German Hard Rock Music

Scorpions
This band was formed in 1969 by guitarist and singer Rudold Schenker, guitarist Karl-Heinz Follmer, bassist Lothar Heimberg and drummer Wolfgang Dziony. In 1971 Schenker's younger brother, Michael, joined the band as guitarist, and brought along his friend Klaus Meine as vocalist.

They recorded their first album in 1972, Lonesome Crow, which was used in the soundtrack for the German movie Das Kalte Paradies . Although they didn't get the audience's recognition, the English band UFO hired Michael Schenker, who left the band and was replaced by Uli John Roth. Their next four records no longer caught the North American audience's attention, although they were popular with Japanese audiences.

After their 1977 record Taken by Force, Roth left the group and was replaced by Michael Schenker in 1979, who returned to the band alter having been thrown out of UFO due to his constant alcohol and drug abuse, problems that would continue with the Scorpions, and the reason for which he left the band for a second time. They decided to hire Matthias Jabs to replace him.

Their 1980 record Animal Magnetism surprisingly made it to a golden record in the United States , and its follow-up in 1982, Blackout -which included the hit "No One Like You"- became an international success. But it was their next record, Love at First Sting (1984) which ended up making them superstars, especially due to the singles "Rock You Like a Hurricane" and "Still Loving You". The group began a world tour which would be one of the most successful in its time, with an impressive and energetic show, as can be heard on their live record in 1985.

Their next two albums, Savage Amusement (1988) and Crazy World (1990) would also be big hits thanks to two ballads: "Rhythm of Love" and "Wind of Change". These would be their last successful records, as by 1993, when the band edited their album Face the Heat, many of their fans had lost interest. This was largely due to the explosion of alternative and grunge music in the early part of the decade. Since then they have continued editing, although never again did they manage a golden record. In the northern hemisphere's autumn in 2000 they released their latest record, Moment of Glory, recording alongside the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra.