Vinnie Moore recently discussed his approach to playing guitar during his time with UFO. He explained why he chose not to imitate Michael Schenker’s distinctive style, in an interview with Classic Rock History.
The guitarist addressed questions about whether he attempted to replicate Schenker’s iconic sound on classic UFO songs from the 1970s.
“I’ve never tried to copy anyone else’s style. When you’re a kid and learning, then yes, you copy many players on the way to finding your own thing. But once you get to a certain point, you’re on your own path,” Moore said. “I already had six or so records out when I joined the band and was well into doing my own thing.”
Moore emphasized that maintaining his individual musical identity was essential to his contribution to the band.
“So, I was just being myself on all of our albums. Of course, we covered many of the older songs onstage, and I played the parts that needed to be played. For solos, I was mostly just improvising, as always,” he continued. “It was clear when I first joined the band that Phil wanted me to be myself, which was perfect because I wouldn’t have wanted to do it if he wanted me to just copy everything.”
The guitarist reflected positively on his experience with UFO. He described it as both professionally and personally rewarding.
“I really enjoyed my time in the band. It was a lot of fun, and we all became good friends and did some awesome things—a very good experience. I contributed my all as I always have with anything I do, as well as my marvelous, humorous personality,” Moore concluded.
Moore’s approach to joining UFO represented a significant departure from the band’s previous struggles with their most famous guitarist.
CBS San Francisco reported that Moore joined UFO permanently in 2003 after the band’s repeated difficulties with the troubled Schenker. He became Phil Mogg’s main songwriting partner. This marked a new chapter for the legendary British hard rock band, which had been searching for stability in the guitar position for years.
Moore brought substantial credentials to UFO. He had established himself as a prominent figure in the instrumental guitar world. Veojam noted that Moore was known as a neo-classical shredder from the mid-1980s Shrapnel Records scene. He had built a successful solo career starting with his 1986 debut album “Mind’s Eye” before joining UFO.
The partnership proved to be UFO’s most stable and productive in decades. Encyclopaedia Metallum documented that Moore served as lead guitarist from 2003 until the band’s retirement in 2024. This made him the longest-tenured UFO guitarist since Schenker’s original run with the band.
During his 21-year tenure with UFO, Moore recorded five studio albums with the band. He contributed significantly to their later catalog while maintaining his own artistic identity. His approach of staying true to his own style rather than attempting to replicate Schenker’s iconic sound ultimately helped UFO find a new musical direction while honoring their classic material in live performances.
