Michael Schenker Group - Academy Liverpool 30 May 2010
Michael Schenker is probably best known for his time with The Scorpions and latterly as the lead axe man of UFO. Since leaving UFO in 1978, Michael has been leading several variations of The Michael Schenker Group despite some personal and very public issues. That aside, the Michael Schenker Group are on the road again with their extensive 30th Anniversary Tour which was to take in three dates in the UK including Liverpool.
The Academy 2 was filled to the rafters, the busiest that I’ve ever seen it. The crowd, getting restless with the wait, erupted as the band came on stage and they saw the man himself with his trademark Dean guitar. He was joined on stage by Gary Barden (Vocals), Chris Slade (ex-AC/DC/The Firm on Drums), Chris Glenn (Bass) and Wayne Findlay (Guitar/Keyboards).
They kicked off the set with ‘Armed And Ready’ from the first MSG album and then onto the Barden/Schenker penned ’Cry For The Nations’. With Barden’s vocals leading the band, Schenker was able to concentrate on his guitar gymnastics with long and intricate solos and taking over the stage only when required. The sound was good and the crowd thoroughly immersed. The songs came thick and fast; ‘Let Sleeping Dogs Lie’, ‘Are You Ready To Rock’, ‘I Want You’ and ‘A Night To Remember’. All seemed well in the world, the place was rocking and Mister Schenker hadn’t walked off the stage. In the past, he had been known for walking off halfway through a set, never to return. This resulted in him acquiring the nickname of ‘Mad Mickey’. He seems to have overcome his issues and hasn’t done this in recent years due to the tremendous support of the people around him.
The set went on to cover songs from the different eras of MSG. As the night moved on, the more energetic the band became and the crowd’s enthusiasm increased. The enigmatic guitar player had them eating out of his hand. This was a great gig; the music rocked, the crowd rocked and MSG had their leader back to his best.
Official Set List
Armed And Ready
Cry For The Nations
Let Sleeping Dogs Lie
Are You Ready To Rock
I Want You
A Night To Remember
Into The Arena
Corvorsian Concerto
Lost Horizons
Rock My Nights Away
On & On
Attack Mad Axeman
Lights Out
Ride On My Way
Rock Bottom
Doctor Doctor