Michael Schenker explains why he doesn’t listen to music at all

The former UFO and Scorpions guitarist Michael Schenker is one of the most influential guitar players of all time. He not only was an important member of those two Hard Rock bands, he also became a successful solo act in the 80s. Since then he has inspired countless guitar players all over the world. He never stopped touring or recording new music, but according to him, he hasn’t listened to music at all for decades.

As Schenker told Metal Global, he doesn’t listen to music because he needs to have only his music in mind in order to create new songs.

Michael Schenker explains why he doesn’t listen to music at all

“Yeah, I did (listen when I was young). In the beginning, when I was jump started, (I was) inspired by all the late ’60s guitarists. But then, (with) 15 years old, I already subconsciously knew that that was something I wanted to do. And when I was 18, I made that decision to stay away from (listening to new) music to self-express.”

“Because when I heard the guitarists in the late ’60s, they all had their own style. And it was really good — everything was, like, ‘Wow, this is great. Oh, this is great.’ All different. But (in) the ’80s, everything was the same. And that was basically watered-down ’70s; (they) made it simple and commercialized it (to) make money. But the ’70s (and) late ’60s guitarists, it was art; (they were) pure artists,” Michael Schenker said.

He recently released the album “My Years with UFO”, where he created new versions of classic songs he originally recorded with the Hard Rock group. Some of the special guests were Slash, Axl Rose, Dee Snider, Joe Lynn Turner, Biff Byford and more.