Conference napalm::heavy_metal

    Oh YEAH!  I loved UFO!  Great band, especially when Michael Schenker
    was with them.  Kind of funny that the Cult can come out and cover UFO
    songs that are 10 years old and make hits of them.  I personally think
    that they were a little early for what they played. 
    
    I saw them in 1980, first concert I ever saw, then again in '83.  They
    put on a good shows both times.
    
    I also thought that "Strangers in the Night" was a killer live album.
    
    gh 

    
    Phil Mogg is trying to tempt Shenker back, so they can have a close
    to the original line up.  Hmmm...

    re.2
    shenker coming back !! that should be good ,I heard they used to
    knock chunks out of each other when they were together last time,
    and that mr shenker was going to do some serious damage to moggs's
    body if he ever saw him again.
    still it would be good to see them back again,"obsessions" and
    "strangers....." are still some of my favourite albums.
    
    steve.
    

    
    I wonder whats gonna happen to MSG though, they're good.
    
    I saw them live supporting Whitesnake and they kicked.

>                         -< What did The Cult cover? >-

I assume he meant that "Love Removal Machine" sounds like a direct
copy of "Only You Can Rock Me, Rock Me".

I also agree that UFO was before it's time. I remember when the early
Van Halen albums came out, Eddie listed Michael Schenker as his biggest
influence, especially his playing on the live LP (which is awesome).
I hope they get back together - I don't like much that either side did
after the split-up.

cat

    
    Re: Cult.  People said Love Removal Machine was a direct copy of
    Brown Sugar by the Stones and they also mentioned some Zep tune
    it was a rip off of...so, WHO did they steal it from? I say noone.
    
    Back to UFO.
    
    UFO was great with MS in the band. I saw them open for Ozzy one
    time...I forget who was in the band at the time, but they were only
    ok. I mean, great tunes, but the band was metza metz. 
    
    

    
>                                           I saw them open for Ozzy one
>    time...I forget who was in the band at the time, but they were only
>    ok. I mean, great tunes, but the band was metza metz. 
    
Buck, this was probably the band Waysted, which was made up of a few
ex-UFO members. They played on a triple bill with Ozzy/Motley Crue/
Waysted. They did some old UFO songs, and then some of their own. But
I agree, they weren't that strong of a band.

cat

    
    Nope, not that time.
    
    I heard about that show, but it wasn't it. I saw UFO...Boston Garden,
    Friday, April 2nd 1982, 7:30PM I remember it well.
    
    Buck

    The cover I was referring to was 'Love to Love'.  It got a lot of
    radio play where I was in NC at the time ('86 timeframe), just before
    'Love Removal Machine' got popular.  I thought it was on the same
    album.
    
    Everything I heard from the Cult sounded like old UFO to me.  I
    admit that I didn't hear entire albums, so this opinion is probably
    biased.
    
    gh

>                         -< What did The Cult cover? >-

>  I assume he meant that "Love Removal Machine" sounds like a direct
>  copy of "Only You Can Rock Me, Rock Me".

Ooops, the song I meant to say was "Too Hot to Handle" - that is the
one that is similiar to "Love Removal Machine". 

cat
who_says_only_29_hours_until_he_enters_the_Rat!

    Yes, Yes, Yes!!! UFO is a great R-N-R band. I loved their live
    album. "strangers in the night". I have had it since it came out
    back in 19?? . But I haven't really kept up with the group. Can
    anyone shine some light on some of their more recent stuff? For
    an old rockin' roller who's been "out of touch" (married) for TOOOO
    long, and has just made the best decision of his life! To get out
    of a marrige, and "Back in the High Life again"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    
    Bob

    
    	   Gosh Bob... tough break with the babe, eh?  Well, that's
    	life, man... shit happens.  I do hope you don't expect the
    	singles scene to be any fun, however... the older you get,
    	the less of a scene there is... trust me on this point.
    
    	   And don't expect the babes to come flocking to your
    	car in droves if you play old UFO tapes.  You'll have to
    	try something a bit more contemporary if you wanna get
    	their attention... stuff like Def Leppard, Guns-N-Roses,
    	and Motley Crue will score you more points.
    
    	-=[MOSAT]=-
    	(still cruising after all these years)

    
            UFO was always one of my favorite bands. This is a list
    of their recordings fyi.
    
                     First lineup
                   Phil Mogg--Vocals
                   Mick Bolton--Guitar
                   Pete Way--Bass
                   Andy Parker--Drums
    
              1)UFO (Blues Rock)
              2)1 Hour Space rock (Spacey and Blues)
              3)UFO LIVE  (Blues Rock) (Great Album)
    
                   Micheal Schenker replaces Mick Bolton (Best Lineup)
    
                 1)Phenomenon
                 2)Force It
                                
                       Pereynol is added on keyboards
                 3)No Heavy Petting 
                                               
                       Paul Raymond replaces Pereynol
                 4)Lights Out
                 5)Obsession
                 6)Strangers in the Night (Live)
                                                     
                       Paul Chapman replaces Schenker
                 1)No Place to Run
                
                       Neil Carter replaces Paul Raymond
                 2)The Wild the Willing and the Innocent
                 3)Mechanix
                 
                       Pete Way leaves (Chapman and Carter play Bass)
                 4)Moving Places (?)
                                            
                       Band breaks up...
    
                        Reforms with Phil Mogg and Paul Raymond and
                                       other unknowns..
                 1)Misdemeanor
                          
                        Raymond leaves again
                 An EP was released about 6 months ago..
                  
              
         o Paul Raymond played with Schenker off and on..
         o Neil Carter plays with Gary Moore 
                           
                  I would love to see Schenker and Mogg play together
    again but I doubt that will happen but you never know...
    
                  McCauley Schenker are doing pretty well..
                     
                  If anyone hear of anything please let me know...
    
    
                                        Rich

    
    RE:-1
     What about Atomik Tommy K or is he in a different band
    
    				M
    				 B

    
    -1, M
         B
    
              Atomik Tommy K played on Misdemeanor and I think is still
    a member of the band. 
    
                                   Rich

    
    At the risk os ounding REAL dumb, I though Tommy K was now playing
    for Saxon.
    
    I'm probably wrong.
    
    -Tony

    Yup,
    
    He's home now in Stockton, Cal. hanging out and is no longer a member
    of UFO.  Last I heard, he was thinking of auditioning for Dio.
    
    He is a good friend of my SOs and calls my house about once a week.
     Neat, huh?
    
    Dilly Bar

    Rich, 
         Just a few additions to your UFO discography/Family tree.The
    band that recorded the "Misdemeanor" album included ex Damned bassist
    Paul Gray.He in fact joined when Way left in '82 and was a dead
    ringer for Way in the looks department (lanky and waysted). 
    Billy Sheehan played on the European "Making Contact" tour but upped and
    left soon after Mogg had his nervous breakdown in Athens.Gray stepped
    in for the remaining dates.A chap by the name of Jim Simpson (methinks)
    sat at the drum stool for the Misdemeanor album,I think he originally
    played with Magnum.
    Two more "names" from UFO's past include Larry Wallis (Pink Faries)
    and Bernie Marsden (Whitesnake).Both chaps played cica 74 I think.
    On the vinyl front here's a few you missed:
    
    UFO LIVE (TOKYO)  1972
    SPACE METAL (COMPILATION)  1973-74
    HIGH LEVEL CUT (COMPILATION)  1978-79 JAPANESE IMPORT
    ANTHOLOGY (COMPILATION) 1985  FROM SCHENKER TO CHAPMAN 
    HEADSTONE (COMPILATIONG)  ONE LIVE SIDE FROM THE MAKING CONTACT TOUR
    
    
    Anyway thats all I can think of for now 
                  see ya!
                         Barry
                         Holborn,London
    
                              
    
    
    
         

      It looks like there's still quite a bit of interest in UFO out
    there as far as record companies are concerned. A fair amount of
    the albums have been put on CD. These are primarily from the Schenker
    era. I think you'll find a good amount of old UFO fans are guitarists.
    Michael Schenker really influenced a lot of people with his style.
      I got to see a good comparison of before and after back in one
    of the summers of the early eighties. I saw UFO open up for a concert
    in Utica, NY ( I wish I could remember the main act , Blue Oyster
    Cult maybe ) with Michael Schenker on guitar in support of the
    Obsession album. This much I remember: The concert started with
    just Michael playing guitar under a white spotlight with the rest
    of the stage entirely dark. This started melodically and then Schenker
    heated up and broke into "Only you can rock me" with the rest of the band
    joining in. The rest of the show was impressive but the guitar work
    was the real stand out, Schenker cooked and was the stage stealer.
    Less than four months later I saw UFO again open for Foghat and
    Schenker was gone. They were still doing the same songs but with
    Paul Chapman on guitar. From a musicians standpoint I gave him credit
    for covering for Schenker but there was a lot missing. Phil Mogg
    mentioned briefly that the "other guy" was gone.
      The next album ,No Place to Run, had Chapman on guitar and playing
    more his own style he sounded much better. He came out of a band
    called Lone Star, a one album band that did an interesting cover
    of the Beatles "She said,she said".
      I for one would like to see a reunion tour. 
    

    UFO was an excellent band, one of my all time favorites.
    
    >Michael Schenker really influenced a lot of people with his style.
    
    Just a side note, but I read an interview with Kirk Hammett of
    Metallica who said that Michael Schenker was one of his big influences. 
    
