“WE TRIED ALL OUR EQUIPMENT FROM THE EIGHTIES — THE MARSHALL STACKS, ALL THIS EQUIPMENT — TO FIND THAT ORIGINAL, OLD EIGHTIES SOUND” —RUDOLF SCHENKER
HAD SCORPIONS NOT become one of hard rock’s most enduring global forces, guitarist Rudolf Schenker would have taken himself down a much different, yet nevertheless high-voltage career path. “My mother wanted me to have a real job, as a power electrician,” the Hanover, Germany-born rhythm guitarist recalls with a laugh. Schenker adds that his mom just wanted him to have a more grounded backup plan in case Scorpions, the group he began in 1965 when he was still a teenager, didn’t pan out. Though Schenker did manage to find work as a tradesman for a few years, a heart-to-heart with his dad ultimately convinced the guitarist to follow his dreams and focus on music full time.
Nearly 60 years later — racking up countless world tours and millions of album sales along the way — there’s no question Schenker made the right choice.
