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.
View MSG’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 Baal,” 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.
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 guitar
Ronnie Romero – vocals
Bodo Schopf – drums
Steve Mann – keyboards, guitars
Barend Courbois – bass
[Photo by Tina Korhonen]
