Scorpions Songs List:

Scorpions

One thing hasn't changed, and that's the desire of young kids to go to a concert and see a great live band. This explains why we see a whole new generation of Scorpions fans, because they know we are still a band that delivers the goods live.

The Early Years

In 1965, in Hanover, Germany, guitarist Rudolf Schenker launched the beginnings of Scorpions.  In 1969, his brother, Schenker's brother, Michael, and vocalist Klaus Meine joined the band.  Three years later, they released their first album, Lonesome Crow.  They went on the road to promote the album, opening for the band, UFO.  Before the end of the tour, UfO offered Michael Schenker a position in their band as their lead guitarist, and he accepted.  The Scorpions brought in Uli Roth to replace him temporarily.

In 1974, with a new roster, Scorpions released Fly to the Rainbow.  Both of their first albums enjoyed moderate commercial success, as did their next two albums in 1976 and 1978. Their 1979 release, Lovedrive, which spawned their first hits, including Loving You Sunday Morning and Always Somewhere.  The album certified gold in the UK and peaked at #11 on the German rock charts.

Rising to Stardom

Their 1980 release, Animal Magnetism, their first album to hit the charts in the US, peaked at #52.  Immediately following the release of the album, lead singer Klaus Meine began having throat problems and required surgery.  After a complete recovery, Meine returned to the band, and in 1982, they released the album, Blackout.  The hit, No One Like You, launched the album to the Top Ten in Germany, Greece, the UK, and the US.

Three more albums through 1990 were enormously popular and commercially successful.  They toured extensively during this time, and their powerful live performances secured them the superstar status they had  earned with hits like Rock You Like A Hurricane and Still Loving You.  MTV gave their videos ample airplay and dubbed them The Ambassadors of Rock.  

Present and Future

Since 2000, Scorpions have released three more albums, the most recent being Sting in the Tail, in early 2010.  The album sold 18,500 copies in the first week, placing it at #23 on the Billboard Top 200.  In January of 2010, the band announced that this will be their last album, and the subsequent tour is slated to last three years,and will be farewell tour; they are retiring.

In 2009, they received Germany's ECHO honorary award for lifetime achievement.  A prolific and dynamic band, they were able to remain on top through three decades, with changing tastes and changing trends.  Nielsen Soundscan reports that the digital sales of Scorpions material showed a sharp rise following their retirement announcement.

Did you know . . .

1. It is the habit of fans to refer to the band as “The Scorpions,” but the actual name of the band is simply “Scorpions.”

2. During their 1988 Savage Amusement Tour, Scorpions were the second Western band to perform in the Soviet Union.  

3. Scorpions have been known since their inception for their provocative and controversial album covers.  The cover of Lovedrive was awarded Album Cover of the Year by Playboy Magazine in 1979.