Scorpions

Biography

The Scorpions are a German hard rock/heavy metal band formed in Hanover in 1965 by guitarist Rudolf Schenker. The longest-running and most successful line-up of the band included Schenker, Klaus Meine (vocals), Matthias Jabs (lead guitar), Francis Buchholz (bass), and Herman Rarebell (drums), and lasted from 1978 to 1992. The Scorpions' only remaining original member has been Schenker, although Meine has been with the band continuously since 1969, while Jabs has been a consistent member since 1978 and bassist Paweł Mąciwoda and drummer Mikkey Dee have been members since 2003 and 2016, respectively.
The band's debut album, Lonesome Crow×Lonesome Crow1972 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 7 tracksA1I’m Goin’ Mad4:56A2It All Depends3:30A3Leave Me5:06A4In Search of the Peace of Mind5:00B1Inheritance4:42B2Action3:56B3Lonesome Crow13:31 (1972), featured Schenker's younger brother Michael on lead guitar, before he departed to join UFO. He was replaced by Uli Jon Roth, who played with the band on their next four studio albums, Fly to the Rainbow×Fly to the Rainbow1974 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 7 tracksA1Speedy’s Coming3:38A2They Need a Million4:53A3Drifting Sun7:42A4Fly People Fly5:04B1This Is My Song4:17B2Far Away5:42B3Fly to the Rainbow9:31 (1974), In Trance×In Trance1975 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracksA1Dark Lady3:25A2In Trance4:42A3Life’s Like a River3:50A4Top of the Bill3:22A5Living and Dying3:18B1Robot Man2:42B2Evening Wind5:02B3Sun in My Hand4:20B4Longing for Fire2:42B5Night Lights3:14 (1975), Virgin Killer×Virgin Killer9 October 1976 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracksA1Pictured Life3:21A2Catch Your Train3:32A3In Your Park3:39A4Backstage Queen3:10A5Virgin Killer3:41B1Hell-Cat2:54B2Crying Days4:36B3Polar Nights5:04B4Yellow Raven4:58 (1976) and Taken by Force (1977), and their first live album Tokyo Tapes×Tokyo Tapes1978 · Album · LiveSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 18 tracks · 2 discsDisc 1A1All Night Long3:12A2Pictured Life3:48A3Backstage Queen3:40A4Polar Nights6:55A5In Trance5:31B1We’ll Burn the Sky8:13B2Suspender Love3:40B3In Search of the Peace of Mind3:02B4Fly to the Rainbow9:49Disc 2C1He’s a Woman - She’s a Man5:29C2Speedy’s Coming3:40C3Top of the Bill6:47C4Hound Dog1:14C5Long Tall Sally2:44D1Steamrock Fever4:22D2Dark Lady4:32D3Kojo No Tsuki3:23D4Robot Man5:50 (1978). Following Roth's departure, the band recruited Matthias Jabs and began moving towards a more melodic rock style on their sixth studio album Lovedrive×Lovedrive15 January 1979 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracksA1Loving You Sunday Morning5:40A2Another Piece of Meat3:31A3Always Somewhere4:57A4Coast to Coast4:44B1Can't Get Enough2:38B2Is There Anybody There?3:58B3Lovedrive4:53B4Holiday6:34 (1979), which also saw the Scorpions reunite briefly with Michael Schenker before he left again to begin a solo career. Over the next decade, the band achieved influence, approval from music critics, and significant commercial success with the albums Animal Magnetism×Animal MagnetismApril 1980 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracksA1Make It Real3:49A2Don’t Make No Promises (Your Body Can’t Keep)2:58A3Hold Me Tight4:00A4Twentieth Century Man3:05A5Lady Starlight6:16B1Falling in Love4:12B2Only a Man3:37B3The Zoo5:31B4Animal Magnetism5:58 (1980), Blackout×Blackout10 April 1982 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracksA1Blackout3:49A2Can’t Live Without You3:47A3No One Like You3:57A4You Give Me All I Need3:38A5Now!2:36B1Dynamite4:12B2Arizona3:56B3China White6:59B4When the Smoke Is Going Down3:52 (1982), Love at First Sting×Love at First StingFebruary 1984 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1Bad Boys Running Wild3:562Rock You Like a Hurricane4:133I’m Leaving You4:184Coming Home5:005The Same Thrill3:326Big City Nights4:097As Soon as the Good Times Roll5:038Crossfire4:369Still Loving You6:28 (1984), the live album World Wide Live×World Wide LiveJune 1985 · Album · LiveSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks1Countdown0:422Coming Home2:473Blackout4:354Bad Boys Running Wild3:535Loving You Sunday Morning4:426Make It Real3:547Big City Nights4:598Coast to Coast5:149Holiday3:2310Still Loving You5:4911Rock You Like a Hurricane4:1512Can’t Live Without You5:3313The Zoo5:5114No One Like You4:1015Dynamite7:27 (1985), Savage Amusement×Savage Amusement16 April 1988 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1Don’t Stop at the Top4:052Rhythm of Love3:483Passion Rules the Game3:594Media Overkill3:345Walking on the Edge5:086We Let It Rock… You Let It Roll3:397Every Minute Every Day4:228Love on the Run3:389Believe in Love5:24 (1988), the compilation album Best of Rockers×Rockers2004 · Album · CompilationSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 16 tracksA1Rock You Like HurricaneA2Coming HomeA3No One Like YouA4LovedriveA5Bad Boys Running WildA6I’m Leaving YouA7Passion Rules the GameA8China WhiteB1Walking on the EdgeB2Coast to CoastB3Loving You Sunday MorningB4Another Piece of MeatB5DynamiteB6Can’t Live Without YouB7Edge of TimeB8Hurricane 2001 'n' Ballads×Ballads2003 · Album · CompilationSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 20 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11You and I4:172Still Loving You6:263Send Me an Angel4:314What U Give U Get Back5:025When the Smoke Is Going Down3:496Always Somewhere4:547Walking on the Edge5:058Lady Starlight6:229Here in My Heart4:2010Living for Tomorrow7:1011When Love Kills Love4:5412Moment of Glory5:0713Holiday6:2014Under the Same Sun4:5415Wind of Change5:09Disc 216Moment of Glory17You and I18Here in My Heart19Wind of Change20Still Loving You (1989) and Crazy World×Crazy World6 November 1990 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Tease Me Please Me4:462Don’t Believe Her4:563To Be With You in Heaven4:514Wind of Change5:135Restless Nights5:486Lust or Love4:237Kicks After Six3:508Hit Between the Eyes4:349Money and Fame5:0810Crazy World5:0911Send Me an Angel4:33 (1990), all of which are certified at least platinum in the United States. The band has released thirteen consecutive studio albums that were in the top 10 in Germany, one of which reached No. 1, as well as three consecutive albums that were in the top 10 in the Billboard 200 in the United States. Their latest studio album, Rock Believer×Rock Believer25 February 2022 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 16 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11Gas in the Tank3:412Roots in My Boots3:173Knock 'em Dead4:114Rock Believer3:575Shining of Your Soul3:586Seventh Sun5:317Hot and Cold4:138When I Lay My Bones to Rest3:089Peacemaker2:5610Call of the Wild5:2111When You Know (Where You Come From)4:22Disc 21Shoot for Your Heart4:022When Tomorrow Comes3:483Unleash the Beast4:174Crossing Borders3:385When You Know (Where You Come From) (acoustic version)3:45, was released in February 2022.
The Scorpions are estimated to have sold over 100 million records worldwide, making them one of the best-selling hard rock and heavy metal bands of all time. One of their most recognized hits is "Wind of Change×Wind of Change1990 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Wind of Change5:142Restless Nights5:483Big City Nights (live)5:13" (from Crazy World), a symbolic anthem of the political changes in Eastern Europe in the late 1980s and early 1990s and the fall of the Berlin Wall, and it remains as one of the best-selling singles in the world with over 14 million copies. Two songs from their ninth studio album Love at First Sting×First Sting1985 · EPSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Rock You Like a Hurricane2Coming Home3I’m Leaving You4Still Loving You, "Rock You Like a Hurricane×Rock You Like a Hurricane1984 · EPSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracksA1PhotographA2Foolin’B1Rock You Like a HurricaneB2Still Loving You" and "Still Loving You×Still Loving You1984 · Album · CompilationSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks · 2 discsDisc 1A1Still Loving You (long version)6:27B1Still Loving You (edited version)4:48Disc 2C1Can’t Live Without You3:46C2Loving You Sunday Morning5:35C3Make It Real3:49C4Coast to Coast4:40D1Another Piece of Meat3:30D2Blackout3:48D3No One Like You3:55D4The Zoo5:28", are regarded as some of the most influential and popular works, both in heavy metal music and among rock ballads, defined as "rock anthem" and "a true hymn of love", respectively.