    Just thinking about it, but what's become of Michael lately?  I don't
    recall hearing anything about him for several years.
    
    Gh

    Re .23
    
    Last thing I heared he was still with that McAulley chappie ( ex
    Grand Prix and The Far Corpoaration, who did that version of "Stairway
    to Heaven a few years back). Schenker seems to have loser written
    all over him these days. The fresh start back in 1980 lasted briefly
    and gave way to piles of crap. Such a waste of talent if you ask
    me. He's more suited as part of a band than a solo artist; not being
    able to lead or take control of his band(s) has been one of his
    weak points and having the sole responsibility of satisfying his
    record companies has taken it's toll: crap records and terminated
    contracts.
    
    Much as Schenker hates the thought, perhaps Mogg was right last
    year when he said it was in Schenker's best interests to take part
    in a UFO reunion. It probably would be a smart career move on his
    part if he did go back; not only would it bring in the bucks but
    it might just prove to all those kids today, into such awful trash
    as Poison and Cinderella, that this band were probably one of the
    best and most original acts on the rock scene over the last twenty
    years.
    
    Geoff Barton ( Kerrang) once said that if UFO had managed to hold
    onto Schenker then they would have been one of the biggest hard rock
    bands around during the eighties. Tis'a pity indeed.
    
    Much emotional gushing,
    
    Bazzer,
    London ( Lights please?)
    
    
    

    Yeah he was with McAully, but wasn't that a couple of years ago?
    
    gh

    re .25
    
    Oh God!. Not another vocalist?. Old Schenk seems to have gone the
    same way as Rainbow, Whitesnake, Ozzy etc in the line up stakes.
    I really don't know whats happening with the guy at the moment as
    I stopped buying the metal rags long ago. However, the New Musical
    Express reported a sighting of the Schenk a few months back in a
    Holiday Inn somewhere. Apparently, he was blind drunk, pissed himself
    in the hotel reception, and had to be carried out by his manager.
    
    I wonder what brand of mineral water he was drinking?
    
    Bazzer,
    
    London.
    
    
    

    
    I met Shenker's sister (Babara) a few weeks back - stoned out 
    of her tiny brain.

    Schenker is still with McAulley and the last time I heard anything
    about them was about a month ago when they were recording some
    material for a new album. Apparently he stopped drinking when
    the McAulley-Schenker Group was formed but who knows?.
    Anyone know if Mitch Perry is still in the band?
    
    Mark

    
    Nope - Mitch left a while ago.
    
    Its a shame I liked his playing.

    Re . 28
    
    Old Schenk stopped drinking after he left UFO and he let it be known
    via all the press interviews circa 1980. That was his mineral water
    phase ; hence the joke in my last note. Strangely enough his guitar
    playing sounded better when he was into his drinking and chemical
    phase with UFO.
    
    He's on record as saying he did'nt like the "Strangers" recordings
    as he was told of the recordings before each gig; his favourite
    guitar had "broken", which put him off. Well, those gigs at Chicago
    and Louisville sound alright to me!.
    
    Does anybody out there have any bootlegs from the Schenker days?.
    To quote an album title, finding this sort of material has become
    an "Obsession" for moi. One day I'm gonna write to Chrysalis and
    demand all the out-takes of the tour recordings, it's becoming that
    desperate!!.
    
    Bazzer ( I went to school with Phil Mogg's nephew, who's now in
    a band called "The Choirboys") O'Hagan.
    
    Holborn, London (very near Euston Station where "It's cold as ice").
    
                        
    

    
    
    Does anyone know who or what group recorded the original or other
    versions of the song "Alone Again."    UFO released a version on
    the Lights Out album.  I recently heard a good version of that song on
    the radio by some other group.  It sounded live and probably several
    years old.
    
    J.V.Gogh

    I think the song was originally released by a sixties group called
    Love (?). Apart from U.F.O.'s version, the only other one that springs
    to mind is by The Damned released about 4 years ago.
    
    Barry.

    
    
    	The first group that springs to mind when I hear the
    	words "Alone Again" is Dokken... No chance this is the
    	song, huh??
    
    	Tigga~~~~

    No way Kimster, different song.

    
    
    	Wellllll.. (whine whine) I was just trying to help (whine
    	whine)  (8
    
    	Kimster!  (hee hee)

    here is some news that is recurring in this note.UFO are reforming with
    the classic line up(except Schenker of course)they are currenlty
    rehearsing for a new album due out "later".Playing geetar is a guy
    called Lawrence Archer who played in Grand Slam with Phil Lynott in the
    post Lizzy days.Oh bye the way,the last time I saw a picture of
    Lawrence(in the mid-eighties)he had blonde hair and played a Gibson V.
    Sound familiar???
    
    
                                                  Staynz

> UFO are reforming with the classic line up (except Schenker of course)

What's the point??? Without Schenker, they ain't UFO.......

alan

    Thats what I was thinking when I listened to "strangers in the night"
    the other day,its just another attempt for Mogg and co.to capitise
    on past glories.But I'll still go and see them in concert,though.
    
    
    
                                               Staynz

    I donno, I thought the "No Place To Run" album still had the classic
    UFO sound, and it was post-Schenker (admittedly the first one after he
    left).
    
    Greg

    I suppose its one fo these things that its purely up the individual to
    decide,me I'm a Schenker fan(worhsipper)so that kind of sways it for
    me... %)
    
    
    
                                                 Staynz

    Oh, don't get me wrong, I love Michael Schenker's guitar work!  But I
    don't think the songwriting lost that much when he left, at least not
    for that album.
    
    gh

    I`ve heard that Paul "Tonka" Chapman could never play Rock Bottom quite
    properly. Apparently although the main riff sounds fairly straight
    forward,it`s a nightmare to get it 100% right.
    
    Michael Schenker is definitely a great guitarist,but i think most
    of his MSG stuff was pretty weak.
    
    Joe Strummer.
    

    How the hell did Paul Chapman get a nickname like "Tonka"??
    
    
    
                                          Staynz

    Is Paul Tracy's brother?!?

    Sure they are,can't you see the family resemblance...!
    
    
    
    
                                       Staynz

    I see the classic "Light's Out" album is being re-released on CD only..
    tomorrow (June 28). 
    
    ..one more to the collection....Tom

    -1
    
    YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

    -1
    
    I only hope for your sake that this press release covered the US,
    otherwise....
    
    SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHIIIIIIIIIIIIII**

    Classic album.
    
    Joe Strummer.
    

    Definately one of my all time favorites!  I wore out two copys of it
    back in the late '70s.  Hadda have something to combat the disco!
    
    gh

    
    
     Wait a minute!!! - I've had "Lights Out" on CD for about a year.
    
     Maybe I bought it as an import? Hmmmm-
    
     I know I've seen a lot of MSG on CD.
    

>     Wait a minute!!! - I've had "Lights Out" on CD for about a year.

You're not going nuts - 'Lights Out' has definitely been available for a 
couple years on CD. Don't know what all the current talk is about..... 

alan

    OK then guys, the 'news' was specifically targetted at Euro-Rockers,
    as pre-1980 classic UFO material has been a rarity/non-event over here 
    for some time - on any medium. 
    
    FWIW , L.O. was about the only UFO album I have never actually owned at
    any time. My faves were "Force It" (great sleeve) ; "Obsessions"
    (effective use of strings&HM) ; "Strangers In The Night" (Hello Chicago..)
     ; and a couple of tracks off "The Wild,Willing and the Innocent" 
    (particularly 'Profession Of Violence')  
    
    I thought "No Place To Run" and "Misdemeanors" (sp?) were naff..    
    
    Even if L.O. has been available in the US for the last few years,
    the mere discussion of this topic has stirred a few memories of
    an ace outfit from the past.
    
    Nottabadthing..eh....Tom  
       

     I always loved Doctor Doctor and Lights out
    I used to have a band that covered these and
    I made the Guitarist bust his butt !!!!!!!!!
    Otherwise we wouldn't do 'em at all
    -Bill

    UFO have reformed. But........Mr Schenker is not amongst the line up.
    However, the nucleus is still there, Mogg and Way, and the guitarist is
    none other than Paul Chapman. I can't tell you the name of the
    keyboardist and drummer however.
    
    They played a gig at the Town and Country Club (holds about 1800)
    in London last week and I just could'nt resist the call, hoping that 
    this time they'd play a decent show. And guess what?........They did. 
    
    The band have a new album due for release in Jan/Feb and kicked off the
    show with a couple of tracks from it. Sounded good on first hearing, 
    Mogg's back with some good lyrics again after a rest on "Misdemeanor";
    I don't think anyone's come close to matching "Long Gone" in terms of
    classic Hard Rock Lyrics, which was one of the first oldies to get an
    airing. Paul Chapman was excellent, and I mean EXCELLENT, on guitar. He
    seems to have rejuvenated not only his guitar playing but his physique
    as he's quite slim now. He's swapped his BC Rich for a Gibson Flying
    V and surely gave the old Schenker songs a good listening to as he
    played Schenkers solos virtually note perfect.....including "Rock
    Bottom".
    
    I wish rejuvenated was a word I could use to describe Phil Mogg who 
    appears to be up to his old tricks again. Although he really was on
    fine voice on the night, the bloke has the habit of pushing the self 
    destruct button everytime I see him. Tonight, and is probably the
    reason for all the other bad shows, alcohol got the better of him. 
    I don't know about you seeing him moaning about the roadies refusal
    to allow him anything stronger than water near the end of the show was 
    sad and pathetic. 
    
