See also: Scorpion

Scorpions is a group of Hard rock, originating in Hanover (Germany). Their first album was born in 1972. The group knew a planetary prestige - especially as from the years 1980 - because of titles Hard rock such as No One Like You in 1982 or Rock You Like has Hurricane in 1984 and of ballades following the example Still Loving You the same year or Wind off Exchange and Send Me year Angel in 1990, all songs with almost systematic business success. The media decline come as from the years 1990, the protagonists turned to new experiments, with in particular Moment off Glory (with the Philharmonic orchestra of Berlin) and Acoustica (acoustic album live) but return to their traditional receipts in 2004 with a Unbreakable greeted by many fans and followed in 2007 of the album Humanity - Hour 1 . To date they sold more than 60 million albums throughout the world.

Biography

Beginnings (1965-1974)

In 1965, Rudolf Schenker, 17 year old guitarist, trains an amateur group named The Scorpions with Hanover with Wolfgang Dziony with the battery, Karl Heinz with the guitar soloist and Achin Kirchoff with low replaced in 1970 by Lothar Heimberg. With the song, one finds Rudolf and Wolfgang.
In 1969, two members of the Copernicus group will join the group: Klaus Meine with the song and Michael Schenker (little brother of Rudolf) with the guitar. The group takes the name Scorpions (without the the ) and decides to spend professional the first day of the year 1971. In 1972, the group leaves its first album entitled Lonesome Crow and produced by Conny Plank. It is about an album classified in the psychedelic rock'n'roll category. It meets a good success in Germany but passes unperceived in the rest of the world. At the time of the round which follows the exit of the album, the group starts to be made a name thanks to its 136 concerts through Germany and by making the first part of the concerts of the English group UFO. But at the end of 1972, Michael Schenker decides to leave Scorpions after the members of UFO, impressed by its talents of guitarist, proposes to him to join the group. Heimberg and Dziony leave Scorpions in their turn leaving Klaus Meine and Rudolf Schenker alone. Both then try to make a fusion of Scorpions and a group called Dawn Road which has at its head the talented guitarist Uli Jon Roth, called the " Jimi Hendrix allemand". This last accepts the idea of fusion of both groupes.
Three members of Dawn Road are thus able to supplement the group (Ulrich Roth, the bass player Francis Buchholz and the beater Jürgen Rosenthal) which leaves a new album, Fly to the Rainbow , in 1974. That Ci meets a greater success than the first in Germany. More impressive still, of new fans appear beyond the rhine: as in England or in Japan where Fly to the Rainbow appears in the charts.

Rise of the group (1975-1978)

In 1975, Scorpions, with a new beater (Rudy Lenners, which replaces Jürgen Rosenthal), leaves the album In Trance , the first product by Dieter Dierks, producing fetish of the group. This album, more succeeded than the precedents and classified in the hard rock category, is the first great success of the group with like individual it song-title " In trance" , from now on traditional of the group. A round passing by all Europe and especially to England makes grow the notoriety of the groupe.

In 1976 the album Virgin Killer leaves. This album was particularly pointed out of the public by its cover showing a naked little girl, only a glare of glass hiding its sex. The members of the group were shocked by this photograph but they were obliged to accept it because imposed by the production. Virgin Killer was a good success, in particular in Japan where it was certified disc of gold. Like In Trance , this album contains good number of traditional group like the slow fox trot " In Your Park" , but also " Nights" whodunnit; and " Hell Cat" , sung by Uli Jon Roth.

One year after Virgin Killer and its round (during which Scorpions ensures in particular the first parts of the European dates of KIS), the group engages a new beater named Hermann Rarebell which replaces Rudy Lenners, obliged to leave its station because of a breath in the middle, and leaves Taken by Force celebrates today for " We' L Burn the Sky". But at this time Uli Jon Roth starts to take its distances compared to Scorpions, finding that the music of the group tends to be marketed. During this time, to Japan, the notoriety of the group is only growing. The group thus undertakes to record live in Tokyo in 1978 ( Tokyo Tapes ).

Apogee of the group (1979-1991)

Just after the round of 1978, Uli Jon Roth leaves the group. Klaus Meine, Francis Buchholz, Hermann Rarebell and Rudolf Schenker must thus replace a guitarist of exception. After having auditioned more than 140 guitarists in London in England, it is finally in Hanover, the town of origin of Klaus, Francis and Rudolf that the group ended up finding in 1979 a 23 year old guitarist, friend of Buchholz, named Matthias Jabs. Scorpions found its line up " légendaire" who will last until 1992 (Klaus Meine, Rudolf Schenker, Matthias Jabs, Hermann Rarebell and Francis Buchholz).

In 1979 the album Lovedrive leaves which will see reappearing Michael Schenker as a guest on the songs " Lovedrive" , " Coast To Coast" and " Another Part off Meat". The group was therefore to take again Michael Schenker in her center but this one having fallen down in alcohol problems (which made him in particular miss several concerts) its contribution to the album was limited and Matthias Jabs, which was in the doubt as for its place in the group following this possible réadmission of Schenker, found its place within Scorpions definitively. This album starts one period considered as the golden age of the career of Scorpions and confirms the genius of the group with ballades like " Holiday" , of the pieces heavy like " Another Part Off Meat" , instrumental the " Coast To Coast" and even a piece astutely mixing hard rock and reggae, " Is there anybody there ?". The group becomes a sure value in Europe and in Japan, and starts to be made known in the USA thanks to their first round in this pays.

