biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (May 2008) Michael Schenker Background information Born 10 January 1955 (1955-01-10) (age 56) Sarstedt, Germany Genres Hard rock, heavy metal Occupations Musician, songwriter, producer Instruments Guitar, vocals Years active 1969–present Labels BMG Associated acts Scorpions, UFO, The Michael Schenker Group, McAuley Schenker Group, Ratt, Contraband, G3, Schenker Pattison Summit Website Official website Notable instruments Gibson Flying V Dean Signature V model Michael Schenker (born 10 January 1955) is a German rock guitarist, best known for his tenure in UFO, in addition to his solo band. He first rose to fame as a founding member of the Scorpions, then achieved fame in the mid 1970s as the lead guitar player for UFO. Since leaving UFO in 1978, he has been leading the Michael Schenker Group in various incarnations. He is the younger brother of Rudolf Schenker, who is still a guitarist with the Scorpions. His career has had many ups and downs, partly due to a long history of alcoholism and personal problems; still, Schenker continues to perform and record and to maintain a following, and is called "a legendary figure in the history of metal guitar.".