Happy birthday, Klaus Meine

Posted on May 25 2016 by Candy Rock

Categories: #Hard Rock, #Heavy Metal, #1948, #May

Klaus Meine (Scorpions)

Happy birthday, Klaus Meine...
Born on May 25 1948 in Hannover, Germany, Klaus Meine is a singer and songwriter mostly known as the vocalist and main lyricist of Scorpions.
Klaus joined Scorpions in 1969, the same year as Rudolf Schenker's younger brother Michael Schenker.
Three years later, the band released its debut album Lonesome Crow (lineup: Klaus Meine (vocals), Michael Schenker (lead guitar, backing vocals), Rudolf Schenker (rhythm guitar, backing vocals), Lothar Heimberg (bass, backing vocals), Wolfgang Dziony (drums, percussion, backing vocals)). It was released in the United States one year later.
For the Lonesome Crow Tour in 1972, they opened for UFO. During the tour, UFO proposed Michael Schenker to become their lead guitarist. He accepted and was replaced in Scorpions for the remaining of the tour by his friend Uli Jon Roth.
After that, the band temporarily broke up.
In 1974, with a new lineup, Scorpions released their second album, Fly to the Rainbow (lineup: Klaus Meine (lead vocals), Uli Jon Roth (lead guitar, backing vocals), Rudolf Schenker (rhythm guitar, backing vocals), Francis Buchholz (bass, backing vocals), Jürgen Rosenthal (drums, percussion)).
In 1976, with Rudy Lenners on the drums, they released the album Virgin Killer. The album cover, chosen by the record company, was very controversial and brought market exposure to Scorpions. Depicting a naked 10 year old girl, the cover was replaced or sealed in black plastic in some countries.
The band knew its first major commercial breakthrough in 1979 after the release of the album Lovedrive which reached number 55 on Billboard Top 200 and number 36 in the UK (lineup: Klaus Meine (lead vocals), Matthias Jabs (lead guitar, backing vocals), Rudolf Schenker (rhythm guitar, backing vocals), Francis Buchholz (bass, backing vocals), Herman Rarebell (drums, backing vocals)(the album also featured performances of Michael Schenker on the lead guitar and backing vocals)).
In 1981, after the world tour following the release of Animal Magnetism (1980), Klaus started suffering throat problems. Barely able to speak, he was advised by his doctor to quit the band as it was not sure he'd ever be able to sing again. Yet, after two vocal cord sugeries and therapy, Klaus recovered and started to sing again. The band kept working on their next album while Klaus was in therapy and Don Dokken joined the band to record vocals on demos.
After his therapy, Klaus joined the band in the studio to the record the album. Released in 1982, Blackout was certified Gold in the US the same year and Platinum in 1984.
On Sunday May 29 1983, Scorpions performed at the US Festival in San Bernadino, California, alongside bands like Mötley Crüe, Van Halen, Ozzy Osbourne... and to crowd of over 375 000 fans. The concert was also aired live on MTV, which gave Scorpions an even wider exposure.
Release in 1984 and featuring the singles Rock You Like a Hurricane and Still Loving You, the album Love at First Sting went double platinum in the US not long after its release.
During the tour promoting Love at First Sting, Scorpions recorded their second live album, World Wide Live, which was released in 1985.
After the tour, the band went on to record the studio album Savage Amusement, which was released in 1988.
The following year, on August 12 and 13, Scorpions performed at the Moscow Music Peace Festival. The festival took place in the Luzhniki Stadium (then called Central Lenin Stadium) in Moscow and featured performances from other bands such as Skid Row, Bon Jovi, Cinderella, Mötley Crüe... The bands that played at the festival also recorded a compilation album of covers of songs written by artists or bands who had suffered from alcohol or drug related issues. The album was called Stairway To Heaven/Highway To Hell and was released by the Make a Difference Foundation. Scorpions played The Who's I Can't Explain for the album.
On July 21 1990, alongside other guest artists, they performed at Roger Water's concert of Pink Floyd album The Wall in Berlin. The show was recorded and released one month later as The Wall - Live in Berlin.
Later in the 1990s, Scorpions recorded and released three albums of different styles: 1993 Face the Heat was more heavy metal oriented, Pure Instinct, released in 1996, was more a ballad album, and Eye II Eye (1999), their fourteenth studio album, featured pop and techno influences and is classified as experimental rock.
In 2001, Scorpions released a live unplugged album featuring new songs, covers as well as some of their biggest hits. The album was called Acoustica and only met moderate success.
In 2004, they released Unbreakable which was a return to the band's original style. The album was critically acclaimed and followed by a big tour but it did not chart (lineup: Klaus Meine (lead vocals), Matthias Jabs (lead guitar, backing vocals), Rudolf Schenker (rhythm guitar, backing vocals), Pawel Maciwoda (bass), James Kottak (drums, backing vocals)).
On February 22 2009, Scorpions received the Echo Music Prize Honorary Award for lifetime achievement in Berlin.
Klaus recorded the song Dying For an Angel on Avantasia's album The Wicked Symphony, released in 2010.
After the release of Sting in the Tail in 2010, Scorpions announced it would be their last album and that the following tour would be their final tour. However, they later changed their minds and decided to keep on recording and performing after the end of the tour.
In November 2011, they released Comeblack, an album featuring re-recordings of classic Scorpions songs and covers of 1960s and 1970s songs.
In February 2015, Scorpions released the album Return to Forever. Featuring reworked versions of old demo songs as well as new material, the album also marked the band's 50th anniversary. In May 2015, the band embarked on the Return to Forever / 50th Anniversary Tour.
To conclude, we wish a happy birthday and years of rock to Klaus Meine!

Klaus Meine (Scorpions)

Klaus Meine, Scorpions (2014)

[ french version :
Joyeux anniversaire, Klaus Meine ...
Né le 25 mai 1948 à Hannovre, Allemagne, Klaus Meine est un chanteur et auteur-compositeur mieux connu en tant que chanteur et principal parolier de Scorpions.
Klaus rejoint Scorpions en 1969, la même année que Michael Schenker, le petit frère de Rudolf Schenker.
Trois ans plus tard, le groupe sort son premier album Lonesome Crow (lineup : Klaus Meine (chant), Michael Schenker (lead guitare, choeurs), Rudolf Schenker (guitare rythmique, choeurs), Lothar Heimberg (basse, choeurs), Wolfgang Dziony (batterie, percussions, choeurs)). L'album sort un an plus tard aux Etats-Unis.
Pour le Lonesome Crow Tour en 1972, ils font la première partie de UFO. Durant la tournée, les membres de UFO proposent à Michael Schenker de devenir leur lead guitariste. Il accepte et est remplacé dans Scorpions pour le reste de la tournée par son ami Uli Jon Roth.
Après cela, le groupe se sépare temporairement.
En 1974, avec un nouveau lineup, Scorpions sortent leur deuxième album Fly to the Rainbow (lineup : Klaus Meine (chant), Uli Jon Roth (lead guitare, choeurs), Rudolf Schenker (guitare rythmique, choeurs), Francis Buchholz (basse, choeurs), Jürgen Rosenthal (batterie, percussions)).
En 1976, avec Rudy Lenners à la batterie, ils sortent l'album Virgin Killer. La couverture de l'album, choisie par la maison de disques, est très controversée et permet à Scorpions de faire parler d'eux. Représentant une fillette de dix ans complètement nue, la couverture est remplacée ou recouverte de plastique noir dans certains pays.
C'est en 1979, après la sortie de l'album Lovedrive qui est numéro 55 au Billboard Top 200 et numéro 36 au Royaume-Uni, que Scorpions commencent à vraiment se faire connaître (lineup : Klaus Meine (chant), Matthias Jabs (lead guitare, choeurs), Rudolf Schenker (guitare rythmique, choeurs), Francis Buchholz (basse, choeurs), Herman Rarebell (batterie, choeurs)(l'album comporte aussi des performances de Michael Schenker à la lead guitare et aux choeurs.)).
En 1981, après la tournée mondiale qui avait suivie la sortie de Animal Magnetism (1980), Klaus commence à suffrir de problèmes à la gorge. A peine capabale de parler, il se voit conseiller par son docteur d'envisager de quitter le groupe car il est peu probable qu'il puisse chanter à nouveau. Cependant, après deux opérations des cordes vocales et de la thérapie, Klaus se rétablit et peut se remettre à chanter. Pendant sa thérapie, Scorpions continue de travailler sur leur nouvel album et Don Dokken rejoint le groupe pour enregistrer le chant sur les démos.
Après sa thérapie, Klaus rejoint le groupe en studio pour enregistrer l'album. Sorti en 1982, Blackout est disque d'or aux Etats-Unis la même année et disque de platine en 1984.
Le dimanche 29 mai 1983, Scorpions partcipent au US Festival à San Bernadino, Californie, aux côtés de groupes tels que Mötley Crüe, Van Halen, Ozzy Osbourne... et devant une foule de plus de 375 000 fans. Le concert est aussi diffusé sur MTV, ce qui permet à Scorpions de se faire remarquer par encore plus de gens.
