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.
Tower
Michael Schenker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She is raging
No land is in sight for miles
Sails in the sunset
From the wind
May be torn
They must come down
Legend promises all
Women and children hardly safe
How many more days
If we make it to land
All will be ours
If they don't understand
We're burning the towers
Claim superior race over nations
Eric's sons' command
Starting a New World over leagues
By the law of there own hands
Reward is your freedom
You're slaves of your questioning words
Women and children hardly safe
How many more days if we make it to land
All will be ours
If they don't understand
We're burning the towers
Taking over the world
Don't you know you're a part of it all?
Over the seas
Fighting tonight in the desert skies
Charting on the shore all we see is land for miles
Fighting in the New World that is ours
No defeat is allowed
Women and children nearly saved
How many more days
If we make it to land all will be ours
Since we don't understand
We're burning their Towers
Taking over the world
Don't you know you're a part of it all?
Over the seas
Fighting tonight in the desert skies
Part of it all
Some of us starting to realize
We're taking over the world
Over the world
Over the world
The song "Tower" by Michael Schenker seems to be about a group of people on a journey across the ocean, seeking new lands and conquests. They are facing many challenges as they sail, with the ocean raging and no land in sight for miles. The chorus speaks to their burning of towers, claiming a superior race and attempting to take over the world. They believe that the reward for their actions is freedom, and that those who question them are slaves to their words.
However, as the song progresses, there are hints of doubt and realization that their actions may not be justified. The line "some of us starting to realize" implies that not all of those on the journey are fully on board with the conquest, and there is a sense of questioning and uncertainty.
Overall, "Tower" is a complex song with themes of conquest, power, and questioning one's actions. It explores the desire for freedom and power, but also the potential consequences and doubts that can arise.
Line by Line Meaning
The ocean
The vast body of salt water
She is raging
She is turbulent and violent
No land is in sight for miles
No visible land for a great distance
Sails in the sunset
Boats sailing towards the setting sun
From the wind
Driven by the force of the wind
May be torn
Could be damaged or destroyed
They must come down
The towers must be destroyed
Our compass directing to the west
Our navigational tool guiding us westward
Legend promises all
Folklore assures success to everyone
Women and children hardly safe
Females and minors are not particularly secure
How many more days
How much longer, time-wise
If we make it to land
If we reach the shore
All will be ours
Everything will belong to us
If they don't understand
Unless they fail to comprehend
We're burning the towers
We're setting the buildings on fire
Claim superior race over nations
Declare our ethnicity better than others
Eric's sons' command
The directive from Eric's boys
Starting a New World over leagues
Initiating a fresh society across vast distances
By the law of there own hands
According to their own rules
Reward is your freedom
Your compensation is liberation
You're slaves of your questioning words
You are prisoners of your doubts
Women and children hardly safe
Females and minors are not particularly secure
How many more days if we make it to land
How much longer, time-wise, if we reach the shore
All will be ours
Everything will belong to us
Since we don't understand
Because we do not comprehend
We're burning their Towers
We're setting their buildings on fire
Taking over the world
Assuming control of the entire planet
Don't you know you're a part of it all?
Are you not aware that you are involved?
Over the seas
Across the oceans
Fighting tonight in the desert skies
In combat this evening among the desert clouds
Charting on the shore all we see is land for miles
Mapping the coastline and observing visible land for an extended distance
Fighting in the New World that is ours
Engaging in conflict in the newly acquired territory
No defeat is allowed
Victory is the only acceptable outcome
Women and children nearly saved
Females and minors are almost rescued
How many more days
How much longer, time-wise
If we make it to land all will be ours
If we reach the shore, everything will belong to us
Since we don't understand
Because we do not comprehend
We're burning their Towers
We're setting their buildings on fire
Taking over the world
Assuming control of the entire planet
Don't you know you're a part of it all?
Are you not aware that you are involved?
Over the seas
Across the oceans
Part of it all
Component of the whole
Some of us starting to realize
Several of us beginning to understand
We're taking over the world
We're assuming control of the entire planet
Over the world
Across the entire planet
Over the world
Across the entire planet
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: BOB HILLIARD, BURT F BACHARACH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Chris Branco
Kelly Keeling is so awesome!
Ron Jay
The song is BADASS to put it mildly , I had to listen to it five times in a row
curt anschuetz
One of my all time MSG tracks.
Rachel Kaye
Excellent video, Axe. You got my attention with the first few photos, and then... WOW. Where did you get the autographed photo? That reminds me, I have to scan my autographed photo of Michael. It's the one you have at 2:48 - The Unforgiven. This one's going into my favorites.
Mission 2 Transition 641
I thought THE UNFORGIVEN was one of Michael's best releases....and the TOWER is one of my fave tracks. I thought vocalist Kelly was great. I enjoyed this cd much more than the latter releases he did.
Keeling healing Feeling
RICKY DEAN think I should do Schenker Fest .. ?,.. this is a good one isn’t it ...
martin mueller
Choice album pure rock n roll
AXEFLYERFV
yes, I love this album,this one is one of my favorites! thnx for tuning in man!
Francisco Bañados
Mine too 🤘🏻
ElFredo 62
I think it's one of the very best songs of MSG