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.
Searching For A Reason
Michael Schenker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We all need to have good timing
We all have the right to live
To spend our time hurting,fighting
We all have much more to give
The cry of the nations, Scream in our ears
A devil will promise the breath of our fears
The lines are all crossed
We fall Into darkness
And all of us lost
[Chorus:]
Searching for the reason
The answer is lost
We fall Into darkness
The future is shot
[Chorus:]
The lyrics of Michael Schenker's "Searching For A Reason" address the universal search for meaning and purpose in life. The chorus emphasizes the importance of good timing and the right to live, but also acknowledges that we all face struggles and conflicts. The cry of the nations and the promises of a devil add to the sense of chaos and confusion, and the repeated phrase "searching for the reason" highlights the desperate nature of our quest. Despite our efforts, however, the answer seems elusive, and we may feel lost in darkness.
The search for meaning is a common theme in many forms of art, and Schenker's lyrics offer a poignant exploration of this theme. The use of the word "reason" implies a rational explanation or justification for existence, but the frustrated tone of the song suggests that such an explanation may not exist. The repetition of the chorus emphasizes the universal nature of this quest and the shared experience of human suffering. The ominous imagery of a devil promising the "breath of our fears" adds a darker tone and suggests the possibility of false solutions.
Overall, "Searching For A Reason" is a powerful reflection on the human condition and the search for truth in a world that can often seem chaotic and confusing.
Line by Line Meaning
We all need to have good timing
It's important to have the right timing in life to achieve our goals and objectives.
We all have the right to live
Everyone has the right to live their lives the way they choose, without any kind of oppression or discrimination.
To spend our time hurting, fighting
It's unfortunate that some people spend their time causing harm and engaging in conflicts instead of creating a peaceful and harmonious society.
We all have much more to give
Everyone has a unique set of talents and abilities that they can use to contribute positively to the world.
The cry of the nations, Scream in our ears
There is a lot of unrest and dissatisfaction among people across the world, and we are constantly reminded of this fact.
A devil will promise the breath of our fears
Sometimes, our fears and insecurities can be exploited by people who have nefarious intentions.
Searching for the reason
We are all searching for meaning and purpose in our lives.
The lines are all crossed
Things have become complicated and difficult to sort out.
We fall Into darkness
We can find ourselves in a dark and challenging place, whether literal or metaphorical.
And all of us lost
It can be difficult to find our way out of darkness, and we may feel lost and alone.
The answer is lost
Despite our efforts, we may not be able to find a clear answer to our problems or questions.
The future is shot
Our hope for a better future can be lost or shattered due to various reasons.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: GRAHAM BONNET, MICHAEL WILLI SCHENKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind