Michael Schenker - Temple Of Rock: Live Over Europe (Live Album/DVD Review)
Friday, 14 December 2012
Written by Simon Ramsay
Long before the good old internet, live rock & roll record's were an exciting window to a thrilling, unknown world. During the seventies and eighties the cream of those albums delivered intense, primal performances that were raw, in your face and utterly captivating. These days concert releases don't hold a candle to the likes of Thin Lizzy's 'Live And Dangerous' or Rory Gallagher's 'Irish Tour '74'. However, if anyone's still capable of delivering a blinding live album it's the enigmatic German guitar God Michael Schenker. As a precocious young gun with hard rock rabble-rousers UFO the ex-Scorpion's phenomenal fretwork helped make 1976's 'Strangers In The Night' one of the greatest live albums of all time. A trick he repeated in 1981 with the Michael Schenker Group's highly regarded 'One Night At Budokan'. Since then he's knocked out numerous live releases, which were unfortunately overshadowed by long running battles with various addictions that tarnished his reputation and nearly killed him. But the redemption of a fallen hero makes a great story, and this CD/DVD/Blu-Ray package proves that one of the most influential six string magicians of all time is back with an amped up bang. 'Temple Of Rock - Live Over Europe' finds 'Mad Mickey' and his all star band tearing through UFO classics, MSG standards and Scorpions favourites on a fantastic live release that sits comfortably alongside his very best.
Fans will rightly wonder what makes this Michael Schenker live album different from the others, so here's the facts: The double live CD and DVD both feature a full concert, recorded in Tilburg, the Netherlands in May 2012, followed by five songs taken from their performance at 2011's High Voltage Festival in London. The set list reads like the greatest hits of Michael Schenker, played by an impressive line-up that includes ex Rainbow singer Doogie White, former Scorpions bassist Francis Buchholz and drummer Herman 'the German' Rarebell, as well as multi talented MSG stalwart Wayne Findley adding rhythm guitar, keyboards and backing vocals. On the High Voltage numbers Michael Voss provides lead vocals and the final 3 songs feature some extra special guests as Michael's older brother and Scorpions lynchpin Rudolf Schenker, former UFO bassist Pete Way, ex Talisman singer Jeff Scott Soto and Doogie White unite to deliver a boisterous finale for the watching masses. The combination of those musicians playing an all-killer-no-filler set list from Schenker's impressive back catalogue with a fizzing, energetic chemistry makes this an essential purchase.
William Shatner's dramatic spoken intro (taken from Schenker's last album) is a brilliantly bonkers way to start ANY concert, setting the mood as the lights are dimmed and the band are poised. Then, instrumental leviathan 'Into The Arena' is unleashed with an almighty power and precision that leaves you in no doubt this is going to be something special. From thudding bottom heavy rhythms to virtuoso soloing the band take no prisoners, as the song twists and turns through a dizzying number of passages with a sublime fluency, climaxing with some heavenly melodic lead licks. It's an instant reminder of why Schenker is so revered and he nails everything with the kind of resounding intent that screams 'I'm Back'!! After which, time flies by as classic follows classic, beginning with MSG's chugging hard rock battle cry 'Armed and Ready', which swiftly moves into the ferocious A-team inspiring riffery of the Scorps 'Lovedrive' and their punk metal charged 'Another Piece Of Meat'. The timeless 'Cry For The Nations' remains a stirring crowd pleaser whilst the apocalyptic wah-wah drenched intro to 'Let Sleeping dogs lie' is full of metallic menace, before a superb and somewhat unexpected version of the Scorpions instrumental 'Coast To Coast', whose bestial grooves are a headbanger's delight. But the undoubted highlights are the UFO numbers. The storming juggernaut of 'Lights Out', the galloping propulsion of 'Let It Roll' and the old school swagger of 'Shoot Shoot' get fists pumping, but the 10 minute plus Rock Bottom (whose riff Metallica nicked for Seek And Destroy) and set closer 'Doctor Doctor' steal the show. The former recalls the 'Strangers In The Night' version as a lengthy, spellbinding solo is guaranteed to provoke prolonged dropping of the jaw, whilst the latter's strident rhythm and punchy chorus make it an anthem of unmatched bounce, verve and melody.
It's superb to hear how well Schenker performs on this album, with his sublime tone and lyrical phrasing utterly mesmerising. Whether dispatching heartfelt, soulful passages or letting loose with breakneck bursts of lightning velocity, his playing is always part of the song without ever descending into self indulgent showboating. That said, it would be unfair to focus solely on him when the rest of the band are equally impressive. Doogie White rises to the vocal challenge of singing much loved songs from a variety of very different singers, capturing the spirit of the originals whilst subtly making them his own. The rhythm section also sparkles as Herman and Francis provide a dynamic intensity that galvanises proceedings, with their past relationship in the Scorpions crucial to the band's tightly bound interplay. Equally impressive is long term MSG man Wayne Findley, who not only switches between rhythm guitar and keyboards in the blink of an eye, but adds great harmonies that really flesh out the tunes as well as shredding like a demon on Scorps' classics 'Rock You Like A Hurricane' and 'Blackout' (included to pay tribute to Herman and Franics' former work as Schenker didn't appear on those tracks).