    Finally Pete Way really hammered home the fact that UFO without Pete 
    Way is not UFO. Way might be getting on a bit but you'd never realise it. 
    He still jaunts around the stage striking the same poses and showing the 
    same passion that he used to. He even had to help Mogg out with a line that
    he'd forgotten from "Rock Bottom".    
    
    They did'nt play any encores. I think Mogg was too far gone by this
    time and the crowd duly booed. Still I think most realised that they'd
    seen probably the tightest performances by UFO since the late seventies
    and the respect given to the old songs by Chapman was so impressive
    that he must have realised most UFO fans treat these songs with such
    reverance it's untrue. Does anybody remember standing a UFO gig in the
    past and wincing every time Chapman went off and done his own thing with 
    Schenkers songs and solos? Anyway here's the set list:
    
    New Song
    New Song
    New Song
    Only You Can Rock Me
    New Song
    Long Gone
    Doctor Doctor
    Too Hot to Handle
    Love to Love
    Lights Out 
    Rock Bottom 
    Shoot Shoot
    Mystery Train  
    
    
    That's all I can remember,
    
    Barry.              
    

    if they play Scotland,I'll definately be there!
    
    
    
                                                    Staynz

    I wuz at the London show,and thought it was excellent. Moggy was out
    of his head,as wuz Pete Way - but they delivered a really tight set.
    
    One slightly small point - the reason 'Tonka' Chapman has lost a lot
    of weight and played all the solo`s to a tee wuz cos it wasn`t him - 
    it was LAWRENCE ARCHER.
    
    Ho!ho! etc.
    
    Joe Strummer.
    

    What? Nah!!! I don't believe you! Surely not? Huh? Well errmmm....I
    was next to the bar all night. 
    
    Barry.
    
    p.s. Are you definitely sure about this Mr Strummer?
    
    

    Yep,i`m 100 per cent sure. I wuz right up the front,and the bloke
    i wuz with is a very big UFO fan - there`s no way he would have been
    mistaken.
    
    Besides,i remember him from his days with Phil Lynott,and he always
    played that distinctive yellow/goldy flying V. Excellent guitarist
    i thought. Got 'Rock Bottom' just right.
    
    Joe Strummer.
     
    
    

    Yeah, your right Herr Strummer. I remember the Flying V from his days
    with Stampede. Did you ever hear that mob? They were all big UFO fans
    and it sounded so. They had one particular song called "Movin On"
    which was their attempt at a "Lights Out" chug along. Now I know 
    why the "Strangers" songs were played so well, it took a genuine
    UFO/Schenker fan to play them. 
    
    Strange coincidence time....At the Lyceum gig (Atomik Tommy era)
    in 1984 I retired to the bar, bemoaning the fact that here was
    another dreadful experience at the hands of Mogg and Co, and who 
    should I end up talking to and slagging off the group with......
    ...Lawrence Archer. Spooky. 
    
    
    Barry.

    I remember the name Stampede,(early 80`s?),but don`t remember hearing
    any of their music.
    
    You`re right about that ugly git Atomic Tommy. He didn`t impress at all
    when i saw him with UFO in `85 at the Knebworth festival (w/Deep
    Purple).
    
    Joe Strummer.
    

    Knebworth? Started pouring down during Meatloaf's set did'nt it?
    Have to admit to doing a runner after the Scorpions show as Purple 
    have never appealed to me. Apparently they kept the crowd waiting 
    for over an hour, thank God I never stayed.
    
    Barry.

    It absolutely chucked it down. Purple took ages and ages to come on,
    (i would guess it wuz nearer 2 hours). Good show,mind.
    
    Joe Strummer.
    

    
    Having just discovered this conference the first thing I did was
    dir/title=ufo and to my surprise I found this topic devoted to the
    god like UFO.
    
    It's great to see them back again but its a big pity Schenker is not part
    of it. I saw them live on 5 occassions ( 2 with Schenker and 3 with
    Chapman ).The Chapman gigs were good but the Schenker ones were 
    excellent. The man was a genius. Had Mogg and Schenker not hated each
    other so much I'm sure UFO could have went on to be one of the world's
    greatest rock bands. 
    
    Nice to read their recent gig was a success but a disappointment to
    read that Mogg hasn't sorted out his drink problem. He should have went
    on to be one of the best front men ever. 
    
    I look forward to seeing them live again and also to hearing the new
    album (any release date yet ?). Hopefully it will be a big improvement
    on "Ain't Misbehavin'" and "Misdemeanor" both of which were very poor. 
    
    Nice to see Pete Way back in the line up as Paul Gray was never quite
    up to it. Lawrence Archer is an interesting addition as Stampede were
    greatly influenced by UFO. I believe they released 2 albums (one live,
    one studio). The live album entitled "The Official Bootleg" was very
    UFOish. The studio album (the name escapes me) spawned a single called
    "The Days of Wine and Roses". It was average to say the least !
    
    With Mogg,Way and Archer who completes line up ? It would be nice to 
    see Andy Parker and Paul Raymond back. This would complete 4/5 of the
    classic line up. Now if only Lawrence Archer could make us forget
    Michael Schenker. Somehow I doubt it !
    
    ...Derek ( a fan since '76)                             
    
    
    
    

    I remember an article a couple of years back where Mogg was toying with
    the idea of asking Schenker back. Asked whether the classic line up
    would include "Kipper" Raymond (nickname source anyone?) Mogg said
    "No" and rattled off something about never wanting to work with
    Raymond again. Sounds like a bit of a sod to work with does Mogg.
    
    Barry. 
    
    p.s. Anyone got a copy of "Doctor Doctor" for sale? It's the 
    "Strangers" recording with what must have been an out-take from
    the tour of "On with the Action". Simply must get hold of this 
    again. 
    

    I'd heard rumors before that Moog had a giant attitude and was
    difficult to work with.  Maybe that's why Schenker isn't doing it? 
    It's not like he has a successful project going himself. 
    
    Personally I'd love to see the classic UFO lineup get back together,
    but I don't think there's much chance of it.
    
    gh

    the giant attitude was the story I heard too.It may be financially
    better for Schenker to go back to UFO as his own band ain't doing so
    well!!!.........................ahh we can but dream 8)
    
    
    
                                       Staynz

    Not that dear old Schenker would, currently, be missed too much; proof
    of this was to be had at the recent London show where, because of
    the more than competent work of Lawrence Archer, you just had to close
    your eyes and you'd swear the blonde one was there on stage. I did, and
    unfortunately, mistook Archer for Paul Chapman. How will I ever live
    this down? I blame my mate (and copious amounts of bitter) for agreeing
    with me at the time.  
    
    :^)
    
    Barry.
                  
    p
    
    
    

       You guy have talked about UFO quite a bit.   Who are they? 
       What or who do they sound like?


						-Seth

    re: Seth

    UFO was (is, sort of) a great British rock band that was fairly popular
    in the mid-late '70s.  They had a great straight-ahead rockin sound
    which was much imitated later, but very unique at the time.  To think
    of someone you might know that has a similar sound, The Cult is *very*
    reminiscent of older UFO to me, especially on the Love album.

    The original band had Michael Schenker (brother of Rudolf Schenker of
    the Scorpions), who is (was?) an outstanding player, playing lead
    guitar.  He later went on to produce several solo albums under the name
    Michael Schenker Group and more recently McCauley-Schenker Group.  I
    didn't think any of these releases touched the work he had done with
    UFO.

    I personally think that UFO was just out of time.  If they'd released
    their earlier catalog about 5-7 years later, I think they would have
    been a MAJOR attraction!

    gh

    re .69
    
    Seth, 
    
    .16 gives a good discography. I suggest you nip down to your local 
    store and pick up a copy of "Strangers in the Night". Better still,
    get someone to buy it for you as a Christmas present. Then come back
    and tell us what you think. You won't be disappointed. Don't go near 
    the first three Chrysalis albums (what label would that be in the 
    States?), "Phenomenon", "Force It", and "No Heavy Petting". Although
    the content is good, the songs were given a right mauling in terms of
    production by a twit called Leo Lyons. I still wince at Moggs whining
    on "Let it Roll" which opens up the proceedings on "Force It". Truly
    embarrassing. 
    
    Ron Nevison started to do the band justice when he produced "Lights Out"
    and then "Obsession". The latter is still my fave UFO studio effort,
    the quintessential melodic, hard-rock album. Years ahead of it's time,
    just like the band. 
          
    Barry.
    

    
    Micheal Schenker has put together another band and has a album coming
    out in February I believe...
    
    I have a copy of ON WITH THE ACTION LIVE.  It's not for sale but I 
    would gladly tape it....
    
    Rich

    Rich,
    
    Much obliged. I'll send you a tape. You're at MLO if ELF is correct?
    Anyone got any b**tlegs from the Schenker days? 
    
    Barry. 

    Oh,i dunno. I rate the first 3 albums on Chrysalis (though i`ll admit
    you have to ignore the dreadful production).
    
    The albums to avoid are the ones PRE Chrysalis - "Flying","Space Metal"
    (i think) and one or two others. These are truly horrendous.
    
    My favourite is probably "Wild,Willing and the Innocent",though i will
    be checking out the new album. The songs they did live sounded very
    good.
    
