MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP Salutes RONNIE JAMES DIO And RAINBOW “Rising” With New Song ‘A King Has Gone’

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MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP, the band led by legendary German guitarist Michael Schenker, has released a new single and lyric video for “A King Has Gone”. The track and its intro, “Calling Baal”, also available on MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP‘s upcoming album “Universal”, both have a special significance: sung by HELLOWEEN front-man Michael Kiske, it 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. Schenker additionally enlisted keyboardist Tony Carey, who also played on “Rising”, for the terrific Moog synth intro “Calling Baal” — a direct reference to the iconic intro of the 1976 album opener “Tarot Woman”.

“Universal” will be released on May 27 via Atomic Fire Records. As we have come to expect from him, 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 front-man 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.

Like its predecessor “Immortal” (2021) and the MICHAEL SCHENKER FEST albums “Resurrection” (2018) and “Revelation” (2019), “Universal” was produced by Michael Schenker and Michael Voss (LESSMANN/VOSS, MAD MAX) at Voss‘s Kidroom Studio, which has become something of a creative home away from home for Schenker.

Michael Voss is happy to wait until I have worked out an idea and takes the time to really get to know the song, simultaneously developing ideas for the vocals,” Schenker describes the fruitful collaboration which has one cog intermesh with the other. “Then we work out the drums, bass and some keyboard parts together. He always has plenty of great ideas up his sleeve.”

There are few rock guitarists on this planet who’ve 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.

“Universal” will be available as a CD digipak (including two bonus tracks), Earbook (CD including two bonus tracks), on vinyl, and digitally. Find pre-ordering options at THIS LOCATION.

“Universal”  Track Listing:

1. Emergency
2. Under Attack
3. Calling Baal
4. A King Has Gone
5. The Universe
6. Long Long Road
7. Wrecking Ball
8. Yesterday Is Dead
9. London Calling
10. Sad Is The Song
11. Au Revoir

CD + Earbook Bonus Tracks:

11. Turn Off The World
12. Fighter

To celebrate his latest MSG album, “Universal,” scheduled for release on May 27th through Atomic Fire Records, as well as his 50th anniversary of recording, MSG will embark upon an extended US tour this Fall. The trek will run from September 27th through November 6th. See all confirmed dates below.

MSG US Tour 2022 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 / Lead guitar
  • Ronnie Romero  / Vocals
  • Bodo Schopf  / Drums
  • Steve Mann  / Keyboards, guitars
  • Barend Courbois  / Bass
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