Reply To: Eruption 1976 (pre-tapping) Whiskey a Go Go sbd 12/03/77

ffoner: Something else – and this is important – the recording that circulates as 5/9/76, the Golden West gig with UFO, isn’t from that night. I know this because that night, VH played all originals and 1 cover song, not a whole bunch of covers. This gig was key in the band’s evolution to a band that would make it or break it on their own music. In VHR, big chunk of one chapter on that UFO gig.

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In 2003, I discovered that the Michael Schenker Group was essentially being duped by a promoter in Korea. I won’t bore you with all the details behind that story, except to say I contacted MSG’s management, the gig was called off, and the band was saved from having to cover the costs of shipping equipment, plane tickets, etc. for what was to be a one-off gig in Korea.

The next year, I went to see MSG perform in the States. After the show, I was chatting with Wayne Findlay (guitar and keyboards for MSG) and mentioned the Korea gig that never was and how I contacted management, etc. He got kind of excited and got some of the other band members and told them, “This is the guy who saved us from that bogus gig in Korea!” They bought me a few drinks at the bar and after Michael was done signing merchandise at the merch stand, they introduced me to Michael, and even he happily shook my hand and thanked me and gave me a signed t-shirt and hat.

Wayne is still in the band and ever since then, has always offered me free tickets whenever I let him know that I plan to attend a show.

So what the hell does any of this have to do with Van Halen??

Well … I have always wondered what Michael thought of Ed and Ed’s playing from back in the day when UFO and VH played at the same shows. A few years ago, I asked Wayne if he would ask Michael about this. Wayne said he wouldn’t see Michael until a few months later when they would be getting ready to tour South America. Wayne asked me to email him again in a few months to remind him.

So now that I have all of you sitting on the edge of your chairs in anticipation of a cool story … I have to say … sorry. I completely forgot about emailing Wayne. I need to follow up on this and ask again though, because it would be cool to hear what Michael has to say.