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.
Mess I've Made
Michael Schenker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For a long time it was gone
Maybe it's catching up with me
I may not have you
But I've got this day to share
No longer in the deep cold summer freeze
And if I never make it back
And the sun is still shining down on you
I may be home tomorrow
I may be another year
Sweet darlin' what a mess I've made
Ramblin' and traveling
Ever since I've known
where the road's been always good to me
That's where I met you
Some things will never change
Sometimes it's the only place I can never get some peace
I've been waiting for the sun to shine
And it's finally sneaking through
what's missing is your touch
and your loving ways
Sweet Darling what
A mess I've made
What a mess I've made
Look at the mess
There's an aching in my heart since we've parted
And it's crying only out for you
Oh my love
Meet me down the road
The lyrics of Michael Schenker's song Mess I've Made talk about the singer's contemplation of love and his longing for the person he loves. The singer describes how he once lost faith in love, but now feels that it is catching up with him. He talks about not having the person he loves with him at the moment, but being grateful for the day he has to share. The singer acknowledges the uncertainty of the future, but also hopes to be home soon. He feels he has made a mess but still wants to be with his love.
The song further explores the singer's restlessness and his love for traveling. He talks about how the road has always been good to him, and that's where he met his love. The singer acknowledges that some things never change and that sometimes traveling is the only way he can find some peace. He talks about waiting for the sun to shine and how the missing piece of his life is the touch and love of his partner. The chorus repeats the line of "what a mess I've made," which adds to the melancholic tone of the song.
In conclusion, the song is a beautiful representation of love and the longing that comes with it. The singer acknowledges that love isn't always easy, and there are times when things get messy, but the hope of being with the person they love keeps them going.
Line by Line Meaning
I have faith in love
I still believe in love and its power
For a long time it was gone
For a long time, I lost hope in love
Maybe it's catching up with me
Perhaps love is finding its way back to me
I may not have you
Although I don't have you with me right now
But I've got this day to share
I have this present moment to cherish
No longer in the deep cold summer freeze
I'm not stuck in the same emotional darkness anymore
And if I never make it back
In case I don't return
Remember that I love you babe
Always know that I love you
And the sun is still shining down on you
The beauty of life and nature still surrounds you
I may be home tomorrow
I might come back soon
I may be another year
Or it could take me longer to return
Sweet darlin' what a mess I've made
My actions have caused chaos in our relationship
Ramblin' and traveling
I've been wandering around
Ever since I've known
For as long as I can remember
where the road's been always good to me
Traveling has been my escape and comfort
That's where I met you
The road also led me to meeting you
Some things will never change
Despite all the changes in my life, I still feel the same about you
Sometimes it's the only place I can never get some peace
Traveling can be the only time I can find peace and solace
I've been waiting for the sun to shine
I've been waiting for things to get better
And it's finally sneaking through
Finally, I see some positive outcome
what's missing is your touch
But what I really miss is your presence
and your loving ways
I miss your care, your love, and your kindness
Sweet Darling what
Oh, my dear
A mess I've made
I've made some mistakes that have hurt us both
What a mess I've made
It's really a chaotic situation that I've created
Look at the mess
I see how bad it's gotten
There's an aching in my heart since we've parted
Since we've been away from each other, I've been feeling this pain
And it's crying only out for you
My heart is yearning for you only
Oh my love
My darling
Meet me down the road
Let's meet again in person in the future
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind