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Disambiguation:
- Scorpions are a rock band from Hannover
- The Scorpions (Manchester band), an English beat group, most popular in the Netherlands
- The Scorpions (London band), an English rock band
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Scorpions are a rock band from Hannover, Germany, formed in 1965 by guitarist Rudolf Schenker, who is the band's only constant member. They are known for their 1980s rock anthem "Rock You Like a Hurricane" and many singles, such as "No One Like You", "Send Me an Angel", "Still Loving You", and "Wind of Change". The band was ranked #46 on VH1's Greatest Artists of Hard Rock program. "Rock You Like a Hurricane" is also #18 on VH1's list of the 100 Greatest Hard Rock Songs. On January 24, 2010, after 46 years of performing, the band announced that they will be retiring after touring in support of their new album Sting in the Tail. The band sold over 100 million albums worldwide.
Rudolf Schenker, the band's rhythm guitarist launched the band in 1965. At first, the band had beat influences and Schenker himself did the vocals. Things began to come together in 1969 when Schenker's younger brother Michael and vocalist Klaus Meine joined the band. In 1972, the group recorded and released their debut album Lonesome Crow, with Lothar Heimberg on bass and Wolfgang Dziony on drums. During the Lonesome Crow tour, Scorpions opened for upcoming British band UFO. Near the end of the tour, the members of UFO offered guitarist Michael Schenker the lead guitar job, an offer which he soon accepted. Uli Roth, a friend of the Schenker brothers, was then called in temporarily to finish off the great tour.
The departure of Michael Schenker led to the breakup of the band. In 1973, Uli Roth, who had helped Scorpions complete the Lonesome Crow tour, was offered the role as lead guitarist, but turned the band down, preferring instead to remain in the band Dawn Road. Rudolf Schenker eventually decided that he wanted to work with Roth, but did not want to resurrect the last Scorpions lineup. He attended some of Dawn Road's rehearsals and ultimately decided to join the band, which consisted of Roth, Francis Buchholz (bass), Achim Kirschning (keyboards) and Jürgen Rosenthal (drums). Roth and Buchholz persuaded Rudolf Schenker to invite Klaus Meine to join on vocals, which he soon did. While there were more members of Dawn Road than Scorpions in the band, they decided to use the Scorpions name because it was well known in the German hard rock scene and an album had been released under that name.
Members
Rudolf Schenker
Klaus Meine
Matthias Jabs
James Kottak
Paweł Mąciwoda
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The Scorpions are a 1960s British beat group, originally from Manchester in England, that became popular notably in the Netherlands. They should not be confused with the hard rock band Scorpions from Germany, or the London-based outfit The Scorpions. Their most important hit was "Hello Josephine", a song written by Fats Domino.
The band started at the beginning of 1961 and consisted of lead singer Peter Lewis, lead guitarist Tony Postill, his cousin Rodney on rhythm guitar, bass player Tony Briley and Mike Delaney on drums. Although the band wasn't known in Manchester, they played in the famous Cavern Club in Liverpool. They didn't release records in the UK. Just like many other British bands, The Scorpions tried their luck on the continent. Not in Germany or France, but in The Netherlands, where the market chances for the band were bigger.
To the Netherlands
In the Netherlands the group was more successful. Dutch booking agent Jan Vis arranged a series of gigs and manager Addy Kleyngeld arranged a Dutch recording contract at CNR. Their first single, Chuck Berry’s Bye Bye Johnny, with Rip It Up on the flipside was released in August 1964. It was not a success. However, CNR believed in the Scorpions and during that year they released three other singles. The third, Hello Josephine, was their own version of Fats Domino's My girl Josephine. In the meantime Briley stepped out and Terry Morton became lead guitarist. Rodney Postill switched to bass guitar and cousin Tony Postill to rhythm guitar. "Hello Josephine" became a huge hit in Holland and reached the number one position in the Netherlands Top 40 of Radio Veronica (pirate station). Drummer Mike Delaney left the group at the beginning of 1965 and was replaced by Ian Lucas. The success of Hello Josephine justified the release of an LP, entitled Scorpions, which was released in mid 1965.
Band members
Peter Lewis: lead vocals
Terence Morton: lead guitar
Anthony Postill: lead and rhythm guitar
Rodney Postill: rhythm- and bass guitar
Graham Caunce (= Graham Lee): lead guitar and vocals
Dave Robin: bass
Cedric Terry: bass
Dave Vernon: bass
Tom Morgan: bass and vocals
Martin Davies: bass and vocals
Diccon Hubbard: bass and vocals
Roy Smithson: piano,organ, keyboards and vocals
Mike Delaney: drums
Ian Lucas: drums
Tommy Unthank: drums
Max Hardy: drums
Singles a.o.
1965 Hello Josephine
1965 Ann Louise
1965 Greensleeves
1965 Baby Baby Balla Balla
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The Scorpions were formed in 1959 in Battersea, South West London, and released two singles in 1961. Founder members were brothers Ted Barber (born Edward Joseph Barber, 17 November 1940, Molesey, Surrey) - lead guitar; John Barber (born John Alan Barber, 30 December 1944, Battersea, South West London) - bass guitar; Mick LeDieu - drums; Ivor Knight (born Ivor Kenneth Knight, 16 September 1941, Battersea, South West London) - a drummer who joined in November 1959. They were the first rock band to use the name.
The Scorpions recorded two singles at Abbey Road Studios, which were released on the Parlophone label.
They recorded three songs with Joe Meek, "Two Brothers", "Summer Holliday" and "Love On Your Lips", that would have been released as by 'The Ferridays' (in honour of Jerry Lee Lewis' birthplace), but these only were released in the 1990s, thanks to the on-going interest in Meek's recordings.
Singles
February 61: "Riders in the Sky" / "Torquay" (Parlophone R4740)
May 61: "Rockin' At The Phil" / "Scorpio" (Parlophone R4768) ("Rockin' At The Phil" was the first UK cover of a Chuck Berry release by a rock band).
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