Formation and early history (1965–1973)

Rudolf Schenker, the band's rhythm/lead guitarist, founded the band Scorpions together with three school friends, Wolfgang Dziony (drums) Karl-Heinz Vollmer (lead and rhythm guitar), and Achim Kirchoff (bass) in January 1965 as "the Nameless" before choosing "the Scorpions" as their moniker on December 26, 1965. Initially the band had Merseybeat influences and Schenker and Dziony who handled the vocals were influenced by the Everly Brothers.
Between 1966 and 1967 they gave several concerts in the north of what was then West Germany, performing versions of the Beatles, the Ventures, the Shadows, the Everly Brothers and the Rolling Stones, among other groups of the British Invasion. On occasion, they also opened for the Searchers, the Easybeats, the Lords and Dave Dee. In September 1966, they performed at the legendary Star-Club in Hamburg.
In 1967, they recruited 15-year-old Werner Hoyer as vocalist. Later that November, Karl Heinz Vollmer left the band due to his military obligations; military service prevented him from appearing at concerts and he was replaced by Ulrich Worobiec. Not long after, Werner Hoyer departed from the band to finish school and was replaced by Bernd Hegner while Rudolf finally finished school.
In 1968, Achim Kirchoff left and was replaced by Lothar Heimberg.
In 1969, Hegner and Worobiec also departed the band because they both wanted to finish school. Klaus Meine then joined as the new vocalist and apart from that, he invited Schenker's younger brother Michael to join the band as the new lead guitarist. Klaus and Michael had played together in the Led Zeppelin and Taste cover band Copernicus. With this line-up they won a music contest in 1972 and recorded two songs for a single that was never released on the CCA label, but the songs, "Action" and "I'm Going Mad" were later released on different compilation albums including Psychedelic Gems 2.
In 1972, the group recorded and released their debut album, Lonesome Crow×Lonesome Crow1972 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 7 tracksA1I’m Goin’ Mad4:56A2It All Depends3:30A3Leave Me5:06A4In Search of the Peace of Mind5:00B1Inheritance4:42B2Action3:56B3Lonesome Crow13:31, with Lothar Heimberg on bass and Wolfgang Dziony on drums and re-recorded their CCA songs. During the Lonesome Crow tour the Scorpions opened for up-and-coming British band UFO. In October 1972, drummer Dziony left and an Israeli born American drummer who was visiting Germany, Joe Wyman, answered their ad requesting a new drummer. But since the band was barely making any money at the time, Wyman quit in December 1972. Dziony then came back to complete their tour. But for their January 1973 appearances with Rory Gallagher, they had Helmut Eisenhut on drums.
Near the end of the tour for Lonesome Crow, guitarist Michael Schenker had accepted an offer to play lead guitar for UFO, which he joined in June of 1973. Uli Roth, who had been suggested by Michael, helped the band finish their tour. But when Eisenhut died and Heimberg left in the summer of 1973, they briefly played with a rhythm section of Ewi (bass) and Hal Fingerhood (drums).
The departure of Michael Schenker eventually led to the breakup of the band. In 1973, Roth, who had helped the Scorpions complete the Lonesome Crow tour, was offered the role of lead guitarist, but turned them down, preferring instead to remain in the band Dawn Road. Rudolf Schenker eventually decided he wanted to work with Roth, but did not want to resurrect the last Scorpions line-up. He attended some of Dawn Road's rehearsals and ultimately decided to join the band, which consisted of Roth, Francis Buchholz (bass), Achim Kirschning (keyboards) and Jürgen Rosenthal (drums). Uli Roth and Buchholz persuaded Rudolf Schenker to invite Klaus Meine to join on vocals, which he soon did. While there were more members of Dawn Road than Scorpions in the band, they decided to use the Scorpions name because it was well known on the German hard rock scene and an album had been released under that name.

