Scorpions

Scorpions, formed in Germany in 1969 by Rudolf Schenker, was one of the most successful heavy-metal bands of all time.

Lonesome Crow (1972) introduced the eccentric vocals of Klaus Meine and the powerful, no-frills guitar playing of Michael Schenker, but the sound was still anchored to the German progressive and psychedelic sound of the time. After replacing Schenker with Uli Jon Roth, the Scorpions proceeded to record Fly to The Rainbow (1974), with Speedy's Coming, In Trance (1975), Virgin Killer (1976), with Catch Your Train, Taken by Force (1977) and the double live album Tokyo Tapes (1978), which established them as the reigning heavy-metal band in Europe.

In 1978 Roth left Scorpions and was replaced by Matthias Jabs, and Lovedrive (1979) seemed to benefit from the change. Their pop-metal hybrid matured with Animal Magnetism (1980), containing Another Piece Of Meat, Blackout (1982), containing No One Like You and Dynamite, Love at First Sting (1984), featuring their masterpiece Rock You Like a Hurricane plus Bad Boys Running Wild and the archetypical ballad Still Loving You, Savage Amusement (1988), featuring the power-ballad Rhythm of Love and Believe In Love. Crazy World (1990) was the crowning achievements of the band's style, thanks to Send Me an Angel, Wind of Change (the power-ballad that became the anthem of the fall of communism and one of the most famous power-ballads of all time) and Tease Me Please Me.

The band rested during the 1990s, releasing only Face the Heat (1993) and Pure Instinct (1996), which are vastly inferior to their previous output. Eye To Eye (1999) and Moment of Glory (2000) marked a return to a more prolific pace.

Scorpions' guitarist Uli Jon Roth later played on albums by Electric Sun (Earthquake, Fire Wind, Beyond the Astral Skies) and Sky Orchestra (Sky of Avalon - Prologue to the Symphonic Legends, Transcendental Sky Guitar, Metamorphosis of Vivaldi's Four Seasons).