leads in rock guitar...Damn what a talent! Love this album!
@marlahart2060
🎸💁♀️Me too!
@GrampsD63
I will never forget the first time the needle hit the vinyl on this album. Waiting so long between the release of Lovedrive and this. What magic. Schenker is still my all time favorite.
@zeppmann9333
Was that when he left Scorpions?
@GrampsD63
@@zeppmann9333 Yes. I believe he only played live for a few shows on the Lovedrive tour, London and Paris if I remember correctly, then quit and went solo.
@zeppmann9333
@@GrampsD63 oh sweet! Yeah man this stuff is wicked.
@marlahart2060
🎸🙋♀️My all time favorite guitarist too!
@jerryherrera2833
I'm glad he left the Scorps Schenker right behind Hendrix greatest RockHeroes 🐐 🐐
@dennykern125
It's still so damn good so many years on. Just proves that great songs are timeless.
@marlahart2060
🎸💁♀️Agreed!