Rise to fame (1974–1978)

In 1974, the new line-up released Fly to the Rainbow. The album proved to be more successful than Lonesome Crow×Lonesome Crow1972 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 7 tracksA1I’m Goin’ Mad4:56A2It All Depends3:30A3Leave Me5:06A4In Search of the Peace of Mind5:00B1Inheritance4:42B2Action3:56B3Lonesome Crow13:31 and songs such as "Speedy's Coming" and the title track established the band's sound. Achim Kirschning decided to leave after the recordings. Soon after, Jürgen Rosenthal had to leave as well since he was drafted into the army (he later joined German progressive rock band Eloy, recording three albums). Rosenthal was replaced in July 1974 by Jürgen Fechter, but then in 1975 Rudy Lenners from Belgium became the band's next drummer.
That year, the band released In Trance, which marked the beginning of their long collaboration with German producer Dieter Dierks. The album was a huge step forward for the Scorpions and established their heavy metal formula. It garnered a fan base at home and abroad with cuts such as "In Trance×In Trance1975 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracksA1Dark Lady3:25A2In Trance4:42A3Life’s Like a River3:50A4Top of the Bill3:22A5Living and Dying3:18B1Robot Man2:42B2Evening Wind5:02B3Sun in My Hand4:20B4Longing for Fire2:42B5Night Lights3:14", "Dark Lady" and "Robot Man".
Meanwhile, as "the Hunters", the band recorded "Fuchs geh' voran" and "Wenn es richtig losgeht", German language cover versions of "Action" and "Fox on the Run" by the Sweet for EMI's Electrola label.
In 1976, the Scorpions released Virgin Killer, the album cover of which featured a nude prepubescent girl behind a broken pane of glass. The cover art was designed by Stefan Bohle, who was the product manager for the West German division of RCA Records, their label at the time. The cover brought the band considerable market exposure as well as controversy and was subsequently pulled or replaced in other countries because of its imagery. The album itself garnered widespread praise for its music from select critics and fan base. In 2008, the cover art on the English Wikipedia was briefly blacklisted by the Internet Watch Foundation, before reversing their decision 4 days later.
The following year, Rudy Lenners resigned for personal reasons and was replaced by Herman Rarebell, an experienced musician who had recorded with the bands Missus Beastly and Onyx.
For the follow-up Taken by Force, RCA Records made a determined effort to promote the album in stores and on the radio. The album's single, "Steamrock Fever", was added to some of RCA's radio promotional records. Roth was not happy with the commercial direction the band was taking. Although he performed on the band's Japan tour, he departed to form his own band, Electric Sun prior to the release of the resultant double live album Tokyo Tapes×Tokyo Tapes1978 · Album · LiveSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 18 tracks · 2 discsDisc 1A1All Night Long3:12A2Pictured Life3:48A3Backstage Queen3:40A4Polar Nights6:55A5In Trance5:31B1We’ll Burn the Sky8:13B2Suspender Love3:40B3In Search of the Peace of Mind3:02B4Fly to the Rainbow9:49Disc 2C1He’s a Woman - She’s a Man5:29C2Speedy’s Coming3:40C3Top of the Bill6:47C4Hound Dog1:14C5Long Tall Sally2:44D1Steamrock Fever4:22D2Dark Lady4:32D3Kojo No Tsuki3:23D4Robot Man5:50. Tokyo Tapes was released in the US and Europe six months after its Japanese release. By that time in mid-1978, after auditioning around 140 guitarists, the Scorpions recruited Matthias Jabs, a veteran of the German rock scene who had played in the bands Lady and Fargo.

Commercial success (1978–1992)

Following the addition of Jabs, the Scorpions left RCA for Mercury Records in the United States and EMI Records worldwide to record their next album Lovedrive×Lovedrive15 January 1979 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracksA1Loving You Sunday Morning5:40A2Another Piece of Meat3:31A3Always Somewhere4:57A4Coast to Coast4:44B1Can't Get Enough2:38B2Is There Anybody There?3:58B3Lovedrive4:53B4Holiday6:34 (1979).
Just weeks after quitting UFO, Michael Schenker returned to the group for a short period during the recordings for the album. This gave the band three guitarists. Lovedrive was an album that some critics consider to be the pinnacle of their career. Containing such fan favourites as "Loving You Sunday Morning×Loving You Sunday Morning8 June 1979 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksALoving You Sunday Morning3:59BCoast to Coast4:40", "Always Somewhere×Always Somewhere1979 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAAlways Somewhere4:54BIs There Anybody There?3:55", "Holiday×Holiday2001 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Holiday3:48" and the instrumental "Coast to Coast", it firmly cemented the "Scorpions formula" of hard rock songs mixed with melodic ballads. Although it had been widely believed for decades that Michael Schenker's contribution to the record was only limited to three songs, he vehemently maintained he appeared on the whole album during an interview with satellite radio host Eddie Trunk. The album's provocative artwork was named "Best album sleeve of 1979" by Playboy magazine, yet ultimately changed for American release. Lovedrive reached No. 55 on the US charts, demonstrating that the band was gathering an international following. After the completion and release of the album the band decided to retain Michael in the band, forcing Jabs to leave. However, in April 1979, during their tour in France, Michael quit again and Jabs was brought in permanently to replace him.

In 1980, the band released Animal Magnetism, again with a provocative cover this time showing a girl kneeling and a Doberman Pinscher sitting in front of a man. Animal Magnetism contained classics such as "The Zoo×The Zoo1980 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAThe ZooBHoliday" and "Make It Real". Soon after the album's release, Meine began experiencing throat problems. He required surgery on his vocal cords and doubts were raised about whether he would ever sing again.
Meanwhile, the band began working on their next album, Blackout×Blackout10 April 1982 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracksA1Blackout3:49A2Can’t Live Without You3:47A3No One Like You3:57A4You Give Me All I Need3:38A5Now!2:36B1Dynamite4:12B2Arizona3:56B3China White6:59B4When the Smoke Is Going Down3:52 in 1981. A then-unknown Don Dokken was brought in to provide guide and backing vocals, while Meine recovered. Meine's voice eventually healed completely and he was able to finish recording the album. Blackout was released in 1982 and quickly became the band's best selling album to date, eventually going platinum. Meine's voice showed no signs of weakness and reviews for the album were positive. Blackout spawned two singles: "No One Like You×No One Like You1982 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksANo One Like You3:55BNow!2:33" and "Can't Live Without You".

Gaining in popularity from the success of Blackout, the Scorpions performed to over 375,000 fans on Day 2 at the three-day US Festival concert held in San Bernardino, California during Memorial Day Weekend of 1983. The concert was aired live on MTV, giving the band wide exposure in a live show.
The 1984 album Love at First Sting×Love at First StingFebruary 1984 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1Bad Boys Running Wild3:562Rock You Like a Hurricane4:133I’m Leaving You4:184Coming Home5:005The Same Thrill3:326Big City Nights4:097As Soon as the Good Times Roll5:038Crossfire4:369Still Loving You6:28 cemented the Scorpions' status as an internationally popular band. Propelled by the single "Rock You Like a Hurricane×Rock You Like a Hurricane1984 · EPSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracksA1PhotographA2Foolin’B1Rock You Like a HurricaneB2Still Loving You", Love at First Sting climbed the charts and went double platinum in the USA a few months after its release.
MTV gave the album's videos "Rock You Like a Hurricane", "I'm Leaving You", "Big City Nights×Big City Nights1988 · EPSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 5 tracks1Big City Nights4:492Can’t Live Without You5:283Loving You Sunday Morning4:364Blackout3:405Big City Nights (video)4:49", and the power ballad "Still Loving You×Still Loving You1984 · Album · CompilationSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks · 2 discsDisc 1A1Still Loving You (long version)6:27B1Still Loving You (edited version)4:48Disc 2C1Can’t Live Without You3:46C2Loving You Sunday Morning5:35C3Make It Real3:49C4Coast to Coast4:40D1Another Piece of Meat3:30D2Blackout3:48D3No One Like You3:55D4The Zoo5:28" significant airplay, greatly contributing to the album's success. The channel even supplied the Scorpions with the nickname "the Ambassadors of Rock", to the chagrin of industry insiders who recognized the executive influence behind the scenes. Rolling Stone magazine named them "the Heroes of Heavy Metal".
The band toured extensively behind Love at First Sting and released their second live album, World Wide Live×World Wide LiveJune 1985 · Album · LiveSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks1Countdown0:422Coming Home2:473Blackout4:354Bad Boys Running Wild3:535Loving You Sunday Morning4:426Make It Real3:547Big City Nights4:598Coast to Coast5:149Holiday3:2310Still Loving You5:4911Rock You Like a Hurricane4:1512Can’t Live Without You5:3313The Zoo5:5114No One Like You4:1015Dynamite7:27 in 1985. Recorded over a year-long world tour and released at the height of their popularity, the album was another success for the band, peaking at No. 14 in the charts in the US and at No. 18 in the UK.
After their extensive world tours, the band finally returned to the studio, to record Savage Amusement. Released in 1988, four years after their previous studio album, Savage Amusement×Savage Amusement16 April 1988 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1Don’t Stop at the Top4:052Rhythm of Love3:483Passion Rules the Game3:594Media Overkill3:345Walking on the Edge5:086We Let It Rock… You Let It Roll3:397Every Minute Every Day4:228Love on the Run3:389Believe in Love5:24 represented a more polished and mature sound similar to the style Def Leppard had found success with. The album sold well but was considered somewhat of a critical disappointment. However, British rock and metal magazine Kerrang! did award the album five K's out of five.
On the Savage Amusement tour in 1988, the Scorpions became only the second Western group (not American) to play in the Soviet Union. Uriah Heep had performed in the country earlier in December 1987, in Leningrad. The following year the band returned to perform at the Moscow Music Peace Festival. As a result, the Scorpions developed an extended Russian fan base and still return to perform. Also in 1989, the Scorpions released the compilation album Best of Rockers×Rockers2004 · Album · CompilationSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 16 tracksA1Rock You Like HurricaneA2Coming HomeA3No One Like YouA4LovedriveA5Bad Boys Running WildA6I’m Leaving YouA7Passion Rules the GameA8China WhiteB1Walking on the EdgeB2Coast to CoastB3Loving You Sunday MorningB4Another Piece of MeatB5DynamiteB6Can’t Live Without YouB7Edge of TimeB8Hurricane 2001 'n' Ballads×Ballads2003 · Album · CompilationSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 20 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11You and I4:172Still Loving You6:263Send Me an Angel4:314What U Give U Get Back5:025When the Smoke Is Going Down3:496Always Somewhere4:547Walking on the Edge5:058Lady Starlight6:229Here in My Heart4:2010Living for Tomorrow7:1011When Love Kills Love4:5412Moment of Glory5:0713Holiday6:2014Under the Same Sun4:5415Wind of Change5:09Disc 216Moment of Glory17You and I18Here in My Heart19Wind of Change20Still Loving You, which, in addition to the band's hits from 1979 to 1988, included several rare or previously unreleased tracks: "Hey You×Hey You1980 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAHey You4:10BThe Zoo3:56", from the Lovedrive sessions; a remixed version of "Is There Anybody There×Is There Anybody There1989 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Is There Anybody There (long-version)4:572The Zoo5:303Is There Anybody There (LP-version)4:17?"; and a cover of the Who's "I Can't Explain", which was also included on that same year's Stairway to Heaven/Highway to Hell charity compilation album. This is the band's only compilation album, to be certified platinum in the United States.
Wishing to distance themselves from the Savage Amusement style, the band parted ways with their long-time producer and "Sixth Scorpion", Dieter Dierks, replacing him with Keith Olsen when they returned to the studio in 1990. Crazy World was released that year and displayed a less polished sound. The album was propelled in large part by the massive success of the ballad "Wind of Change×Wind of Change1990 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Wind of Change5:142Restless Nights5:483Big City Nights (live)5:13". The song muses on the socio-political changes that were occurring in Eastern Europe and other parts of the world at the end of the Cold War. Crazy World remains the band's last album, to receive gold or platinum certification in the United States. On 21 July 1990, they joined many other guests for Roger Waters's massive performance of The Wall in Berlin. The Scorpions performed both versions of "In the Flesh" from The Wall.
After the Crazy World tour, in 1992, the anthology album Still Loving You was released that summer, containing a collection of ballads, plus the previously unreleased Living for Tomorrow, and the band's long-serving bassist Francis Buchholz left the group. Buchholz's departure would mark the end of the band's peak era, with the Las Vegas Sun stating in 1994 that "In the Garden of Eden time is running out. The party is over."

Later years (1993–2009)

In 1993, the Scorpions released Face the Heat. Bass was handled by Ralph Rieckermann. For the recording process, the band brought in producer Bruce Fairbairn. The album's sound was more metal than melodic. Neither the heavy metal single "Alien Nation×Alien Nation13 August 1993 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Alien Nation (edit)5:022Unholy Alliance5:173Rubber Fucker3:394Alien Nation5:43" nor the ballad "Under the Same Sun×Under the Same Sun29 October 1993 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Under the Same Sun (edit)4:292Ship of Fools4:153Partners in Crime4:254Hit Between the Eyes (live)4:10" came close to matching the success of "Wind of Change×Wind of Change1990 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Wind of Change5:142Restless Nights5:483Big City Nights (live)5:13". Face the Heat was a moderate success. In 1995, a new album, Live Bites×Live Bites3 April 1995 · Album · LiveSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Tease Me Please Me4:522Is There Anybody There?4:083Rhythm of Love3:464In Trance4:065No Pain No Gain4:076When the Smoke Is Going Down2:377Living for Tomorrow6:558Concerto in V3:019Alien Nation5:3010Crazy World5:3311Wind of Change5:4712Edge of Time4:0713Heroes Don’t Cry4:3214White Dove4:17, was produced. The disc documented retro live performances from their Savage Amusement Tour in 1988, all the way through the Face the Heat Tour in 1994. While the album had a technologically cleaner sound in comparison to their best-selling live album, World Wide Live×World Wide LiveJune 1985 · Album · LiveSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks1Countdown0:422Coming Home2:473Blackout4:354Bad Boys Running Wild3:535Loving You Sunday Morning4:426Make It Real3:547Big City Nights4:598Coast to Coast5:149Holiday3:2310Still Loving You5:4911Rock You Like a Hurricane4:1512Can’t Live Without You5:3313The Zoo5:5114No One Like You4:1015Dynamite7:27, it was not as successful.
Prior to recording their 13th studio album, 1996's Pure Instinct×Pure Instinct20 May 1996 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Wild Child4:172But the Best for You5:203Does Anyone Know5:574Stone in My Shoe4:385Soul Behind the Face4:016Oh Girl (I Wanna Be With You)3:507When You Came Into My Life5:138Where the River Flows4:119Time Will Call Your Name3:2410You and I6:1611Are You the One?3:11, drummer Herman Rarebell left the band to set up a recording label. Curt Cress took charge of the drumsticks for the album before Louisville, Kentucky-born James Kottak took over permanently. The album had many ballads×Ballads2003 · Album · CompilationSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 20 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11You and I4:172Still Loving You6:263Send Me an Angel4:314What U Give U Get Back5:025When the Smoke Is Going Down3:496Always Somewhere4:547Walking on the Edge5:058Lady Starlight6:229Here in My Heart4:2010Living for Tomorrow7:1011When Love Kills Love4:5412Moment of Glory5:0713Holiday6:2014Under the Same Sun4:5415Wind of Change5:09Disc 216Moment of Glory17You and I18Here in My Heart19Wind of Change20Still Loving You. Still, the album's singles "Wild Child×Wild Child1996 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Wild Child4:16" and the soothing ballad "You and I×You and I1996 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1You and I (special single mix)4:222She’s Knocking at My Door3:213You and I6:13" both enjoyed moderate success.
1999 saw the release of Eye II Eye and a significant change in the band's style, mixing in elements of pop and techno. While the album was slickly produced, it was not received well by fans. The video to the album's first European single, "To Be No. 1×To Be No. 122 February 1999 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 5 tracks1To Be No. 1 (radio edit)4:012Mind Like a Tree5:363To Be No. 14:394Mind Power4:305To Be No. 1 (video edit)4:07", featured a Monica Lewinsky look-alike which did little to improve its popularity.
The following year, the Scorpions had an artistic collaboration with the Berlin Philharmonic that resulted in a 10-song album named Moment of Glory×Moment of Glory16 June 2000 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Hurricane 20006:062Moment of Glory5:103Here in My Heart6:224Send Me and Angel7:385Wind of Change6:506Still Loving You7:257When You Came Into My Life (new version)4:238Mysterious7:319Under the Same Sun4:3910Blackout5:3411You & I3:1912When the Smoke Is Going Down4:2613White Dove5:0114Can’t Live Without You3:19. The album went a long way toward rebuilding the band's reputation after the harsh criticism of Eye II Eye. However, critics accused them of following on the coattails of Metallica's similar collaboration (S&M) with the San Francisco Symphony which had been released the previous year, even though the orchestra had first approached the Scorpions with the idea in 1995.

In 2001, the Scorpions released Acoustica, a live unplugged album featuring acoustic reworkings of the band's biggest hits, plus new tracks. While appreciated by fans, the lack of a new studio album was frustrating to some, and Acoustica×Acoustica14 May 2001 · Album · LiveSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks1The Zoo5:482Always Somewhere4:113Life Is Too Short5:184Holiday5:555You & I5:196When Love Kills Love4:547Dust in the Wind3:498Send Me an Angel5:249Under the Same Sun5:0910I Wanted to Cry (but the Tears Wouldn’t Come)3:4911Wind of Change5:3412Love of My Life2:3213Drive4:0014Still Loving You6:1115Hurricane 20014:34 did little to return the band to the spotlight.
In 2004, the band released Unbreakable, an album that was hailed by critics as a long-awaited return to form. The album was the heaviest the band had released since Face the Heat×Face the Heat10 September 1993 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Alien Nation5:442No Pain No Gain3:553Someone to Touch4:294Under the Same Sun4:545Unholy Alliance5:176Woman5:577Hate to Be Nice3:348Taxman Woman4:309Ship of Fools4:1510Nightmare Avenue3:5511Lonely Nights / His Latest Flame8:08. Whether a result of poor promotion by the band's label or the long time between studio releases, Unbreakable received little airplay and did not chart. the Scorpions toured extensively behind the album and played as "Special Guests" with Judas Priest during the 2005 British tour—these were the Scorpions' first dates in the UK since 1999.
In early 2006, the Scorpions released the DVD 1 Night in Vienna that included 14 live tracks and a complete rockumentary. In LA, the band spent about four months in the studio with producers James Michael and Desmond Child working on a concept album titled Humanity: Hour I×Humanity: Hour I15 May 2007 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Hour I3:262The Game of Life4:043We Were Born to Fly4:004The Future Never Dies4:045You’re Lovin’ Me to Death3:1663213:547Love Will Keep Us Alive4:328We Will Rise Again3:509Your Last Song3:4410Love Is War4:2011The Cross4:3012Humanity5:27, which was released in late May 2007, and was followed by the "Humanity World Tour".

In 2007, the band collaborated with two of their signature tracks in the video game series, Guitar Hero. "No One Like You×No One Like You1982 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksANo One Like You3:55BNow!2:33" was featured on the Rocks the '80s version of the game while "Rock You Like a Hurricane×Rock You Like a Hurricane1984 · EPSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracksA1PhotographA2Foolin’B1Rock You Like a HurricaneB2Still Loving You" was released on Guitar Hero 3: Legends of Rock.
On 14 May 2007, the Scorpions released Humanity – Hour I in Europe. Humanity – Hour I became available in the U.S. on 28 August on New Door Records, entering the Billboard charts at number No. 63.
In a September 2007 podcast interview, Meine said the album was not so much a "concept album", but rather a collection of songs with a common theme. "We didn't want to make another record with songs about boys chasing girls. I mean, come on, give me a break," Meine said.
Asked in 2007 if the band was planning to release a Humanity – Hour II, Meine replied:

That is what everybody is asking. There might be. Who knows? Right now we are at the beginning of the world tour. It is exciting to play the new songs and they go very well with the classics. It is exciting that there is a whole new audience out there. There are many longtime fans but there are a lot of young kids. We just played in London and in Paris and there were young kids rocking out to songs that were written way before they were born. It is amazing. I don't want to think about Hour II right now because Hour I is so exciting. It is very inspiring to see how much the audience enjoys this new music.
On 20 December 2007, the Scorpions played at a concert for the elite of Russia's security forces in the Kremlin. The concert was a celebration of the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Cheka—predecessor of the KGB. The band claimed they thought they were performing a Christmas concert. They said their concert was by no means a tribute to the Cheka, communism, or Russia's brutal past. Members of the audience included Vladimir Putin and Dmitry Medvedev.
On 22 February 2009, the band received Germany's ECHO Honorary Award for lifetime achievement at Berlin's O2 World.

Sting in the Tail, Comeblack, and touring (2010–2014)

In November 2009, the Scorpions announced their 17th studio album, Sting in the Tail×Sting in the Tail19 March 2010 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 20 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11Raised on Rock3:592Sting in the Tail3:133Slave Me2:444The Good Die Young5:145No Limit3:236Rock Zone3:187Lorelei4:318Turn You On4:249Let’s Rock!3:2110SLY5:1711Spirit of Rock3:4312The Best Is Yet to Come4:3213Dreamers4:4914Too Far3:0515Miracle (regular version)4:1616The Good Die Young (new version)5:1617Thunder and Lightning4:34Disc 21Sting in the Tail (live video San Antonio)8:482The Best Is Yet to Come (live video Prague)4:373Sting in the Tail (video message - English version)8:00, would be released in early 2010, recorded in Hanover with Swedish producers Mikael "Nord" Andersson and Martin Hansen. It was released on 23 March 2010.
On 24 January 2010, the band announced their initial intentions for Sting in the Tail to be their last album, and the tour supporting it their final tour, although the band later made the decision to continue recording past the end of the tour. Dokken was scheduled to open for them but cancelled after a dispute.

On 6 April 2010, they were enshrined in Hollywood's Rock Walk in a handprint ceremony, with the band members placing their hands in a long slab of wet cement next to other musical artists.
An album of re-recordings of older songs, Comeblack×Comeblack4 November 2011 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Rhythm of Love3:392No One Like You4:073The Zoo5:384Rock You Like a Hurricane4:165Blackout3:516Wind of Change5:107Still Loving You6:448Tainted Love3:289Children of the Revolution3:3510Across the Universe3:1911Tin Soldier3:1512All Day and All of the Night3:1613Ruby Tuesday3:5514Big City Nights3:53, was released on 7 November 2011.
July 2011 interview Meine was asked about the future of the Scorpions. He replied, "Our newest project comes out in the next few months. It gives you a chance to experience the Scorpions in 3D. You can actually feel the smoke string out of the guitar like it is a live show. It is an incredible experience. The DVD features our concerts in 3D in Germany. We are just about to do the mix and it should be in the Middle East and Saudi Arabia hopefully soon. Indeed, the strong 3D technology makes us feel like pioneers after all these years [he says, laughing]. We have an album coming out later this year featuring classics×Classics2008 · Album · CompilationSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Blackout3:502Big City Nights4:093Rhythm of Love3:484Still Loving You6:105Dynamite4:126In Trance4:417Moment of Glory5:078Lady Starlight6:149Walking on the Edge5:0910No One Like You (live)4:1011Rock You Like a Hurricane (live)4:1912Bad Boys Running Wild (live)3:5213Wind of Change7:35. You know our love for them. The '60s was the era for our inspiration. Our movie/documentary also is soon to be released. We have cameras with us on tours, so this documentary is being made during our tours. It also gives you a picture of the Scorpions career and journey."

