Ufo

UFO, a rock band, was established in London in 1968, initially named Hocus Pocus. The original lineup included Phil Mogg (lead singer), Mick Bolton (guitarist), Pete Way (bassist), and Andy Parker (drummer). Their early releases, “UFO 1” (1970) and “UFO 2: Flying” (1971), featured early hard rock and space rock compositions. A live album, recorded in Tokyo, was released in 1971. In 1972, Bolton departed, leading to a search for a new guitarist.

The band gained international recognition after Michael Schenker joined in 1973. With Schenker, UFO signed with Chrysalis Records and released “Phenomenon” in 1974, an album that showcased a heavier guitar sound and included notable tracks such as “Doctor Doctor” and “Rock Bottom.” Subsequent albums, “Force It” (1975) and “No Heavy Petting” (1976), expanded their audience in America and the UK. “Lights Out” (1977), featuring Paul Raymond, earned critical acclaim, and the band toured extensively across the United States and Europe, performing with bands like Rush and AC/DC. The 1978 album “Obsession” and the critically successful live album “Strangers in the Night” (1979) solidified their position in the hard rock scene, with the latter reaching Number 7 on the UK Albums Chart.

Schenker’s departure in late 1978 led to Paul Chapman rejoining the band. “No Place to Run” (1980), produced by George Martin, did not achieve the same level of commercial success as previous albums. The band experienced further personnel changes, including Neil Carter replacing Paul Raymond, and released “The Wild, the Willing and the Innocent” (1981), which had a pop rock sound. “Mechanix” (1982) reached No. 8 in the UK. Pete Way’s departure and the release of “Making Contact” (1983) led to the band’s initial disbandment. UFO reunited intermittently with various lineups throughout the 1980s, releasing albums such as “Misdemeanor” (1985) and “Ain’t Misbehavin'” (1988), before disbanding again in 1989. The classic late-1970s lineup reunited in 1993, releasing “Walk on Water” in 1995. Michael Schenker rejoined for “Covenant” (2000) and “Sharks” (2002), after which Vinnie Moore became the permanent guitarist. The band continued to release albums, including “You Are Here” (2004), “The Monkey Puzzle” (2006), “The Visitor” (2009), “Seven Deadly” (2012), “A Conspiracy of Stars” (2015), and “The Salentino Cuts” (2017). Lead vocalist Phil Mogg announced his retirement from UFO in 2018, with the band’s final tour initially planned for 2019 and then rescheduled to 2022. Several past members, including Paul Raymond, Paul Chapman, and Pete Way, have passed away. Due to Mogg’s health issues, the farewell tour was canceled, and UFO officially disbanded in April 2024, concluding a career spanning five decades and over 20 million records sold worldwide.