In 1973 the band recruited an 18 year old Michael Schenker from the band Scorpions. This marked a departure from their space rock sound to a more hard edged rock sound. They released a string of critically acclaimed rock albums in the 70s that gained them a following in America and made them stars in the UK. Around the time of the 1978 release of Obsession, tensions between Schenker and Mogg were mounting. UFO arguably reached their peak at this time. In 1978 they toured extensively and recorded material for the double live album Strangers in the Night which was released in 1979. This album is considered by many fans and critics to be one of the best live rock albums ever produced. Immediately after the Strangers in the Night tour Michael Schenker left the band.
After this period UFO's popularity began to decline as they continue to release material. In 1988 they disbanded due to lackluster sales, decline in popularity, and their inability to (or perhaps refusal to) capitalize on the popularity of the glam rock movement. But the hiatus was short lived.
In 1992 Mogg and Way put together another UFO lineup that met with some new interest from fans. In 1993 the original UFO got back together (with Schenker) and the result was 1995's Walk on Water, which some consider to be one of the best comeback rock albums ever.
Schenker re-joined and quit UFO many times in the early 2000s. Due to Schenker's instability as a band member (and erratic tour behavior) Mogg eventually gained full control of the UFO band brand and Schenker is now forever from the picture (most likely).
UFO has released 20 studio albums, and many live/compilation albums. Though the lineup has changed many times over the years the core members of the band were usually involved along the way: Phil Mogg (vocals), Pete Way (bass), Andy Parker (drums), and Paul Raymond (guitar).
UFO's influence was strongly felt in the '80s metal scene and they have been cited as a primary influence of Kirk Hammett of Metallica, Dave Mustaine of Megadeth, and Iron Maiden who gives thanks to UFO in the liner note of The Number of the Beast.
UFO's official website: http://www.ufo-music.info
There are other artists with same name:
2) UFO is a Danish rapper/singer-songwriter and member of the Danish hip-hop group Ufo&Yepha.
3) UFO is the alias of UK Happy Hardcore artist Jason Holloway who is known for his production on such labels as Raverbaby and Jellybaby.
4) UFO is a Latvian singer/songwriter also known as Kaspars Upacieris. He also hosts a radio show BB Brokastis with Andris Freidenfelds.
5) UFO was one of the first Costa Rican punk band and one of the most important during the 90's-early 00's in the Costa Rican alternativa music scene.
6) UFO! A Bay Area native pioneered the San Francisco Drum and Bass scene and co-founded the Phunckateck collective. An innovative producer.
2002 saw UFO! releasing an original material CD on Thermal Recordings, called "The Future is Listening”. Releases include a mix CD on Vortex called “Maelstrom,” and a special edition mix CD for Circa footwear. UFO! has worked Hive, Echo, and Techno producer John Tejada.
UFO! remixed a track for Hollywood Records, rock band Tinfed, called “Drop”, and several singles including “Tech has Taken Over Me”, “Sideswipe” (produced with Kaos) and “Besame” (produced with Arqer and Realtime).
“Enemy Infiltration”, an anthem of 1999, blazed across the U.S. and abroad. The stunning string arrangement on the track had producers from the revered Trouble on Vinyl label from the U.K. sampling it for one of their own releases called “Mission Control”.
7) UFOUnited Future Organization otherwise known as UFO is a nu-jazz duo made up of Japanese-born Tadashi Yabe (直 矢部, Yabe Tadashi?) and Frenchman Raphael Sebbag (ラファエルセバーグ, Raphael Sebbag?). One of the three original founding members, Toshio Matsuura left the group in 2002 to work with Universal Japan on a remix album project
8) UFO is a Hungarian music band. The most successfully years were the 90s for them.
9) UFO is an Indonesian music band. They released the first album early 2000 named "Brutal Pop".They've entered an Indonesian ska compilation album
10. UFO is a Norwegian band mostly cover band
Hell Driver
UFO Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Here's a story
God rides down to mexico
Got no friends and no one i know
A cactus sign at the end of the street
A mariachi and a one way beat
Hey hell driver looking for a midnight rider
Hey hell driver looking for a midnight rider
All night all night long
Chiquita all night long
Music playing flamenco beat
There's a cactus sign on my street
Hey hombre let me take you home
Sweet chiquita all alone
Hey hell driver looking for a midnight rider
No lo bebas tequila
Not tonight
Hey hell driver looking for a midnight rider
All night long
My chiquita
Oh baby baby
Can i please come home
I got a pocket full here now of pretty pretty stones
I sold my soul down in puerto viato last week
Down on my luck
I ain't got a winning streak
Struck inside a roadhouse
I got a midnight tan
Sold my soul in puerto viato anything i can
Here in my darkness i can feel the rain
Sitting in this jailhouse
Come on baby feel the pain
The song "Hell Driver" by UFO tells the story of a man who finds himself stranded in Mexico with no friends and nowhere to go. The song begins by painting a picture of a desolate street with nothing but a cactus sign and a mariachi band playing a "one way beat." The singer of the song turns to a Hell Driver, looking for a ride out of Mexico, searching for his Midnight Rider. The song's narrator is desperate to leave the country and return home to his loved ones.
The man seems downtrodden and without hope. He sold his soul down in Puerto Viato and has a pocket full of pretty stones, but he still cannot seem to catch a break. He is stranded inside a roadhouse, feeling the darkness and pain of his situation. The singer attempts to find a way out of Mexico, finding no luck until he comes across a Hell Driver. The song's lyrics give a feeling of desperation, isolation and hopelessness.
Line by Line Meaning
Now picture this
Let me tell you a story
Here's a story
I'm about to tell you a story
God rides down to mexico
The singer is in Mexico
Got no friends and no one i know
The artist is alone
A cactus sign at the end of the street
There is a cactus sign at the end of the street
A mariachi and a one way beat
There is a mariachi band playing and the music has a one-way beat
Hey hell driver looking for a midnight rider
The singer is looking for someone to help them through the night
Baby stuck down in mexico all night long
The person they're looking for is stuck in Mexico
Chiquita all night long
The artist is with a woman named Chiquita
Music playing flamenco beat
There is music playing with a flamenco beat
There's a cactus sign on my street
There is a cactus sign on the singer's street
Hey hombre let me take you home
The artist is inviting someone home
Sweet chiquita all alone
Chiquita is alone
No lo bebas tequila
Don't drink tequila
Not tonight
Not tonight
All night long
All night long
My chiquita
Chiquita belongs to the artist
Oh baby baby
Oh baby baby
Can i please come home
Can I come home?
I got a pocket full here now of pretty pretty stones
The artist has a pocket full of pretty stones
I sold my soul down in puerto viato last week
The artist traded something valuable in Puerto Viato last week
Down on my luck
The artist is out of luck
I ain't got a winning streak
The singer is not lucky
Struck inside a roadhouse
The artist is stuck in a roadhouse
I got a midnight tan
The singer has a tan
Sold my soul in puerto viato anything i can
The singer traded whatever they could in Puerto Viato
Here in my darkness i can feel the rain
The singer is sad and can feel rain
Sitting in this jailhouse
The artist is in jail
Come on baby feel the pain
The artist wants someone to feel their pain
Contributed by Hudson M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.