With the “Unbreakable” tour still ongoing, I asked Rudolph what the idea was, regarding the timing of the new DVD and he explained “ the main point was to show the fans what is really going on with the Unbreakable tour on the stage, The rockumentary, which is part of the DVD as well, gives a short look at the band from the early years up to the present and includes interviews, highlights and the band’s overall philosophy”. I made mention of the “World Wide Live” release from 1985 and wondered how the band viewed their performance and maturity over this twenty year period? To which he was philosophical “we changed outwardly, but inside we are still the same”. It struck me from the interview, that this is a hugely committed man with a very deep personality and having read much about the Scorpions over the years, I’m aware of their interest in world politics and more importantly world peace. It is no secret that their song “Winds Of Change” became the unofficial anthem of the end of the Cold War. I asked him about the four shows coming up in September in the Middle East and wondered if he had concerns about playing in a potentially volatile part of the world? “We want to bring peace and build bridges with our music, we are a global band” Schenker responded

If you’re like me and have followed the band from the early 80’s and recently saw them on their recent jaunt around the UK with Judas Priest, you may wonder how they remain motivated over such a long career and how they make their music appeal to the new generation of fans evident at the 2005 shows, his response was simple, “Our life is our music, the fans are the fuel and the world is our playground. Some kids are fed up with today’s computer plastic music and are in search of the real stuff, our music is hand made and has a long history and that’s what the people are looking for”. How true.

As a fan I wanted to turn the conversation toward the band itself and get a little more insight into how the Scorpions machine has developed over the years, mainly the difference in style of Ulrich Jon Roth and Matthias Jabs and why the band tend to ignore the music created pre-Lovedrive on the stage, “When Uli was in the band, we had two different styles, the Uli/Jimi Hendrix direction and the Klaus/Rudolph direction, Ulrich was more of a solo artist and after he left the band it was up to me to compose all the songs, so everything became the same style, Matthias entered the band as a team player and formed his playing as the songs and direction dictated”. And the Roth era songs? “We have always tried to include some of Ulrich’s songs in the live set-list but seem to come back to the newer stuff, but maybe in the future…” I hope so, “Catch Your Train” and “Speedy’s Coming” would be great to hear again.

Into 2005 and the band celebrate a 35 year career, I asked Rudolph if he would highlight some of his proudest achievements over this period and also to define what the future might hold for him within music? “The song Still Loving You became a love anthem and in France was even responsible for the baby boom in 1985 and Rock You Like A Hurricane which became a rock anthem. For the future, just to play with the Scorpions for as long as possible” Any truth to the rumours of a new album and tour in the near future i questioned? “We do have in mind to bring a new album out at the end of this year, but at the moment we have no details. We have promised fans around the world a visit in 2006 and we have a programme of headline shows in the UK as well” Good news then.

With the introduction of two new members to the band the Scorpions are a multi-national band for the first time, how have the newer members (James Kottak, drums and Pawel Maciwoda, bass) fitted in and what do they bring to the set-up? “The chemistry has to be right, they freshen the band with their personal musicality, energy and friendship”

One of HardRockHouse’s current favourite bands “Evidence One” recently supported the Scorpions in Germany and I asked how much input he had as to the type of bands they took out on tour with them and whether they felt any pressure to help younger bands just embarking on their careers, “When we are looking for support action, we try to find artists that we find interesting to us, timing is the main problem. Musically there is little that impresses me as much as stuff from the 70’s and 80’s but there are some great groups and artists around, to help new bands is very difficult as we are so busy and to help means giving 100%”

And giving 100% is a byword in the Scorpions camp I’m sure, I realize that this has been a short, but concise interview with a legend in the rock world and there are a million questions I wish I could have asked him. Rudolph Schenker is one of the people who inspired me to play the guitar in the very first place and has been a personal music hero for many years, I can only extend my thanks to Rudolph for his time and wish him and the band success for the future. And if they want to bring Evidence One to the UK in 2006, that would be OK with me !!