SCORPIONS
July 4, 2011 - 8:30 am

One of the most successful rock bands ever, Scorpions have written the soundtrack to our lives. Hits like “Still Loving You” or “Wind of Change” have stood the test of time to become anthems of at least 3 generations.

These legends will play 3 mind-blowing concerts in Byblos as part of their sold-out farewell tour. They’ve still got the sting and they will “Rock you like a hurricane”!

BIOGRAPHY

Rudolf Schenker and Klaus Meine grew up separately but shared the same love for rock’n’roll. Thanks to the post-war environment in Germany and blessed with understanding parents, both boys started performing with their beat bands in the mid-1960s. Schenker started up the Scorpions in Hanover in 1965 drawing his inspiration from Pretty Things, Spooky Tooth, and The Yardbirds. In 1970, Schenker’s younger brother Michael left his band Copernicus and brought along his bandmate Meine to join Scorpions. It was then that Rudolf Schenker and Klaus Meine started their songwriting tandem, laying the foundations for a spectacular success story.

However, Michael Schenker left the band to take up the offer as lead guitarist for the British Band UFO. Rudolf Schenker called in Uli Roth to take Michael’s place for the latter leg of the tour. He and Meine then decided to join Roth’s band Dawn Road, which consisted of Francis Buchholz (bass), Achim Kirschning (keyboards), Jürgen Rosenthal (drums). The band’s name was changed to Scorpions because of their popularity on the German rock scene.

Scorpions went through a lot of changes and willingly accepted challenges that improved their stature in the rock scene, both in Germany and around the world. It was their first album, Lonesome Crow, which established their style that distinguished them from the rest of the rock bands across the world. Theirs was guitar-oriented rock, similar to Jimmy Hendrix and Led Zeppelin with outstanding guitar solos, powerful guitar riffs combined with Klaus Meine’s expressive voice.

The release of their album Lonesome Crow laid the path of the band towards worldwide recognition. They achieved their ambition to be the top German rock band, with their fourth album Virgin Killer that won the “LP of the Year” award in 1976. Even when Ulrich Roth left the band following their phenomenal Japanese Tour, Scorpions still achieved great heights because of Rudolf Schenker and Klaus Meine’s solid friendship.

Hits like “Still Loving You”, “Holiday”, “Send Me an Angel”, “When You Came Into My Life”, “You and I”, and “Wind of Change” captured everyone’s hearts, including the non-rock enthusiasts. “Wind of Change” is the best-selling single by a German artist and one of the most phenomenal songs in history. Even though it rose to popularity in 1991, it is remembered as the song of German reunification (and the fall of communism) with lyrics celebrating the political and social changes in Eastern Europe after the Cold War.
In 2010, Scorpions proved they were still at the top of their game with their album Sting In The Tail, a return to form and to their characteristic sound. Selling over 100 million albums worldwide in a career spanning more than 40 years, these legends have decided to retire with a bang. Current members Klaus Meine, Rudolf Schenker, Matthias Jabs, Pawel Maciwoda, and James Kottak are on their farewell tour and have been playing to sold out venues all-around the world to huge critical and public acclaim.

They will be in Byblos this July for 2 memorable concerts where they will knock out their fans with a high-octane performance accompanied by a dazzling display of video pyrotechnics. Scorpions still got the sting!