Michael Schenker/CA,USA 1984

Golden frontline: Michael Schenker, Gary Barden, Chris Glenn. This is a new excavation of a live album that captures the final period with a wonderful sound. This work contains the “February 1984 Palo Alto performance.” For us Japanese, 1984 brings to mind two performances in Japan. This work is in between, and is the last moment when Michael, Gary and Chris were together. First, let’s imagine it in the flow from “Infinite Battle” to the collapse of MSG. [1983] September: Release of “Endless Battle” October-November: UK (12 shows) December: Derek St. Holmes leaves November-December: Europe (26 shows) [1984] January: Japan (11 shows) February-March: North America #1 (10 shows?) ←★Here★ March: Chris Glenn → Dennis Feldman March-April: North America (10 shows?) April: Gary Barden leaves August: Japan SUPER ROCK ’84 (6 shows) This is the flow from “Endless Battle” to “SUPER ROCK ’84”, which was MSG’s last. MSG has not been researched much despite their popularity, and the schedule at that time is quite vague. Please do not believe the detailed number of shows above, but I have posted it to give you an idea. Among them, the North American tour is particularly unclear. It is well known that Chris Glenn left the band in March and was replaced by Dennis Feldman, but the exact date and how many performances there were before and after that are unknown. On the contrary, it is not even known what day in February the Palo Alto performance itself was. It is the sound that makes such a mysterious recording shine even more mysteriously. This is ferociously wonderful. The intro SE immediately after playback is a little rough, but that only lasts for a few seconds. Soon the superb sound dominated by extremely thick musical tones spreads. Although it is an audience recording that absorbs real enthusiasm, the gritty bones that completely suppress the enthusiasm, and the clarity with almost no reverberation in the venue will kick off any line recording. Moreover, the master freshness that was digitized directly from the 1st Gene cassette is fresh and beautiful as if it was recorded yesterday. If this sound source had appeared in the 1980s, there is no doubt that it would have been distributed as a sound board. It is a live album of such a dimension. The sound depicts MSG on the brink of collapse… Since March, the set has been shortened since Dennis Feldman took over, but here it is a full set. And the performance is the height of maturity. Gary’s vocals have continued to grow year by year, Chris’ bass sings and swells in unison with Michael’s melody, and Chris’ best partner Ted McKenna’s beat… Instead of a star player like Cozy Powell, “Flying V is the main character” is the final form of the ensemble that has improved its skill without any wavering. The enthusiasm at seeing such “the tastiest MSG” is also surprising. Michael’s main battlefield is Europe, and his best understanding is Japan. America has been his biggest and unconquerable nemesis, but the enthusiasm of the Americans contained in this work is so hot that it makes you think “on the verge of breaking through!?” It’s not that they’re making a fuss without even listening to the music, but that they know the songs properly, are toyed with by Michael’s phrases, and scream along with Gary’s shouts. If they hadn’t collapsed like this, maybe… It’s a frenzy that even brings up the “what if” of history, and it’s a passionate performance that brings it out. After this show, Chris Glenn left the band just a few days later. Gary Barden left with the end of the North American tour. This work is packed with the “mysterious night” of that wonderful MSG, just before it collapsed with a sound. It’s a masterpiece of a live album that depicts a ripe show that is just about to rot with a wonderful sound. Because such a great sound source comes out, the underground sound source can’t be stopped. Please enjoy this one full of the pleasure. Live at the Keystone, Palo Alto, CA. USA February 1984 TRULY AMAZING/PERFECT SOUND Disc 1(43:51) 1. Intro. 2. Captain Nemo 3. Rock My Nights Away 4. Are You Ready To Rock 5. Cry For The Nations 6. On And On 7. Attack Of The Mad Axeman 8. Member Introduction 9. Into The Arena 10. Guitar Intro/Courvoisier Con certo 11. Lost Horizons Disc 2(38:11) 1. Rock Will Never Die 2. I’m Gonna Make You Mine 3. Systems Failing 4. Drum Solo 5. Still Love That Little Devil 6. Armed And Ready 7. Rock Bottom Michael Schenker – Guitar Gary Barden – Vocal Chris Glen – Bass Ted McKenna – Drums Andy Nye – Keyboards