Classic Rock
Phil Mogg’s new band Moggs Motel releases first single “Apple Pie”
The legendary UFO co-founder and vocalist Phil Mogg recently announced that the band was over and probably wouldn’t return anymore. He suffered a heart attack in 2023 and had to change the plans for a possible farewell tour of the group.
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But now he announced that he has a new band, which is called Moggs Motel and the first single “Apple Pie” was released. Their self-titled debut album will be out next September 6 via SPV/Steamhammer. Besides Phil Mogg, the band is also formed by Tony Newton (Bass, and keyboards), Neil Carter (Guitar and keyboards), Joe Lazarus (Drums) and Tommy Gentry (Guitar).
Hear the first Moggs Motel song “Apple Pie”
An official statement about the new band was released, saying: “UFO fans, watch out! Anyone who’d feared over the past two years that Mogg, one of the most influential rock vocalists worldwide, would disappear completely from the scene after the demise of his band, in addition to his health problems, has now thankfully been proved wrong.”
“After a brief hiatus to catch his creative breath, the 76-year-old British musician with the distinctive voice is ready to present his latest band and release, ‘Moggs Motel’, which he composed together with Tony Newton (bass and keyboards) from the band Voodoo Six, who had been touring partners with UFO previously, and long-standing associate Neil Carter (guitar, keyboards, vocals).”
“The album was recorded at Iron Maiden bassist Steve Harris’s studio in Essex, U.K. In the studio, the band was joined by Joe Lazarus (drums) and Tommy Gentry (guitar) to complete the lineup,” the statement said.
Career with UFO
Formed in London, England in 1968, they became in the following decades one of the most influential Hard Rock bands of all time. Besides Mogg, some of the other classic members of the band were Pete Way (Bass), Andy Parker (Drums) and Michael Schenker (Guitar).
In almost five decades of career, the band released 22 studio albums, the final one being “The Salentino Cuts” (2017). They were a huge influence to famous bands like Iron Maiden, for example. For decades, the Metal band plays their song “Doctor Doctor” as the intro of their concerts. The band’s leader, the bassist Steve Harris is a huge fan of UFO.
Some of their most famous tracks are “Doctor Doctor”, “Rock Bottom”, “Mother Mary” and “Lights Out”.
