Although criminally underrated British rockers UFO would enjoy varying degrees of success after their acrimonious departure from the band in 1978, the Michael Schenker period from 1974 until 1978 is rightly referred to as the golden age of UFO. A five-year period that delivered three bona fide classic albums in ‘Force It’ (1975), ‘Lights Out’ (1977), and ‘Obsession’ (1978), as well as setlist staples ‘Doctor Doctor’, and ‘Rock Bottom’ taken from Schenker’s debut with the band: 1974’s ‘Phenomenon’. Schenker’s swansong with the band [until the 1995 reunion on ‘Walk on Water’] would be the much-lauded live album ‘Strangers in the Night’, which landed after the guitarist had left the band.

Last year, Schenker celebrated the 50th anniversary of joining UFO by releasing ‘My Years with UFO’, a collection of modern versions of UFO songs where star guests and different vocalists helped put a new slant on classic material. Although it was disjointed in places, there was still enough there to pique the interest, and live dates were always going to follow in celebration of one of the strongest back catalogues in hard rock. Swedish livewire vocalist Erik Grönwall must have impressed Schenker with his efforts alongside Slash on the new version of ‘Mother Mary’, as the charismatic and likeable vocalist finds himself lining up alongside the legend once dubbed “The German Wunderkind” on the “My Years with UFO Tour”.

Support for this stretch of UK gigs are Lancaster medieval quartet Wytch Hazel, a band seemingly with many different influences that seep through into their own sound. Second track in, ‘I Am Redeemed’, for instance, you would be hard-pressed not to pick up on a Thin Lizzy Celtic-tinged jig here and there on this little beauty. Whereas, ‘Still We Fight’, which immediately follows on has an Iron Maiden galloping NWOBHM vibe to it. The gentle, lilting intro to ‘Archangel’ gives way to a throbbing, pulsating slice of proggy-doom-metal that could well come from the cutting room floor of a Blue Öyster Cult recording session where Jethro Tull were present.

Founding singer/guitarist Colin Hendra excels throughout the lengthy 45-minute set (a fantastic set length for a support act), and given the quality of new songs ‘Elements’, and ‘Woven’, the forthcoming new album ‘V: Lamentations’ is going to be worth further investigation, as are Wytch Hazel when they come back around for some headline shows.

Calling at all stops on that golden age mentioned above, the setlist is staggering, and how good must your jukebox be if you can casually slot in ‘Only You Can Rock Me’ as the second song, and ‘Doctor Doctor’ as the fourth? Normally reserved for encores during the last decades of UFO, it is a masterstroke from Schenker to drop them into the set so early. Equally impressive is the fact that ‘Natural Thing’ and ‘Hot ‘n’ Ready’ complete an opening quartet to rival the output of most bands from the same era.

Somehow, in his trademark fur hat, Michael Schenker still looks the coolest person in the blistering heat of a packed-out venue. There’s not much chit-chat, instead, it’s mostly one song straight into the next one with Schenker content to spend most of the show stage left, peeling off one incendiary solo after another (his melodic solo during ‘Only You Can Rock Me’ should be compulsory viewing for every young rock guitarist out there – and top marks to Steve Mann for providing the crucial keyboard flourishes on this one). Schenker has never been given the credit as a guitarist that he deserves, and it is a genuine thrill watching him roll back the years, especially since he celebrated his 70th birthday this year.

Grönwall is a great fit for Schenker, and it is heartwarming to see the Swede back onstage after his prolonged battle with leukemia that forced him to draw the curtain on his time with Skid Row. He belongs on stage, and it’s easy to imagine that he came out of the womb wearing a leather jacket, black, skinny trousers, and ran around the delivery room telling everyone in attendance to get their hands in the air. The scream that he let out once the Doctor slapped him when he was born must have been ear-piercing. Tonight, though, he knows it is all about the man to his left, and not only does Grönwall do the material great justice; he does it in a respectful, understated way. Normally, he would be off the stage and down at the barrier within the first few minutes; tonight, it’s taken him maybe an hour or so before he goes walkabout. He will be a big miss once this tour moves to the USA in September/October without him.

It’s not all about the heavy hitters, though, in amongst the likes of ‘Rock Bottom’, ‘Shoot Shoot’, and ‘Too Hot to Handle’ (all of which feature in a jaw-dropping 25-minute finale) are deep cuts from the UFO catalogue with ‘Reasons Love’, ‘Can You Roll Her’, and ‘This Kid’s’ all sparking long suppressed trips down memory lane. The latter is especially noteworthy for the way that it segues perfectly from a heavy jam between Schenker and his top-notch band into a roof-raising version of ‘Lights Out’…“Lights out, lights out in Glasgow…”

Catch Michael Schenker with Erik Grönwall on vocals as they close out the Maid of Stone Festival in Maidstone, Sunday, July 20th. For all forthcoming live dates, head to the official Michael Schenker website, HERE.

Review – Dave

Live images – Dave Jamieson

Michael Schenker – The Garage, Glasgow

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