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.
hey joe
Michael Schenker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hey Joe, I said where you goin' with that gun in your hand, oh
I'm goin' down to shoot my old lady
You know I caught her messin' 'round with another man
Yeah, I'm goin' down to shoot my old lady
You know I caught her messin' 'round with another man
Huh! and that ain't cool
Huh hey hoe, I heard you shot your mama down
Hey Joe, I heard you shot your lady down
You shot her down in the ground yeah!
Yeah!
Yes, I did, I shot her
You know I caught her messin' round messin' round town
Huh, yes I did I shot her
You know I caught my old lady messin' 'round town
And I gave her the gun
And I shot her
Alright
Shoot her one more time again baby!
Yeah!
Oh dig it
Oh alright
Hey Joe,
Where you gonna run to now where you gonna go
Hey Joe, I said
Where you gonna run to now where you gonna go
I'm goin' way down south
Way down to Mexico way
Alright
I'm goin' way down south
Way down where I can be free
Ain't no one gonna find me
Ain't no hang-man gonna
He ain't gonna put a rope around me
You better believe it right now
I gotta go now
Hey, Joe
You better run on down
Goodbye everybody
Hey hey Joe
The song "Hey Joe" by Michael Pitt & The Twins Of Evil is a cover of a classic song that has been interpreted by many artists over the years. At first glance, the lyrics sound like a simple story of a man who catches his woman cheating and decides to take revenge by shooting her. However, the song goes deeper than that, and can be interpreted in different ways.
One possible interpretation is that the song is about the fear of losing control. The singer is caught in a situation that he can't handle emotionally, and decides to use violence as a way to restore his sense of power. This interpretation is reinforced by the part where he says "I gave her the gun", which suggests that he is aware of his responsibility in the situation. The line "Hey Joe, where you gonna run to now?" could also be interpreted as a reference to the fact that he can't escape the consequences of his actions, even if he runs away.
Another possible interpretation is that the song is a critique of toxic masculinity. The singer is driven by jealousy and possessiveness, which are toxic traits associated with traditional ideas of manhood. The fact that he decides to shoot his woman instead of confronting her or leaving her is a sign of his inability to deal with his emotions in a healthy way. The line "Hey Joe, I heard you shot your lady down" could be seen as a condemnation of this behavior.
Overall, "Hey Joe" is a complex song that invites different interpretations, depending on the listener's perspective. It deals with themes of power, control, and toxic masculinity, and is a reminder of the destructive consequences that can result from these attitudes.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey Joe, where you goin' with that gun of your hand
Joe, where are you headed with a gun in your hand?
Hey Joe, I said where you goin' with that gun in your hand, oh
Joe, I'm asking you again, where are you headed with a gun in your hand?
I'm goin' down to shoot my old lady
I'm going to kill my wife.
You know I caught her messin' 'round with another man
I caught her cheating on me with another man.
Yeah, I'm goin' down to shoot my old lady
Yes, I'm going to shoot and kill my wife.
You know I caught her messin' 'round with another man
She was indeed cheating on me with another man.
Huh! and that ain't cool
That's not right or fair.
Huh hey hoe, I heard you shot your mama down
Hey Joe, I heard that you killed your mother.
You shot her down now
You killed her, didn't you?
Hey Joe, I heard you shot your lady down
Joe, I heard that you killed your wife as well.
You shot her down in the ground yeah!
You shot her and she's now six feet under.
Yes, I did, I shot her
Yes, I killed my wife.
You know I caught her messin' round messin' round town
As I said before, I caught her cheating on me around town.
Huh, yes I did I shot her
Yes, I admit that I killed her.
You know I caught my old lady messin' 'round town
I caught my wife cheating on me around town.
And I gave her the gun
I gave her the gun and used it to kill her.
And I shot her
I used the gun I gave her to shoot and kill her.
Hey Joe, where you gonna run to now where you gonna go
Joe, where are you planning on running away to?
Hey Joe, I said
Joe, I'm asking you again.
I'm goin' way down south
I'm heading way down to Mexico.
Way down to Mexico way
Specifically, I'm heading really far south to Mexico.
I'm goin' way down south
Just to be clear, I'm leaving and heading south.
Way down where I can be free
I'm going somewhere where I can be free and run away from my problems.
Ain't no one gonna find me
No one, not even the law, will be able to locate me in my hiding spot.
Ain't no hang-man gonna
No hangman will be able to put me to the noose, signifying that I'll never be caught or sentenced to death by the law.
He ain't gonna put a rope around me
The hangman won't have the chance to put me to the noose.
You better believe it right now
This is no joke, you better believe that I'm serious about running away.
I gotta go now
I have to leave now, can't stay here any longer.
Hey, Joe
Goodbye, Joe.
You better run on down
You better leave now before the law comes for you.
Goodbye everybody
Farewell, everyone.
Hey hey Joe
Goodbye again, Joe.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Billy Roberts
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind