Scorpions

Germany, 1965–now

Hanover hard-rock band that became Germany's biggest rock export, bridging 1960s British hard rock and 1980s arena metal.

MusicRoots documents 8 artists who influenced Scorpions and 1 artist Scorpions influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.

Who influenced Scorpions?

• The Yardbirds — The Yardbirds' raw riffs were Rudolf Schenker's earliest hard-rock model — he played their material as a teenager, when the Yardbirds and Pretty Things were regarded as the real hard rockers.
• The Rolling Stones — For Schenker the Rolling Stones' dark, dangerous sound spoke more directly than the Beatles' polish — the British-Invasion turn that pushed him toward hard rock.
• Jimi Hendrix — Hendrix was the guitar model behind the Scorpions' mid-70s sound, above all via Uli Jon Roth, whose lead style was an avowed Hendrix continuation.
• Cream — Cream's heavy blues-rock was part of the mid-1960s British sound the Scorpions built their hard rock on.
• Led Zeppelin — Led Zeppelin's monumental hard rock was a core part of the mid-60s-rooted British sound the Scorpions absorbed.
• Elvis Presley — Like many in post-war Germany, Schenker's first musical spark was American rock'n'roll imported by GIs — Elvis Presley foremost, alongside Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis.
• Jerry Lee Lewis — Part of the American rock'n'roll that was Schenker's first musical spark, with Elvis.
• Little Richard — Part of the American rock'n'roll that was Schenker's first musical spark, with Elvis.

Which artists did Scorpions influence?

• Europe — The young members of Force (proto-Europe) learned the trade watching Scorpions and other hard-rock giants at Stockholm's Ice Stadium.