    Joe Strummer.
    

>    My favourite is probably "Wild,Willing and the Innocent",
    
    Great album!  It's one of my favorites too.  Also got into Lights Out
    and Strangers In The Night (that was the live one, right?) heavily.
    
    gh

     
    On Feb 24th UFO release a new album entitled....
    
    "High Stakes And Dangerous Men".
    
    The track listing is as follows :
    
    Borderline               Running Up The Highway
    Primed For Time          Back Door Man
    She's The One            One Of Those Nights
    Ain't Life Sweet         Revolution
    Don't Want To Lose You   Love Deadly Love
    Burnin' Fire             Let The Good Times Roll
    
    As has been said in previous notes Lawrence Archer (Guitar) joins
    Phil Mogg and Pete Way, with Clive Edwards (Drums) completing the
    line up.
    
    Hopefully this comback album will see UFO returning to their best.
    
    Derzo.

    Aye,should be a good album if the stuff they did live is anything
    to go by.
    

    Well, has this album been released? If so what's it like. I noticed
    by accident whilst sifting through "Time Out" yesterday that the
    chaps have a booked a date (think it's 22nd April) at the Town &
    Country. Sh*t I'll be in Cornwall at that time. Does anybody know if
    this is part of a larger tour and whether that tour heads to South 
    West England at all? 
    
    Barry. 
    
    p.s. The T&C is also hosting a glam special on the 14th March. The
    bill includes................Suzie Quatro, Les McKeown's Bay City
    Rollers, The Rubettes and Judge Dread amongst others. Must try and
    make it.
    

    I've no idea but what I have noticed is,some bands play smaller venues
    just to check out the audience numbers and if there is a huge demand
    for a small amount of tickets then they usually hit the bigger places.
    But suffice to say,if UFO are playing in Scotland,I'll be there!!
    
    
                                                   Staynz
    
    
    as for glam bands......the 70's glam movement died when Marc Bolan
    parked his car in a tree!
    
    

    Re: -2
    
    Yup, the new UFO album is out. I bought it middle of last week. Haven't
    really played it enough to give an real consise review *BUT* first
    impressions are positive(ish). Album is basically uptempo HR. Plenty of
    hot guitar work, Archer really rips - usual Phil Mogg "drawwwl" type 
    vocals about too much whisky/gin/etc..etc..but what's essentially lacking,
    to these ears anyway, is a standout track, y'know ala '76-'78 with the 
    strings integration/melancholy theme and power blast finale. 
    
    I suppose classic UFO is no more - this is '92 and times/styles have
    changed. To summ up - Definately not "Obsessions", but a definate 
    improvement on the crass output after the WW&tI. I'll be looking out
    for them here in Germany. 
    
    Tom                       

	Hey, today I heard my first UFO song......

	called 'Lights out in London' guess what?  I already
	had heard it!!!

	But I had heard Fifth Angel's version of the song....

	UFO's version was worse in my opinion.....



						-Seth

    Seth,
    
    Did you hear the live version (from "Strangers In The Night") or the
    studio version (title track from the album "Lights Out")?  I much
    prefer the live version.  The studio version was a little slow.
    
    I've never heard anyone else cover that song.
    
    Greg

    The live version is phenomenal(sp)in fact,the whole album is excellant.
    
    
    
                                                 Staynz

	It was a live verison on a generic live tape...

	with live Black Sabbath, Gillan, and others...



						-Seth

Lights Out is one of the high points on Strangers in the Night.  It would be
hard to top that version.

Tim

	I don't know... I like Fifth Angel's version a lot, I like
	the singers voice better...


						-Seth

I doubt the guitarist could compete with Michael Schenker though.  He was in
his prime on that album...

Tim

	He sounded better to me, but I heard the live version, and
	of course the recorded Fifth Angel version is a lot smoother...


	You will have to check it out sometime, and compare for yourself!


							-Seth

    Did any of the Brit noters see the band on their recent short
    tour? I did'nt but I'm curious. 
    
    barry.

    
    A guy I'm jammin' with tomorrow used to play with UFO. I guy from *way*
    back called Mike "Chic" Churchhill. He then went on with Rick Lee to do
    the 'Ten Years After' thang.
    
    Anyway, me and Alex are jammin' with them tomorrow.

    I didnt see them on their tour, but the reviews I saw said they were
    brilliant.
    
    MArk

    I saw them at the Town & Country club,and thought they were very good.
    Phil Mogg and Pete Way were,er,waysted,but managed to keep it together
    just about - apart from Phil Mogg forgetting a few lines in "Rock
    Bottom",and having to have a sit down for a few minutes `cuz he could
    barely stand up. That Lawrence Archer geezer is a gem,being not far off as
    good as Michael Schenker,and far superior to Paul 'Tonka' Chapman.
    
    Excellent band to see live.
    

    Caught sight of a new CD on a recent trip to The Megastore. It's a
    live effort recorded on the "No Place To Run" tour back in 1980.
    Contains a few off of that album and some of the older stuff. It's a BBC
    recording which I heard back then; atrocious then and it's probably 
    the same now unless it's been tarted up substantially in the studio. 
    The only attraction lies in some of numbers taken from a show in
    '74-75, "Built for Comfort", "Rock Bottom", and "Shoot Shoot." I've
    heard these too and they are excellent. A good example of a band at
    it's best and worst.  
    
    barry.
    

>    Caught sight of a new CD on a recent trip to The Megastore. It's a
>    live effort recorded on the "No Place To Run" tour back in 1980.

    Wow, the memories...the first concert I ever saw was UFO on that tour! 
    Great show!

    I'd be interested in hearing it just for nostalsia.  Is this recording
    mostly (entirely?) with Michael Schenker or not?

    gh

    wasn't Schenker doing his own thing in 1980?
    
                                                      Staynz

    Schenker officially left UFO in December 1978. The fat boy (Chapman)
    who'd filled in for the temperamemtal Teuton on the American tours of
    78 became a permanent member. Most of the new CD features Chapman
    but unfortunately those shows, recorded at Hammersmith in Feb '80
    were diabolical IMHO. Anyone remember the band that supported 
    UFO on this tour? They were called Girl, were universally hated by
    HM fans, although they had a brilliant tune called "Hollywood Tease" 
    and had a, then, unknown young guitarist by the name of Phil Collen.
    He's not doing too bad these days. :^)
    
    barry. 
     

    I heard a song by Girl called Hollywood and thought it was utter shite.
    It was a bit of a interview with the other guitarist with girl called
    Gerry Laffy,his stuff was slightly better but not much.
    
    
                                                        Staynz

    Spotted a new UFO CD over last weekend, called "Essential UFO" it was
    on the original Chryslis label.
    
    A quick scan over the track listing showed that this one contained
    basically studio versions of SITN live + a couple of others from
    "Obsessions" eg Looking Out For No. 1
    
    Does this mean that Chryslis have abbandoned plans to re-issue the
    whole UFO back-catalogue of classic albums circa '76-'80 and have
    instead, gone for the single "Best Of..." type release ?
    
    So far the local rock specialist CD store has only stocked...
    
    Phenomonen ; Lights Out ; SITN Live ...from the "classic" line-up,
    together with the latest 2/3 releases.
    
    Tom (who's bummed out that he hasn't seen/got "Obsessions" yet..!!)  

    
    Managed to get "Obsessions" on cd...but had to get it from the states.
    
    Cost about 10 dollars.....
    
    Del.

    A chance to nab .100 and waffle on relentlessly. Obsession is
    definitely me favourite studio album. Apart from OYCRM and Cherry
    can anyone, who caught them in those days, tell us what else they
    played from this album live? I'd hazard a guess at Hot n Ready? The 
    ballads would, I guess, have been unworkable live due to the string
    arrangements. 
    
    barry.
    
    p.s. That solo on Born to Lose is absoloutely incredible. 
      

    "Obsession" is definately a great album but I still don't think its as
    good as "Lights Out" or "Force it" or "No Heavy Petting" as far as
    musically. "Obsession" is a better quality recording cause the
    recording studios of course improve there technology every year. And
    on top of that bands have less of a budget from the beginning so they
    can't spend the money to get the quality recordings that they would
    like...
           
             Stigmeister

    I agree with -1 about the quality of the recording improving noticeably
    around the "Obsession" period, eg "Force It" was a good album (loved
    "Let It Roll"'s tempo changes),but lacked the more modern production's
    punch and depth (sound wise).
    
    I loved "Obsession" because of the sheer breadth of moods/styles that 
    the songs on that album encompass.
    
    The use of the strings on that album where breathtakingly different.
    
    I remember being a pimply little long-haired teenager back then, who 
    *only* wanted to listen to loud and fast crunch style guitars. 
    After one spin of this album, it was the slower string section integration
    within the songs that really made me shiver. 
    
    Along with "Force It", "Light's Out" and "Strangers.." , I wore those 
    albums out within a very short period of time.
    
    I've now managed to replace most of them on CD , except the bl^^dy
    "Obsession" album, (ha, aptly titled I guess)
    
    Well, some consolation at least - it's been nice TALKIN' about the "thing"
    again....
    
    Tom  

     
    re. 100
    
    Yeah.....Hot 'n' Ready was definately played live. One of the singles
    from either No Place To Run or The Wild The Willing And The Innocent
    had it as a "B side" recorded live from The Reading Festival. 
    
