The Michael Schenker Group

Background

The Michael Schenker Group (MSG) formed in 1979 in London when guitarist Michael Schenker assembled a quartet with singer Gary Barden, bassist Billy Sheehan, and drummer Denny Carmassi.

Michael Schenker was born on January 10, 1955, in Sarstedt, West Germany; the son of a violinist father and pianist mother. He taught himself guitar at nine on an instrument owned by older brother Rudolf Schenker. Rudolf formed the Scorpions in 1965 in Hanover and paid Michael one Deutsche Mark for each Beatles song he learned and taught his brother.

Michael joined the Sarstedt beat group the Enervates at eleven through an introduction from Rudolf. He subsequently played with Cry Express in Hanover and formed Copernicus with singer Klaus Meine. Copernicus performed songs by Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, and Black Sabbath. Schenker joined the Scorpions in January 1970 with Meine. The group recorded the 1972 debut Lonesome Crow with producer Conny Plank.

English rockers UFO asked Schenker to deputize for guitarist Bernie Marsden on a joint German tour in summer 1973, then recruited the guitarist. He co-wrote “Doctor Doctor” and “Rock Bottom” with singer Phil Mogg for the 1974 album Phenomenon. The group recorded five studio albums with Schenker through the 1978 release Obsession. Schenker left UFO late that year and returned to Hanover. He rejoined the Scorpions for the 1979 album Lovedrive, then left the band on the European tour.

Schenker recorded solo demos in 1979 in the mobile studio of producer Dieter Dierks, with help from former Atlantis drummer Ringo Funk. He moved to London and linked with AC/DC manager Peter Mensch, who granted Schenker first refusal on the music and concert schedule for MSG.

Barden, a native of Tunbridge Wells in Kent, sang and played guitar in local bands alongside a five-year printer apprenticeship. He fronted Fraser Nash, a blues-rock band with slide guitarist Tony Collins. Schenker heard a Fraser Nash demo at the Chrysalis Records offices and attended a band rehearsal. Barden left Fraser Nash to join MSG.

Sheehan co-founded Talas around 1971 in Buffalo, New York. The bassist met Schenker when Talas supported UFO in Buffalo. Carmassi recorded with Sweet Linda Divine in New York and played in the hard-rock band Montrose. The drummer later joined the solo band of Montrose singer Sammy Hagar.

The quartet rehearsed and recorded demos in 1979 in London. When Schenker suspended the project for hospital treatment in Hanover, Sheehan left MSG with Carmassi. The guitarist also rehearsed MSG material in Boston with Aerosmith bassist Tom Hamilton and drummer Joey Kramer.

Barden rejoined Schenker for the Chrysalis debut with producer Roger Glover, the former Deep Purple bassist. Glover invited bassist Mo Foster for a session lineup with drummer Simon Phillips and keyboardist Don Airey. MSG prepared to record The Michael Schenker Group in May 1980 at Wessex Studios in London.