Rudolf Schenker
by Deb Rao
Staff Writer
One of the most influential bands to emerge out of the ’80s, THE SCORPIONS, are getting ready to embark on the Get Your Sting and Blackout farewell tour in the U.S. that kicks off on Friday June 18 in Holmdel, N.J. After 40 years of inspiring generations of fans, THE SCORPIONS are saying farewell. During the heyday of their illustrious career the popular ’80’s band sold over a 100 million records worldwide, THE SCORPIONS topped the charts with such hits as “Rock You Like A Hurricane,” “Still Loving You,” and “Wind Of Change.”
You may wonder where does time fly and why does this seem like deja vu’ as the ’80’s kings are reclaiming their crown in rock history with a successful tour and new album that can be heard on radio stations worldwide. THE SCORPIONS once again find themselves on the top of Billboard Charts with their latest release Sting In The Tail. The second single and title track is slated to hit the airwaves on June 21. The band returns to their roots with catchy lyrics, and hard driving guitar riffs that at upon first listen recaptures the signature Scorpions sound and is instantly recognized.
Hardrock Haven is proud to present an exclusive interview with founding member and guitarist Rudolf Schenker. Rudolf gives us detailed information regarding the decision for the band to say farewell and the making of their new hit album Sting In The Tail.
HRH: Rudolf, thank you for checking in with Hardrock Haven to discuss the farewell tour of The Scorpions. It is an honor to speak with you. The Scorpions will kick off the U.S. Get Your Sting And Blackout farewell tour tomorrow in New Jersey. How bittersweet and surreal is this for you and for The Scorpions to be saying farewell to the fans?
Rudolf: I mean one thing is thing is clear. We always took our music live serious. There is no time to joke because the Germans don’t have any humor at all. Everything we say and everything we are doing is serious. That is the first law. That is the rule. So in this case, everything I am saying now is serious. In this case, why we made this decision is very easy. As you remember in the ’80s, we had a very big peak. We were on top of the wave and everything was working fantastic. So then in the ’90s grunge and alternative came in. We had a hard time. We know how it is if you have to fight against the times. So in this case, we know how it is. We were lucky in the ’80s. We played in places where Americans and Englishmen did not want to play because there was no money. There were no record companies. The only bands who did the same like us was Bon Jovi. Because the ’90s was a time when America and also Europe had the grunge/alternative time. We used this momentum to really play a lot in Asia. We had a lot of success in Asia with 20 times platinum in Thailand, 10 times platinum in Indonesia, and Philippines and stuff like this. Many fans came back again and again and said you know you can do so many different things but can you do it all again on record? Then we tried with Unbreakable. Then it was a good time for the basic fans. So then we went to Los Angeles doing this album with Desmond Child. It was great fun to do an album again in Los Angeles. But somehow this album was more in the kind of concept album. It was in the direction of The Scorpions sound but a little too polished. That was the reason, we said ok we will make another try in my studio in Germany and try to get the two Swedish guys into the game before we say yes to Desmond Child. We had already a talk with the two Swedish producers Mikael Andersson and Martin Hansen. One is very good guitar player and big name in Sweden. So we got the two Swedish producers here in the studio and I said lets talk to them and ask them what they thought of the album. They were very much into it and wanted to work in our studio. Martin said yeah know on this album I want to go back to the essence of The Scorpions. The Scorpions have great guitarists, great melodies. So we made the decision to do the rest of the stuff in my studio. In this case, it was fantastic work … we did fantastic with them. We were coming closer, and closer to the essence of The Scorpions. We end up having the best of The Scorpions into two songs already. Our manager thought we were very much into it. He noticed too that this album was something special. He said, “How do you want to beat this? This could be a great album to finish your career. At first we thought he was joking. Then we started counting. Klaus and I are 62 now. When we go three years on the road then we are 65. Then if we break and do another album and going on the road again we would have been 67 or 68. The rocking like a hurricane jumping around that sounds very unrealistic. In this case, we are coming more and more closer to the idea and said yes to the farewell tour. The time is very much like the ’80s. In this case, the momentum of the ’80s is back, and we have album, which really is the essence of The Scorpions in the ’80s. We are putting this together and announcing our last tour and album. It is the right decision, as we know it in Europe. Because in Europe we have already our album including Germany is already gold. We have entered into the Top Ten. Our tour in Germany, France, and Moscow sold out. We got the Walk Of Fame. We got the Music World Award in Monte Carlo. Everything worked fantastic. We can end our career with a happy ending. We don’t want to play four years later and crawling onstage and people going oh why are they doing this? Why didn’t this stop before? In this case, I think we did everything so far so good. When you think about it our first album came out in 1972 and we will be finished in 2012. We have forty years of an outstanding career coming from Germany. It is a happy end. It is great.
