Live Review : Michael Schenker + Wytch Hazel @ O2 Ritz, Manchester on May 11th 2025

Who are the most influential rock guitarists in the world? Well there’s a number of contenders, but not all of them are still out there plying their trade. Van Halen died, Page is retired, Blackmore is fol-de-rol-ing in the forest. One man who is definitely up there amidst the greats and still regularly bothering our ears though is Michael Schenker. Once the wunderkind who revived the fortunes of a somewhat flagging little prog band from London before returning briefly to his brother’s band and then embarking on a solo career that’s kept him busy ever since, today’s Michael Schenker is something of a living legend. Last year he revisited his youth, releasing “My Years With UFO”; a double album of his best UFO songs re-imagined with a plethora of fantastic vocalists, and now it’s time to bring the nostalgia fest to his still-adoring public. First though, the support….

Live Review : Michael Schenker Group + Night Demon @ O2 Ritz, Manchester on November 28th 2023

Phew. A clash of happenings sees me dash to the Ritz just in time to catch the last couple of songs from Californian trad-metal trio Night Demon. This is a shame, because based on their self-titled set closer and the half a song I saw before it they are pretty damn good. They have flying vs, flying hair and a shirtless drummer. The sound is very solid early 80s British-influenced rock.

Live Review : Michael Schenker Fest + Eden's Curse @ Academy, Manchester on November 11th 2018

Eden’s Curse have an uphill struggle from the off. Theirs is smooth retro AOR and whilst it is melodic and even sweet in places, it just echoes around an almost empty Academy. The Schenker devotees that have crawled in early, look like they are still shaking off their Sunday morning hangovers and look in no mood to be swayed by Survivor-esque light rock, it is almost like they are playing into a void.