Live in Tokyo - The 30th Anniversary Concert Michael Schenker

• 1 Welcome Howl (Live in Tokyo 2010) 02:05
• 2 Feels Like a Good Thing (Live in Tokyo 2010) 03:44
• 3 Cry for the Nations (Live in Tokyo 2010) 05:50
• 4 Let Sleeping Dogs Lie (Live in Tokyo 2010) 06:58
• 5 Armed and Ready (Live in Tokyo 2010) 04:24
• 6 Victim of Illusion (Live in Tokyo 2010) 05:21
• 7 Are You Ready to Rock (Live in Tokyo 2010) 06:48
• 8 I Want You (Live in Tokyo 2010) 04:00
• 9 A Night to Remember (Live in Tokyo 2010) 04:13
• 10 Into the Arena (Live in Tokyo 2010) 04:22
• 11 Lost Horizons (Live in Tokyo 2010) 09:51
• 12 Rock My Nights Away (Live in Tokyo 2010) 04:48
• 13 On and On (Live in Tokyo 2010) 05:40
• 14 Attack of the Mad Axeman (Live in Tokyo 2010) 05:15
• 15 Ride On My Way (Live in Tokyo 2010) 04:27
• 16 Rock Bottom (Live in Tokyo 2010) 11:39
• 17 Dance Lady Gipsy (Live in Tokyo 2010) 04:28
• 18 Doctor, Doctor (Live in Tokyo 2010) 05:50
• Total Runtime 01:39:43

Info for Live in Tokyo - The 30th Anniversary Concert

Murmuring voices, music from the band, monitors light up at the mixing desk, otherwise nothing more than that. A good minute after the sound goes off in Nakano Sun Plaza in Tokyo, a rapturous cry resounds out above all the expectant murmuring in the packed out hall. A long reverberating bass sound intensifies the suspense and suddenly the man who everyone is waiting for stands there at the edge of the stage: Michael Schenker. With a completely new sound, a technique that he devised himself, he played "Welcome Howl" which was immediately met with the enthusiasm of all his fans in the hall. Michael strums a few hefty riffs on his distinctive Flying V guitar and then it really gets going. The spotlights focus on the drums and microphone, the band starts rocking and once Gary Barden storms onto the stage to sing the opening verse of "Feels Like A Good Thing" with emotional soul sounds, the motto of this memorable evening lights up in the background: "MSG Michael Schenker Group - 30th Anniversary Tour"

This performance was recorded in January 2010 during the 30th Anniversary Japan Tour. On this tour, the Michael Schenker Group consisted of Michael Schenker, Gary Barden, Simon Phillips, Wayne Findlay, and Neil Murray. The band, in impeccable form, blasts through a track list highlighting all stages of Schenker's career: from UFO and Scorpions hits, through MSG classic tracks, to his solo compositions.

"It's probably widely agreed amongst Michael Schenker's faithful following that the best singer he's ever worked with in MSG (and the one that fit his guitar-heavy rock the best) was Gary Barden, the same gentleman that sang on such early solo Schenker classics as The Michael Schenker Group, MSG, and One Night at Budokan, among others. Splitting from MSG during the mid-'80s, Barden was back where he belonged shortly after the dawn of the early 21st century: fronting MSG once more in the studio and on the concert stage. And live, the band sounded as powerful and vibrant as ever, as evidenced by the 2010 double-disc set, 30th Anniversary Concert: Live in Tokyo. With a top-notch backing band (including such renowned hard rock names as Neil Murray on bass and Simon Phillips on drums), Schenker and Barden pick up exactly where they left off, handing in fine renditions of such early MSG classics as "Armed and Ready," "Cry for the Nations," and "Attack of the Mad Axeman." You'll also find Schenker's strongest instrumental composition, "Into the Arena," as well as a few UFO-era nuggets, including "Rock Bottom" and "Doctor Doctor." With so many live Schenker titles issued over the years, you never really know exactly what lies in store with each one. But right from the start, it's clear that Live in Tokyo is one Schenker live disc that gets it right." (Greg Prato, AMG)

