Concert Reports
Michael Schenker’s Temple of Rock
Don Dokken
05/02/2015, The Canyon Club, Agoura Hills
Guitar hero Michael Schenker brought his Temple of Rock tour to a packed house at the Canyon Club in Agoura Hills Saturday night, May 2, 2015
While some fans still hoped to grab a last minute ticket, Don Dokken took the stage for an acoustic set to deliver some of his own classics including “In My Dreams”, “It’s Not Love” and the Nightmare on Elm Street anthem “Dream Warriors”. Dokken reappeared later to lend vocals to “Rock You Like A Hurricane.”
www.MichaelSchenkerHimself.com
After a quick changeover Schenker hit the stage with his current line up of Doogie White on vocals, Wayne Findlay on keys and guitar, Francis Buchholz on bass and Herman Rarebell on drums. The band was tight and the fans were thrilled as the guys rocked thru a well rounded collection from the Michael Schenker Group, UFO, Scorpions and his latest effort Michael Schenker’s Temple of Rock. The U.S. leg will wrap up on May 6th in Oregon and will move to a few dates in Europe and Japan.
Michael Schenker’s Temple Of Rock
The New Album
“Spirit On A Mission”
Award-winning, legendary guitarist Michael Schenker releases a new studio album entitled "Spirit On A Mission" in the UK on Monday 23rd March. Released by in-akustik, the album of all-new material features Schenker’s Temple of Rock band - ex-Scorpions Herman Rarebell (drums) and Francis Buchholz (bass), ex-Rainbow’s Doogie White (vocals) and Wayne Findlay (guitar, keyboards).
The new album features twelve 12 classic rock guitar-driven songs that highlight Schenker’s distinctive and dynamic guitar playing, valiantly underpinned by the ferocious rhythm section of Rarebell and Buchholz, the same rhythm section that originally performed together on the Scorpions’ 1979 album Lovedrive. Michael remembers how he came up with the name of the new album - "A while ago I was asked how I wanted to be remembered, and I said ‘as a spirit on a mission, spreading the joy of music from a place of pure self expression."
Scottish vocalist Doogie White, who co-wrote the album with Schenker, soars across every song, and stamps his personality with every note and phrase, while Wayne Findlay adds a new level to Schenker’s classic sound with his Dean 7-string guitar and keyboard arrangements.
Spirit On A Mission is a rapturous, explosive collection of brand new songs steeped in shades of dark and light. Musically and lyrically, the new album shows a re-energised guitarist at the top of his game, surrounded by some of the best musicians in rock.
The new album was recorded at Kidroom Studios, Muenster, Germany; the same studio where 2013’s Bridge The Gap album was recorded. The album was produced by Michael Voss and Michael Schenker, and engineered by Voss.
What are Schenker’s favourite songs from Spirit On A Mission, and why?
Says Michael – "I love Live and Let Live because it has everything. I love Vigilante Man because it’s heavy and melodic with a great tempo and sound. Something Of The Night turned out to be a fantastic outcome especially with that spooky Howler sound I developed awhile ago. Saviour Machine is an epic. Rock City, Bullet Proof, Restless Heart - I love the fast melodic stuff, and the other 7 string songs with a touch of ’70s rock."
"SPIRIT ON A MISSION" - TRACK LISTING
1. LIVE AND LET LIVE
2.COMMUNION*
3. VIGILANTE MAN
4.ROCK CITY
5.SAVIOUR MACHINE*
6.SOMETHING OF THE NIGHT
7.ALL OUR YESTERDAYS
8.BULLETPROOF*
9.LET THE DEVIL SCREAM*
10.GOOD TIMES
11.RESTLESS HEART
12.WICKED*
Bonus Track on Deluxe Edition + Vinyl Edition: Searching For Freedom (Instrumental)
All songs produced by Michael Schenker and Michael Voss
Engineer: Michal Voss All songs are written by: Music - Michael Schenker Lyrics - Doogie White Except* Music and Lyrics by Michael Schenker, Doogie White, Wayne Findlay
www.MichaelSchenkerHimself.com
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