It’s often expected of band members to get along and become friends, especially considering the time they spend touring, recording, and creating. However, that isn’t always the case since the rock scene has witnessed countless musicians who don’t see eye to eye, regardless of their time as bandmates. Though this wasn’t exactly what had happened between UFO’s Vinnie Moore and Michael Schenker, Vinnie disclosed that they didn’t know much about each other during an interview with Guitar Player.
“I first met him at a Concrete Foundations Forum back in ’91, I think,” said Moore while recalling his introduction to his then-future bandmate. “Mike Varney actually introduced me to him. That was just a really quick meeting. Not much was happening there.”
Following that, Vinnie Moore recalled touring with Michael Schenker and being in separate tour buses. He said, “We toured together in ’99. We did 32 shows in America. I opened. We shared the same band. We all traveled on a tour bus except Michael. He wanted to drive alone with his wife. To be totally honest, I didn’t see him much on the whole tour.”
“He was, like, very much to himself and, you know, not a lot of conversation, to be honest, on that tour,” disclosed Moore and continued, “He was friendly enough. And I heard him play every night. It was awesome, but I just didn’t really get to know him.”
Vinnie Moore and Michael Schenker’s paths crossed when Moore opened for the Michael Schenker Group on tour. Still, their names are often mentioned together since both musicians played with UFO as the band’s guitar players. Schenker was a member from 1973 to 1978 and rejoined the band sporadically between 1993 and 2003. Moore replaced him in 2003 and has been working with the band ever since.