Paradoxically, the album Animal Magnetism left in 1980 is less better accommodated by criticisms than Lovedrive and passes rather unperceived to Europe but is sold well in the United States where it will become Disque of platinum. Moreover it contains the song " The Zoo" , very appreciated fans. A world tour followed the exit of the album during which the group took part in particular in the first festival Monsters off Rock'n'roll in Castle Donnington in England. After Animal Magnetism and its round, Klaus Meine loses its voice almost completely and is about to be made replace by Don Dokken singer of the Dokken group. But after several operations of the vocal cords followed by long months of rest and with the important support of the other members of the group (in particular of Rudolf Schenker) Klaus finds the use of its voice and returns to belong to the group. The new album of the group, which had taken a consequent delay because of this problem, can finally finish to be recorded. It results from it that which is regarded as one of the best albums of the group and which will give him a world famous
It is thus really in 1982 that the group explodes on the world scene hard rock thanks to this new album, Blackout , considered as much by the critics as by the fans as the best album hard rock of the group. It contains titles which are great classics of the group like the hit " No One Like You " (which is even one of the traditional pieces of hard rock of the years 1980, taken again on many compilations and radio stations), " Can' T Live Without You " hit of the album in France and the ballade " When The Smoke Is Going Down". With this success, Scorpions then becomes one of the greatest groups of hard rock and engages throughout the world the first of its gigantic rounds during which they take part in the US festival of 1983 which joined together more than 670.000 people in company of Van Halen, Ozzy Osbourne, Judas Priest (their incredible performance at the time of their concert will be then looked like one of all the best of the festival).

Although already very popular in the world of the rock'n'roll and in the young people, it is in 1984 that the successor leaves Blackout which will make known Scorpions with the general public: Coils At First Sting . This album contains titles of course rather hard rock like " Rock You Like has Hurricane " one of the most known songs of hardware of the years 1980 or " Big City Nights ", but it also reveals the song " Still Loving You ", emblematic ballade of more than 6 minutes, dixit Matthias Jabs: “responsible for the greatest baby-boom since the Second world war”. " Still Loving You" is an immense success, in particular in France where the individual one is sold with more than 1,7 million specimens what makes the most sold song of it year 1984. The group thus remains vis-a-vis a dilemma which will indirectly lead it to its decline: to make pure and hard heavy-metal as at the beginning or to continue to make ballades with business success. But the group is not yet there and some of its greater hours of glory are not written yet.
Gigantic a two years world tour follows the exit of the album with like point of organ the participation in the first Rock festival In Rio in 1985 (in company in particular of Queen and AC/DC in front of more than 500.000 people).
The same year leaves the album World Wide Live , realized with the height of the popularity of the group and which compiles their success post-1978. At the end of this round in 1986 the members of the group decide to take a pause to then be able to concentrate on their new album.

In 1988 Scorpions leaves Savage Amusement , an album remaining close to the music of Scorpions but nevertheless less brilliance that the two preceding albums studios and who is sold very well with the the United States (5th in the charts). The group noting that it did not lose anything of its popularity, launches out once again in a great world tour following the exit of the album, with this time as not of organ the participation in Moscow Music Peace Festival in 1989 (concert which will off inspire with Klaus Meine the ballade Wind Exchange).
Years 1990-91 are the last years of world success of Scorpions. The group leaves the album Crazy World , their last great business success in date. It contains great successes such as " Don' T Believe Her" , " Tease Me Please Me" and especially song " celebrates it; Wind off Exchange " written in reference to the political changes in the world (falls of the communist bloc and reunification of Germany), which in 1991 reached tops in the charts (1st place in Germany and France, 2nd in the United Kingdom…) and becomes one of the symbols of the fall of the Berlin Wall and the reunification of Germany. It is, with " Still Loving You " from 1984, the most known ballade of the groupe.
A world tour follows the exit of the album during which Scorpions takes part in the concert-giant entitled The Wall Live In Berlin organized by Roger Waters (of the group Pink Floyd) on Potsdamer Platz of Berlin and retransmis on line throughout the world in front of several million televiewers.

Decline of the group (1993-2000)

In the years 1990, the hard rock really any more does not know of success and only groups like Scorpions, Iron Maiden or AC/DC remain while in parallel, Metallica becomes the most popular formation of heavy the metal. But Scorpions already had its hours of glory. The group survived two decades, which is already an exploit. Only in the world of the Rock'n'roll, the fashion is in Grunge following the example Nirvana and with the british rock groups like Oasis. The group thus decides to change a little the sound of its music to like the public more, which disappoints its fans, leaves indifferent the public and generates the criticism of the press in spite of worked albums (let us recall that U2 at the same time, had started an evolution for a more electronic sound what had not changed anything on the level of the fans and the media). First of all, Francis Buchholz leaves the group in 1992 following tax problems that the group knows and is replaced by Ralph Rieckermann.