If there's one problem with the album it's that the High Voltage songs feel unnecessary, arriving immediately after the excellent Tilburg concert. They're still quality, but the tracks have already been heard – only this time sung by the inferior Michael Voss whose weak voice has a scratchy euro-metal tonality that's rather poor. It's understandable Schenker wanted to capture this moment because of the aforementioned guest musicians, but without any visual confirmation it just feels superfluous and would have benefited (both musically and sales wise) from being a DVD only addition.
Which brings us nicely to that package. It's one thing listening to Schenker, but watching him play is delightful. Throughout both concerts he sounds almost back to his very best as his magical fingers work the fretboard with an unflinching ease. He looks thin, healthy and decked out in a sleeveless leather bomber jacket and backwards baseball cap is totally lost in the music whilst hunched over his iconic Flying V, sometimes pointing it at the crowd but mostly just bringing the rock whilst smiling and having the time of his life. Alongside him Doogie White bounds around the stage like your best mate, having an absolute blast in the process. An affable presence with an easy going, light hearted charm and dry wit, he comes across as one of the audience. No rock star pretensions, no BS and the kind of guy you'd be happy to chat with over a pint down your local.
From a visual perspective the picture is slightly dark and moody with some decent, atmospheric lighting, whilst being crisp and clear like a good quality TV broadcast, as opposed to one of those overly polished concert's shot on film that feels way too glossy to rock! The editing is also pleasing, giving each musician time in the spotlight without any of the nausea inducing 'Bourne' style cutting or overly arty slo-mo / picture within a picture nonsense. In contrast, High Voltage was shot on a bright summers day (remember those?) and whilst daylight concerts are sometimes jarring the party atmosphere is evident throughout, with Rudy Schenker and Pete Way really enjoying their guest spots. In fact, everyone on stage is clearly having a ball. Voss is a more stereotypical frontman than White, liking the attention and really trying to play the rock star. But it's still a great performance and the final star studded rendition of 'Doctor Doctor' is the icing on the cake.
If you're wondering which version to ask Santa for the answer's pretty simple; every self respecting rock fan should own both the CD and DVD. The audio is superbly mixed and sounds like a real warts and all concert, without being touched up or over produced. Michael Schenker's guitar is high in the mix and it's thoroughly heart warming to see and hear him enjoying a deserved Indian summer, rebuilding his reputation after so many troubled years. With his Temple Of Rock tour returning to these shores next year it's a great opportunity to check out a true living legend in the flesh. So add one of those tickets to your Xmas list too. It'll be well worth it.
'Temple Of Rock - Live Over Europe' is out now. Michael Schenker returns to the UK for live dates in 2013.
Tue April 9th 2013 - Arc, Stockton
Wed April 10th 2013 - Lemon Tree, Aberdeen
Thu April 11th 2013 - HMV Picture House, Edinburgh
Fri April 12th 2013 - O2 Academy Newcastle, Newcastle
Sat April 13th 2013 - Picture Drome, Holmfirth, Holmfirth
Sun April 14th 2013 - Pyramid and Parr Hall, Warrington
Tue April 16th 2013 - Princess Pavilion, Falmouth
Wed April 17th 2013 - O2 Academy Bristol, Bristol
Thu April 18th 2013 - City Hall, Salisbury
Fri April 19th 2013 - O2 Academy Oxford, Oxford
Sat April 20th 2013 - Rock City, Nottingham
Sun April 21st 2013 - Waterfront, Norwich
Fri May 31st 2013 - Shepherds Bush Empire, London
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Fans will rightly wonder what makes this Michael Schenker live album different from the others, so here's the facts: The double live CD and DVD both feature a full concert, recorded in Tilburg, the Netherlands in May 2012, followed by five songs taken from their performance at 2011's High Voltage Festival in London. The set list reads like the greatest hits of Michael Schenker, played by an impressive line-up that includes ex Rainbow singer Doogie White, former Scorpions bassist Francis Buchholz and drummer Herman 'the German' Rarebell, as well as multi talented MSG stalwart Wayne Findley adding rhythm guitar, keyboards and backing vocals. On the High Voltage numbers Michael Voss provides lead vocals and the final 3 songs feature some extra special guests as Michael's older brother and Scorpions lynchpin Rudolf Schenker, former UFO bassist Pete Way, ex Talisman singer Jeff Scott Soto and Doogie White unite to deliver a boisterous finale for the watching masses. The combination of those musicians playing an all-killer-no-filler set list from Schenker's impressive back catalogue with a fizzing, energetic chemistry makes this an essential purchase.
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