Despite initial plans for a break up or retirement, guitarist Matthias Jabs told AZ Central on 12 June 2012 that the Scorpions would not split up. A month later, Jabs told Billboard magazine the band had been working on an album that would contain unreleased songs they recorded for the albums Blackout×Blackout10 April 1982 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracksA1Blackout3:49A2Can’t Live Without You3:47A3No One Like You3:57A4You Give Me All I Need3:38A5Now!2:36B1Dynamite4:12B2Arizona3:56B3China White6:59B4When the Smoke Is Going Down3:52, Love at First Sting×Love at First StingFebruary 1984 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1Bad Boys Running Wild3:562Rock You Like a Hurricane4:133I’m Leaving You4:184Coming Home5:005The Same Thrill3:326Big City Nights4:097As Soon as the Good Times Roll5:038Crossfire4:369Still Loving You6:28, Savage Amusement×Savage Amusement16 April 1988 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1Don’t Stop at the Top4:052Rhythm of Love3:483Passion Rules the Game3:594Media Overkill3:345Walking on the Edge5:086We Let It Rock… You Let It Roll3:397Every Minute Every Day4:228Love on the Run3:389Believe in Love5:24, and Crazy World×Crazy World6 November 1990 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Tease Me Please Me4:462Don’t Believe Her4:563To Be With You in Heaven4:514Wind of Change5:135Restless Nights5:486Lust or Love4:237Kicks After Six3:508Hit Between the Eyes4:349Money and Fame5:0810Crazy World5:0911Send Me an Angel4:33 and planned to release it in 2014. In April, the Scorpions announced shows in Russia and Belarus with an orchestra in October 2013. On 11, 12, and 14 September 2013, the band played three MTV Unplugged concerts at the Lycabettus-Theatre in Athens. On 6 November 2013, they announced four more MTV Unplugged Concert in Germany 2014. In December 2013, in an interview at Rock Show radio program in Greece, Meine said he was not sure if the album with unreleased songs they recorded for the albums Blackout, Love at First Sting×First Sting1985 · EPSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Rock You Like a Hurricane2Coming Home3I’m Leaving You4Still Loving You, Savage Amusement and Crazy World would be released in 2014 or later on.
In 2013, the band released the album MTV Unplugged in Athens×MTV Unplugged in Athens11 September 2013 · Album · LiveSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 24 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11Sting in the Tail4:382Can’t Live Without You3:543Pictured Life3:574Speedy’s Coming4:175Born to Touch Your Feelings6:156The Best Is Yet to Come5:037Dancing With the Moonlight3:598In Trance4:349When You Came Into My Life5:0510Delicate Dance5:1111Love Is the Answer4:3112Follow Your Heart2:47Disc 21Send Me an Angel3:562Where the River Flows3:593Passion Rules the Game5:464Rock You Like a Hurricane4:595Hit Between the Eyes4:456Rock’n’Roll Band4:327Blackout4:588Still Loving You3:439Big City Nights4:3110Wind of Change5:3111No One Like You4:3912When the Smoke Is Going Down3:45. The album featured classic songs like Rock You Like a Hurricane×Rock You Like a Hurricane1984 · EPSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracksA1PhotographA2Foolin’B1Rock You Like a HurricaneB2Still Loving You and Big City Nights×Big City Nights1988 · EPSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 5 tracks1Big City Nights4:492Can’t Live Without You5:283Loving You Sunday Morning4:364Blackout3:405Big City Nights (video)4:49 done acoustically, but also included rare live performances of songs like When the Smoke Is Going Down and Where the River Flows.
On 16 August 2014, they announced a new album in the works, due for release sometime in 2015.
In 2014, the Scorpions were nominated for two Echo Awards ("Euro Grammys") for their MTV Unplugged.

50th anniversary and Return to Forever (2015–2017)

On 23 October 2014, Meine spoke to the band's French fan-club Crazyscorps, and announced the new record would be published in February or March 2015, to coincide with the band's 50th anniversary. Contrary to what the band said in 2013, the new album presented not only newly recorded versions of never-published songs, but also new material, written between 2011 and 2014.
The album was recorded in Sweden, with producers Martin Hansen and Mikael Nord Andersson. Drummer James Kottak, who left the band in May 2014 for rehab, returned to play drums. The new album Return to Forever×Return to Forever20 February 2015 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 17 tracks1Going Out With a Bang3:472We Built This House3:533Rock My Car3:204House of Cards5:055All for One2:586Rock ’n’ Roll Band3:547Catch Your Luck and Play3:338Rollin’ Home4:039Hard Rockin’ the Place4:0610Eye of the Storm4:2711The Scratch3:4112Gypsy Life4:5113The World We Used to Know3:5114Dancing With the Moonlight3:4215When the Truth Is a Lie4:2716Who We Are2:3317Delirious2:58 was released on 20 February 2015.

On 29 August 2015, the Scorpions announced 50th anniversary deluxe editions of their albums Taken By Force×Taken by Force1977 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracks1Steamrock Fever3:402We’ll Burn the Sky6:303I’ve Got to Be Free4:044The Riot of Your Time4:135The Sails of Charon4:246Your Light4:337He’s a Woman – She’s a Man3:188Born to Touch Your Feelings7:41, Tokyo Tapes×Tokyo Tapes1978 · Album · LiveSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 18 tracks · 2 discsDisc 1A1All Night Long3:12A2Pictured Life3:48A3Backstage Queen3:40A4Polar Nights6:55A5In Trance5:31B1We’ll Burn the Sky8:13B2Suspender Love3:40B3In Search of the Peace of Mind3:02B4Fly to the Rainbow9:49Disc 2C1He’s a Woman - She’s a Man5:29C2Speedy’s Coming3:40C3Top of the Bill6:47C4Hound Dog1:14C5Long Tall Sally2:44D1Steamrock Fever4:22D2Dark Lady4:32D3Kojo No Tsuki3:23D4Robot Man5:50, Lovedrive×Lovedrive15 January 1979 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracksA1Loving You Sunday Morning5:40A2Another Piece of Meat3:31A3Always Somewhere4:57A4Coast to Coast4:44B1Can't Get Enough2:38B2Is There Anybody There?3:58B3Lovedrive4:53B4Holiday6:34, Animal Magnetism×Animal MagnetismApril 1980 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracksA1Make It Real3:49A2Don’t Make No Promises (Your Body Can’t Keep)2:58A3Hold Me Tight4:00A4Twentieth Century Man3:05A5Lady Starlight6:16B1Falling in Love4:12B2Only a Man3:37B3The Zoo5:31B4Animal Magnetism5:58, Blackout×Blackout10 April 1982 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracksA1Blackout3:49A2Can’t Live Without You3:47A3No One Like You3:57A4You Give Me All I Need3:38A5Now!2:36B1Dynamite4:12B2Arizona3:56B3China White6:59B4When the Smoke Is Going Down3:52, Love at First Sting, World Wide Live, and Savage Amusement which were released 6 November 2015. These deluxe releases include "dozens of unreleased songs, alternate versions of big hits, rough mixes, and rare live concert recordings". On 28 April 2016, it was announced that former Motörhead drummer Mikkey Dee would fill in for James Kottak and play drums on 12 North American headlining dates, including a run of shows at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas dubbed "Scorpions Blacked Out in Las Vegas" with Queensrÿche opening the Vegas shows, and dates in São Paulo. On 12 September 2016, Dee was officially announced as the band's new permanent drummer.
On 18 January 2017, the Scorpions were inducted into the Hall of Heavy Metal History for leading the two-guitar attack in heavy metal. Proceeds from the ceremony benefitted the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund.

