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.
Looking Out From Nowhere
Michael Schenker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There are so many empty faces around, all around me
As I try to get through, it seems like
They don't understand me:
And they keep pulling me back
To take part in their fantasies,
But I get this feeling, when I look inside,
It's such a strange feeling, I can't hide
When I've come this far
I'm looking out, looking out from nowhere
I'm looking out, looking out forever
But, now the time is right
I've got to break out to the other side
But you can never know
What the other side has got to show!
As I try to get through, it seems like
They don't understand me,
And they keep pulling me back
To take part in their fantasies,
But I get this feeling, when I look inside,
It's such a strange feeling, I can't hide
But what can I do, where can I go,
When I've come this far
I'm looking out, looking out from nowhere
I'm looking out, looking out forever
The lyrics of Michael Schenker Group's song, Looking Out From Nowhere, depict a sense of loneliness and isolation that the singer feels while being surrounded by people. Through the lyrics, the singer expresses his thoughts and tries to make sense of his feelings. The song suggests that even when a person is surrounded by people, they can still feel alone and misunderstood. The singer feels that people around him are not able to understand him and keep pulling him back to participate in their fantasies. He seems to be in a state of disconnection and disorientation where he is searching for something that he cannot find.
The lyrics of the song also suggest the singer's desire to break out and explore the other side, but he's uncertain about what the other side has to offer. He's at a crossroads where he's unsure of the path he should take. The lyrics convey a feeling of uncertainty, confusion, and the need for a change. Overall, the song is about finding one's true identity, breaking free from the norm, and looking for something more meaningful.
Line by Line Meaning
As I look out into the night, I m alone here,
I'm standing here alone in the dark, looking out into the empty night.
There are so many empty faces around, all around me
Despite being surrounded by people, I feel their presence is meaningless.
As I try to get through, it seems like
In my attempt to interact with others,
They don't understand me:
I find that they are unable to comprehend my perspective and feelings.
And they keep pulling me back
Despite my efforts to move forward and escape from this situation,
To take part in their fantasies,
I find myself being dragged back into their delusional worlds and ideals.
But I get this feeling, when I look inside,
However, I experience a peculiar sensation when I search within myself.
It's such a strange feeling, I can't hide
This sensation is peculiar, I cannot conceal or neglect it.
But what can I do, where can I go,
However, I'm unsure of what actions to take or where to turn for help.
When I've come this far
Despite my doubts, I've already journeyed this far.
I'm looking out, looking out from nowhere
I find myself searching from a place without direction or purpose.
I'm looking out, looking out forever
I'm continuously searching without end or resolution.
But, now the time is right
However, I feel that this is the correct time to act and move forward.
I've got to break out to the other side
I must find a way to escape from this situation and move to something new.
But you can never know
Despite my efforts, I cannot predict what lies on the other side.
What the other side has got to show!
I cannot anticipate or understand what the future holds.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: GARY BARDEN, MICHAEL SCHENKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind