By Steve Newton
When Coast to Coast hits the stage to perform its tribute to Scorpions, UFO, and the Michael Schenker Group, guitarists Ken Scheller and Dave Groves divvy up the goods as far as the lead work goes.
Scheller handles the solos Schenker is known for in UFO and MSG, while Groves delivers the six-string blasts previously recorded by Scorps guitarists Uli Jon Roth, Matthias Jabs, and Rudolf Schenker.
So you know that when Coast to Coast rocks you like a hurricane, that’s Dave Groves creating a Marshall-powered storm with the flashy fretwork on his white ESP with the black stripes.
Vancouver-area hard-rock fans jonesing for a Scorpions fix can see Groves do his thing when Coast to Coast–which also includes vocalist Shawn Klatt, bassist Tobias Hass, and drummer Ed Johnson–plays the Surrey Arts Centre on Saturday, September 27.
That show is a much-needed fundraiser for the Surrey Food Bank, and Ear of Newt is a sponsor, so we asked Groves to field 10 questions regarding his musical connection to the German metal merchants.
When did you first hear the Scorpions’ guitar playing, and what was your immediate impression?
The first Scorpions song that I ever heard was “Loving You Sunday Morning”. It was on a compilation album called Monsters of Rock that I bought in 1980 on a trip back to England. As a 14-year-old budding guitar player, I remember being impressed with the songwriting, the riffing, and the melodic lead-guitar playing.
The other song I discovered on that album by the Scorps was “Another Piece of Meat”. Compilation albums were a great way to experience artists and bands that I may not have heard otherwise. Bands like UFO, Saxon, and Rainbow seemed to make an appearance on most of those types of albums.
I heard the song “Lights Out” by UFO on one of these compilation albums as well and was blown away. Michael Schenker had already left UFO by this time, and I was already getting into his solo albums as well.
Which Scorpions lead guitarist were you most impressed with: Michael Schenker, Uli Jon Roth, or Matthias Jabs?
I have been a big Michael Schenker fan since the first time I heard his solo on “Lights Out” by UFO. Michael was always featured in guitar magazines like Guitar Player and Guitar World, which I read religiously. I learned many of the guitar solos he did with MSG and early Scorpions.
The bassist from my first original band Fallen Angel and longtime friend, Chris Husband, was the roadie for Paul Raymond of UFO during their brief reunion tour with Michael Schenker in 1995. Chris became well acquainted with the band and crew during this time and secured me an audition to replace Schenker when he quit the band again.
We went into the studio with a drum machine and recorded a demo of me playing note-for-note versions of Michael Schenker’s work in the UFO songs “Lights Out”, “Pack It Up and Go”, and “Hot and Ready”. Chris sent the demo to UFO bassist Pete Way, who was very complimentary about my ability to replicate Michael’s tone and tasty licks.
Vinnie Moore got the gig. LOL.
Now in Coast to Coast Ken Scheller and I share shred duties, with Ken focusing mostly on the Michael Schenker work while I take on the Matthias Jabs and Paul Raymond pieces. Playing alongside a guitarist like Ken helps me to elevate my own playing to the next level.
Uli Roth and Matthias are both great guitarists as well. I am drawn to the neo-classical stylings and spacey effects of Uli Roth more than the modern-day shredding of Matthias Jabs. I do enjoy playing solos by both guitarists though. Matthias Jabs is a more modern shredder in the style of Van Halen with his finger tapping and whammy bar dives. I love how Matthias shreds with fiery abandon but can also be very melodic and emotional.
Ulrich has the bluesy sensibility of Hendrix with the classical feel of Blackmore and plays more compositionally, like another of my early heroes, Randy Rhoads. These musicians have inspired my own playing in different ways. Playing flashy guitar solos in my Van Halen tribute, Fair Warning, and Randy Rhoads solos in an earlier Ozzy Osbourne tribute, Wizard of Oz, prepared me well to take on the challenge of bringing the artistry of Roth and Jabs to Coast to Coast.
How do you rank Rudolf Schenker as a rhythm guitarist?
Rudolf is a tight and precise rhythm player, and he also is a great songwriter. I would rank him right up there with other great riff masters. Tony Iommi and Jimmy Page would be at the top of my list along with Van Halen, Rhoads, and Blackmore.
Rudy is underrated as a lead guitarist, and many people don’t realize that he played some of the Scorpions’ iconic solos. Two of the Scorpions songs that we include in our Coast to Coast set lists–“Big City Nights” and “Still Loving You”–have solos that I play that were originally done by Rudy. Until I started playing with Coast to Coast, I also assumed that they were played by Matthias Jabs.
What is your favourite Scorps song and album, and why?
My favourite Scorps tune is also the title track of my favourite Scorps album, In Trance. I love the moodiness, the stacked harmonies, and melodic leads that Roth plays in this song.
When did you start learning how to play Scorpions guitar parts?
I used to play all kinds of Scorpions songs with my high-school rock band. We played songs by all the hard-rock and heavy-metal bands of the era. I recall playing “No One Like You”, “The Zoo”, “Loving You Sunday Morning”, and “Rock You Like A Hurricane”. We also played UFO and Michael Schenker songs like “Armed and Ready” and “Lights Out”.
Funny story. My very first performance was in the PoCo high-school gym with my band the Michael Chernoff Group. For the gig poster we expropriated the logo from the Michael Schenker Group and changed the S to a C. I still have the poster.
What was the hardest Scorps song for you to learn how to play?
That’s an easy one. “The Sails of Charon”. This song has some very challenging and intricate harmonies that Ken and I have worked hard to perfect.
What is the most recent Scorps song that your band has added to its setlist?
That’s a surprise. People will have to come to our show either September 20 at the Chilliwack Cultural Centre or on September 27 at our Food Bank fundraiser at the Surrey Arts Centre.
Which type of amps and effects do you use when performing Scorpions’ guitar parts?
I have a 100-watt Jubilee Marshall that I have been carting around since 1987. It is the secret of my sound. I am a fan of integrated pedal-boards and currently use the Pod Go for all my effects and switching.
Which Scorpions song goes over best with the Coast to Coast audiences, would you say?
“Rock You Like a Hurricane” is always a crowd pleaser, but no one can resist the novelty of a good talk-box solo like the one I do in “The Zoo”.
Have you ever met any members of the Scorpions, or seen them performing live?
I haven’t had the pleasure of getting to meet any of the members of the Scorpions, but I did get to say hello to Michael Schenker as he passed by outside the Strathcona Hotel in Victoria before his show at the Element Night Club in 2009.
I first saw the Scorpions live in high school on the Blackout Tour in 1982 and again a couple of years later on their Love At First Sting Tour. More recently, I happened to catch a Scorpions show in 2019 while on vacation in Lisbon.
They still rocked hard and killed it with a huge stage and light show. The Portuguese fans loved every second of it and sang along to every song. It was awesome.
To hear the full audio of my interviews with current Scorpions members Rudolf Schenker and Klaus Meine, and former members Uli Jon Roth and Michael Schenker, subscribe to my Patreon page, where you can eavesdrop on over 500 of my uncut, one-on-one conversations with rock legends.