    Can't off the top of my head tell you the name of the single but I'll
    dig it out and let you know.
    
    Pack It Up (And Go) was also played live.
    
    Del.   
    
    

    I've got that version, Del, it's on the B-side of "Could'nt Get It 
    Right". I was wondering whether they played it on the Obsession 
    Tour with Schenker. That Reading version does'nt sound too bad 
    although, as usual, Tonka Chapman played his own screaming mess 
    of a solo. 
    
    barry. 

    Re -1.
    
    Talking about "Tonka's screaming mess of a solo" what do you think of
    the sham that was mascarading as the lead breaks of "Love To Love" from
    the recently released Beeb recording - Live at the Hammy O. 
    
    I wince every time I hear it!
    
    I reckon about the most sensitive he's ever played was the lead break
    on "Profession Of Violence" on the WW&TI album..
    
    Tom                           

    I was at that gig and thought that Chapman was an absoloute 
    wanker. Is "Out in The Streets" on that recording as well?
    They managed to steamroller their way through all the subtle
    nuances of that song and the rest of the classics took a severe
    battering as well. Out of about eight appearences they've only
    managed to impress me once and that was with Lawrence Archer.
    
    barry. 

    
     re. 104
    
     Hot 'n' Ready, Pack It Up (And Go) & A'int No Baby were all played
     live by Schenker. The reason I'm sure is because I used to have a
     bootleg from a gig at Newcastle City Hall. I don't have it now...it
     was crap quality anyway, but those tracks were definately on it.
    
     re. Chapman
    
     I always felt he wasn't a bad guitarist and the times I saw him
     his performances were reasonable.....it's just that he had an
     impossible job in replacing God !
    
     Del.

    Thats a BLASPHEMOUS response!! Not too many can replace Michael. Not
    one should think that those classics would be coppied to the note
    especially Mikeys notes...

    
    
     I also think that Chapman is a good guitarist. I saw him with UFO back
    in about 1980, I believe right after the release of Nowhere To Run? 
    (can't remember the title). Anyway, UFO absolutely cranked that night.
    I think I showed a bunch of the pictures I took to Gh sometime back.
    I thought his style fit in good after Schenker left the band.
    
                                                                  mike
    
    

    I agree with Mike Ferris, as I also saw them on that same tour.  It was
    an outstanding show and I thought Chapman fit in well.
    
    But...he never showed me those photos he promised...  ;^)
    
    gh

    
    OK, what have I won, won, won?
    

    I rate `Tonka' Chapman above Michael Schenker.
    
    ARGGGH! Don`t KILL ME!
    
    ho!ho! etc.
    

    Tonka Chapman contributed some great stuff, I agree but I found
    his solos too screechy and lacking in clarity. Plus he was 
    a fat sod to boot.   
    
    :^)
    
    barry.   
    
    p.s. Chapman's best work IMHO is on the second Waysted album, can't
    think of the title but the one with the Chuck Berry cover.
                      

    I think Michael is one of the best rock guitarist ever..maybe some of
    you think I'm cRaZy!@#$ He's got great runs and you can hear every note
    clearly. He is also very tasteful in the way he plays. But , if you
    want to compare him with Chapman..you can't because they differ a bit
    in style. As far as the styles..I love Michael's far better. Michael
    has his own style that no one could copy..Sort of like Clapton...Who in
    this universe can copy him. No one!! Guilmour..no one!! You Know what I
    mean??

    It changed my life the first time in '78 when I was 12 when a mate of
    mine at school lent me a double live album, yep, it was
    Strangers...........I was only just getting into HM then and listened
    to Rainbow Saxon,Ozzy and others, but this guy Schenker completely blew
    me away!!! ....I thought wow!...such an incredible guitarist it's a
    pity the group split up,such timeless classics,I still say if it wasn't
    for that album I'd never have picked up a guitar.
    
    Learning all those songs off SITN was so enjoyable..I still jam Only
    you can Rock Me with a local band in Nottingham when I'm there..great
    fun!!....they're a 5 piece with a keyboard player and we've got OYCRM
    off to pat ...always goes down well.
    
    Any guitarist whose worth his salts will tell you how intricate and
    complex his playing is...I remember spending about 2 months figuring
    out the Rock Bottom solo!!...the solo off Phenomena is a bastard I'm
    still sorting it out.
    
    The most frustrating aspect is getting the sound eg solo off Natural
    Thing (SITN) live version....it's a really sweet sounding front pickup
    solo my Gibson now has a PAF and sounds bugger all like it even with
    the same signal chain ie Marshall 50W (1970) -( bought it in a jumble
    sale for 5 quid!) ,Cry Baby wah wah all whacked right up to 8 when
    live..  still don't sound right!  any clues??
    
    Cheers!
    Dieter A devoted Schenker fan for 14 years.
    

    Try a VOX wah pedal. 
    
                       Paul

I picked up a great video last Friday called "Too Hot To Handle: 
The Story of UFO". It carries interviews with Mogg, Way and 
Schenker and a few words by Joe Elliot, Rick Savage, and Steve 
Harris. The major attraction for the Schenker fans is the amount
of live material featuring "The Blonde Bomber" as Mogg describes
him. 

The whole affair kicks of with a slice of "Too Hot to Handle" 
and Mogg musing that the band were formed "in a terraced house
in Bounds Green, North London", an area I know so well and not 
exactly the rock n roll capital of the world. Next up is a trip
to the Roundhouse circa '75 for a romp through the best moments
of the "Force It" album: "Let It Roll", "Out in The Streets" and
"Shoot Shoot" but unfortunately no "Mother Mary". Chick 
Churchill is, I think, the man on the keyboards for this gig 
which they headlined with Trapeze as support. The playing is
superb and very tight and there's a few laffs to be had at the
expense of the UFO footwear department, namely some pretty nasty
platform soles.

There's one more number from the Roundhouse gig, "Cmon 
Everybody" and that along with "Prince Kajuku" (old Mick Bolton
footage) are the only remenants from the Mick Bolton days. Fine 
by me as I've never been particulary fond of those very early 
albums. 

Strangely there's nothing from "No Heavy Petting" and the
Schenker period is wrapped up with two from "Lights Out",
"Too Hot" and the piece de resistance of the whole video,
a blistering version of "Lights Out". By this time Schenker
had developed that distinctive black cat-suited appearance
and along with Way, sporting those great stripey outfits,
UFO seemed to have matched sound with vision brilliantly. In fact
around this period the whole thing just gelled. Better produced
albums, better presented shows and appearance. That's one thing
I'll always remember about them when I first got into the band,
just how cool they looked and that's also a subject mentioned
by Joe Elliot and Steve Harris. Even the Hipnogsis covers are
mentioned.

Paul Chapman takes over the proceedings for "Doctor Doctor",
recorded for "The Old Grey Whistle Test" and he really does
a fine job. We get two more from him, the brilliant "Lettin
Go" (it's got such a raw sound this one) and the usually 
stretched out version of "Mystery Train". The video closes
with three of the tracks off of the last album with Archer
and completely ignores the Atomic Tommy era (there were some
good songs but they were'nt really UFO). 

Closing the package with mimed renditions of new songs in a very 
small club is one of the few grumbles I have. I also feel that 
insights from Parker and Raymond would have been welcome 
throughout the 90 minutes. And of course there really was'nt 
enough footage from '76-78. Perhaps there were restrictions to 
the amount of film available but I'm led to believe the 
"Strangers" songs were filmed for posterity as well. Maybe 
there's something in the can? However, what was enjoyable was 
seeing Mogg and Way being very honest on the fortunes of the band 
down the years with the realisation of the fact that just before 
Schenker left they were something special and never recovered the 
spirit after that. All in all good viewing, buy it.

barry.

    Sounds tart. Wot`s the name of it,and can is it easily available?
    

    Erm, the titles in the first two lines of .117. Try your local
    Virgin at only 11.99 (fnaarr, oo-err etc). 
    
    barry. 

    
    Picked up a cd yesterday entitled "The Essential UFO". Sometimes
    compilations like this can be disappointing but this is really
    excellent. It has 16 tracks all taken from the Schenker period.
    It's really a "best of before Tonka Chapman cd" with 13 tracks
    pulled from the early studio albums plus 3 from "Strangers..".
    
    All the classics are there....a superb compilation.
    
    Del. 

    re. 120.  that it is...
    
                           shoot shoot...stig

    re. 120.
    What's the catalog number of that CD and the recording company ???
    I've got most of their stuff on vinyl and its a little ratty...
    I'd luv to grab it on disc, but have no hope of ordering in Australia
    without some details....
    Thanks
    Grunt...

    
    Record Company -  Chrysalis
    Catalogue No   -  0946(3-21888-2)3 & UK:CDCHR 1888
    
    Del.

    Wonder what happened to the re-union that was touted in here some
    months back?
    
    barry.

    
    Looks as if UFO have finally reunited with Schenker. The classic lineup 
    of Mogg,Way,Schenker,Raymond & Parker have just completd a German tour 
    and will be recording a come-back album this year.
    
    Only when I hear the album will I actually beleive it !
    
    Del. 

