Scorpions are a German rock band from Hanover, formed in 1965. The band went through numerous changes in personnel in its early years. Founding by rhythm/lead guitarist Rudolf Schenker and drummer Wolfgang Dziony; both at that point shared lead vocals. In addition to them, the band also included lead/rhythm guitarist Karl-Heinz Vollmer and bassist Achim Kirchhoff.

History

1960s By 1967, Schenker, realizing that he could not sing and play the guitar at the same time, invited the 15-year-old Werner Hoyer to take the place of the vocalist.

At the end of that year, Hoyer and Vollmer left, and their places were soon taken by Bernd Hegner and Ulrich Worobiec.

In the spring of 1968, bass guitarist Achim Kirchhoff was replaced by Lothar Heimberg.

In late, 1969 Hegner and Worobiec also left. After that, the group settled on a lineup which included lead vocalist Klaus Meine, lead guitarist Michael Schenker (Rudolf's younger brother), bass-guitarist Lothar Heimberg and drummer Wolfgang Dziony. It is in this composition that they recorded their debut album Lonesome Crow, released in 1972.

1970s and 1980s Dziony left after the album's release, and was briefly replaced by Werner Löhr. In late 1972 the drummer was Israeli born American Joe Wyman and when he left in December, Dziony came back to complete a tour. For the January 1973 tour with Rory Gallagher they had Helmut Eisenhut on drums. When Eisenhut died and Heimberg left in the summer of 1973, they briefly played with the rhythm section Ewi (bass) and Hal Fingerhood (drums).

When Michael Schenker left to join UFO in July 1973, Rudolf Schenker and Meine briefly disbanded the group and joined Dawn Road, featuring guitarist Uli Jon Roth (who had already replaced Schenker at a festival show in June with Eisenhut back on drums), bass-guitarist Francis Buchholz, drummer Jürgen Rosenthal (later in Eloy) and keyboardist Achim Kirschning; the six-piece later opted to adopt the Scorpions moniker, and in 1974 released Fly to the Rainbow.

Rosenthal left after the recording of Fly to the Rainbow, being replaced first by Jürgen Fechter and later by Rudy Lenners, who performed on In Trance and Virgin Killer. In 1977, Lenners was replaced by Herman Rarebell, whose first recording with the band was Taken by Force. Roth left Scorpions the following year, which he has since explained was because he "began getting dissatisfied with the direction of the music" the band were making. Michael Schenker briefly returned to the band after being fired from UFO in late 1978, performing on four tracks for the album Lovedrive, although he was replaced the following year by Matthias Jabs who had joined around the same time. The Scorpions lineup of Meine, Rudolf Schenker, Jabs, Buchholz and Rarebell remained constant from 1978 and through the 1980s.

1990s After 19 years with the band, bassist Francis Buchholz left Scorpions in 1992. He was replaced by Ralph Rieckermann later in the year. Drummer Rarebell also left four years later, claiming that he was unsatisfied with the band's changing musical direction, and the lack of songwriting input he was able to have in the band. He was replaced in 1996 by James Kottak, after Curt Cress performed on Pure Instinct.

21st century Rieckermann left Scorpions in 2003, with Paweł Mąciwoda taking his place early the following year. Former Motörhead drummer Mikkey Dee replaced Kottak in the band in September 2016.

Members

Current ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsRudolf Schenker1965–presentall Scorpions releasesKlaus Meine1969–presentMatthias Jabs1978–presentall Scorpions releases from Lovedrive (1979) onwardsPaweł Mąciwoda2004–presentall Scorpions releases from Unbreakable (2004) onwardsMikkey Dee2016–presentdrums

Former ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsWolfgang DzionyLonesome Crow (1972)Achim Kirchhoff1965–1968 bassrowspan="5" Karl-Heinz Vollmer1965–1967lead and rhythm guitarWerner Hoyer1967 lead vocalsBernd Hegner1967–1969Gerd Andrelead vocalsUlrich Worobieclead and slide guitarLothar Heimberg1968–1973 Lonesome Crow (1972)Michael SchenkerWerner Löhr1972drumsrowspan="5" Joe WymanHelmut Eisenhut1973 Hal Fingerhood1973 "Ewi"bassFrancis Buchholz1973–1992 Uli Jon RothAchim KirschningJürgen Rosenthal1973–1974drumsFly to the Rainbow (1974)Jürgen Fechter1974–1975Rudy Lenners1975–1977Herman RarebellRalph Rieckermann1993–2003all Scorpions releases from Face the Heat (1993) to Bad for Good (2002) James Kottak1996–2016 all Scorpions releases from Eye II Eye (1999) to Forever and a Day (2016)

