By Steve Newton
Guitarist Michael Schenker has been blowing people away with his talent ever since, as a 16-year-old, he played on the Scorpions’ debut album Lonesome Crow.
One of the players he had a huge effect on was Ken Scheller, who recreates Schenker’s speedy and melodic licks in the Metro Vancouver-based tribute band Coast to Coast, which specializes in the music Schenker made in UFO and the Michael Schenker Group. The quintet–composed of guitarists Scheller and Dave Groves, vocalist Shawn Klatt, bassist Tobias Hass, and drummer Ed Johnson–also covers the biggest hits by the Scorps.
Fellow Schenker fanatics can see Scheller in action when Coast to Coast plays the Surrey Arts Centre on Saturday, September 27. It’s a much-needed fundraiser for the Surrey Food Bank, and Ear of Newt is a sponsor, so we asked Scheller to take a deep dive into his decades-long obsession with the German guitar god.
When did you first hear Michael Schenker’s guitar playing, and what was your immediate impression?
I was 13 years old when I first heard “Rock Bottom”, and then the whole [live] album Strangers in The Night. It was mind-blowing; similar to the first time I heard Rush or Van Halen. Michael Schenker became especially important to me as I was classically trained on guitar at an early age, and was really amazed by his genius as a composer.
What is your favourite UFO song and album, and why?
Strangers in the Night is my favourite UFO album and the live recording of “Rock Bottom” is my all-time favourite rock-guitar solo. The tone, the feel, the mind-blowing originality. Any guitarist who studies this masterpiece will learn an incredible amount, and I’ve studied this in-depth!
What is your favourite MSG song and album, and why?
The debut MSG album is my favourite, and the song I’ve listened to more than anything else is “Bijou Pleasurette”. “Bijou” is such a beautifully written song, it was hard to believe that anyone could write such a piece on a rock album. In fact, this is the first song I ever recorded. In high school I broke down the pieces and recorded myself playing all the parts into an old reel-to-reel four-track.
When did you start learning how to play Michael Schenker guitar parts?
I started learning the studio version of “Rock Bottom” when I was 14 years old, and within a few months I was performing this in my first Battle Of the Bands competition.
What was the hardest Schenker song for you to learn how to play?
“Captain Nemo” is a challenge for sure, such a quirky and completely original main riff. The second solo in “Into The Arena” that ascends is also completely strange and a big challenge to get down. There are so many original ideas that Schenker develops, some are extremely challenging but become possible by working at them methodically.
I am continuously amazed every time I study a new Schenker lead, from any era; there is something new and original to learn in every one.
Schenker is famous for playing a Flying V. Is it more difficult to recreate his solos on a different type of guitar, like a Strat or Les Paul?
I did play Schenker on my Les Paul in my early years, but when I did finally get a Flying V I was able to really dial in the sound and technique a lot closer. The Flying V allows you to clamp the bottom fin in-between your legs when playing a lead, which not only allows for some great stability but also subtly enhances that Schenker tone.
Which type of amps and effects do you use when performing Schenker’s guitar parts?
I use the same Marshall JCM-800 2205 amp that Schenker has used for years. My main guitar is also the same, but I think I bought mine first! While Schenker was still playing his Dean Signature V, I bought the Gibson 70’s Flying V in white.
I wasn’t so thrilled with this V at first as it had a thicker neck than my other guitars. I was actually considering to sell it when Schenker began using the exact same Gibson V! Because of this I gave this guitar another shot as my main guitar, and not too much time later totally fell in love with the tone and feel.
Schenker uses a cocked wah pedal to achieve his incredible midrange tone, and I found a pedal called the “Sweet Spot” by Rocktron which allows me to dial in a similar tone without the guesswork of using a moving pedal. Other than this, a bit of reverb and delay sweetens the deal.
Have you ever considered working a lesser-known UFO song, like maybe “One More For the Rodeo”, into the Coast to Coast setlist?
Yes for sure, but we’re still adding the more popular UFO tunes into our set. We will eventually go deeper into the catalog though.
Which UFO or MSG song goes over best with the Coast to Coast audiences, would you say?
So far it seems that “Rock Bottom”, “Lights Out”, and “Doctor Doctor” really gets people going. Iron Maiden has done a great service to UFO by playing “Doctor Doctor” as the last program song before starting their show at all of their concerts. This has made the song especially well known, and our cover of “Doctor Doctor” has also been our most watched video on our YouTube channel.
Have you ever met Michael Schenker, or seen him performing live?
I haven’t met him but I was at Michael Schenker Fest in Vancouver a few years ago and watched him tear the roof off for three hours straight. No break!
To hear the full audio of my 1992 interview with Michael Schenker–as well as my conversations with Scorpions members Klaus Meine, Rudolf Schenker, and Uli Jon Roth–subscribe to my Patreon page, where you can eavesdrop on over 500 of my uncut, one-on-one conversations with the legends of rock since 1982.