MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP, the band led by legendary German guitarist Michael Schenker, will embark on a U.S. tour this fall. The trek will kick off on September 27 in San Juan Capistrano, California and end on November 6 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Tour dates:

With Eric Martin, IMAGES OF EDEN:

Sep. 27 – The Coach House – San Juan Capistrano, CA
Sep. 28 – Goldfield Trading Post – Roseville, CA
Sep. 29 – Great American Music Hall – San Francisco, CA
Oct. 01 – Saban Theater – Los Angeles, CA
Oct. 02 – Count’s Vamp’d – Las Vegas, NV
Oct. 04 – Oriental Theater – Denver, CO
Oct. 06 – Pop’s – Sauget, IL
Oct. 07 – Des Plaines Theater – Des Plaines, IL
Oct. 08 – Arcada Theater – St. Charles, IL
Oct. 09 – Pabst Theater – Milwaukee, WI
Oct. 11 – The Art Theater – Hobart, IN
Oct. 12 – Piere’s – Ft. Wayne, IN
Oct. 14 – The King Of Clubs – Columbus, OH
Oct. 15 – Agora Theater – Cleveland, OH
Oct. 16 – Harpo’s – Detroit, MI
Oct. 17 – Jergels – Pittsburgh, PA
Oct. 19 – The Vault – New Bedford, MA * MSG only
Oct. 20 – Flying Monkey – Plymouth, NH
Oct. 21 – Cabot Theater – Beverly, MA
Oct. 22 – Sony Hall – New York, NY
Oct. 23 – Newton Theater – Newton, NJ
Oct. 25 – Keswick Theater – Glenside, PA
Oct. 26 – Tally Ho – Leesburg, VA
Oct. 27 – Sherman Theater – Stroudsburg, PA

With DAMON JOHNSON & THE GET READY, IMAGES OF EDEN:

Oct. 29 – Bogarts – Cincinnati, OH
Oct. 30 – Brooklyn Bowl – Nashville, TN

With W.A.S.P., ARMORED SAINT:

Nov. 02 – White Oak Music Hall – Houston, TX
Nov. 03 – Concrete Street Pavilion – Corpus Christi TX
Nov. 04 – Eaton Arena – San Antonio, TX
Nov. 05 – Amplified Live – Dallas, TX
Nov. 06 – Tulsa Theater – Tulsa, OK

MSG U.S. tour 2022 lineup:

Michael Schenker – lead guitar
Ronnie Romero – vocals
Bodo Schopf – drums
Steve Mann – keyboards, guitars
Barend Courbois – bass

There are few rock guitarists on this planet who have had such a lasting influence on so many renowned musicians as Michael Schenker. With his outstandingly fluid style, inexhaustible wealth of ideas and instinctive feel for hooks and melodies, Michael Schenker is a living legend who, despite his longstanding and distinguished history, still impresses with his unflagging energy and drive. The blond stringsman from Sarstedt, Germany began his international career in the early 1970s with the SCORPIONS, achieved worldwide fame after joining British rock group UFO and then seamlessly continued his exceptional global success story under his own name, as well as with acts such as MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP (MSG for short), TEMPLE OF ROCK and MICHAEL SCHENKER FEST. Schenker and his career, which has spanned more than fifty years, are absolute exceptions in the otherwise short-lived music industry.

Now his latest MSG album is about to be unleashed, scheduled for release on Atomic Fire Records on May 27 under the programmatic moniker of “Universal”. His latest offering will feature all the strengths of this exceptional musician: first-rate songs with anthemic melodies, catchy guitar riffs and inspiring solos. As we have come to expect from him, Schenker has once again enlisted a number of prestigious fellow musicians for the recording of his new studio production, among them, as main vocalist Ronnie Romero (RAINBOW, VANDENBERG), who will also be MSG’s frontman on their upcoming tour, Michael Kiske (HELLOWEEN) and Ralf Scheepers (PRIMAL FEAR), keyboard player Steve Mann (LIONHEART), drummers Simon Phillips (TOTO, THE WHO), Brian Tichy (WHITESNAKE, FOREIGNER), Bobby Rondinelli (RAINBOW) and Bodo Schopf (ELOY), as well as legendary bassists Bob Daisley (BLACK SABBATH), Barry Sparks (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, DOKKEN) and Barend Courbois (BLIND GUARDIAN, ZAKK WYLDE), with Tony Carey as a very special guest.

