The Scorpions have been rocking the globe for almost four decades with their classic guitar riffs and signature vocals. Straight out of Germany, the Scorpions have become one of the world’s well-known rock bands with such hits as “Wind of Change,” “Rock You Like A Hurricane,” “Big City Nights” and “Still Loving You.” They just released their 17th and final studio album Sting in the Tail on March 23 in the United States. Sting in the Tail debuted at #23 on the Billboard 200 making it the Scorpions’ most successful album since Crazy World. I got a chance to talk with the band’s founding member and main song writer, Rudolf Schenker to discuss their new album and upcoming tour.
Popular Underground Magazine (PUM): Sting in the Tail has been the Scorpions’ most successful album in 20 years. Why do you think it has been so successful?
Rudolf Schenker (RS): I think this album shows how the band has come full circle. The 80’s had the classic rock sound and you could see bands start to change their sound. Look at how Metallica started off doing speed metal and then became more classic rock. We were very successful with Crazy World, but then the 90’s came with a twist and was a pain in the ass. Bands like the Smashing Pumpkins were fun, but they could not come out and say they liked bands like the Scorpions. Billy Corgan came up to me and told me that he was a big fan of Scorpions. He couldn’t say that during the 90’s. We then experimented with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra for the Moment of Glory album and then we had the Acoustica album. We then “came out of the bushes” and worked on Humanity: Hour 1 which was a concept album produced by Desmond Child. For our last album, we worked with the Swedish producers Mikael Andersson and Martin Hansen. We were thinking about doing another concept album, but the producers wanted us to do a straight rock & roll album that captures the “essence of Scorpions.” It’s the classic mix of guitar sound and Klaus’ voice. We said ok let’s have some fun and they really kicked our ass in the studio. It brought out the best in us and the result was the classic Scorpions sound.
PUM: What is your favorite song on Sting in the Tail and why?
RS: It varies from continent to continent. “The Good Die Young” and “Raised on Rock” of course are good songs. “Sly” is another favorite that is targeted towards the baby boomers of the 80’s… Sly is actually a female’s name in Europe. I believe these three songs are very powerful. Rock & Roll has always been a passion of mine. I grew up listening to Elvis Presley and that got rock music ingrained in me at an early age. I really enjoy the entire album because it is straight up rock.
PUM: “Raised on Rock” was an excellent choice as a lead single. Was this an obvious choice and what are you looking at for the second single?
RS: We knew that “Raised on Rock” was a good choice for the first single and the lead track for the album. Regarding the second single, it is difficult to say for the USA. “The Best is Yet to Come” has been very popular in Europe. This song is a good way to end the album and tour. It wraps everything up.
PUM: Is “The Best is Yet to Come” hinting at anything?
RS: One part of it is sarcastic and the other part is that this final world tour is really what we believe is the best. We are working with no pressure and rock is relaxing. It gets your fears out on stage. We want to be out celebrating with the fans and play this new music with them. We were just in Moscow and the fans have been so supportive and even were bringing flowers and presents on stage. The tour is scheduled to end in 2012 which will be the 40th anniversary of our first album Lonesome Crow and it really shows the history of the band. It’s very important to keep the momentum in rock and at this age we see old friends going other places. I don’t want to be up on stage if I can’t jump and perform the same way every night. The time is right.
PUM: The Scorpions will be inducted into Hollywood’s RockWalk. Where does this lie on the band’s list of accomplishments over the years?
RS: This ranks at the top. It’s a musical thing and it means you hit the peak. All the artists that are already there makes it a very important place. It shows that a German rock band could come out and be successful in the US. It’s very, very special for us.
PUM: What are plans after the world tour? Will everybody be working on side projects?
RS: We have many offers and are covered for the next couple years. I have my book “Rock You Live” that was released in Germany and I will be promoting this in several countries. There will be a Schenker Brothers album of course with my brother Michael. Klaus has already agreed to sing on a few tracks. Matthias has his guitar line. The Scorpions have been my life and my baby. It has been a good time, but just like a baby it eventually grows up, moves out and gets married. This is the perfect way to say goodbye.
The Scorpions bring their “Get Your Sting and Blackout” world tour to the Midwest with shows at Milwaukee’s Summerfest on July 2 and Chicago’s Charter One Pavilion on July 3.
By: Bryan Koch - Contributing Writer