Gary Barden, vocals
Michael Schenker, guitars, backing vocals
Wayne Findlay, keyboards, rhythm guitars, backing vocals
Neil Murray, bass
Simon Phillips, drums

Recorded January 13th, 2010 at Nakano Sun Plaza, Tokyo
Produced by Kiyoshi Iwasawa, Kota Akutsu

Michael Schenker
It goes without saying, that the legendary and award-winning guitarist Michael Schenker has led a truly amazing rock’n’roll life. Born in Sarstedt near Hannover in 1955, Michael's career took off when he was just a teenager. At the age of nine, he was already listening to the Beatles and the Stones. By the age of 14 he was looking to learn from the likes of Led Zeppelin, Mountain and Black Sabbath.

He got off to a flying start: from 1969 to 1973 he played with his brother Rudolf Schenker in Germany's most successful rock band – the Scorpions. It was Rudolf who introduced him to the Gibson Flying V. When the Scorpions supported the British hard rock band UFO, Michael had the opportunity to switch bands.

For six years, Michael was a driving force behind the UFO sound. Some of his earliest compositions such as “Rock Bottom” and “Doctor Doctor” have become timeless rock classics.

After his departure from UFO in 1979, he briefly returned to the Scorpions to record their legendary “Lovedrive” album. Then he decided it was time to go solo. Enter the Michael Schenker Group (MSG). “It was only when I started playing with this band that I could really put what I had learned and what I stand for into practice,” reflects Michael.

The first two albums became instant classics. “The Michael Schenker Group” (1980) and “MSG” (1981) contained songs like “Into The Arena”, “Armed And Ready”, “Ready To Rock” and “Attack Of The Mad Axeman” – all of which have become standards in Michael Schenker's concerts. Schenker soon developed the nickname - the “Mad Axeman”.

MSG enjoyed many triumphant moments but also numerous lows which they endured stoically. The only person who has stayed with the band through the decades is Michael himself, the boss and master puppeteer.

This list of his former band mates reads like a who's who of hard rock: As founder members, Michael recruited Simon Phillips (drums), Gary Barden (vocals), Mo Foster (bass) and Don Airey (keyboards). Later members included rock luminaries such as bassist Neil Murray, drummer Cozy Powell and Carmine Appice, singer Graham Bonnett and guitarist Wayne Findlay.

In 1985 the Michael Schenker Group mutated into the McAuley Schenker Group with new singer Robin McAuley. This incarnation of the MSG lasted for three albums: “Perfect Timing” (1987), “Save Yourself” (1989) and “M.S.G.” (1992). In 1995, Michael rejoined UFO for their comeback album “Walk On Water”. Afterwards he revived the Michael Schenker Group – and in 2008 he reached new heights with the album “In The Midst Of Beauty”. He was accompanied in the studio by a host of familiar faces: Gary Barden, Simon Phillips, Don Airey and Neil Murray. These four are also present among the impressive array of musicians who took turns on stage in the MSG's “30th Anniversary Tour”. The band was greeted with a thunderous reception wherever they played during their world tour.

Full of creative power, dynamism and ideas, in 2011 Michael Schenker entered a new phase of his life – both creatively and personally – with his new band “Temple Of Rock”. He can be heard to be enjoying life more than ever before and reaping the artistic rewards from his previous achievements. The band members included Michael Voss (vocals), and Schenker’s trusty band mates Wayne Findley (guitar, keyboards), Pete Way (bass) and Herman Rarebell (drums). On the following extended “Temple Of Rock” world tour, Doogie White took over vocal duties and Francis Buchholz played bass.

The amazing chemistry of this band can be heard on the live recording “Temple Of Rock – Live in Europe” (2012).

This album contains no booklet.