Ladies and Gents, Michael Schenker is the greatest Hard Rock lead guitarist, period! Bold statement? Yep, but look at the body of work that Mr. Schenker has given us; Scorpions, UFO, the different line ups of MSG, including the McAuley Schenker Group, the Contraband project of the late 80's, The Plot record with Pete Way and the other assorted Michael Schenker releases that were not under the moniker of MSG. Schenker has been the most consistent lead player in Hard Rock history.
Mind you, not all of the works have seen his best songwriting efforts, but let's face it we buy his records to hear him solo. The vehicle in which he gets to solo might not be his best, especially in the recent past, but he NEVER disappoints in his lead work. The tone, the phrasing, the tastiness, Schenker is still a god. Not to mention the generations of players that he has influenced, (John Norum, George Lynch, Warren DeMartini, Gus G., to name a few) Michael Schenker is still very much relevant in 2010.
It seems like only a few years ago that the newly departed guitar god of the MUCH underrated UK band UFO, would give us his 1st solo record, The Michael Schenker Group, but that was 1980. And to celebrate this 30 year anniversary of the debut MSG record, Schenker and company have released an 18 track DVD entitled, The 30th Anniversary Concert-Live in Tokyo. This incarnation of the band features original MSG singer, Gary Barden, original drummer on the Michael Schenker Group album, the legendary Simon Phillips, former Whitesnake and Black Sabbath bass player Neil Murray and newer MSG alumni, guitarist/keyboardist Wayne Findlay. Having Barden back in the fold really makes this a special event and the band is on fire.
The DVD sounds and looks amazing and Schenker has never sounded better. Shot in 16:9 ratio and in Dolby Digital 5.1, the DVD looks almost like it is in HD, so the video quality is superb. All that you need is an excellent performance from Schenker & Co., and this is a winner…and that's exactly what you get! With stellar versions of MSG classics like "Armed and Ready", "Into The Arena", "Lost Horizons", "On And On", "Attack Of The Mad Axeman", and UFO must includes such as "Rock Bottom" and "Doctor, Doctor", the 2010 line up just mesmerizes a standing room only Nakano Sun Plaza audience. Michael Schenker himself looks fantastic and HEALTHY and it shows in his awe-inspiring guitar pyrotechnics. He looks almost exactly like he did on that 1st solo record album cover, 30 years ago. The man has aged very well and his classic guitar playing has never gone out of style.
With crystal clear video and amazing audio, Schenker just tears it up from beginning to end. This is a great representation of a 30 year solo career and a celebration of an album that would send MANY a guitar player into the wood shed to learn these new riffs and to try and replicate THAT Schenker tone. Ask Marshall Amplification about that tone, they even designed their infamous JCM 800 amp line after Schenker's amazing tone!! You WILL find yourself watching this DVD over and over and marveling at The Man. Caught at his best, this DVD is well worth the price, with its 18 songs, bonus footage of band rehearsals in L.A. and behind the scenes clips in Japan, The 30th Anniversary Concert –Live in Tokyo is a must have for ANY Schenker fan.
Track Listing
1. Intro
2. Armed And Ready
3. Feels Like A Good Thing
4. Cry For The Nations
5. Let Sleeping Dogs Lie
6. Victim of Illusion
7. Are You Ready To Rock
8. I Want You
9. Night To Remember
10. Into The Arena
11. Lost Horizons
12. Rock My Nights Away
13. On And On
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4. Attack of the Mad Axeman
15. Ride On My Way
16. Rock Bottom
17. Dance Lady Gypsy
18. Doctor, Doctor
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