UFO

UFO is a British hard rock and heavy metal band from Enfield, active from 1969 to the present. The group is also associated with classic rock, rock, space rock, and progressive rock. Its early line-up includes Phil Mogg on vocals, Mick Bolton on guitar, Pete Way on bass, and Andy Parker on drums.

Career

UFO begins as a band with a strong space rock identity, drawing on the 1960s rock scene in its early recordings. It is often described as a transitional act between the rock of Led Zeppelin and the heavy metal that follows in the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. In 1973 the band recruits guitarist Michael Schenker from the Scorpions, and its sound shifts toward a harder-edged style.

During the 1970s the band releases a series of critically regarded albums that build an audience in the United States and make it more widely known in the United Kingdom. Around the time of Obsession in 1978, tensions grow between Schenker and Mogg. That period leads into extensive touring and the recording of Strangers in the Night, a double live album released in 1979 and often regarded as one of the most highly regarded live rock albums.

Line-up changes and later activity

After the Strangers in the Night tour, Michael Schenker leaves the band. UFO continues to release records, though its popularity declines after this period. The band disbands in 1988 because of poor sales and reduced popularity, but the break is short. In 1992 Phil Mogg and Pete Way assemble a new UFO line-up, which attracts renewed interest. The original band later reunites in 1993 with Schenker, and this leads to Walk on Water in 1995.

Schenker returns and leaves several times in the early 2000s. Over time, Mogg takes control of the UFO name. The band’s changing line-up still often centres on key members including Phil Mogg, Pete Way, Andy Parker, and Paul Raymond, who is associated with guitar in the group’s core formation.

Influence and legacy

UFO has a strong influence on 1980s metal. It is cited as an important influence on musicians such as Kirk Hammett of Metallica, Dave Mustaine of Megadeth, and Iron Maiden. The band releases 20 studio albums, along with many live and compilation records.