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.
When I'm Gone
Michael Schenker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The urge is calling and I can't wait
I need you now, Oh!
Your body moves, we feel like one
You open your eyes and I feel so strong
I want you now, more than ever
You laugh when I cry
Don't go thinking I'll never leave
'Cause you won't be laughin'
You won't believe (You better believe)
When I'm gone baby, gone
Who's gonna hold you
From dark until dawn
And who will be there
That can love you like me
When I'm gone?
Your clothes are hanging on the floor
My room is full of the night before
And the promise you made to love me forever
Oh! You can't use me
Then just up and leave
You got it wrong
You better believe
If I walk out that door
It's forever
There's no turnin' back
When I'm gone baby, gone
Who will you turn to
When you need someone
Who will be there to love you
Do what I do
When I'm gone...
The lyrics to Michael Schenker's song, When I'm Gone, describe a passionate love affair that seems to be on the verge of collapse. The singer wakes up early in the morning, consumed by an urgent desire for his lover. They come together, their bodies moving in perfect harmony, but there is a feeling of uncertainty and looming separation in the air. The singer knows that his lover has been laughing at his tears and doesn't believe that he will ever leave. However, he is clear that if he walks out that door, it's forever, and there's no turning back.
The song is a powerful exploration of the pain and vulnerability that arise when a relationship is coming to an end. The singer knows that he will be leaving his lover behind, and he wonders who will take care of her and love her the way that he does. He expresses a deep sense of loss and loneliness, telling his lover that she won't believe how much she will miss him once he's gone.
Line by Line Meaning
It's early morning, not quite awake
The time of day is very early, and the person speaking is not fully alert.
The urge is calling and I can't wait
The person feels a strong desire to do something, and is eager to act on it.
I need you now, Oh!
The person is feeling a strong need for someone else's presence or attention.
Your body moves, we feel like one
The two people are physically intimate and in sync with each other.
You open your eyes and I feel so strong
The person feels their own strength and power through the affection shown by the other person.
I want you now, more than ever
The person desires the other person intensely, perhaps more so than before.
You laugh when I cry
The other person seems to find humor in the first person's emotional upset.
I'm beginning to see the reason why
The person is starting to understand why the other person behaves in this way.
Don't go thinking I'll never leave
The person warns the other not to take their presence for granted or assume they won't leave.
'Cause you won't be laughin'
If the other person continues to mistreat or take the first person for granted, they will face consequences that may not be humorous.
You won't believe (You better believe)
The person assures the other that they will experience shock or disbelief when the inevitable happens, but they have no choice but to accept it as a real possibility.
When I'm gone baby, gone
Who's gonna hold you
From dark until dawn
And who will be there
That can love you like me
When I'm gone?
The person imagines the other's future without them and questions who will provide the same level of affection and comfort.
Your clothes are hanging on the floor
My room is full of the night before
The physical remnants of their intimacy are still present in the room.
And the promise you made to love me forever
The other person made a vow or commitment to love the first person forever, but they are currently mistreating them.
Oh! You can't use me
Then just up and leave
The person won't tolerate being used or treated poorly, only to be left behind by the other.
You got it wrong
You better believe
If I walk out that door
It's forever
There's no turnin' back
The person asserts that leaving the relationship is a permanent decision, and the other must fully accept and believe that.
When I'm gone baby, gone
Who will you turn to
When you need someone
Who will be there to love you
Do what I do
When I'm gone...
The person once again highlights the impact their leaving will have on the other's life, emphasizing the importance or their presence and affection.
Lyrics Β© Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: SMOKEY ROBINSON, WILLIAM ROBINSON JR.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Alana Raquel
This song is a masterpiece! Robin Mcauley voice is so powerful!
childoftheMostHighGod
Robin has the perfect voice, can never go wrong with him. Michael! love him, MSG
childoftheMostHighGod
***** so agreed they came out with so many good songs!
Bung Ghopur
You're right dear.. he's one of the best male slow rock singer ever..
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thomascampr
PERFECT. Sounds just like album which is a rarity in music. One of the best vocalist ever in metal and rock.
Joann Alarid
I LOVE this band. He has a great voice. I can listen to their music πΆπ΅ all day long
181heck
Its rare to hear someone sing live just as good as the album. Mcauley's voice is awesome.
Nguyα» n Thα»nh
2019 and still a masterpiece
Leon Ub
2022 y sigue siendo una obra maestra. Brother