Your source for news about the Scorpions since 1996.

go jimmy go recently spoke with Matthias Jabs about MTV Unplugged and got an update on the band’s current activities. We also discussed the 30th anniversary of the band’s monumental album, “Love At First Sting”.

http://gojimmygo.net/2014/02/13/guitarist-matthias-jabs-talks-scorpions-mtv-unplugged/

A little teaser for American fans:
Q-Is the band planning any U.S. tour dates this year?
MJ-Yes, we’re working on playing some U.S. shows maybe in late summer.

knac.com recently had the chance to sit down with legendary vocalist Klaus Meine of SCORPIONS to discuss their newest project MTV Unplugged. Recorded live in Athens, Greece to a crowd of about 3,000 under the stars, it’s available now on CD/DVD/Blu-Ray. Klaus was very excited about it, and rightfully so. We also talked about what the future holds for the band. Check it out: http://knac.com/article.asp?ArticleID=10902

SCORPIONS guitarist Matthias Jabs revealed in an interview with Classic Rock Revisited that his band is recording a cover version of RAINBOW’s “Temple Of The King” for inclusion on the upcoming Ronnie James Dio tribute album. The collection, which is being assembled by the singer’s widow and longtime manager Wendy Dio, will also tentatively include contributions from METALLICA, ANTHRAX, JUDAS PRIEST’s Rob Halford, MOTÖRHEAD’s Lemmy Kilmister, DEEP PURPLE’s Ian Gillan, Alice Cooper, Glenn Hughes (DEEP PURPLE, BLACK SABBATH), HALESTORM, Sebastian Bach (SKID ROW), Chris Jericho (FOZZY) and Dave Grohl (NIRVANA, FOO FIGHTERS).

“I’m letting them pick what songs they wanna do in the way they wanna do it,” Wendy told Artisan News in 2011.

The Dio tribute album will see Grohl covering BLACK SABBATH’s “The Mob Rules”, Halford contributing a version of RAINBOW’s “Long Live Rock ‘N’ Roll” and HALESTORM delivering a rendition of “Straight Through The Heart”.

“We reached out to Wendy Dio about wanting to be a part of the Dio tribute that’s getting put together,” METALLICA singer James Hetfield told U.K.’s Metal Hammer magazine. “We’re very honored to be a part of that, and to be a part of a celebration of Ronnie’s life and his great contribution, man.”

In an interview with Guitar International, former ANTHRAX guitarist Rob Caggiano stated that the band’s cover version of “Neon Knights” “came out pretty smoking.”

Ronnie James Dio, best known for his work with BLACK SABBATH, RAINBOW and his own band DIO, died of stomach cancer on May 16, 2010 at the age of 67.

Read more at http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/scorpions-recording-cover-of-rainbows-temple-of-the-king-for-ronnie-james-dio-tribute-album/#jfJDx8G3l9OwyL3i.99

Matthias Jabs interview at www.classicrockrevisited.com – http://www.classicrockrevisited.com/show_interview.php?id=1029

http://www.rocklineradio.com/

We  were beyond saddened to learn a couple of years back that Germany’s finest Rock  & Roll export, the Scorpions, had decided to begin unwinding their career  as a live touring band, yet they alluded to the fact that there might be more  music released over the years. Already, we have something new to celebrate. On  the heels of their LIVE 2011 release and 2010 studio album, “Sting in the  Tail”, the band has decided to strip things down again. Not since their  2001 release, “Acoustica”, has the band taken such elaborate steps to  offer more with less. Assuming, of course, one views acoustic as somehow less  or inferior. Even a cursory look at the new DVD/CD “Scorpions: MTV  Unplugged in Athens” will dispel any notions of anything construed as  less; the stage is teeming with performers, a coterie of female background  singers, an accordion player, harmonica, piano/keyboards, beautiful, exotic looking  instruments, a string section and in the middle of it all Klaus Meine resolute  and confident in the eye of the storm, his domain. Matthias Jabs is on fire  from the get go, his picking style of guitar playing really lending itself to  an acoustic performance, Rudolph Schenker plays a wide range of guitars,  sneaking in a bit of electric, and even offers some sitar and a lead vocal too.  The Polish prince, Pawel Maciwoda, stoically lays down fluid bass lines  propelling the delicate yet powerful band throughout the evening and American James  Kottack is so tasteful and in the moment on his drum kit that he’s sometimes  forgotten. From note one, Scorpions lay down a nasty groove that persists  throughout the evening. The completely rearranged “Sting in the Tail”  begins the set and sets a tone. This show, all two hours of it, is something  special. Visit at       The-Scorpions.com

Klaus  once said to me the European audiences seem to enjoy the slightly softer side  of the band where the Americans wanna rock more. Likely, “Humanity” was  more in line with Europe in its scope, “Sting in the Tail”, perhaps  more USA. There’s very little to not enjoy in this sparkling set from Athens. It’s  an ornate and beautiful show, powerful in performance, symphonic in scope. Their  songs take on a new dimension, they resonate differently, they’ve been given  new life and we cannot imagine any band performing at this level calling it  quits anytime soon. Scorpions give us the hits we want, offer five new songs  and have structured their set so it all flows beautifully as well. A terrific  new song, “Dancing with the Moonlight” is followed by “In  Trance” (for longtime fans) featuring a duet with Klaus and Cathe  intertwining her made-for-rock voice with his. Arrangements are so clever at  one point Meine teases the audience to identify the song the band is playing  under him. They can’t….until the chorus of “Blackout” removes any  doubt. Something special for sure.

