Song:Lights Out
Album:The Best Of UFO
Though they never had the commercial success of other hard rock bands, today UFO is considered to be very influential on bands that followed. Lights Out may be their signature song. UFO was formed in London, England in 1968 as Hocus Pocus. They were lead singer Phil Mogg, guitarist Mick Bolton, bassist Pete Way and drummer Andy Parker. They changed their name to UFO in honor of the London club where they were discovered and signed to Beacon Records. They recorded two albums. The second one was more space rock with a 26 minute track. They wanted to get back to hard rock so Bolton was replaced by 18 year old German guitarist Michael Schenker. Schenker was in an early version of his brother Rudolf's band Scorpions. And UFO signed with the larger Chrysalis Records. They began to get momentum with their next two albums. But it's the 1977 album Lights Out that really broke UFO internationally. Savoy Brown keyboard player Paul Raymond was brought in for this album. The album was very successful and Lights Out is one of their more popular songs. The success allowed UFO to tour the US and record two more albums which did well especially in England. But Schenker wasn't getting along with Mogg. He left in 1978 to form Michael Schenker Band. The 1980 album No Place To Run didn't do as well. Raymond was replaced by Neil Carter. Then Way left after the 1982 album Mechanix to form Fastway. Billy Sheehan replaced him. But things weren't going well and UFO split up in 1983. Mogg formed a new version of UFO in 1985 and a version of the band still records and tours today. Mogg recently announced that UFO's 2019 50th Anniversary tour will be his last as he will retire. It is not known if UFO will continue. This comp is a good intro to their music. Kirk Hammett of Metallica and Dave Mustaine of Megadeath are among those who credit UFO as a major influence. That is their legacy. Here's UFO performing Lights Out at the Roundhouse Theater in London June 12, 1977.
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