Like its predecessor “Immortal” (2021) and the MICHAEL SCHENKER FEST albums “Resurrection” (2018) and “Revelation” (2019), “Universal” was produced by Michael Schenker and Michael Voss (LESSMANN/VOSS, MAD MAX) at Voss’s Kidroom Studio, which has become something of a creative home away from home for Schenker.

“Michael Voss is happy to wait until I have worked out an idea and takes the time to really get to know the song, simultaneously developing ideas for the vocals,” Schenker describes the fruitful collaboration which has one cog intermesh with the other. “Then we work out the drums, bass and some keyboard parts together. He always has plenty of great ideas up his sleeve.”

Compositional highlights abound on “Universal”, from the haunting opener “Emergency” and the subsequent “Under Attack” with its casually driving groove to “The Universe”, featuring an atmospheric duet by Ronnie Romero and Gary Barden, “Wrecking Ball”, performed as brilliantly as ever by Ralf Scheepers, and “London Calling” with its homage to the British capital’s musical spirit.

The rock anthem “A King Has Gone” and its intro “Calling Baal” both have a special significance: The track, sung by HELLOWEEN frontman Michael Kiske, is a tribute to the immortal Ronnie James Dio, in particular to his performance on the 1976 hard rock classic “Rainbow Rising”. For this reason, Schenker has brought together an original RAINBOW rhythm section consisting of Bobby Rondinelli and Bob Daisley, additionally enlisting keyboardist Tony Carey, who also played on “Rainbow Rising”, for a terrific Moog synth intro — a direct reference to the iconic intro of the 1976 album opener “Tarot Woman”. The impressive result “Calling Baal”/”A King Has Gone” is already considered to be one of the most important and successful songs in Schenker’s career to date, both musically and lyrically.

In line with all these highlights, the spectacular album cover designed by Zsofia Dankova (POWERWOLF, among others) features Schenker in a futuristic spaceship, floating high up in orbit. The artwork is based on the guitarist’s own visions.

“I had the original idea for the album cover a few years ago, but only now does it seem to fit perfectly,” he says. “So I sent some older sketches to my label Atomic Fire Records, and based on this the final artwork and album title were created.”

Photo credit: Tina Korhonen

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Raven Banner Entertainment and Cinedigm have just released “The Sound Of Scars”, Leigh Brooks’s deeply personal documentary which chronicles Brooklyn alternative metal band LIFE OF AGONY’s rise, fall and rebirth while confronting domestic violence, substance abuse, addiction, depression and lead singer Mina Caputo’s gender transition. “The Sound Of Scars” debuted March 22 across North America on a number of digital and cable platforms, including iTunes, Amazon Video, Vudu, Rogers, Spectrum, Bell and Cox.

Ahead of the release of the film, the members of LIFE OF AGONY shared their thoughts on opening their history up to the world.

“We’ve never avoided tough conversations and we don’t pretend to have all the answers,” says Caputo. “But this film is a roadmap with many great lessons. It shows a ton of vulnerability… moments of falling downward, and those times where we rise strong.”

“A lifetime’s worth of struggle and triumph led to the making of this film.” says guitarist Joey Zampella. “LIFE OF AGONY has been our link to people who are just like us… And no, the world gets to see the inner workings of what makes us who we are. This release is something we’ll be forever proud of.”

“Our music has always been able to connect with people on a deep, emotional level. I’m confident that this film will continue with that tradition and make a positive impact on people’s lives,” states bassist Alan Robert. “We’re absolutely thrilled about all of the incredible feedback we’ve received so far, and we can’t wait for the rest of the world to finally see it.”

Echoing the band’s sentiments, “The Sound Of Scars” has been acclaimed by critics for its unvarnished look at their triumphs and defeats. Loudwire enthused: “The bond of friendship is deeper than any wound, physical or mental, and for LIFE OF AGONY, ‘The Sound Of Scars’ is proof that these wounds are not just reminders of a painful past, but ultimately a sign that healing is possible, too.”

“While LIFE OF AGONY has proven itself as an incredible act on stage, it’s rare that we get to see what makes a band of this caliber work behind the scenes,” said Cinedigm’s manager of acquisitions, Brandon Hill.

“The Sound Of Scars” was directed by Brooks and filmed across several countries while LIFE OF AGONY was on and off the road.

“This isn’t a typical music documentary. It’s as personal as it gets,” Brooks said. “I first saw the band live at the London Astoria in 1996. Since then, LIFE OF AGONY has become an absolute go-to when I felt alone and insecure about myself. This film is an intimate portrait that sheds light on the real-life stories that make their music so vital and relevant.”