    MICHAEL SHENKER IS THE BEST THING SINCE SLICED BREAD!!!  HIS POOP DOESN'T
    EVEN STINK!  I'D PUT IT ON A SILVER PLATTER, WITH HIM!!!!  HIS PLAYING IS
    UNCHALLENGED IN ETERNITY!!  I ALMOST GOT TO MEET HIM ONCE, BUT HE HAD TO
    USE THE REST ROOM, SO ALL I GOT TO MEET WAS HIS POOP!  DID I TELL YOU IT
    DIDN'T STINK?  SEE NOTE 860 FOR INFORMATION ON JOINING THE MICHAEL SCHENKER
    FAN CLUB!!!!!
    

    Just picked up "Force It" last week.  Good Album!
    

    UFO *USED TO BE* a great band.... but the more I listen to their old
    stuff, that's exactly what it sounds like... dated and.... rather
    boring!
    
    
    Bonzo (hyper-critical was blood starts to seep back into the ol'
    Alkihol stream)   
    
    

    
    greg, we know SOMEONE had to do that :')
    

    Yeah, it was mandatory.

    I am mandatory!
    
    Though it has also be confused hith lavatory!
    
    I don't care what anyone says today..... only  2 more stinking days on
    this desk then it's back to the real world for Bonzo!!!!!
    
    I was not in fact slagging UFO, on the contrary... it's just that there
    stuff sounds dated!  Scorpions stuff from the same time frame as SINT,
    still sounds cool and quite modern IMHO.
    
    
    Bonzo

    If you think the UFO stuff sounds dated, try to listen to some of
    Michael Schenker's solo material.  The production, sounds, style,
    *everything* sounds SO dated today.  I find it difficult to enjoy very
    much.  It's kind of a drag 'cause the songs are good and the playing is
    good.  I think it'd be cool if he'd go back and remix a bunch of that
    stuff with a contemorary producer, but it'll never happen.
    
    Greg

    its dated because it was 70's and 80's music. isn't it 1994 now???
    
                         stig

    There is stil some "timeless" pieces from the 70's & 80's....
    
    Someone said it earlier... it's the mix that does it....
    
    You know that classic mix... hey its rock!  Let's make it muddy enough
    to annoy a generation!
    
    UFO were a great band, but they could not move with the times.... and
    if there new album sounds like "classic" UFO, I for one will have no
    interest in it!
    
    Schenker on the other hand.... great musso for his time.... but the
    last thing I saw him do was with MaCauly Schenker Group, a Vid on
    eMpTyV... the guy playin rythmn played a great solo compared to
    Schenkers!
    
    I ain't slaggin' the guy off.... he's good, but not that good...
    
    
    Bonzo (The only truely great riff from Schenker was Armed & Ready!)
    
    

    Schenker has been highly influnecial in my playing style(ha) an I often
    quote him as being one of my heroes.I would dearly love to see him play
    with UFO but some how I think that they may come over as some kind of
    embarrasment
    
    
    							ian

    re. few back
    
    Whaddyamean UFO could'nt move with the times? Cobblers! they
    were a band ahead of their time (bar dodgy production work on the
    first three Chrysalis albums) in both the Schenker and Chapman
    line ups. I used to love the fact that they did'nt come out with
    all the usual metal gimmickery (wizard's n demons n satanic lyrics
    and crap clothes).
    
    As for the Scorpions sounding less dated, well,everything up until 
    Lovedrive was pretty badly produced/engineered and they only started 
    getting it right around the time of Blackout.
    
    barry.
    

    Barry.
    
    No offense dood... but that is your opinion...  IMHO UFO sound dated,
    whereas other bands... amoung them The Scorpions, Judas Priest, etc
    have produced continually good albums progressing with the times...
    because a band does not use the usual metal "gimmickery" is no use for
    writing lame songs (IMHO ofcourse   8*)
    
    
    Bonzo

    re: Barry
    
    I always throught UFO was ahead of their time, musically.
    
    re: Bonzo
    
    Well, I disagree about Judas Priest.  With the exception of Painkiller,
    I think they kept a very dated sound.  I can't hardly stand to listen
    to the British Steel / Point of Entry stuff anymore because the sound
    is so stale to me.
    
    Greg

    who knows that there stuff wouldn't be dated anyhow. can't know know
    til you here it...
     
    
     schenker has always been one of my all time favorites!!!
    
    
                     stig

    Judas Priest=bunch of old fannies!
    
    Ufo should just dwell on past glories and let it go!They did some
    superb songs but that was a long time ago.
    
    
    						ian

    What they really should do is get the masters from some of the old
    albums with the "classic" lineup and remix some of the old material so
    that it sounds more modern.  I bet a remixed box set would sell well to
    old fans.
                                                          
    Greg

    That is for sure...
    
    
    Bonzo

    
    Schenker rejoining UFO is now definate. There is an article accompanied
    by a photo in one of the music mags. Schenker and Way look fit enough
    but Mogg & Raymond look totally haggard and Andy Parker just looks fat.  
    
    A new album should be out by the end of the summer hopefully followed
    by a tour.  I can understand some of the previous noters saying UFO 
    sound dated but what you have to remember is that when Schenker was in
    the band they NEVER made a bad album. Mediocracy set in once they went
    their separate ways. Wether they can recapture the greatness of those 
    early years is questionable. What I know for sure is that I'll be first 
    in the queue to find out.
    
    Del.

    Well now the Schenker Fan_Club can be Revitalized. :_)
    
    
       Crazy_I_Am_Not_Obnoxo_Al

    So, what happened to the reunion? 
    
    barry.

    
    Album & Tour set for October.
    
    Del.

    is it a world wide tour or just a few places?
    
    
    
    						ian

    
    It's not certain yet but it looks like the UK & certain parts of
    Europe. They've already played a few shows in Germany last year.
    
    Del.

    Can anybody help? There's a chap over here in the UK who's putting
    together a UFO fanzine for sad interested b'stards like me. He's
    particularly interested in hearing from anybody who saw the band 
    in the very early days (we're talking Mick Bolton here) circa 69-74.
    ...pre Schenker. 
    
    At the moment I believe he's concentrating on that period so if you
    were "there" yourself or know someone who was please drop me a line.
    For those, like me, who got in on the action a little or a lot later,
    all views/thoughts/experiences are welcome.
    
    Ta!
    
    
    barry. 
          

    
    	Please see note 860 for info on the Michael Schenker fan club.
    

    Oh dear, I asked for that did'nt I? 
    
    barry.

    UFO ROOLZ

    >UFO ROOLZ
    
    Agreed... gotta get my UFO records out, I'd kinda forgotten
    about them.
    
    -b

    
    re. 150
    
    Barry ,
    
    Is this the fanzine called "Misty Green & Blue" ? Not bad by all
    accounts.
    
    Sorry, can't help you with the pre Schenker years...never got into them
    until around the time of Lights Out/Obsession. What about the new
    album....I've read it's called "Walk On Water" and is set for release
    in Japan on April 19th. Is this right ?
    
    Del.

    
    
   > Is this the fanzine called "Misty Green & Blue" ? Not bad by all
   > accounts.

    Del,
    
    One and the same. However, I have to admit to not seeing it yet as 
    I'm acting on info which is months old. Basically the guy who compiles
    the fanzine placed a request for info on the band, circa 69-74, in my
    local paper, as the they played their first gig in a pub called "The
    Fishmongers Arms", Wood Green, London (The place is now an absoloute
    dive).
    
    This was all around Christmas and I finally got round to posting 
    something in here last week so for all I know he may have all the info 
    he requires. Anyway I'll give him a call and request a copy. Can you 
    tell us anything more about the 'zine? Is it a one off, large/small,
    colour effort, any "new" photos from the archives? 
    
    As for the new album, I have'nt a clue what's happening. This note 
    is my only source of info at the moment. Every now and again I'll
    peak on the cover of Kerrang for a hopeful mention but can never 
    bring myself to open the damn thing. No doubt the level of journalism
    is still piss-poor and they still substitute C's for K's. Having said
    that I still went out and bought the first 50 or so copies back then...
    and I've still got them somewhere, I think.
    
    barry.  

    
    Old copies of Kerrapp are worth a few quid nowadays.I used to read old
    copies in my friends house(well in his toilet anyway)and have a good laugh
    at Kerrangs predictions for greatness!About 1 in 10 were correct.
    
    btw...old UFO were excellant! 8)
    
    
    						ian

    
    Barry,
    
    The fanzine is currently up to issue number 2 with the 3rd in the
    making. I read about it in Record Collector and they gave it a
    favourable review but I haven't actually seen it yet. From what I
    remember of the reveiw it contains interviews,album & bootleg reviews,
    concerts,latest news,lyrics etc. I think there's some kind of scrap
    book that goes with the it which contains clippings going back to
    about 1970. I've sent away for the first couple of issues, I'll let you
    know what it's really like when they come thru'.
    
    Kerrapp...now there is a national institution ! I have to confess to
    still sneaking the odd look anytime I find myself in Menzies.
    
    Del.
    
    

    Early Kerrangs are worth a bit?
    
    I chucked all mine out. I must have had about no 10 to about 100 and
    then some. Oh well.
     
    
    

    
    I saw a no.1 going for about 10 quid....!
    
    
    					ian

    Del & interested UFOers,
    
    I had a chat with Mike Pincher last night (the man behind "Misty Green
    and Blue") and he's a really nice chap. After about a minute he went
    into info overdrive with regards to what's currently happening. A 
    few of the choicer points of gossip are, possibly no UK tour by the 
    band this year which is a bit of a pisser. They seem to be
    concentrating on their traditional strongholds which, apart from Japan,
    will take in Germany and the States.
    
