Michael Schenker , former guitarist for UFO and Scorpions , said that his troubled relationship with his older brother Rudolf Schenker is an obstacle to his participation in the German band's 60th anniversary concert.
In an interview with Trunk Nation with Eddie Trunk in the November 11th edition, Schenker was asked if Scorpions had contacted him about a special appearance at the band's anniversary show in Germany, and he replied ( via Blabbermouth ):
“I wasn’t invited. I know I’ve been a big part of Rudolf’s development as a musician. I don’t think he would be where he is without me, and perhaps the opposite is also true.”
The guitarist reveals, during the interview, that his complicated and conflicted relationship with his brother and leader of the Scorpions is the obstacle to his future participation with the band in 2025.
“I have to protect myself from him. Every time my brother wants to do something to me, or they want to do something big and need my name, he uses me. And I'm very sad that he keeps doing this.”
Michael Schenker continues: “My brother is seven years older than me. He’s a bully and has been abusive to me for many years. He’s been distorting my image for many years and he acts like nothing happened. I asked other people how their older brothers treat them and they told me the same thing happens to them as happens to me.”
“The fact is that I helped Scorpions and contributed at the beginning of the band, but they forgot everything I did. The guys in Scorpions aren't bad… it's just Rudolf who's a crazy and weirdo. I don't know what motivates him, but I don't want to be associated with it. I don't know what's wrong with him and I don't know why it's so important for him to be bigger than his little brother.”
Michael Schenker was a member of the Scorpions between 1970-1973 and 1978-1979, playing lead guitar on the albums Lonesome Crow (1972) and Lovedrive (1979).
In Lovedrive (1979), Schenker recorded and collaborated on an adrenaline-filled sound in his solo guitar, his most significant contributions being “Another Piece of Meat”, “Coast to Coast”, “Holiday” and “Lovedrive”.
The guitarist reunited with Scorpions during the Wacken Open Air festival , which featured appearances by former band members, such as ex-guitarist Uli Jon Roth .
Check out Scorpions along with Michael Schenker and Uli Jon Roth performing “In Trance” at Wacken 2006:
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