“The Sound Of Scars” tells the story of how three friends overcame domestic violence, substance abuse and depression to form one of the most influential bands in its genre. Through the success of their ground-breaking 1993 debut “River Runs Red”, hailed by Rolling Stone as “one of the greatest metal albums of all time,” they channeled their cumulative life stories into a soundtrack for a broken generation. At the time, that newfound fame allowed them to escape the tragedies of their pasts, but in the wake of their accomplishments, unforeseen obstacles arose.

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AEROSMITH has announced the dates for its 2022 “Deuces Are Wild” Las Vegas residency as part of the band’s 50th-anniversary celebration.

The shows will kick off on June 17 at Park MGM’s Dolby Live Theater and will include around two dozen performances, running through December 11 at the same venue.

Tickets go on sale on Thursday, March 31 at 10 a.m. PT.

Show dates:

June 17
June 20
June 23
June 26
June 29
July 2
July 5
July 8
September 14
September 17
September 20
September 23
September 26
September 29
October 2
October 5
November 19
November 23
November 26
November 29
December 2
December 5
December 8
December 11

AEROSMITH launched its Las Vegas residency in April 2019 and had completed several legs of the “Deuces Are Wild” concert production at Park Theater before the remaining shows were canceled due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

As of October 2019, “Deuces Are Wild” had already grossed more than $35 million. The legendary rockers had played more than two dozen shows at the Park Theater in Las Vegas, plus a few shows at other MGM locations around the country (three at The Theater at MGM National Harbor in Oxon, Maryland, and four at MassMutual Center in Springfield, Massachusetts).

In August 2019, AEROSMITH guitarist Joe Perry told Variety about “Deuces Are Wild”: “This has been an incredible opportunity to play a smaller version of our regular show in an intimate seating [and] a way to present the heart and soul of the band’s essence with added elements you wouldn’t have ever been able to do in a one-night-only setting. It’s something very different than what we have ever done before.”

Last June, AEROSMITH guitarist Brad Whitford said that he had “doubts” about the band ever being able to perform live again. The 70-year-old guitarist, who has been a member of AEROSMITH since 1971, painted a bleak picture of the band’s future during an appearance on Joe Bonamassa’s interview series “Live From Nerdville”. He said: “The European tour, they tried to plan one [in 2020], and they’re talking about [2022]. It’s a pipe dream right now. Nothing’s gonna happen for a long time. Sometimes I’m not sure what my partners are thinking when they think that’s gonna happen.”

He continued: “There’s another interesting thing about going to Europe now because of Brexit — it’s so much harder to get work visas because of that. That’s gonna be a whole other nightmare. I mean, I have my doubts about AEROSMITH ever really performing again at this stage, because age is becoming a real factor. And it is what it is.”

Back in 2016, AEROSMITH drummer Joey Kramer admitted in an interview with Rolling Stone that the health issues faced by members of the group — including his heart scare in 2014 and Perry’s stage collapse — make it harder for them to perform the way they used to.

“It surprised the shit out of me when it happened,” Kramer said of his own health setback. “I exercise every day, I’m conscientious about my health. I thought it was heartburn or indigestion. We’re not 25-year-olds anymore – we can’t play as many shows as we used to. Steven [Tyler] can’t sing two nights in a row or three to four nights a week — it’s physically impossible. So it becomes a question of going out [on tour] less than we used to, or not doing it at all.”

In February 2020, Kramer rejoined his AEROSMITH bandmates on stage during the group’s “Deuces Are Wild” residency in Las Vegas. A month earlier, he sued the rest of AEROSMITH in a bid to perform with them at two Grammy-related events. But a Massachusetts judge eventually ruled against him and the group played without Kramer.

After Kramer injured his shoulder in 2019, his drum tech filled in for a few gigs during AEROSMITH’s residency. Kramer did, however, perform with the rest of AEROSMITH in July of that year at the Twin Cities Summer Jam in Shakopee.

Tyler, the oldest member of AEROSMITH, will turn 74 on March 26.

Photo credit: Katarina Benzova

Aerosmith are BACK IN THE SADDLE and heading to Las Vegas as part of the continued celebrations around our 50th anniversary! Like never before in Dolby Atmos at Dolby Live – @parkmgm
Tickets on sale Thursday March 31st at 10am PT

For more info visit: https://t.co/rsuutHrYmY pic.twitter.com/Tl4Rj12Zs3

— Aerosmith (@Aerosmith) March 23, 2022

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