Review MICHAEL SCHENKER “My Years with UFO”

It was the ’70s when a “German Wunderkind” made an impression on the world’s rock scene. German guitarist Michael Schenker, who was 17 years old at the time, was asked to join rock pioneers UFO, which was like a springboard for the young guitarist and also brought an extra vitality to the band.

To celebrate Schenker’s years with UFO, which spanned from 1972 to 1978, the guitarist recorded an album called “My Years With UFO,” which features some of the greatest rock songs of all time.

In addition to Schenker, keyboarder Brian Tichy and bassist Barry Sparks joined the guitarist on this nostalgic rock journey. But all this is not enough. Michael Schenker has a huge network and many friends in the world of rock, and he invited a kind of “who’s who” of rock and metal to contribute to “My Years with UFO”.

Joe Lynn Turner and Camine Appice are two iconic musicians who enrich “Doctor, Doctor”, one of UFO’s all-time classics. The galloping rhythm and the great vocal performance of Turner add new life to this gem of rock history.

The same goes for “Lights Out”. The rock anthem features Jeff Scott Soto on vocals and John Norum adding some extra guitar power. The result is a stunning new version that will delight rock fans. Soto’s vocals give the song a slightly different feel that still stays close to the original.

One highlight follows the other. “Rock Bottom” for example, originally part of the 1974 “Phenomenon” album, clocks in at over 11 minutes and is enriched by Helloween‘s Kai Hansen, who adds some vocals to the masterpiece.

As you might expect, there are no weak points on this album, as “Natural Thing” is a great opener with Dee Snider’s rock’n’roll voice adding some edges to the great tune, while Joel Hoekstra is also part of this song.

Photo Credit: Tallee Savage

The final chapter of the album is “Shoot Shoot” and we can enjoy the voice of Ratt frontman Stephen Pearcy.

“My Years with UFO” is a fantastic album. It’s a compilation of great rock songs and it’s the timeless music that gets a new shine. For Michael Schenker, it is like traveling back in time to a period that paved the way for a very colorful life in the realms of rock music. It is like a walk down memory lane and what comes out of the speakers is a treat for the ears.