Join us for Klaus and  Matthias from the Scorpions on the next Rockine!

-bc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nm8hhqJD2TU

On September 11,12 and 14, German hard rock legends SCORPIONS will play three concerts in Athens, Greece under the banner “MTV Unplugged – Scorpions Live In Athens” at the Lycabettus Theatre over the roofs of the ancient city. For the first time in the history of the “MTV Unplugged” series, a concert in Greece under the open sky will take place.
The SCORPIONS will perform their biggest hits, album classics as well as some exclusive new songs in the typical sound and arrangement of “MTV Unplugged”. They will be supported by national and international surprise guests, to be announced at a later date.
Says the band: “‘MTV Unplugged’ was already top on our wish list and therefore we have gladly accepted the offer to stage these concerts as part of our farewell tour. We are [happy to be working] together with MTV on this very special event in Athens.” “MTV Unplugged – Scorpions Live In Athens” will be released at the end of 2013 on CD, DVD and Blu-ray disc. Below is the full interview with James Kottak

http://www.rockoverdose.gr/news_details.php?id=25572

http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/former-scorpions-drummer-bassist-interviewed-by-u-k-s-ber-r-ck-video/

Über Röck conducted an interview with former SCORPIONS and current MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP members Herman Rarebell (drums) and Francis Buchholz (bass) on July 28 at the Steelhouse Festival at Hafod-y-Dafal Farm, Ebbw Vale, Wales, United Kingdom. You can now watch the chat below. Schenker’s “Temple Of Rock – Lovedrive Reunion Tour 2013” dates feature him being backed by Rarebell and Buchholz, along with singer Doogie White and keyboardist Wayne Findlay.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmWLbtmheoQ

http://www.bravewords.com/news/

BraveWords’ Martin Popoff has just issued his new book SCORPIONS: Top Of The Bill which will be available soon at Martinpopoff.com.

A description reads as follows:
“Blackout At The Zoo!
No question that Scorpions, Germany’s loudest and proudest rock band ever, have done much for heavy metal over the years, and it’s high time a book on them hit the shelves. Well, the wait is over with the arrival of Scorpions: Top Of The Bill, which looks at every song on every album the Teutonic tone-masters ever crafted, beginning with Lonesome Crow back in ‘72 through to the band’s triumphant “retirement” album Sting In The Tail (and beyond into Comeblack – long story!).

‘Speedy’s Coming’, ‘Dark Lady’, ‘Catch Your Train’, ‘Virgin Killer’, ‘Another Piece Of Meat’, ‘Animal Magnetism’, ‘Lovedrive’, ‘Holiday’, ‘The Zoo’, ‘Blackout’, ‘No One Like You’, ‘Rock You Like A Hurricane’, ‘Still Loving You’, ‘Wind Of Change’… these are hits and deep album tracks built into the very fabric of heavy metal, and the stories of their making are all here.

Come join Martin as he embarks on conversation and analysis with all of the principals and beyond, including Klaus Meine, Uli Jon Roth, Herman Rarebell, Rudolf Schenker and Matthias Jabs, along with the likes of Ralph Rieckermann, Francis Buchholz and legendary manager David Krebs.”

Price including shipping:
US orders: $33.00 US funds
Int’l orders (all books go air): $44.00 Cdn. funds
Canadian orders: $36.00 Cdn. funds

PayPal happily accepted. Ask me if you’d like a PayPal invoice (please indicate what country you are in), or just do yer usual and direct funds to martinp@inforamp.net

Sweet postage savings to be had for multiple orders (or two of pretty much anything – long story, ask me!). Two is definitely the magic number for Europe.

Or mail payment (personal check in US funds, cash, or INTERNATIONAL money order), to:
Martin Popoff
P.O. Box 65208, 358 Danforth Ave.
Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4K 2Z2

Email Martin at martinp@inforamp.net with any further questions, and see http://www.martinpopoff.com for descriptions, cover art and ordering info for my other available 30 or so books (and no, Scorpions won’t be up at the site for another week or so, BUT YES, THEY ARE IN MY OFFICE READY TO SHIP).

http://www.svt.se/nyheter/regionalt/gavledala/gavledala-traffade-scorpions

Klaus confirms the Scorpions are not breaking up just ending the mass world tours.

Bonus video from the Sweden show on December 8th

Intro and Sting in the Tail – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cSXIP7aPh0