The drummer of Scorpions from 1977 to 1996, Herman Rarebell was also an important part of the band’s songwriting, being the co-writer of many of their hits like “Rock You Like a Hurricane”, “Blackout” and “Bad Boys Running Wild”. But by the mid-90s he wasn’t happy with the direction the band decided to take, writing more ballads and less heavier songs.
So that was the reason he decided to leave them as he told Dr. Music (Transcribed by Blabbermouth).
Drummer Herman Rarebell explains why he left Scorpions
“Actually, two or three. ‘Animal Magnetism’ (1980). The follow-up, ‘Blackout’ (1982). I wrote a lot of lyrics in this one. Also the album title was me again. Then, of course, the one with Michael (Schenker) on it, ‘Lovedrive’ (1979). I think those are my three favorite ones. Then, of course, ‘Taken By Force’ (1977), there’s one favorite song on there, ‘The Sails Of Charon’.
“But I tell you what — what I don’t like anymore — the albums, really, after ‘Crazy World’ (1990),” he explained. “Just the one ‘Face The Heat’ (1993) with Bruce Fairbairn (producer); that was nice. But everything after that, I wasn’t a fan anymore. That’s probably the reason why I left. I couldn’t see any more progressing. So I said to the band, ‘It’s time for me to do something else.’ I didn’t wanna go along this way, ’cause after (the ballad) ‘Wind Of Change’ (from the ‘Crazy World’ album), Klaus said to me, ‘I’m gonna write more songs like this.'”
“I said, ‘You can do this, but I’m not with you anymore.’ Then came another one out, which I couldn’t listen to this. And I left then. Then I said, ‘That’s it for me. I stay in rock.’ I wanted to stay in rock. I don’t wanna drift up in the ‘Wind Of Change’ way. Great song, but it wasn’t for me. For me, I’m more in the direction of ‘The Sails Of Charon’ and songs like this,” Herman Rarebell said.
After leaving in 1996, Herman played as a guest with Scorpions in 2006. Since then he recorded as a solo act and also as part of Michael Schenker’s Temple of Rock.
