UFO (the band)

Unknown Soldier · 08-26-2012, 08:09 AM

Without doubt one of the best hard rock acts to have come out of the UK. They were masters of the blistering hard rock attack combined with melodic leanings. But like Deep Purple who they can draw comparisons with, they didn't start out as a hard rock band but as a boogified space-rock band as evidenced on their first two studio albums. Now whilst these two albums are decent especially UFO 2, this was never to be their true calling and the voice of Phil Mogg was just wasted on this sound, he had the tonsils for something far more potent. So like Deep Purple before them, they shifted their sound to a hard rock one and added ex-Scorpions guitar virtuoso to their ranks and the UFO legend was born.

The band on their third album Phenomenon kicked of a golden era for the band which saw them release a string of fantastic albums throughout the 1970s culminating in the classic live set Strangers in the Night. In between these releases, the band released timeless classics such such as Force It, Lights Out and Obsession. The album No Heavy Petting is probably the only questionable album in this bunch. On these albums, Phil Mogg gives singing leasons to most future heavy bands, Pete Way pulverizes on bass and Michael Schenker on guitar almost steals the show with his virtuoso riffs.

When Michael Schenker then decided to pack his bags and leave the band, it was the end on an era and the band never quite found their 1970s spark again.

Seminal Line-Up:
Phil Mogg -Vocals
Michael Schenker -Guitar
Pete Way -Bass
Andy Parker -Drums

later added Paul Raymond on Keyboards.

Unknown Soldier · 08-26-2012, 09:11 AM

Just sounds so good.

UFO - Phenomenon - 05 - Rock Bottom (1974) - YouTube

almauro · 08-26-2012, 03:07 PM

Si, Ufo very good. All of their albums are really good and well rounded 70s hard rock staples, but "Let It Roll", "Mother Mary" and "Shoot Shoot" of Force It are my fav. Best guitar solo ever is on "This Kid's" off of Strangers In The Night.

Urban Hat€monger ? · 08-26-2012, 08:14 PM

Not sure I agree with them having lost their spark when Schenker left, they did some great stuff with Paul Chapman. This is the first UFO song I ever heard, and also has him on guitar.

The rumour I heard for Michael Schenker leaving was that Pete Way smacked a snooker cue over his head

Unknown Soldier · 08-27-2012, 03:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Urban Hatemonger ?

Not sure I agree with them having lost their spark when Schenker left, they did some great stuff with Paul Chapman. This is the first UFO song I ever heard, and also has him on guitar.

The rumour I heard for Michael Schenker leaving was that Pete Way smacked a snooker cue over his head

Paul Chapman came in from Lone Star and was a good replacement, though he could never fill the boots of Schenker. The big problem for UFO were outside influences which came in the shape of the NWOBHM. When a new sub-genre pops up it normally does two things, Firstly it can revitalize the fortunes of bands that helped inspire it and in this case bands like Judas Priest and the Scorpions shot to to even bigger heights (as you know they were well known bands before, but just got even bigger) or on the other hand influential bands can become irrelevant and UFO along with the likes of Budgie fell into this category. UFO really failed to capitalize on the NWOBHM and their first album without Schenker No Place to Run felt really flat and bland, in fact the song you posted was the best thing on the album. They improved considerably with The Wild, The Willing and The Innocent and I listened to that album recently and it wasn't as good as I remembered. Of all the later stuff I really need to update myself on it again. But I would say with conviction that the departure of Schenker and especially the NWOBHM was the death knoll for the band,

The Batlord · 08-27-2012, 09:56 AM

I downloaded "Too Hot to Handle" years ago and burned it to a mixed cd of old school metal, and it's still one of the highlights of that "album", but I've always been too lazy to listen any more of them. Perhaps I shall remedy that situation.

Unknown Soldier · 08-27-2012, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Batlord

I downloaded "Too Hot to Handle" years ago and burned it to a mixed cd of old school metal, and it's still one of the highlights of that "album", but I've always been too lazy to listen any more of them. Perhaps I shall remedy that situation.

Stick on Phenomenom, I'm sure you'll love it and its the best place to start.

The Batlord · 08-27-2012, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unknown Soldier

Stick on Phenomenom, I'm sure you'll love it and its the best place to start.

Too late. Already checked out Lights Out. It took a minute to put my mind in 70s melodic hard rock mode, but after I did it was pretty awesome.

Unknown Soldier · 08-27-2012, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Batlord

Too late. Already checked out Lights Out. It took a minute to put my mind in 70s melodic hard rock mode, but after I did it was pretty awesome.

Lights Out is pobably they're very best album, whenever I recommend a band to somebody. I always recommend a good album but not their very best, as that should be saved for a bit later. Phenomenon is probably about their 3rd best.

Plankton · 08-27-2012, 11:04 AM

Yep, I grew up listening to UFO. I've got Strangers In The Night CD in my car, and listen to it constantly. The version of "Love To Love" on that is fantastic, and really there isn't one bad song on the whole of it. Here's a (somewhat) recent version of L2L with Vinnie Moore filling in the Schenk spot on guit. Not bad, and Phil still has the pipes.

UFO [ LOVE TO LOVE ] LIVE/STUDIO VERSION '05. - YouTube

When Schenk-man formed MSG, he really took off and while this thread is about UFO, I don't want to start spewing on about him and may start a MSG thread if their isn't one already.

08-26-2012, 03:07 PM	#3 (permalink)
almauro Way Out There Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 850	Si, Ufo very good. All of their albums are really good and well rounded 70s hard rock staples, but "Let It Roll", "Mother Mary" and "Shoot Shoot" of Force It are my fav. Best guitar solo ever is on "This Kid's" off of Strangers In The Night. __________________ rock n music blog

08-26-2012, 08:14 PM	#4 (permalink)
Urban Hat€monger ? The Sexual Intellectual Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Somewhere cooler than you Posts: 18,605	Not sure I agree with them having lost their spark when Schenker left, they did some great stuff with Paul Chapman. This is the first UFO song I ever heard, and also has him on guitar. The rumour I heard for Michael Schenker leaving was that Pete Way smacked a snooker cue over his head __________________ Urb's RYM Stuff Most people sell their soul to the devil, but the devil sells his soul to Nick Cave.

08-27-2012, 11:04 AM	#10 (permalink)
Plankton Just Keep Swimming... Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: See signature... Posts: 7,765	Yep, I grew up listening to UFO. I've got Strangers In The Night CD in my car, and listen to it constantly. The version of "Love To Love" on that is fantastic, and really there isn't one bad song on the whole of it. Here's a (somewhat) recent version of L2L with Vinnie Moore filling in the Schenk spot on guit. Not bad, and Phil still has the pipes. UFO [ LOVE TO LOVE ] LIVE/STUDIO VERSION '05. - YouTube When Schenk-man formed MSG, he really took off and while this thread is about UFO, I don't want to start spewing on about him and may start a MSG thread if their isn't one already. __________________ See location...