SCORPIONS. Legends of Heavy Metal, Hard Rock and Rock History. Really, what can I truly say about the inevitable retirement of the Scorpions, that has not already been said today, across the world? All I can say, from my very own personal, Metal perspective, is THANK YOU. Thank you Scorpions for the albums of songs, the videos, the tours, the loyalty to the fans and for just knowing that you were THERE for me to listen to as a young teen, all the way through adulthood. With three years left to go before the official Metal curtain falls… I will make every Metal effort to say goodbye at a live show. There is still three more years of Scorpions memories to be had. Plus, with the new studio album Sting In The Tail coming out this March, there has never been a better time than 2010 to celebrate a true Champion of Heavy Metal – SCORPIONS! I actually have duck bumps going up and down my arms as I write this… it’s like I am saying thank you and goodbye to a good buddy. In the grand Metal scheme of things, yes, the Scorpions were always my buddy… one of my core Heavy Metal bands to turn to for inspiration, enjoyment and of course… partying, (when I was a young lad and could stay up all night).
A fan becomes a part of a band, whether or not that band knows it or not. The Heavy Metal community is family and it’s a day like January 25, 2010, when this realization really sets in. Just like when a favorite New York Yankee of mine retires or gets traded, it leaves that notorious lump in my throat. Well, I have that lump in my throat today… only it’s a Metal lump. To commemorate this iconic Heavy Metal Band, I have compiled a list, a Metal roll call if you will, of the musicians of the Scorpions – both past and present. I thank each and everyone of them. I also have blabbed about my Metal adoration for the Scorpions a few times on Metal Odyssey, during my short time in doing this blog gig. Please check out these three posts if you feel like it, just click on the headers below the Scorpions roll call.
Scorpions – Present:
Klaus Meine – vocalist
Rudolf Schenker – guitarist
Matthias Jabs – guitarist
Pawel Maciwoda – bass guitarist
James Kottak – drummer
Scorpions – Past: (In no particular order)
Michael Schenker – guitarist
Ulrich Roth – guitarist
Francis Buchholz – bass guitarist
Herman Rarebell – drummer
Wolfgang Dziony – drummer
Lothar Heimberg – bass guitarist
Jurgen Rosenthal – drummer
Achim Kirschning – keyboardist
Rudy Lenners – drummer
Barry Sparks – bass guitarist
Ralph Rieckermann – bass guitarist
Curt Cress – drummer
Ken Taylor – bass guitarist
Ingo Powitzer – bass guitarist
(And of course, the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra too)
* Please note, if I happened to overlook any former Scorpions musician from the past, please let me know through a comment and that respective musician shall be added to this list. Any Metal oversight is wholeheartedly unintentional on the part of Metal Odyssey and I apologize now in case this was to happen.
From the 1972 studio album release of Lonesome Crow to the highly anticipated Sting In The Tail studio album of 2010, with every single studio and live album in between, the Heavy Metal from the Scorpions will live on for future generations to embrace and enjoy.
LONG LIVE SCORPIONS HEAVY METAL!


U.D.O. is another justified example as to why I consider Germany the worlds greatest exporter of Metal Music outside of the great United States. U.D.O. does not stray from their Heavy Metal norm on Dominator, (released on October 6, 2009 in the U.S.A., on AFM Records). The first two songs on Dominator are like smash mouth football… Old School and punishing. The lyrics are not meant for NASA academics, they are meant for the Metalheads of the world who take pride in their Heavy Metal Music and bands. The Bogeyman and Dominator are song titles with lyrical content that follow a simple rule of Heavy Metal… thou shall not conform. Vintage Heavy Metal, baby. No political statements or hard to decipher words to be found. I love this stuff. I live for this stuff. Black and White is song three and glorifies the elegance of Heavy Metal guitar, not to forget Heavy Metal chorus as well. Udo Dirkschneider on lead vocals sounds as great as ever, anyone who states otherwise is simply jealous of this ageless Metal icon. Udo Dirkschneider has forever forged his legacy twice in Heavy Metal history, both with U.D.O. and Accept. Heavy Metal lightning does strike twice, Udo Dirkschneider is living proof of that.


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