Rudolf Schenker

About: Rudolf Schenkers a German guitarist and founding member of heavy metal band Scorpions, being the rhythm/lead guitarist and one of the main song writers of the band. Rudolf Schenker founded the Scorpions in 1964 when he was 16 years old. He has become one of the major driving forces in the band’s song-writing and musical direction for 40-plus years. In 2010, Scorpions announced that their newest album, Sting in the Tail, would be their last. The tour that supports the album, Get Your Sting And Blackout World Tour, was thought to be their last, however they had a their farewell tour called “The Final Sting Tour” that concluded in Munich on December 17, 2012. Rudolf has been the Scorpion’s most consistent member, appearing on every album and at every tour. His younger brother Michael Schenker was a member of Scorpions in the band’s earliest inception, before joining the band UFO. In the year 2000 Rudolf Schenker was awarded the city of Hanover plaque. and the Cross of Merit First Class (Verdienstkreuz 1. Klasse) of the Lower Saxony Order of Merit.

After starting out with a Fender Stratocaster, Schenker is primarily known for playing Gibson Flying Vs and, more recently, Dean Vs. In the Acoustica DVD, he is seen playing an acoustic Flying V made especially for him by Dommenget. He now uses Dean acoustic V models. Some of Rudolf Schenker’s main live guitars in recent years are Dommenget, the same maker that produced Klaus Meine’s live guitar and many guitars for Matthias Jabs. Rudolf’s signature models are the Dommenget “Ferrari” V and the “Scorpions” V. In the past, Schenker primarily played Marshall amps, using their JMP, JCM800 2203, and JCM800 2205 heads. Currently, he uses ENGL amps, endorsing the E 650 Ritchie Blackmoresignature heads.

In an interview on the ‘World Wide Live’ video, he mentioned that his goal is not to become the best or fastest guitarist, but to be a very good composer. In most Scorpions songs, guitar solos are performed by lead guitarist Matthias Jabs, but there are some notable exceptions, in which Rudolf plays the solos, such as “Wind of Change”, “Always Somewhere”, “Still Loving You”, “Send Me an Angel”, “Lady Starlight”, “As Soon as the Good Times Roll”, “When The Smoke is Going Down”, “Animal Magnetism”, “Through My Eyes” “Coast to Coast” (second solo), “SLY” and “Big City Nights”.

Rudolf Schenker is known for his energetic riffing and wild live performances, which often include swinging his guitar over his head and throwing the guitar up and catching it.