Session ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsAllan Macmillan1979–1980Animal Magnetism (1980)Adele ArmanviolinsVictoria RichardPaul ArmanviolaRichard ArmancelloCharles Elliotdouble bassMelvin Berman 1979–1980 oboeGeorge Stimpson1979–1980French hornsBrad Wamaar Tom Croucier1981–1982bassBlackout (1982)Don Dokkenbacking vocalsLee Aaron1987–1988Savage Amusement (1988)Peter Baltes vocals Koen van Baal Jim Vallance1990keyboardsCrazy World (1990)Roy Tesse"gang" vocalsDries van der SchuytRia MakkerGerard v.d. PotLouis SpillmanWolfgang PraetzInka EsserClaudia FrohlingCliff RolesPeter AngmeerRusty PowellTony Ioannoua Jim LewisErwin MusperKeith OlsenMarcel Gelderblom"bang" vocals Mirjam ErftemeijerHenk HordenPatrick UlenbergJohn Webster 1993keyboardsFace the Heat (1993)Luke HerzogHelen Donathopera voiceRhian Gittinsgirl's voicePaul Lainebacking vocalsMark LaFranceBruce Fairbairn 1993 Mark Hudson 1993Curt Cress 1996Pure Instinct (1996)Pitti Hecht percussionLuke HerzogkeyboardsDavid Foster Claude GaudettePeter Wolf 1998–1999keyboards and pianoEye II Eye (1999)Mick Jonesacoustic guitar Michelle Wolf backing vocalsSiedah GarrettLynn DavisJames Ingram 1998–1999 Phil Perry 1998–1999Kevin Dorsey Lyn Liechty 2000vocals Moment of Glory (2000)Ray WilsonZuccheroGuenther Beckersitar Stefan Schruppdrum and computer programmingGumpoldtskirchener Spatzen, Viennachildren's choirVince Pirillochoir Kai PetersenMichael PerflerSusie Webbbacking vocalsZoë NicholasRita CampbellMelanie Marshall Ken TaylorbassBarry Sparks2003–2004Unbreakable (2004)Ingo PowitzerRalph de Jonghbacking vocalsJoss MennenAlex JansenJody's Kids Choiradditional vocalsBilly Corgan 2006–2017vocalsHumanity: Hour I (2007)Eric BazilianguitarJohn 5 Russ Irwin piano Harry Sommerdahl programming Jason Paigebacking vocalsJeanette Olsson Desmond ChildJames Michael Angela Whittakervoice-oversRoman Shaw Child David Campbell orchestra conductorTarja Turunen2009vocals Sting in the Tail (2010)Mikael Nord Anderssongang vocalsIngo Powitzer 2020–2021Rock Believer (2022)Jakob Himmelein Alex MalekHans-Martin Buff Pitti Hechtpercussion

