GERMAN heavy metal guitarist Michael Schenker will pay homage to his remarkable rock history at Preston venue 53 Degrees next week.

Boasting old Rainbow singer Doogie White and ex-Scorpions stars, drummer Herman Rarebell and bassist Francis Buchholz, Schenker’s Temple of Rock will include hits from his colourful career in UFO and Scorpions.

“We’ll be doing songs from UFO’s Strangers In The Night, some Scorpions classics, and tracks from our new album Bridge The Gap, so it will be a very hard-rocking set,” said Schenker.

“I never enjoyed playing live, but I love the experience now and especially coming to England because you guys are really hot rock and rollers and the North of England has always been a great place to play.

“When I play elsewhere in Europe they watch five songs and then go crazy.

“In England I plug my guitar in and they go crazy for it straight away.

“What I’m doing at this point in time is celebrating the era of handmade rock – it will be a summit of rock music.

“Handmade rock is the rock I fell in love with, Deep Purple and Black Sabbath.

“Later on, Rush, UFO and AC/DC created the framework of the foundation, that temple of rock.

“Today people with computers can write songs, and they don’t even need to know how to play an instrument, so I’m going back to that pure self-expression and the instinct of rock.”

Schenker’s career spans five decades, and his back catalogue includes monster rock hits Doctor Doctor by UFO and Schenker’s fire and brimstone track Armed and Ready.

“The new album is heavy, fast and unrelenting rock music, and I’m proud to carry on that legacy,” he added.

“It was like my time in UFO, it was a fantastic period in my life.

“We made some great music and on stage the chemistry was incredible in that band.

“You make your choices and you stick with those choices.

“Those choices have got me to where I am today.”

  • Michael Schenker’s Temple of Rock, 53 Degrees, Friday, July 19, £22.50.