Sorti en 1984 et comportant les singles Rock You Like a Hurricane et Still Loving You, l'album Love at First Sting est double disque de platine aux Etats-Unis peu après sa sortie.
Durant la tournée promouvant Love at First Sting, Scorpions enregistrent leur deuxième live album, World Wide Live, qui sort en 1985.
Après la tournée, le groupe enregistre l'album Savage Amusement qui sort en 1988.
L'année suivante, les 12 et 13 août, Scorpions jouent au Moscow Music Peace Festival. Le festival a lieu au Luzhniki Stadium (alors appelé Central Lenin Stadium) à Moscow et comporte des performances d'autres groupes comme Skid Row, Bon Jovi, Cinderella, Mötley Crüe... les groupes ayant participé au festival enregistre un album de compilation de chansons écrites par des groupes ou des artistes ayant suffert de problèmes liés à la drogue ou à l'acohol. L'album est appelé Stairway To Heaven/Highway To Hell et est sortie par la fondation Make a Difference. Scorpions jouent la chanson I Can't Explain de The Who sur l'album.
Le 21 juillet 1990, aux côtés d'autres artistes, ils participent au concert de Roger Waters à Berlin où il joue l'album The Wall des Pink Floyd. Le concert est enregistré et sort un mois plus tard sous le nom de The Wall - Live in Berlin.
Plus tard dans les années 1990, Scorpions enregistrent et sortent trois albums de différents styles : Face the Heat de 1993 est un album heavy metal, Pure Instinct, sorti en 1996, est plus un album de ballades, et Eye II Eye (1999), leur quartozième album studio, comporte des influences pop et techno et est considéré comme étant un album d'experimental rock.
En 2001, Scorpions sortent un live acoustique comportant de nouvelles chansons, des reprises ainsi que certaines de leurs plus célèbres chansons. L'album, appelé Acoustica, ne rencontre qu'un succès modéré.
En 2004, ils sortent Unbreakable qui est un retour au style original de Scorpions. L'album est acclamé par la critique et suivi d'une grande tournée mais il se vend peu (lineup : Klaus Meine (chant), Matthias Jabs (lead guitare, choeurs), Rudolf Schenker (guitare rythmique, choeurs), Pawel Maciwoda (basse), James Kottak (batterie, choeurs)).
Le 22 février 2009, Scorpions reçoivent le Echo Music Prize Honorary Award à Berlin pour l'ensemble de leur carrière.
Klaus enregistre la chanson Dying For an Angel sur l'album The Wicked Symphony (2010) d'Avantasia.
Après la sortie de Sting in the Tail en 2010, Scorpions annoncent qu'il s'agit de leur dernier album et que la tournée suivante serait leur tournée d'adieu. Cependant, ils changent d'avis et décide de continuer à enregistrer et à faire des concerts après la fin de la tournée.
En novembre 2011, ils sortent Comeblack, un album comportant de nouvelles versions de leurs classiques et des reprises de chansons des années 1960 et 1970.
En février 2015, Scorpions sortent l'album Return to Forever. Comportant des versions retravaillés de vieilles demos de chansons ainsi que des nouvelles chansons, l'album marque aussi le 50ème anniversaire du groupe. En Mai 2015, le groupe commence la tournée Return to Forever / 50th Anniversary Tour.
Pour conclure, nous souhaitons un heureux anniversaire et des années de rock à Klaus Meine ! ]