The Michael Schenker Group-The Michael Schenker Group (1980)

Michael Schenker is one of the greatest guitarists in the history of rock music, possessing fabulous technical skills and exquisite taste. A former member of such legendary heavy metal bands as Scorpions and UFO at various times, he recorded fantastic albums with them, including "Lonesome Crow" (1972) and "Lovedrive" (1979) for the German band, and "Phenomenon" (1974), "Force It" (1975), "No Heavy Petting" (1976), "Lights Out" (1977), and "Obsession" (1978) for the British band. After leaving UFO in the late 1970s, he embarked on an uneven solo career, alternating between great albums and others of lesser impact. His first band consisted of vocalist Gary Barden, keyboardist Don Airey (Colosseum, Black Sabbath, and Rainbow), drummer Simon Phillips, who had already played in numerous bands and projects, and bassist Mo Foster. In 1980, he released his first album, "The Michael Schenker Group", which best defines this guitarist and musician, combining his greatest moments with UFO and the sounds of the 80s, demonstrating that the band's greatness was partly due to him. The album's nine tracks are pure dynamite, each shining brightly, from the superb "Armed to Ready", which fuses the rage and raw power of the best heavy metal with melody and just the right amount of commercial appeal, to the energetic and powerful "Cry For The Nations", not forgetting the rhythmic "Victim of Illusion", the instrumental "Bijou Pleasurette", or the brutal "Into The Arena". From here on his career is very extensive with some outstanding albums, others of lesser scope, different projects, some of doubtful future or sporadic collaborations with his former band UFO.