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.
Politician
Michael Schenker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Get into my big black car
Hey now, baby
Get into my big black car
I want to just show you
What my politics are
I'm a political man
I'm a political man
And I practice what I preach
So don't deny me, baby
Not while you're in my reach
I support the left
Though I'm leaning, leaning to the right
I support the left
Though I'm leaning to the right
But I'm just not there
When it's coming to a fight
Hey now, baby
Get into my big black car
Hey now, baby
Get into my big black car
I want to just show you
What my politics are
In Michael Schenker's song "Politician", the lyrics present a story of a deceitful and manipulative man, who is trying to lure a woman into his car. The big black car represents power and charm, while the man claims to be a political figure and an adherent of his political beliefs. He is portrayed as a hypocrite, who doesn't believe in his ideological convictions, but rather using them to manipulate others. The man supports "the left" but leans "to the right" and not willing to engage in a fight. Despite the inconsistencies in his beliefs, he uses his political ideology as a means to control a woman and cease power over her.
One could argue that this song is a criticism of people who use politics as a tool to manipulate others. The politician in the song is a representation of someone who is not true to his beliefs, but uses politics as a means of personal gain. The lyrics show how he is willing to use his power to get what he wants, regardless of whether the woman he is pursuing is interested or not.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey now, baby
Addressing a potential partner
Get into my big black car
Join me in experiencing what I have to offer
I want to just show you
I wish to exhibit my beliefs and values to you
What my politics are
To demonstrate my political inclinations
I'm a political man
I am a person vested in political affairs
And I practice what I preach
And I implement what I advocate
So don't deny me, baby
Please don't reject me
Not while you're in my reach
Unless you're out of my vicinity
I support the left
I uphold left-wing ideologies
Though I'm leaning, leaning to the right
Despite my inclination to right-wing beliefs
But I'm just not there
However, I cannot fully endorse them
When it's coming to a fight
Especially when there is a conflict or a combative situation
Hey now, baby
Addressing a potential partner
Get into my big black car
Join me in experiencing what I have to offer
I want to just show you
I wish to exhibit my beliefs and values to you
What my politics are
To demonstrate my political inclinations
Contributed by Benjamin I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.