    The new album comprises only 6 new compositions with at least two
    re-worked classics ("Doctor Doctor" and "Lights Out"), a situation 
    forced on the band so I'm lead to believe. Whether or not this will 
    see the light of day in other parts of the world, I'm not certain.
    
    Now to some gritty personal stuff. Apparently Herr Schenker's terms
    on re-joining included a demand that members, or certain members (
    it does'nt take much to guess who) of the band remain in a state of 
    sobriety whilst carrying out their UFO duties. Fair enough, I suppose,
    as the young Schenker had to put up with a lot of sh*t first time 
    round. Staggeringly, or not so, as the case now is, Messrs' Mogg and
    Way have, reputedly, been dry (alcohol-free) for a while. Which is a
    bit of a relief considering the amount of gigs that they've screwed up
    in the past owing to drunkeness and other self induced states of mind.
    
    As for the fanzine, issue 1 is sold out. Issue 2 is available. I'll
    post the address if anyone's after a copy but I've yet to get my 
    own first. By the way, Del, did you leave a message on his ansaphone
    last week as he mentioned getting a call from Ayr? :^)
    
    barry
    
    
    
                                

    
    re : last
    
    Not me Barry....does that mean there's another Ufo fan up here ?!!
    
    I have spoken to him though, phoned him today as a matter of fact. Your
    right, he could talk forever about the band...very enthusiastic. The
    kind of bloke you could let ramble on and never get bored listening to.
    
    Del.
    
    ps. He's got a contact in Japan who has a record store. He gets UFO
    bootlegs sent to him for free so he can review them. Jammy b/stard !   

    Oh ferchrissakes why can't they come over to Britain and bloody well
    play. 
    
    barry.

    
    according to the chappie that does MG&B, the Barrowlands is penciled in
    for late on this year as part of a British tour. However, don't hold
    yer breath until it's a definate !!
    
    Have you heard Walk On Water yet Barry ?
    
    Del. 

    
    oh very good!Tour Scotland when I bloody leave!Selfish gits!
    
    
    						ian

    Del,
    
    No I have'nt heard it yet. If you've got it then what's it like and
    also any chance of "off-site tape back up" of it? If you know
    what I mean. 8^)
    
    Barry.

    
    Yeah Barry I've got it, all due to a good friend in the states picking me 
    up a jap import copy. It's without doubt the best thing they've done
    since Obsession, although some people will say that wouldn't be hard !!
    
    If you want a copy it's no problem...email me your address and I'll get
    it done.
    
    cheers,
    
    Del.

    Del,
    
    Thanks. By the way I'm having a problem mailing you. Do you think you 
    could test mail me at yuppy?
    
    Barry.

    PRILsnarf!

    Undecided on the new UFO album "Walk On Water". I've only had it for
    one evening but my first impression is that even with Schenker back
    the sound and song structure and general mood is more akin to "High
    Stakes" (the last one with Archer) than the "Classic" sound. You could
    take away Mogg's vocal and you really would'nt know which band it is
    as the sound is so generic. 
    
    Considering the gap of 16 years since their last release it's no
    wonder and I think they've also made a conscious decision to sound
    contemporary. Most of the problem here probably lies with me as I'm
    carrying a lot of baggage from the "Strangers" period and am being
    a bit unfair in wanting an album which picks up where they left off. 
    Although deep down that's exactly what I wanted to hear. It all 
    depends on what you want from a reunion and I suppose I want more
    of the same. 
    
    However, I'll give it a few more listens before passing final judgement 
    and will definitely go and see them should they ever tread the boards 
    in the UK again although I don't know what the chances of that are.
          
    Barry.  
    

    Anyone catch the band in the States in August/September? There were
    a few dates taking in small venues.
    
    Barry.

    Will be seeing UFO next Monday night at The Coachhouse in San Juan
    Capistrano...with Michael Schenker! Never seen em before, but had lots
    of their albums, when albums wuz cool. Seen MSG before and was terribly
    impressed. Should be totally cool...didja see me yet Barry?
    
    Bob

    you lucky...LUCKY man!
    
    
    
    						ian

How big is this place?  Is it a club?

I am also jealous

Tim

	Hi Bob, how's things in Santa Clara?  Same shi$ here...

	/Cap'n Quad

>    impressed. Should be totally cool...didja see me yet Barry?
 
    
    Bob, I take it you mean 'em as in them and not me as in you.  :^)
    No, unfortunately they have'nt played in London yet but word 
    has it we're due an appearance before the end of the year. 
    Reports in the fanzine have them playing just a couple of new
    numbers, "Pushed to the Limit" and something else which escapes 
    me. The rest is old stuff with the band kicking off each show
    with "Natural Thing" and going straight into "Mother Mary". "Out 
    in the Street" follows on and then all the other standards. 
    
    I'm almost certainly leaving England at the beginning of next year
    and hope I can catch them in the home town before I go. 
    
    Barry.
       

    re: .174
    
    Tim, it's a dinner/club kinda place. Only been there once to see the
    Dixie Dregs. Pretty big, seats around 1K.
    
    re: .175
    
    Larry? Is dat you? Hey!!! Back in Irvine. Say hi to the bunnies eh?
    
    re: .176
    
    Barry, Scuse the typo...yeah, I meant em not me. Just noticed that.
    Hope you do get a chance to see them...report tomorrow (if I make it
    in, that is ;-)
    
    Bob

    
    	The Dregs, eh?
    
    	Did they fill all 1K seats?  8^)
    

    My apologies...seating is only about 300. And yes, The Dregs sold out
    ;-) every show. (I think they did 2 nights)
    
    Seats were GREAT! About 20 feet directly in front of stage right.
    Dinner was tolerable. (Yeah, microwave that precooked potato 8^(
    
    Opening act was Geffen recording artists "Lode". A definite mis-match
    for opening for UFO. Kind of alternative/bluesy/San Fran sound. The
    crowd was very happy when they finished.
    
    About 10 Cars songs later (not long after the crowd chanted "No more
    Cars", The lights went down, the crowd went wild.
    
    UFO opened with Natural thing, then slid into Mother Mary. Then Let it
    roll, Kids, Over my head, then 2 new songs from the "Walk on water" CD.
    Venus, and Pushed to the limit. Then they played Love to Love, Only you
    can rock me. Too hot to handle, and then Lights out. 1st encore, Doctor
    Doctor, and Rock Bottom. 2nd encore Shoot Shoot, and then finished with
    C'mon Everybody.
    
    Schenker was excellent, with a couple of tasty solos thrown in Dr. Dr.,
    and Rock Bottom. Pete Way was all over the stage, and the tables that
    were directly in front of the stage. Phil Moog sounded like he did 20
    years ago (has it been THAT long?) Paul Raymond did keys, and second
    guitar (very nice harmonies with MS) Andy Parker was steady on drums.
    
    Excellent show... too bad they sold out tonight, or I'd be back for
    seconds. Picked up the "Walk on water" CD, and a couple t-shirts.
    
    If ya get the chance to see them, GO! You won't be disappointed.
    
    Bob

    
    >About 10 Cars songs later (not long after the crowd chanted "No more
    >Cars", The lights went down, the crowd went wild.
    
    
    	hey Hey HEY!!!!  The crowd must have been a bunch of morons.  8^)
    

>    	The Dregs, eh?
>    	Did they fill all 1K seats?  8^)
    
    If you're only interested in bands that "sell out"...
    
    ;-)
    
    	db

Oh man - Sounds like an awesome show.  With seats that close who cares if they
give you food!

Tim

    bloody hell -- sounds awesome!!

    Mmmm. Don't like the sound of these chicken-in-a-basket venues UFO are 
    playing. Do you get cheese and biscuits before the encores? :^)
    
    Barry.
    

    No, but you can get chips and salsa for 3.95!
    
    Upcoming shows at the Coach House:
    
    Oct 19 The Buddah Heads / All the madmen / Bulkhead
    Oct 20 Eric Burdon Band / Parkaimoon / Lunatic Zoo
    Oct 21 Strunz and Farah / Bruce Wall
    Oct 23 The Jayhawks / Blue Mountain
    Oct 25 Kevin Gilbert / The Strangers / Arm
    Oct 26 Wayne Shorter Septet / Mark Isham Group
    Oct 27 Charlie Musselwhite / Fry sum blues
    Nov 1 Alannah Myles / Nikki Smart
    Nov 3 Gilby Clark
    Nov 4 Hiroshima
    Nov 5 Matthew Sweet / 3 Lb. Thrill
    Nov 10 Jim Belushi & The Sacred Hearts
    Nov 12 Robert Pinault
    Nov 14 Jane Siberry
    Nov 22 Burton Cummings
    Nov 24 Stranger
    Nov 25 Kansas
    Dec 2 Bryndle featuring Karla Bonoff
    Dec 10 Opus IX Project
    Dec 26 B.B. King
    
    Bob

    This probably doesn't belong here but where is the Coach House, what do
    they charge to get in, and how do I get there before November 3rd.
    
    Paully
    

    Well, since you're in Canada, fly into Orange County/John Wayne
    Airport, rent a car, drive south on the 405 (traffic permitting)
    the 405 runs into the 5, continue south. Take the San Juan Creek Rd
    exit, left at lights onto Camino Capistrano, and turn right before the
    1st set of lights, and you will find the Coach House in the back of the
    first level of buildings. By the way, who's Gilby? ;-)
    
    Bob

    
    	Gilby Clark - "Tijuana Jail"
    
    	Ex Guns 'n' Roses guitarist.
    

