They have written rock classics and thrilled generations of fans. With sales topping more than 100 million and countless  gold silver and platinum albums, the Scorpions have long been considered one of the world’s super groups. The band’s backbone is made up of singer Klaus Meine, guitarist Rudolf Schenker and lead guitarist Matthias Jabs. The band also includes Pawel Maciwoda from Poland on the bass and Mikkey Dee from Sweden on the drums. In September 2016, he replaced the American James Kottak, who was the band’s drummer from 1996 to 2016.

 

Rudolf Schenker founded the Scorpions in 1965

The beginning
The band got its start in 1965 when Rudolf Schenker was standing in front of a record shop in Hannover. He had a vision that his name was on a poster for a rock concert. He decided there and then to become a rock musician and start a band: the Scorpions. His role models included English bands like The Yardbirds, The Pretty Things and Spooky Tooth. The band’s line-up changed often in the early years. Between 1969 and 1970, singer Klaus Meine joined and Matthias Jab took over for Ulli Jon Roth on lead guitar in 1978.

 

Singer Klaus Meine and Rudolf Schenker composed most of the band’s songs

Rudolf Schenker has been the band’s tireless engine from the beginning. Schenker wanted the Scorpions to become one of the best hard rock bands in the world. His dream would become reality, but the Scorpions had to work hard for it. The band’s motto: “We will play anywhere that has an electrical outlet.” In 1972 alone – after the release of their first album – the Scorpions played nearly 150 concerts. Three years later they embarked on their first European tour, opening for the The Sweet.

 

 

Matthias Jabs style of playing is typical for the Scorpions

The success

In the late 70s and early 80s the Scorpions had finally made it to the top. And celebrated like international superstars during their Japan tour in 1978. With the album “Lovedrive” they took on America one year later – as an opening band for AC/DC, Aerosmith and Ted Nugent – and later as headliner. Superlatives become commonplace. In 1984 they perform three sold-out concerts in a row in New York’s Madison Square Garden. In Rio they perform in front of nearly half of a million. And they are always among the top acts in the decade’s most important rock festival: “Monsters of Rock”.

The “Savage Amusement” world tour took the Scorpions to the Soviet Union in 1988. In what was then known as Leningrad, they performed 10 sold-out concerts. A year later bands like Bon Jovi, Skid Row and Mötley Crüe came together for the “Moscow Music Peace Festival” and played in front of 260,000. The atmosphere in Moscow inspired singer Klaus Meine and in 1991, he composed the band’s biggest hit: “Wind of Change”. It sold more than 10 million times, made the charts in 78 countries and became part of history – as the soundtrack to the fall of the Berlin Wall and the new beginning in Eastern Europe.

Drummer James Kottak has been with the band from 1996 to 2016

The band explored new terrain in 2000. The Scorpions and the Berliner Philharmoniker work together on the album “Moment of Glory” – bringing Germany’s most successful rock band its most renowned orchestra together. The album’s premiere is at the EXPO 2000 in Hannover. In August that same year, 750,000 fans made their way to Krakow to see the Scorpions live. In 2009 they received the “Echo” music prize for lifetime achievement. And in 2010, they became the first band from continental Europe to be included on the Rock Walk of Fame in Los Angeles.

 

 

Pawel Maciwoda has been playing bass with the Scorpions since 2003

The legacy

The Scorpions have achieved nearly everything that defines an internationally successful rock band. Their hard rock hits like “Rock You Like A Hurricane”, “Blackout”, “Big City Nights” and “The Zoo” have become classics and are loved by millions worldwide. Along with Led Zeppelin, they are also known as the creators of the hard rock ballad with songs like “Still Loving You”, “Holiday”, “Send Me An Angel” and “Always Somewhere”. The Scorpions have also heavily influenced future generations of rockers. Bon Jovi, Metallica, Iron Maiden, Def Leppard and Motörhead all opened for Klaus Meine & Co.

 

Matthias Jabs and Klaus Meine at work

2010 – After more than four decades on the international stage, the Scorpions surprisingly announced their retirement. The grand finale includes the 17th studio album “Sting in the Tail” and a three-year world tour. The album becomes one of the bands most successful, the tour a triumph. But they couldn’t stay away for long. In 2013, the Scorpions announced their comeback. In the summer of that year, the group performed two acoustic sets in the Lycabettus theater in Athens. That performance resulted in “Scorpions – MTV Unplugged,” and was swiftly followed by a tour of Germany.  In February 2015, to celebrate their 50th anniversary, the band released a new album titled “Return To Forever.” The documentary FOREVER AND A DAY focusing on the group  also premiered in February that year. The Scorpions kept on performing on the world’s biggest stages throughout 2016. Their “2016 World Tour” started in September.

The Scorpions’ story seems to be far from over.