In 1993, the group leaves the album Face the Heat produces by Bruce Fairbairn with a sound plus metal. Although it is a rather good album as a whole (it contains inter alia individual very the heavy Alien Nation, and a beautiful ballade of the " group; Under the Same Sun " who meets a certain success), it does not reach the success of the preceding achievements of Scorpions because it is a little too divergent style for which the group is known (but although there is a change of obvious style this one is not as obvious as it will be it on the next albums).
Three years later and a beater in less (Hermann Rarebell, left to found its own recording company " Monaco Records" with his friend the prince Albert of Monaco), the group leaves Pure Instinct containing many ballades like individual the " You and I" but also " Wild Child" who remains rather dynamic. The album is a good success (in particular in Germany, France and Japan) but does not reach obviously the sales of Love At First Sting or Blackout . Moreover fans are disappointed enough by the choice of so many ballades.
In 1999 the album Eye II Eye leaves. The sound is more electric there and pop It is the least liked fans with Pure Instinct, even if he proposes some titles enough heavy like " Mind Like has Tree" and " Aleyah". But by taking stock of the years 1990, the group does not draw any too badly: in spite of poor sales of albums, the group is always regarded as one of the greatest formations hard rock of the world and the spectators are always with return. More impressive still, new youth seems to be interested in Scorpions.

The revival (2000-?)

At the dawn of the new millenium, the group leaves a symphonic album: Moment off Glory taking again the old titles of the group and in particular including duets with Ray Wilson (Stiltskin, Genesis) and Zucchero. The round Acoustica proceeds with the four corners of the world and is a great success thanks to the orchestras philarmonic which accompany the group. A live is even recorded with Lisbon (Portugal). At the time of the rounds, Klaus Meine announces a return to the sources.

In 2004, after the departure of Ralph Rieckermann, the group engages a new bass player, Pawel Maciwoda and leaves the album Unbreakable which envoûte again fans thanks to titles like " Blood too Hot" , " Through My Eyes" or " Deep and Dark" who point out the true sound of the Scorpions. The return to the sources announced thus took place and Unbreakable was a good success compared to the last albums of the groupe.
This album has given place to world tour in 2005 and 2006, whose point of organ was without question the head of poster of the Wacken Open Air Festival of 2006, which took place as every year Wacken has, close to Hamburg in Germany. Entitled " In Journey In Time, Night To Remember" has; (" A Voyage In Time, One Night Of which One Souviendra") this evening of more than two hours forty five on the whole and having more than 62.000 people had a particular savor for the fans present like for the member of the group: This evening there indeed, apart from the current line up (Rudolf Schenker, Klaus Meine, Matthias Jabs, James Kottak, Pawel Maciwoda) were also present Uli Jon Roth (guitarist of 1974 has 1978), Michael Schenker (also guitarist, in 1972 and 1979, and little brother of Rudolf), as Hermann Rarebell (beater of 1977 to 1995) All went up on scene together (Uli had already made an appearance with the group, with the Theater of Outdoor with Colmar, in the month of September 2005 but Michael as for him was had not gone up more on scene with the Scorpions since the round of the Face album The Heat for a few acoustic pieces at the time of a concert in Bucharest). As final, the complete group, increased in more by Tyson Schenker, the son of Michael and guitarist of Faster Inferno, played celebrates it " Bolero of Ravel". This concert was filmed and the exit of the DVD is planned for on December 10th, 2007 in France.
The other great moment of this world tour proceeded at the summer 2006 (on July 8th), when Scorpions gave an immense concert to the Canada, in the town of Quebec for the " Festival of summer of Québec" in front of more than 80.000 people on the " plains of Abraham". Thanks to the Unbreakable album and with the round which was followed from there, Scorpions thus joined again with its fans and the music which made its success.

In November 2006, the group entered in studio to Los Angeles, under the crook of Desmond Child (which has in particular coécrit the tube " I Was Made For Lovin You" of KIS and produced famous artists such as Expensive). The recording is finished and the new album left the May 14th 2007 to France under label BMG. It is entitled Humanity - Hour 1 . This album received by the public and the critics is a kind of Album concept whose main theme is, as its title indicates it, humanity today. It gave place to a new world tour which continues since April.

Formations

Current formation

Formation " légendaire" (1979-1992)

All formations

A very prolific group

Scorpions left not less than 17 albums studios in 35 years of career what corresponds to approximately an album every two years. From 1974 to 1980, Scorpions goes to leave an album every year. This group does not cease leaving in round and producing albums. They really never made like back because even if between Eye II Eye and Unbreakable 5 years were passed, the round Acoustica and the symphonic album Moment off Glory filled the fans.

Discography

For more details to see the article: Discography of Scorpions

Albums

External bonds

  • Official site
  • Matthias Jabs - the official homepage
  • Frenchscorpions: The French site
  • Crazyscorps: French-speaking official Fan-club
  • InTrance - a homage to the Scorpions
  • French-speaking Site
  • Michael Schenker Poland, Polish site

References

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