Michael Schenker is the German virtuoso who was instrumental in taking the hard rock sound to new limits in the '70s, building on the foundations laid by early greats such as Jimmy Page, Tony Iommi and Ritchie Blackmore, upping the attitude while cranking up the gain. To put into perspective, by the time Edward Van Halen burst onto the scene with his band’s game-changing debut of 1978, Schenker had already released two full-lengths with Scorpions and another four with UFO.
However, there are many similarities shared between the two guitarists, from how they evolved the six-string in terms of technicality to how they brought a brazen sense of fun to the instrument in ways few had ever dared to. It’s almost as if both players were nonchalantly laughing through their guitars, making it look effortless and unpremeditated, shrugging off any inclination for grand designs and shooting – as we all hope to – straight from the hip.
