Photo by Tina Korhonen
MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP today unveils latest rock anthem, “A King Has Gone.” The track comes off the band’s forthcoming new full-length Universal, set for release next month via Atomic Fire Records.
“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, MICHAEL SCHENKER has brought together an original Rainbow rhythm section consisting of Bobby Rondinelli and Bob Daisley.
Watch the lyric video for “A King Has Gone” at THIS LOCATION. Listen, stream, or download the song HERE.
View MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP’s previously released video for “Emergency” HERE. Listen, stream, or download the track HERE.
SCHENKER additionally enlisted keyboardist Tony Carey, who also played on Rainbow Rising, for the terrific Moog synth intro “Calling Ball,” 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, and can be enjoyed in its entirety on Universal.
Universal will be released on May 27th on CD digipak (including two bonus tracks), Earbook (CD including two bonus tracks), on vinyl, and digitally. Find preordering options at THIS LOCATION.
To celebrate the release of Universal, as well as SCHENKER’s 50th anniversary of recording, MSG will embark upon an extended US tour this Fall. The trek will run from September 27th through November 6th. Tickets are on sale now. See all confirmed dates below.
MSG w/ Eric Martin, Images Of Eden:
9/27/2022 The Coach House – San Juan Capistrano, CA
9/28/2022 Goldfield Trading Post – Roseville, CA
9/29/2022 Great American Music Hall – San Francisco, CA
10/01/2022 Saban Theater – Los Angeles, CA
10/02/2022 Count’s Vamp’d – Las Vegas, NV
10/04/2022 Oriental Theater – Denver, CO
10/06/2022 Pop’s – Sauget, IL
10/07/2022 Des Plaines Theater – Des Plaines, IL
10/08/2022 Arcada Theater – St. Charles, IL
10/09/2022 Pabst Theater – Milwaukee, WI
10/11/2022 The Art Theater – Hobart, IN
10/12/2022 Piere’s – Ft. Wayne, IN
10/14/2022 The King Of Clubs – Columbus, OH
10/15/2022 Agora Theater – Cleveland, OH
10/16/2022 Harpo’s – Detroit, MI
10/17/2022 Jergels – Pittsburgh, PA
10/19/2022 The Vault – New Bedford, MA * MSG only
10/20/2022 Flying Monkey – Plymouth, NH
10/21/2022 Cabot Theater – Beverly, MA
10/22/2022 Sony Hall – New York, NY
10/23/2022 Newton Theater – Newton, NJ
10/25/2022 Keswick Theater – Glenside, PA
10/26/2022 Tally Ho – Leesburg, VA
10/27/2022 Sherman Theater – Stroudsburg, PA
w/ Damon Johnson & The Get Ready, Images Of Eden:
10/29/2022 Bogarts – Cincinnati, OH
10/30/2022 Brooklyn Bowl – Nashville, TN
w/ W.A.S.P., Armored Saint:
11/02/2022 White Oak Music Hall – Houston, TX
11/03/2022 Concrete Street Pavilion – Corpus Christi TX
11/04/2022 Eaton Arena – San Antonio, TX
11/05/2022 Amplified Live – Dallas, TX
11/06/2022 Tulsa Theater – Tulsa, OK
MSG US Tour 2022 Lineup: Michael Schenker * Ronnie Romero * Steve Mann * Barend Courbois * Bodo Schopf
Few rock guitarists on this planet 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 U.F.O., and then seamlessly continued his exceptional global success story under his own name, as well as with acts such as MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP (otherwise known as MSG), Temple Of Rock, and MICHAEL SCHENKER Fest. SCHENKER and his career, which has spanned more than five decades, are absolute exceptions in the otherwise short-lived music industry.
MSG’s Universal will feature all the strengths of this exceptional musician: first-rate songs with anthemic melodies, catchy guitar riffs, and inspiring solos. As fans have come to expect, 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.
MSG:
Michael Schenker – lead guitars
Ronnie Romero – vocals
Bodo Schopf – drums
Steve Mann – keyboards, guitars
Barend Courbois – bass
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