At the age of 17 Michael Schenker was already a very talented guitar player, rocking the goods in big brother Rudolf’s band Scorpions before UFO offered him the vacant spot as lead guitarist. Michael gladly accepted launching UFO to major success before he quit in ’78. Schenker briefly re-joined Scorpions and - after declining offers to join Aerosmith and Ozzy Osbourne - entered upon a solo career which was both successful and turbulent to say the least. But since a few years he has cleaned up his act and recently released a new album called ‘Temple of Rock’. With his touring band consisting of ex-Scorpions rhythm section Herman Rarebell and Francis Buchholz, and the great Doogie White on vocals, I was eager to see if the promising rumours were true. And viewing the packed Biebob venue on this midweek night, I was not alone.

After Fury UK warmed up the place it was time for Michael Schenker to hit the stage. But band members were still entering the venue long after the intro tape had started resulting in possibly the longest intro ever and causing a hilarious moment. Once on stage though, Schenker took off immediately with ‘Into The Arena’ followed by ‘Armed and Ready’. From the start it was clear that the ‘old’ Michael was back, playing with passion and enthusiasm and even laughing at the fans. He looked fresh and cheerful without the beard and sunglasses, although at a cooking Biebob it must have been boiling hot underneath his beanie. During the years I’ve seen Michael on many occasions and I can’t remember seeing him this happy, if ever I have. His playing was spot on and his solos were full of passion and emotion again, which I hadn’t heard from him in a long time.

The experienced rhythm section of Rarebell and Buchholz laid down a grooving carpet just as in their heyday with Scorpions, while fifth member Wayne Findley added rhythm guitar and keyboards where needed. Doogie White appeared only as a guest on the new album, but has been employed as the new lead singer on this tour. With a set list containing songs from MSG, UFO and Scorpions he had a hard task filling the shoes of three very different vocalists. Especially Klaus Meine’s parts were a hard nut to crack, but the former Rainbow & Cornerstone singer delivered the goods.

Schenker treated us to a best-of set with ‘Cry For The Nations’, ‘On And On’, ‘Let Sleeping Dogs Lie’ and ‘Assault Attack’ (MSG), ‘Lights Out’, ‘Let It Roll’, ‘Shoot Shoot’ and ‘Rock Bottom’ (UFO) and ‘Lovedrive’, ‘Coast To Coast’ and ‘Another Piece Of Meat’ (Scorpions). Some people were not content with the set list, complaining about the lack of MSG songs, but Schenker was responsible for (co-)writing all of the UFO and most of the Scorpions songs that were played tonight. Indeed it was somewhat bizarre to hear ‘Holiday’ and ‘Blackout’ as encores, but the overwhelming reaction of the fans proved the few disbelievers wrong. The obligatory ‘Doctor Doctor’ put an end to a blistering show presenting a mind-blowing Michael Schenker. Hopefully for good this time!