HRH: The new album Sting In The Tail is phenomenal. One of the great aspects of this tour and album is that The Scorpions will be playing to new fans as well as the older fans. How does this make you feel to have inspired four generations of fans plus a lot of the new fans will be seeing The Scorpions for the first time on this farewell tour?
RUDOLF: This is the reason we announced it. We don’t want to leave the scene as if you never knew it. Next year what if a new wave comes and everybody jumps on this wave. In the ’90s, metal went away with grunge and alternative. You see how it is. Then nobody cares anymore. We inspired many bands. I heard four days ago, I had a radio interview in America. The DJ, he played me a song from the new Vince Neil album and he covered “Another Piece Of Me” from The Scorpions. I heard the version and it is very good. Vince Neil will also be for a few shows our special guest. It is good if we inspire many new people. It is good when we inspire them with our new album and our live concert. Let’s do it. But not four years later and maybe not catch up anymore. That is the point. We want to present a great picture especially for a band like The Scorpions who made a big name as a great live band. In this case, I think the momentum is very good. Another thing is we always gave 150 percent. When we can’t give this anymore and then we can’t deliver. Who wants to be in this position?
HRH: Tell us about the set list for this tour. Will the band be performing a lot of the new songs off of the new album plus a lot of vintage Scorpions?
RUDOLF: Of course we will play “Rock You Like A Hurricane,” ” Still Loving You” and 3 or 4 new songs including “Raised On Rock,” “The Best Is Yet To Come,” “The Good Die Young” and maybe change it to other songs. We will make changes between the songs. Sometimes we will play this one and don’t want to continue with one set. We have a very outstanding stage set this time. Which really is very modern set. We want to try and do something special in The States. Our European set list will be different from The United States because has a different pace and different feeling. We will change the songs once in awhile. I tell you one thing so far in Europe. People went home and said this was a night to remember. I think that is the way we want to end our career.
HRH: I agree. You are one of the best guitarists and The Scorpions are one of the most influential bands to emerge out of the ’80s genre. As founding member and guitarist of The Scorpions, what would you say the highlight of your career has been?
RUDOLF: First of all there are many, many highlights. First of all no question about it playing in Japan in 1978 when we did Tokyo Tapes. Then of course the first concert we did ever the first festival came to U.S. in Cleveland opening for AC/DC, Thin Lizzy, Journey, Aerosmith, Ted Nugent, in front of 60,000 people. Then of course touring America was the highlight, no question about this and selling out 3 nights in Madison Square Garden in 1984. In 1985 Rock In Rio the first festival ever in Brazil was an amazing highlight. Playing the Moscow Peace Festival was a big highlight because this was the inspiration for “Wind Of Change.” This gave us the opportunity of being a part of Roger Waters The Wall in 1989 in Berlin. Then being invited by Mikhail Gorbachev was a very outstanding moment because we were the first rock band to be invited to the Kremlin. Having a talk with Gorbachev in his office for 45 minutes. Working with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra was a moment of glory because it gave us the chance to play with one of the best orchestras in the world. I think this career which ends in 2012 it has been 40 years after Lonesome Crow was released in this case we end with a happy end with a fantastic outstanding career a journey that made it around the world. It is fantastic.
HRH: It is really an outstanding accomplishment. I know you are on a limited time schedule. I have one more question. We want to promote the new album. The new single is released on the radio airwaves on June 21. It is the title track from the album Sting In The Tail. Tell us about that song. Would you say it represents the illustrious career of The Scorpions?
RUDOLF: I will tell you one thing. My inspiration was Elvis Presley. I was a fan of his. The most important point of my career of playing rock music was when The Beatles and The Rolling Stones came. There was a kind of way as a naive boy thought four or five friends traveling around the world and playing music. This was for me the inspiration of making and forming a band. My goal was always traveling around the world and four or five friends playing music around the world. When we were well received in Germany, I said let’s go to foreign countries and let’s play there. When we played in foreign countries we really felt like a gang. It was like bang bang rock with a gang. I remember when Klaus called me and said I am coming to the studio, I have an idea. He started singing something and I come up with the riffs. Klaus says we can’t do this it sounds like Lady Gaga. Then we worked more and more and more. I put the first basic track in my studio and I called Klaus and said we are ready to record. Then it came out bang bang, Sting in the Tail it is really a great symbol of what The Scorpions are all about. These two songs really giving a great picture of what The Scorpions are all about.
HRH: Rudolf, Thank you so much for checking in with Hardrock Haven. We hope the tour goes great for you.
Rudolf: Thank you, all the best.
Please visit www.myspace.com/officialscorpions – www.the-scorpions.com for Tour Dates.
