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.
Illusion
Michael Schenker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I have to run for cover, can't stand the pain
Can't stand the pain
The screams are loud but then he can't hear
Nightmare shows his face, then disappears
Ooh victim of illusion, ooh victim of illusion
Gone is the free expression, but look into my eyes,
The silent world is laughing, the mirror never lies,
The screams are loud but then he can't hear
Nightmare shows his face, then disappears
Ooh victim of illusion, ooh victim of illusion
Down, down, you gotta find a way, 'cause if you
Don't believe in what you're seeing now
There's nothing more to say!
I can't put out the fire, been blinded by the flame
I have to run for cover, can't stand the pain
Can't stand the pain
The screams are loud but then he can't hear
Nightmare shows his face, then disappears,
Ooh victim of illusion, ooh victim of illusion
The lyrics of "Victim of Illusion" by Michael Schenker Group talk about a person who cannot escape the pain and suffering caused by the illusions they are living in. The first verse talks about the fire that cannot be put out and the pain that cannot be endured. The second verse mentions the loss of free expression and the laughter of a silent world, which could refer to a lack of communication or the feeling of being misunderstood. The chorus repeats the line "victim of illusion," emphasizing the theme of being trapped in a false reality. The bridge of the song encourages the listener to find a way out of their illusions, stating that if they do not believe in what they see, then there is nothing left to say.
Overall, the song is a commentary on the human tendency to live in a false reality rather than facing painful truths. It suggests that the only way to escape from this illusion is to confront it head-on and seek the truth.
Line by Line Meaning
I can't put out the fire,been blinded by the flame,
I am unable to control my emotions and have been overwhelmed by my desires.
I have to run for cover, can't stand the pain
I am trying to avoid the unpleasant reality of my situation and can no longer tolerate the distress it causes me.
Can't stand the pain
It is unbearable to endure the emotional turmoil I am experiencing.
The screams are loud but then he can't hear
There are clear signs of danger, but I am too blinded by my illusions to see them.
Nightmare shows his face, then disappears
The potential consequences of my actions are frightening, but my illusions make them seem temporary and insignificant.
Ooh victim of illusion, ooh victim of illusion
I am a prisoner of my own distorted perceptions and beliefs, which prevents me from seeing the truth.
Gone is the free expression, but look into my eyes,
I may not be able to articulate my thoughts and feelings freely, but my eyes betray the turmoil inside me.
The silent world is laughing, the mirror never lies,
It feels like the universe is mocking me for my ignorance and denial, and the truth is always reflected back at me by the mirror.
The screams are loud but then he can't hear
The situation is dire, but I am too consumed by my illusions to take notice.
Nightmare shows his face, then disappears,
The horrors that could befall me are fleeting in my mind and do not seem worth heeding.
Ooh victim of illusion, ooh victim of illusion
I am trapped by my own delusions and unable to escape the consequences that await me.
Down, down, you gotta find a way, 'cause if you
There is no option but to face reality and come to terms with the truth.
Don't believe in what you're seeing now
The distorted picture I have created in my mind is not a reliable representation of the real world.
There's nothing more to say!
Further denial or avoidance will only lead to more harm and suffering. It is time to act and confront the truth.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: GARY BARDEN, MICHAEL SCHENKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jorge Marmelo
Michael Shenker is THE most underrated guitarist.. Beautiful riffs.. major, minor scales weaved into one addictive package...
ZFlyingVLover
This album is one of the best MSG albums IMHO. I would've made the lead guitar just a bit louder but the whole album has great songs , singing and solos
Mike Barnett
I'm going to need a sponge and a bucket to clean up all the little pieces of my blown mind.... this ROCKS!
Big B Tamnend
Very solid MSG disc with that distinctive Schenker style....lead guitar tracks could have been "more" to the forefront, I'm guessing this an attempt to enhance the overall band performances & Kelly Keeley's raspy vocal style. Still kicks ass!!!
chtephoune
nice one
李羽信
Dang!!!!!!!!!
Timothy.bryan Wilson
I like your brother Rudy is playing too