    Having lived in the beautiful haven of Huntington Beach for 6 years, I
    am aware of the Coach House of which you speak, but I guess I assumed
    that it was another place in the north east quarter of the country.....
    I was unaware that we were speaking with HMers from Orange County.
    
    Thanks though! 
    
    Paully

    
    Well the reunion didn't last too long. The band's split - well
    Schenker's left - by all accounts due to Mogg's substance abuse.
    
    Del.

Didn't Schenker originally leave because of alcohol.  He claimed he was
destroying himself drinking too much on tour...

Tim

    -1
    
    He did, but the #1 Schenker rule for returning to the band was NO
    SUBSTANCE ABUSE, period!
    
    Too bad one of them fell off the wagon...

    Yeah, what a bummer! I've been listening to the "walk on water" cd, and
    it's been growin on me. Maybe Schenker will reconsider after Moog has
    spent some time in the betty ford clinic? ;-)
    

"Strangers" No More

UFO at Chicago's Vic Theater

August 21, 1995

If you  could  replace  the danger and the fear with pure excitement, it was
probably  not  unlike  a  German  air  raid  on London during WWII.  After a
high-pitched  squealing sound (the opening band "Triangle") the people stood
crowded  together  tightly,  waiting in eager anticipation.  Then finally it
came  .  .  .  and it came hard and fast.  It seemed to come from above too,
and  as  it pounded away, those who weren't screaming just stared up in awe.
It was non-stop, relentless and operated with clockwork precision.  And when
it  was  over  you were left dazed, trying to catch your breath, and chances
are you could hardly hear a thing.

But unlike  a Luftwaffe attack, most all of the target audience at Chicago's
sold-out Vic Theater were left standing .  .  .  and wanting much much more.

It had  been  16  years since a Michael Schenker/ Phil Moog armed version of
UFO had landed in Chicago.  Back then Jimmy Carter was president, Ford Pinto
fuel  tanks  filled  with  85 cents a gallon gas were exploding all over the
place,  "Different  Strokes"  was  a  top  rated  TV  show,  Sony introduced
something  called "The Walkman" and John Bonham was still alive.  And amidst
the  onslaught  of disco, the talk of test tube babies and lots of bad hair,
Schenker, Moog and company rocked the old Chicago Amphitheater one night and
made  a hell of a lot fans in the Windy City.  I wasn't there, I was just 12
years-old  a  the  time,  but  I met many people last night who claimed they
were.  They said the show that night was just fantastic, "electric," so much
so  it  was  pressed  into  vinyl,  slapped on to 8-tracks and cassettes and
dubbed  "Strangers  In  The Night," regarded by many as one of the best live
rock albums ever recorded.



"Strangers" featured  live versions of some of the band's early cuts such as
"Rock Bottom" and "Doctor, Doctor." At a time before Eddie Van Halen started
erupting  and Ozzy went solo, these songs were true ground-breakers.  It was
UFO  to  many  who  were  the  true  founders  of  "Heavy Metal." Brought to
prominence  by  the  speed and melodic precision of Schenker and the lyrical
originality  and  power  of  Moog,  the  U.K.   quintet  broke  out  of  the
psychedelic  "hard  rock"  boundaries  of  Led Zeppelin, Humble Pie and Deep
Purple  and  pretty  much  founded  the  "in  your face" fist-pumping master
guitarist - lead style that dominated the 80's rock scene.  But when a young
and  overwhelmed Schenker left the band just as UFO's popularity in the U.S.
was on the rise, the band sputtered with different line-ups and faded.  Rock
music  suddenly  lost  a  great,  pioneering  band at their peak.  To put in
perspective,  imagine what would have happened to Van Halen in 1985 if Eddie
Van Halen left the band instead of David Lee Roth.

But now  UFO  has  reunited,  released a CD that shows flashes of what could
have been, and hit the road to dazzle us with what we missed.

In this,  the  first  of  four  sold-out  shows,  the  16 year gap since the
immortalized  "Strangers"  LP  seems  to  have  acted  as  kind of a filter,
allowing  the  band  to play before some of their most faithful and frenzied
fans.   And having stared at these guys on the back of album covers for over
a  dozen  years  -  figuring  never  to see this line-up again - the smaller
theater was the perfect venue for the crowd too see their heroes up close.

First though,  the  opening  act, Triangle, did a 45 minute set of screaming
that  went  on  about  40  minutes  too  long.   Not that they were bad - as
musicians  they seemed very good - but their grunge style was way too far to
the  right  for  a  crowd  that would rather see Michael Schenker than Eddie
Vedder, Kurt Cobain, or Elvis Presley.  By their third song the anticipation
of  UFO  taking  the  stage  was excruciating .  .  .  like being handcuffed
during foreplay after a year at sea.

UFO finally  hit  the  stage  at  9 p.m.  and fired off "Natural Thing" from
their 76' album "No Heavy Pettin." Although not their most popular song, the
crowd  erupted  and  sang  along  as  if  it were "Stairway To Heaven." They
continued  through their set at a dizzying pace blasting out virtually every
song  off  their  classic live album with a couple of new songs thrown in to
acknowledge their new release "Walk On Water." Although "Water" is available
in the U.S.  only as an import or through the band directly at the concerts,
the  new  songs  were  well received with a surprisingly large number in the
crowd shouting out the lyrics to them as well.  When Moog stampeded into the
chorus  of  the  classic  "Lights Out," belting out "lights out , lights out
Chicago," a line forever etched on "Strangers," the crowd erupted as if they
had  simultaneously  climaxed  .  .  these were no longer "strangers," these
were old friends.



Schenker simply  shined.   These  were  the  songs that only he was meant to
play,  and  damn  he was good at them.  He smiled through the whole show and
looked  like  he  couldn't  be  happier.   The  man can play the guitar with
anybody  .   .   .   still.  And while Schenker is the heart of the band and
Moog  the foundation, bassist Pete Way is the soul.  If Pete wasn't right up
against  Michael  banging away in perfect rhythm - his fingers flying across
the guitar almost as fast as his blonde buddy's - he was firing up the crowd
bouncing  around  from  one end of the stage to the other.  It was as if the
theater wasn't big enough to hold him.

Rhythm Guitarist/Keyboardist  Paul  Raymond  was  steady  as he's ever been.
Displaying  a  sense  of  rhythm  and  skill perfectly complimentary to both
Schenker  and  Way.   He is a big reason why UFO reached the high point that
they   did.    Raymond   was   the  first  on  stage  each  time  and  waved
enthusiastically  to  the  crowd.   And  although  he's  probably played the
opening  notes to "Love To Love" a thousand times, he was still able to give
the  crowd  chills.  Drummer Andy Parker's absence was only felt in a slight
loss  of  nostalgia.   Ex-Dio  drummer  Simon Wright never missed a beat and
played with energy and enthusiasm from beginning to end.

Moog sounded  great,  but  seemed  a bit tense, strange for a man who's done
about  a million shows.  He didn't speak to the crowd much in between songs,
acknowledge the band's past nor their reunion.  And aside from a token "it's
truly  great  to  be  back in Chicago," the subject of returning to the city
where they have always been favorites - where the band had just miraculously
sold  out  four  shows  - wasn't mentioned either.  Perhaps such talk of the
past  is  uncomfortable?  There seemed to be little camaraderie between Moog
and Schenker on this night either.  There were points during Michael's solos
though  when  Moog  did seem to stare over at the wiz-guitarist with sincere
admiration  .   .   .   and  perhaps  with  an ounce of misgiving.  It was a
curious  look,  one  that  maybe  echoed what most UFO fans over the past 16
years have said, a look of "what if."

And that  slight  lack  of humility, along with a set that lasted only a bit
more  than  an hour, were the only disappointments on the night.  I think we
all  wanted  to  hear Phil speak a little about the UFO's return - if not to
Chicago  than  as  a reunited band.  But perhaps that would have slowed them
down?   Instead   they   came  in  as  professional  and  veteran  top-notch
butt-kickers,  did  so for a little more than an hour, smiled and left.  And
unfortunately  it  was over before we knew what hit us .  .  .  just seventy
or  so  minutes of music from a band you've waited 16 years to see can leave
you feeling a bit high-n-dry.

Keep in mind that I saw just the one show .  .  .  they still had three more
to  go  that week, and many fans were returning to one or more of them.  Yet
if  UFO's  strategy  is to leave the fans wanting more, its working.  (Let's
just hope there is more.) Other than perhaps a reincarnated and reunited Led
Zeppelin  or  "Diamond  Dave"  fronting  a Van Halen show again, you got the
feeling  that  there  was  no place in time and on earth these 1400 diehards
would  rather have been rockin' that night than face-to-face with a reunited
UFO.

The band  did  have  an autograph session at a local record store two nights
later  which drew a line of fans a few blocks long.  They were very nice and
signed  anything you handed them.  For those who made it inside, meeting the
guys  was  a  heck  of a neat thing.  I hope now, finally, that the guys are
back  together,  they  can  record  and tour long enough to finally earn the
industry  recognition and fanfare they deserve, because it was 75 minutes of
rock-n-roll that none of us will ever forget.



Tom McDonald
t-mcdonald@uiuc.edu 

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