RATINGS: A = must own B = buy it C= average D = yawn F = puke

Michael Schenker – Temple of Rock: Live in Europe
MVD
http://temple-of-rock-live.com/

Rating: B+

Michael Schenker was just a teenager when he left the Scorpions and joined UFO.  A few years later, inner band turmoil saw him form the Michael Schenker Group and walk away from UFO.  Schenker has never stayed in one place long.  He has had a career filled with ecstasy, excess, triumph and tragedy. 

He has almost drunk and drugged himself to death, made and lost fortunes, skipped out on tours and, yet, every time, somehow, someway, he makes a comeback. 

Schenker has not only made a comeback this time, he has come back on top. His new release, a live CD and DVD available in many different formats, (see below), Temple of Rock: Live in Europe is the triumphant return of a sober Schenker, doing what he does best…playing guitar. 

He is surrounded by friends including ex-Scorpions drummer Herman Rarebell and bass player Francis Buchholz.  Michael Voss, the vocalist on the studio CD, Temple of Rock, makes a guest appearance on the main performance in The Netherlands, while rock veteran Doogie White is the main vocalist for that show.  

As a bonus feature there are several tracks taken from London’s 2011 High Voltage Festival that sees Brother Rudolf Schenker from the Scorpions, as well as Pete Way, Michael’s band mate in UFO, join the blond haired guitarist on stage. Also joining in are White (Voss is the lead vocalist on this concert) and Jeff Scott Soto.  

The track listing has some of Michael’s solo stuff, some UFO and a lot of Scorpions music on it.  There are several Scorpions tunes that Schenker didn’t even play on that go down great, including “Rock You like a Hurricane” and “Blackout.”  

Schenker, who played on several songs on the classic Scorpions’ album Lovedrive,” along with Rarebell and Buchholz, trotted out several songs from that album including “Another Piece of Meat,” “Lovedrive,” “Holiday” and “Coast to Coast.”  Mix this in with “Armed and Ready,” “Assault Attack,” “Shoot Shoot,” “Rock Bottom,” “Lights Out” and “Doctor Doctor” and you have a Michael Schenker greatest hits live album that will have your fist pumping in the air the entire concert.

The album is released on three formats & Limited Deluxe Edition:
Ltd Deluxe Edition (2 CD, 1 Blu-ray, 1 Bonus DVD)
Blu-ray Edition (1 Disc) / CD Edition (2 Discs)
DVD Edition (1 Disc)

LIVE IN TILBURG - TRACK LISTING
Into The Arena
Armed And Ready
Lovedrive
Another Piece Of Meat
Hanging On
Cry For The Nations
Let Sleeping Dogs Lie
Coast To Coast
Assault Attack
Before The Devil Knows You're Dead
Lights Out
On And On
Let It Roll
Shoot Shoot
Rock You Like A Hurricane
Rock Bottom
Holiday
Blackout
Doctor Doctor

THE MUSICIANS
Michael Schenker (lead guitars)
Doogie White (lead vocals)
Herman Rarebell (drums)
Francis Buchholz (bass)
Wayne Findlay (keyboards, guitars, backing vocals)
Michael Voss (lead vocals, guitar - Special guest on 'Hanging On')

LIVE AT HIGH VOLTAGE - TRACK LISTING
Armed And Ready
Another Piece Of Meat
Rock You Like A Hurricane
(ft. Rudolph Schenker)
Hanging On (ft. Rudolph Schenker)
Doctor Doctor (ft. Rudolph Schenker)

THE MUSICIANS
Michael Schenker (lead guitars)
Michael Voss (lead vocals, guitar)
Herman Rarebell (drums)
Wayne Findlay (keyboards, guitars, backing vocals)
Elliott Dean Rubinson (bass)

SPECIAL GUESTS
Rudolf Schenker (rhythm guitar on Rock You Like A Hurricane, Hanging On, Doctor Doctor)
Pete Way (bass guitar on Doctor Doctor)
Jeff Scott Soto (vocals on Doctor Doctor)
Doogie White (vocals on Doctor Doctor)

FORMATS & SPECIAL FEATURES

CD EDITION - 2 DISC
Recording from 2012's Tilburg, Netherlands concert
Recording (extracts) from London's 2011
High Voltage Festival

DVD EDITION - 1 DISC
Recording from 2012's Tilburg, Netherlands concert
Recording (extracts) from London's 2011 High Voltage Festival
Bonus Footage: Before the show (Tilburg)
Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1, dts, Stereo

BLU-RAY EDITION - 1 DISC
Recording from 2012's Tilburg, Netherlands concert
Recording (extracts) from London's 2011 High Voltage Festival
Bonus Footage: Before the show (Tilburg)
Bonus Footage: Soundcheck (Tilburg)
Audio: DTS HD Master, Stereo

LIMITED DELUXE EDITION - 4 DISCS
Includes 2 CDs, 1 Blu-ray, 1 Bonus DVD.
Bonus DVD includes the following content:
Brighton Rehearsal
Doogie's Video Impressions

Visit http://temple-of-rock-live.com/ to purchase the version you want!

By Jeb Wright