UFO

Some folks seem to hold this band in some sort of awe, as if they made a significant impact in the history of rock/metal...really?

Not really familiar with any of their work. But i am curious to check them out properly.

I think I know maybe 2 UFO songs so I really can't say one way or the other.

I know I've told this story before but here it comes again.

When I was in college back around 1980 my roommate and I used to frequent a bar called The Elbow Room.  On Friday nights, the Elbow Room frequently had a local band play and one of the regular bands was called Knightrider.  Knightrider played mostly covers but would occasionally throw in an original tune or two.  We saw this band so many times that we actually would help them load/unload their gear. 

Well one night Knightrider seemed to be particularly "on fire" and after playing tunes like the Kinks "Around The Dial", The Doors "Light My Fire" and The Vapors "Turning Japanese" they played a tune called "Shoot, Shoot".  My friend and I just grinned at each other as we rocked out to what we thought was a cool Knightrider original tune.  After the set as we were helping the band load their gear into the van, we asked them why they hadn't played that original song before because it was so good.  The guitar player looked at us incredulously and said "I wish we'd written that song.  That's by UFO." 

The next day we went to the local record store and each bought a copy of UFO's live album "Strangers In The Night".  I've never been a big fan of live albums but this is one of the rare exceptions.  From the aforementioned "Shoot, Shoot" to "Too Hot To Handle" to "Doctor, Doctor" this album rocks from start to finish.

I'd recommend "Strangers In The Night" to anyone interested in checking out UFO.  Did they make a significant impact in rock an roll history?  Nah, but they certainly made a significant impact on me the night I saw Knightrider cover one of their songs.

That song is ok, but nothing that would cause me to be too interested in them. Never owned a UFO album, but I did have an MSG album once, don't remember which one, but I think I would like to re-visit this band...

I have a Greatest Hits comp that suits me just fine.

As for their impact, is it possible they were more popular and made a bigger impression in their home country of England and around Europe than in the US?

Eddie Trunk loves them.

I have all the Michael Schenker era albums, including the reunion albums.

They might not be revolutionary, and the vocalist is mediocre, but the music is damn good. And a lot of it is because of Schenker's mad axe work. He is definitely in my top 10 guitar gods list.

There are similarities to the Scorpions and Iron Maiden. The UFO style 70s heavy metal hasn't been popular for a long time, but they don't sound dated, and I don't see why Maiden fans for instance wouldn't like 'em.

Leatherface wrote:

Eddie Trunk loves them.

Yea, he about fell all over himself when Michael Schenker was on the show!

candlemass wrote:

That song is ok, but nothing that would cause me to be too interested in them. Never owned a UFO album, but I did have an MSG album once, don't remember which one, but I think I would like to re-visit this band...

I have an MSG best of which i haven't played in years. I should give it a fresh spin.

My knowledge of UFO pretty much begins with "Doctor, Doctor" and ends with "Lights Out."

They're one of those bands I have always meant to investigate further but have never gotten round too. (as a matter of fact, so is Michael Schenker Group).

I love UFO. Discovered this band in the early eighties with Force It and have been a fan ever since. Not sure why this band didn't break into the states like the Scorpions. The Schenker era is my favorite. I do really enjoy the Moore albums too. The eighties releases were up and down with some bright spots, but nothing like the seventies releases. I've always considered them an album band where the sum of the whole gives a better picture of the band. Strangers is a great start. I recommend the 5 seventies Schenker releases.

I like 'em...a lot. I have to admit that it was Trunk's constant whoring for them on TMS that got me interested so I grabbed a copy of "Strangers In The Night" and was impressed enough to keep digging and started with the Schenker era. Oddly enough, I was always an MSG/ Schenker fan but never owned any UFO growing up. I knew the few hits like "Lights Out" and "Doctor, Doctor" but never explored beyond that. I now have 22 total albums (15 studio and 7 live) of theirs and have yet to be disappointed. The Schenker era is the best stuff in my opine (and this is probably where the impact on the history of Rock and Metal comes in where so many were influenced and inspired by the man) but the few albums after he left (with new axe man Paul Chapman) are also very good. I was lucky enough to grab re masters with full liner notes, essays and pictures, and tons of bonuses.

I became a fan in like 5th or 6th grade. (1975/76) This high school kid around the corner and down the street from my grandmother's house was always jamming the stuff. His name is Bill and I won't Menchen his last name

The way I see it, there wouldn't be a Maiden and possibly a Def Leppard without them. For whatever that is worth ?

When still in Sacramento, I jammed regularly with Tommy McClendon, who played guitar with them in the 80's.

One of my favorite bands...

I don't think it's any mystery why they weren't as big as the Scorps, they simply weren't as good...

UFO wrote one of the best "ballads" ever, Love to Love:

I personally love UFO. First heard them on the radio right when Mechanix came out. The Writer is the song I heard and I loved it. Bought that album and then the next Making Contact before going back in time to Schenkers' first stint with the band. Rock Bottom, Lights Out, Mother Mary, Too Hot to Handle, Doctor Doctor all such great songs, in my opinion. Will be going to the Saxon/UFO show next March and can't wait!

Been listening to this band for decades...Lights out is one of my favorite all-time songs...

Quote :

I became a fan in like 5th or 6th grade. (1975/76) This high school kid around the corner and down the street from my grandmother's house was always jamming the stuff. His name is Bill and I won't Menchen his last name

I knew I recognized his guitar sound from somewhere..thanks for helping me make the connection...

brokentulsa wrote:

Been listening to this band for decades...Lights out is one of my favorite all-time songs...

I imagine Glass Prison like them as well, cheese rockers that you both are...

candlemass wrote:

Some folks seem to hold this band in some sort of awe, as if they made a significant impact in the history of rock/metal...really?

27 million albums sold is quite significant

Phenomenon is one of the best albums I have ever heard

Boris2008 wrote:

candlemass wrote:

Some folks seem to hold this band in some sort of awe, as if they made a significant impact in the history of rock/metal...really?

27 million albums sold is quite significant

Phenomenon is one of the best albums I have ever heard

How many sold in the U.S.

Always loved this song.

candlemass wrote:

Some folks seem to hold this band in some sort of awe, as if they made a significant impact in the history of rock/metal...really?

In southern California where I grew up and was first playing in bands (late 1970's), they were right up there in influence to us young musicians with Sabbath, Zeppelin, Rush, Scorpions, Priest, and the like.

It's one thing to not like a band's music, that is always going to be subjective. They have been putting out music since like 1971 and are still plugging along in a creative manner and not just doing the heritage/nostalgia state fair/casino circuit. So having a 45 years career is of some significance. I am not going to get you to ever like them, that is no big deal... But to dismiss them altogether due to that alone is pretty lame when you consider all the parameters that signify another outcome than your own personal view.

UFO was and are still great band.

I like Scorpions but its subjective to say Scorpions was a better band than UFO.

manny wrote:

I like Scorpions but its subjective to say Scorpions was a better band than UFO.