Timeline

Lineups PeriodMembersReleases1965 – 1967Rudolf Schenker – rhythm, lead and slide guitars, vocals Wolfgang Dziony – drums, vocals Achim Kirchhoff – bass Karl-Heinz Vollmer – lead and rhythm guitarsrowspan="4" 1967Rudolf Schenker – rhythm, lead and slide guitars, vocals Wolfgang Dziony – drums, backing vocals Achim Kirchhoff – bass Karl-Heinz Vollmer – lead and rhythm guitars Werner Hoyer – vocals1967 – March 1968Rudolf Schenker – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Wolfgang Dziony – drums, backing vocals Achim Kirchhoff – bass Ulrich Worobiec – lead and slide guitar Bernd Hegner – vocalsApril 1968 – November 1969Rudolf Schenker – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Wolfgang Dziony – drums, backing vocals Ulrich Worobiec – lead and slide guitar Bernd Hegner – vocals Lothar Heimberg – bass, backing vocalsDecember 1969 – May 1972Rudolf Schenker – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Wolfgang Dziony – drums, backing vocals Lothar Heimberg – bass, backing vocals Klaus Meine – vocals Michael Schenker – lead and slide guitarLonesome Crow (1972)May – July 1972Rudolf Schenker – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Lothar Heimberg – bass, backing vocals Klaus Meine – vocals Michael Schenker – lead and slide guitar Werner Löhr – drumsrowspan="5" July – October 1972, December 1972Rudolf Schenker – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Lothar Heimberg – bass, backing vocals Klaus Meine – vocals Michael Schenker – lead and slide guitar Wolfgang Dziony – drums, backing vocalsNovember – December 1972Rudolf Schenker – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Lothar Heimberg – bass, backing vocals Klaus Meine – vocals Michael Schenker – lead and slide guitar Joe Wyman – drumsJanuary – April 1973Rudolf Schenker – rhythm guitar, backing vocals "Ewi" – bass, backing vocals Klaus Meine – vocals Michael Schenker – lead and slide guitar Helmut Eisenhut – drumsMay - June 1973Rudolf Schenker – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Lothar Heimberg – bass, backing vocals Klaus Meine – vocals Michael Schenker – lead and slide guitar Helmut Eisenhut – drumsJuly 1973 – May 1974Rudolf Schenker – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Klaus Meine – vocals Francis Buchholz – bass Ulrich Roth – lead and slide guitar, vocals Jürgen Rosenthal – drums Achim Kirschning – keyboards, synthesizers Fly to the Rainbow (1974)June 1974 - January 1975 Rudolf Schenker - rhythm guitar, backing vocals Klaus Meine - vocals Francis Buchholz - bass Ulrich Roth - lead and slide guitar, vocals Jurgen "Doobie" Fechter - drumsFebruary 1975 – May 1977Rudolf Schenker – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Klaus Meine – vocals Francis Buchholz – bass Ulrich Roth – lead and slide guitar, vocals Rudy Lenners – drums Achim Kirschning – keyboards, synthesizers In Trance (1975) Virgin Killer (1976)May 1977 – April 1978Rudolf Schenker – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Klaus Meine – vocals Francis Buchholz – bass Ulrich Roth – lead and slide guitar, vocals Herman Rarebell – drumsTaken by Force (1977) Tokyo Tapes (1978)August 1978 – December 1978Rudolf Schenker – rhythm and slide guitar, backing vocals Klaus Meine – vocals Francis Buchholz – bass Herman Rarebell – drums Matthias Jabs – lead guitarLovedrive (1979)December 1978 – April 1979Rudolf Schenker – rhythm, lead and slide guitars, backing vocals Klaus Meine – vocals Francis Buchholz – bass Herman Rarebell – drums Michael Schenker – lead and slide guitarLovedrive (1979)April 1979 – October 1992Rudolf Schenker – rhythm, lead and slide guitars, backing vocals Klaus Meine – vocals Francis Buchholz – bass, backing vocals Herman Rarebell – drums, backing vocals Matthias Jabs – lead and rhythm guitars, backing vocalsAnimal Magnetism (1980) Blackout (1982) Love at First Sting (1984) World Wide Live (1985) Savage Amusement (1988) Crazy World (1990) Crazy World Tour Live... Berlin 1991 (1991)November 1992 – January 1996Rudolf Schenker – rhythm, lead and slide guitars, backing vocals Klaus Meine – vocals Herman Rarebell – drums Matthias Jabs – lead and rhythm guitars, backing vocals Ralph Rieckermann – bass, backing vocalsFace the Heat (1993) Live Bites (1995)January 1996 – August 1996Rudolf Schenker – rhythm, lead and slide guitars, backing vocals Klaus Meine – vocals Matthias Jabs – lead and rhythm guitars, backing vocals Ralph Rieckermann – bass, backing vocals Curt Cress – drums Pure Instinct (1996)August 1996 – December 2003Rudolf Schenker – rhythm, lead and slide guitars, backing vocals Klaus Meine – vocals Matthias Jabs – lead and rhythm guitars, backing vocals Ralph Rieckermann – bass, backing vocals James Kottak – drums, backing vocalsEye II Eye (1999) Moment of Glory (2000) Moment of Glory Live (2000) Acoustica (2001) Bad for Good (2002) January 2004 – September 2016Rudolf Schenker – rhythm, lead and slide guitars, backing vocals Klaus Meine – vocals Matthias Jabs – lead and rhythm guitars, backing vocals James Kottak – drums, backing vocals Paweł Mąciwoda – bass, backing vocalsUnbreakable (2004) Unbreakable: One Night in Vienna (2004) Humanity: Hour I (2007) Live at Wacken Open Air 2006 (2007) Amazonia: Live in the Jungle (2009) Sting in the Tail (2010) Live 2011: Get Your Sting & Blackout (2011) Comeblack (2011) MTV Unplugged in Athens (2013) Return to Forever (2015)