Michael Schenker Group / Manchester 1982 / 4CDR

Michael Schenker Group / Manchester 1982 / 4CDR / Shades

Manchester Apollo , Manchester , UK 12th & 13th December 1982

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GManOF Memories Series
1982 MSG where Graham Bonnet withdrew from the electric shock and unexpectedly returned to its original form. Introducing a new excavation live set where you can experience the site.
Two performances are included in this work. This is a 4-disc set with a superb audience recording of “December 12th + 13th, 1982 Manchester performance”. “ASSAULT ATTACK Tour” was the time when the activity was the most stagnant even in the early MSG due to the slapstick of Graham’s disappearance. It’s a good opportunity, so let’s take a look back at the big picture and see the position of the show.

● 1982
・ August 24: University of Sheffield (Graham disappeared)
《August 27: Gary Barden and Rehearsal》
・ August 29: Reading festival appearance ← * Official BBC RADIO ONE
・ September 4 + 5: Golden Summer Night (2 performances in West Germany)
《October release of “ASSAULT ATTACK”》
・ October 31: Bristol performance
・ November 21st-December 13th: UK (14 performances) ← ★ Coco ★
● 1983
・ January 13-20: Japan (6 performances)
《To the production of “BUILT TO DESTROY”》

This is a panoramic view of the activities related to “ASSAULT ATTACK”. Since the detailed dates vary depending on the interviews and materials, we cannot say the details such as the number of performances, but I think that you can understand the approximate scale and flow. To put it simply, there were only about 25 times in total, with the feeling that “UK / Japan / festivals are a little”. Among them, the Manchester performance of this work is the last two performances of the “UK” tour. The following year, 1983, will start with a performance in Japan, so it was a show just before coming to Japan.
The recordings of these two performances have not been known so far, but only recently they have been newly discovered from the much-talked-about “G.Mann” collection. Speaking of “G.Mann”, presses such as ACCEPT’s “MONSTERS OF ROCK 1984 (Zodiac 436)”, Gary Moore’s “MONSTERS OF ROCK 1984 (Zodiac 439)”, and MOTLEY CRUE’s “NUREMBERG 1984 (Zodiac 433)” The prestigious 2021 that has sent out HR / HM-based famous recordings such as UFO, THIN LIZZY, KISS, WHITESNAKE, WASP, etc. It seems that this MSG version is not a recording of “G. Mann” himself, but it is a brand that makes the brand even more brilliant rather than polluting it.
In fact, the sound of this work is excellent in both performances. At the start, you can see the realistic applause and tone, so you can’t mistake it for a sound board, but after that, the direct feeling improves steadily. By the time we reach the 2nd or 3rd song, we don’t feel a sense of distance, and we get a sense of stability. It’s a vivid and tight recording that reminds me of “that? Was it an audience?” With very detailed details. Moreover, the individuality is common to both performances. If you extract only the same song and compare it, the difference in tone and performance depending on the (slight) recording position is clear, but if you go through the whole, you will be wondering which one you are listening to. It is also a 4-disc set where you can experience the 2 performances at the same venue at once with a sense of unity.
You can enjoy the precious “ASSAULT ATTACK Tour” full set x 2 performances with such a sound. Speaking of 1982, the official version of Reading Festival “BBC RADIO ONE” is the standard, but this work has an incomparably large number of songs. So let’s organize the set while comparing it with “ROCK WILL NEVER DIE”.

・ Phenomenon (2 songs): Doctor Doctor / Rock Bottom (★)
・ God (6 songs): Cry for the Nations / Bijou Pleasurette / Victim of Illusion (★) / Into the Arena / Lost Horizons / Armed and Ready
・ Myth (4 songs): Attack of the Mad Axeman / Let Sleeping Dogs Lie / Looking For Love / Ready to Rock
・ Apocalypse (3 songs): Ulcer (★) / Rock you to the Ground / Desert Song
* Note: “★” marks are songs that cannot be heard even if “BBC RADIO ONE” and “ROCK WILL NEVER DIE” are combined.

… And it looks like this. The song selection is the same on both days, and the show seems to be “ASSAULT ATTACK Tour” starting from “Ulcer”. The set is familiar even in Japanese performances, but this work has a sense of fulfillment that the ensemble has been completed after more than a dozen performances, and the UK tour has been successfully completed. Especially on the final day (DISC 3-4), you don’t have to worry about tomorrow’s condition, and you will feel a sense of openness.
The 1982 MSG was completed as a unit because neither Cozy nor Graham were gone. It is a live set where you can experience the final two performances of the “UK” tour, which has begun to show its true character, with exquisite sound. Audience recording cannot be stopped because such a brand-name recording pops up. A 4-disc set that reminds me of such collectors. Please enjoy it to your heart’s content.

★ A superb audience recording set for “December 12 + 13, 1982 Manchester performance”. This is the first recording that was unearthed from the recently talked about “G. Mann” collection, and the sound is excellent in both performances. A direct feeling without a sense of distance, a sense of stability. Very fine details … It’s a vivid and tight recording that makes you think “that? Was it an audience?” While listening. It is a show that seems to be “ASSAULT ATTACK Tour” starting from “Ulcer”, and there are a lot of famous songs that can not be compared with the official board “BC RADIO ONE” that appeared at the festival. You can also experience “Rock you to the Ground” and “Desert Song” sung by Gary.

Manchester Apollo, Manchester, UK 12th December 1982

GManOF Memories Series です
グラハム・ボネットが電撃脱退し、期せずして本来の姿に回帰した1982年のMSG。その現場を体験できる新発掘ライヴ・セットが登場です。
そんな本作に収められているのは２公演。「1982年12月12日＋13日マンチェスター公演」の絶品オーディエンス録音をセットした４枚組です。”ASSAULT ATTACK Tour”はグラハム失踪のドタバタもあって初期MSGでも最も活動が停滞していた時期。良い機会ですので、ここでその全体像を振り返り、ショウのポジションを確かめてみましょう。

●1982年
・８月24日：シェフィールド大学（グラハム失踪）
《８月27日：ゲイリー・バーデンとリハーサル》
・８月29日：レディング・フェス出演　←※公式BBC RADIO ONE
・９月４日＋５日：ゴールデン・サマーナイト（西独２公演）
《10月『ASSAULT ATTACK』発売》
・10月31日：ブリストル公演
・11月21日-12月13日：英国（14公演）　←★ココ★
●1983年
・１月13日-20日：日本（６公演）
《『BUILT TO DESTROY』制作へ》

これが『ASSAULT ATTACK』にまつわる活動の全景。インタビューや資料によって細かい日付が異なるので公演数など細部は断言しかねますが、おおよその規模と流れはご理解いただけると想います。カンタンに言いますと「英国／日本／フェスがちょっと」という感じでトータル25回前後しかありませんでした。その中で、本作のマンチェスター公演は「英国」ツアーの最後２公演。翌1983年は日本公演で始まりますので、まさに来日直前のショウだったわけです。
この２公演はこれまで録音が知られてこなかったのですが、ごく最近になって話題の「G.Mann」コレクションから新発掘されたのです。「G.Mann」と言えば、ACCEPTの『MONSTERS OF ROCK 1984（Zodiac 436）』やゲイリー・ムーアの『MONSTERS OF ROCK 1984（Zodiac 439）』、MOTLEY CRUEの『NUREMBERG 1984（Zodiac 433）』といったプレス名盤を筆頭に、UFO、THIN LIZZY、KISS、WHITESNAKE、W.A.S.P.等々、HR/HM系の名録音を送り出してきた2021年の名門。今回のMSG篇は「G.Mann」本人の録音ではないようですが、ブランドを汚すどころか、一層輝かせる銘品なのです。
実際、本作のサウンドは２公演とも絶品。スタート時点でリアルな拍手や音色が分かるのでサウンドボードと間違えはしませんが、その後どんどんダイレクト感が向上。２-３曲目に達する頃には距離感も感じられなくなり、ビシッとした安定感まで獲得。えらく細かいディテールとも併せて「あれ？　オーディエンスだったっけ？」と思い返すほどの鮮やか＆タイト録音なのです。しかも、その個性が２公演とも共通。同じ曲だけ抜き出して比べれば（わずかな）録音ポジションによる音色や演奏の違いもハッキリしているのですが、全体を通すとどちらを聴いているのか迷ってしまうほど。同会場２公演を統一感いっぱいに一気体験できる４枚組でもあるのです。
そんなサウンドで楽しめるのは、貴重な”ASSAULT ATTACK Tour”のフルセット×２公演。1982年と言えば、レディング・フェスの公式盤『BBC RADIO ONE』が基準になるわけですが、本作は比べものにならないほど曲数が多い。そこで『ROCK WILL NEVER DIE』とも比較しつつ、セットを整理してみましょう。

・現象（２曲）：Doctor Doctor／Rock Bottom（★）
・神（６曲）：Cry for the Nations／Bijou Pleasurette／Victim of Illusion（★）／Into the Arena／Lost Horizons／Armed and Ready
・神話（４曲）：Attack of the Mad Axeman／Let Sleeping Dogs Lie／Looking For Love／Ready to Rock
・黙示録（３曲）：Ulcer（★）／Rock you to the Ground／Desert Song
※注：「★」印は『BBC RADIO ONE』『ROCK WILL NEVER DIE』を合わせても聴けない曲。

……と、このようになっています。両日共に選曲は同一で「Ulcer」からスタートする”ASSAULT ATTACK Tour”らしいショウ。そのセットは日本公演でもお馴染みなわけですが、本作は十数公演を重ねた頃でアンサンブルもこなれ、かつ英国ツアーを無事に成し遂げた充実感も滲む。特に最終日（DISC 3-4）は明日の調子を心配する必要のない開放感で思い切りの良さまで溢れ出すのです。
コージーもグラハムも居なくなったからこそ、ユニットとして完成した1982年のMSG。その本領が発揮され始めた「英国」ツアーの最終２公演を絶品サウンドで丸ごと体験できるライヴセットです。こんな銘品録音がポロッと出てくるからオーディエンス録音は止められない。そんなコレクター冥利まで思い起こさせる４枚組。どうぞ、心ゆくまで存分にお楽しみください。

★「1982年12月12日＋13日マンチェスター公演」の絶品オーディエンス録音セット。最近話題の「G.Mann」コレクションから発掘された初登場録音で、そのサウンドは２公演とも絶品。距離感のないダイレクト感、ビシッとした安定感。えらく細かいディテール……聴いているうちに「あれ？　オーディエンスだったっけ？」と思い返すほどの鮮やか＆タイトな名録音です。「Ulcer」からスタートする”ASSAULT ATTACK Tour”らしいショウで、フェス出演だった公式盤『BC RADIO ONE』とは比較にならないほど名曲が山盛り。ゲイリーが歌う「Rock you to the Ground」「Desert Song」も現場体験できます。

Manchester Apollo, Manchester, UK 12th December 1982

Disc 1(35:29)
1. Intro
2. Ulcer
3. Cry for the Nations
4. Attack of the Mad Axeman
5. Rock you to the Ground
6. Bijou Pleasurette
7. Victim of Illusion
8. Member Introduction
9. Into the Arena

Disc 2(65:13)
1. Desert Song
2. Courvoisier Concerto
3. Lost Horizons
4. Let Sleeping Dogs Lie
5. Looking For Love
6. Armed and Ready
7. Doctor Doctor
8. Ready to Rock
9. Rock Bottom

Manchester Apollo, Manchester, UK 13th December 1982

Disc 3(33:55)
1. Intro
2. Ulcer
3. Cry for the Nations
4. Attack of the Mad Axeman
5. Rock you to the Ground
6. Bijou Pleasurette
7. Victim of Illusion
8. Member Introduction
9. Into the Arena

Disc 4(63:06)
1. Desert Song
2. Courvoisier Concerto
3. Lost Horizons
4. Let Sleeping Dogs Lie
5. Looking For Love
6. Armed and Ready
7. Doctor Doctor
8. Ready to Rock
9. Rock Bottom

Michael Schenker – Guitars
Gary Barden – Vocals
Chris Glen – Bass
Ted McKenna – Drums
Andy Nye – Keyboards

Shades 1333