Album review: MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP – Live & Ready 1980-1984

April 6th, 2026 by jason

Chrysalis Records [Release date 03.04.26]

Guitar legend Michael Schenker has had a largely wonderful career, with his own band as well as with both Scorpions and UFO. And of his eponymous band, the 1980 to 1984 period is widely considered a highlight, the ‘Classic’ period. And rightly so.

There have been many sets from this period, many combining (or collecting) the official studio and live albums, others adding additional material.

This set does both.

And some of it is really worth forking out for.

The 1980 eponymous album was put together with vocalist Gary Bardon and a session musician or two, and it was (and still is) a fantastic set. But it wasn’t until the tour that the band really came together. Alongside Schenker, the line-up was cemented by bassist Chris Glen (ex SAHB), drummer Cozy Powell (ex Rainbow) and keyboard player/guitarist Paul Raymond (ex UFO, Savoy Brown).

The first disc here is taken from that tour; 30th September 1980, Manchester Apollo, to be precise. I’ve seem some comments about this set; while it was previously released on vinyl for Record Store Day 2021, this is the first time it has been issued on CD outside of Japan. And this set alone makes the whole package worthwhile.

Opening with Armed And Ready, the band are on fire, some great guitar work, and you really can’t go wrong with the rhythm section of Glen and Powell. Into The Arena is another stand out track. With the band’s debut only recently out, there was an understandable reliance (and subsequent expectation from the audience) on UFO material, and the band oblige, with Rock Bottom, Lights Out and Doctor Doctor. And these go down a storm. A wonderful set, the mix could do with a little more bass, but a great listen. The US leg of this tour saw MSG tour with Molly Hatchet, now that’s a pairing I would have loved to have seen.

The following M.S.G. album (1981), with this new line-up, probably the band’s best, saw the recording of the classic One Night At The Budokan, a live set that really should rank higher up the live double album charts. Spread over 2CD, this is the expanded remaster, which many may already have. The band were a little tighter, and tracks from the second album, like Attach Of The Mad Axeman, really are tremendous. But the highlight for me? Cozy Powell’s drum solo, which combines both 633 Squadron and The 1812 Overture.

The next two studio albums saw some changes, with Barden replaced by Graham Bonnet, then a returning Barden, Powell replaced by Glen’s former bandmate Ted McKenna, and Raymond by keyboard Tommy Eyre, then Any Nye. So the next Show we get is 1984’s Rock Will Never Die, recorded at Hammersmjth,

October 1983. A broader spectrum of material, with new tracks like Still Love That Little Devil standing up. And former Scorpions Klaus Meine and Rudolph Schenker turning out for Doctor Doctor. It’s no stand-up to Budokan but too often overlooked. A wonderful snapshot from the era.

Disc 5 is, as far as I’m aware, previously unreleased; a live show from Tokyo, August 1984. And a new line-up, obviously a transitional period for the band, as alongside Schenker, Nye and McKenna are vocalist Ray Kennedy and bassist Dennis Feldman.

While the show starts off well, I think there was a glitch in the tape or something, as the end of second track Rock My Nights Away cuts to a brief studio chat. Kind of takes the edge (and pleasure) off of what should be an enjoyable discovery. That said, it’s a good performance and largely really enjoyable. The band fit together well, but there’s something about the magic that wasn’t there. And the UFO instrumental Lipstick Traces just doesn’t work.

The final disc is a DVD, featuring both Rock Will Never Die and the 1984 show. The former, originally released on VHS at the time, has since appeared on DVD, but like the other material, has long since been out of print. A good energy on stage; I have a lot of love for Chris Glen and Ted McKenna so this will always hold merit.

The video for the 1984 is interesting, seeing the dynamics of the new line-up, which is worth checking out. Schenker often takes his trademark pose hunching double over his guitar. And at the end of Rock The Nights Away the video cuts to a backstage interview, which explains the experience on the audio. And with the song titles coming up on screen, one has to wonder if this was recorded for TV or VHS release and the edit and effects haven’t been updated? And as the credits role at the end, with the band playing Doctor Doctor with Rudolf Schenker and Klause Meine, clearly at a different (open air) show; this is a straight transfer with very little in the way of correction or explanation.

The physical package is excellent; six card sleeves with card inners, and a thick booklet with notes based on interviews with Schenker. A solid thick 5” box. Wonderful, although more technical information could have been given. Overall, wonderful, new wonderful, old wonderful, but a seriously missed opportunity or two.

Years ago Zoom Club put out two MSG 4CD sets, live and live rehearsal material, much coming from Cozy Powell’s own cassette collection; that material needs to be issued in this format. ***1/2

Review by Joe Geesin

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