Rock Believer and possible follow-up album (2018–present)

In an August 2018 interview with Digital Journal, Scorpions guitarist Rudolf Schenker stated that the band was open to the idea of recording a follow-up to Return to Forever. He explained: "We are still waiting for a moment for inspiration to do another album, like Judas Priest and Metallica did. You have to wait until the time is right." Klaus Meine hinted in May 2019 that "there might be a new album out in 2020."
On 28 April 2020, the Scorpions released (on their YouTube channel) a new (2-minute 16-second short) song entitled "Sign of Hope×Sign of Hope14 May 2020 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Sign of Hope2:16", inspired by the COVID-19 pandemic.
On 25 July 2020, the Scorpions entered Peppermint Park Studios in Hanover to resume working on their nineteenth studio album. The album's initial sessions, which were supposed to take place in Los Angeles, were done remotely, with producer Greg Fidelman participating via Zoom; however, drummer Mikkey Dee confirmed in a March 2021 interview with Robb Flynn of Machine Head that the band had to abandon their plans to work with Fidelman, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Progress on the album had continued to be slow by August 2021, when the Scorpions posted a video on Facebook from the studio where they rehearsed a new song (possibly titled "Seventh Sun×Seventh Sun11 February 2022 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Seventh Sun5:30") for an upcoming tour.
On 29 September 2021, the Scorpions announced Rock Believer as the title of their nineteenth studio album and set 11 February 2022 as its release date; the band later pushed back the release of the album to two weeks after its initially planned release date. They supported the album with a European tour with Mammoth WVH and a North American tour with Thundermother and Whitesnake, as part of the latter's farewell tour.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, they collaborated with Japanese rock star Yoshiki to perform "Wind of Change×Wind of Change1990 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Wind of Change5:142Restless Nights5:483Big City Nights (live)5:13" for the documentary film Yoshiki: Under the Sky. This was the first time the band came together to perform the Ukraine version of the song. The performance was later released as a music video on YouTube.
In December 2023, it was also announced that the band would return to Turkey for the first time in eight years to perform a live show in Istanbul in May 2024. On October 24, 2024, the band gave a press conference in Hanover at which a concert on July 5, 2025 at the Heinz-von-Heiden-Arena was announced for the 60th anniversary under the motto "Coming Home to Hannover Scorpions and Friends". Rosy Vista, Bülent Ceylan, Alice Cooper and Judas Priest appeared as special guests.
In February 2025, when asked if the Scorpions were planning to make a 20th studio album, Meine stated that "there are a million good reasons to go back into the studio sometime soon. But, on the other side, these days, it's not the time anymore really to make albums." He did not rule out recording a "few songs", and added that the band will discuss working on new music "before [they] make plans for what might come up" in 2026.
On 5 December 2025, the Scorpions released Coming Home Live, their 7th live album on Spinefarm Records, Vertigo Records and BMG Entertainment.
Former Scorpions bassist Francis Buchholz died in January 2026.

Musical style

The Scorpions are described as primarily a hard rock and heavy metal band, as well as krautrock on their early works and glam metal in the 1980s. Later releases also incorporated elements of techno and pop music.

Legacy

The Scorpions are one of the best-selling bands in the history of music, according to various sources, the band's sales are about 100 million worldwide, of which 10.5 million are certified in the United States. All their editions with issued sales certificates have repeatedly reached gold and platinum status in various countries around the world. Rolling Stone describes the Scorpions as the "heroes of heavy metal", and MTV called them "Ambassadors of Rock". They have received prestigious awards such as three World Music Awards, a star on the Hollywood Rock wall, and a presence in the permanent exhibition of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 2015, the group celebrated its 50th anniversary.
A biographical film Winds of Change was in production in 2025 aimed at a release to coincide with the band's 60th anniversary celebrations.

Influence

The Scorpions have been cited as a principal influence or inspiration on numerous hard rock and heavy metal scenes, including artists such as Alice in Chains, Anthrax, Arch Enemy, Carcass, Cinderella, Def Leppard, Doro, Exodus, Green Day, Guns N' Roses, Hanoi Rocks, Helloween, Iron Maiden, Kiss, Yngwie Malmsteen, Megadeth, Metallica, Morbid Angel, Mötley Crüe, Sepultura, Skid Row, Slayer, the Smashing Pumpkins, Testament, and Van Halen.

Band members

Current
Rudolf Schenker – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (1965–present)
Klaus Meine – lead vocals (1969–present)
Matthias Jabs – lead guitar, backing vocals (1978–present)
Paweł Mąciwoda – bass, backing vocals (2003–present)
Mikkey Dee – drums (2016–present)

Awards and honours

1975: Best German Live Band
1976: Album of the Year in Germany – Virgin Killer×Virgin Killer9 October 1976 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracksA1Pictured Life3:21A2Catch Your Train3:32A3In Your Park3:39A4Backstage Queen3:10A5Virgin Killer3:41B1Hell-Cat2:54B2Crying Days4:36B3Polar Nights5:04B4Yellow Raven4:58
1979: Playboy magazine: Best artwork of the year for the Lovedrive cover
1985: Entry into the Golden Book of Hanover
1986: Bravo Otto Band in Silver Category, Hard & Heavy
1991: Bravo Otto in Gold Category band, Hard & Heavy
1991: Invitation to the Kremlin, reception in the former Soviet state with party leader Mikhail Gorbachev
1992: Bravo Otto in bronze category band, Hard & Heavy
1992: World Music Award for Best-Selling German Group
1992: Echo as the best national group
1992: Europe Golden (German: Goldene Europa)
1994: World Music Award for World's Best-Selling German Recording Artists
1994/95: Collector's tin from Coca Cola
1998: Radio Regenbogen Award, Rock International
2000: Town of Hanover Plaque (German: Stadtplakette)
2000: Entry into the Golden Book of Hanover
2000: Cultural Prize of the City of Hanover
2001: Scorpions Street in Leganes, Spain
2009: Echo Lifetime Achievement award
2010: Star on the Hollywood Rock Walk, Los Angeles
2010: World Music Awards: Rock Legend Award (special award for outstanding contribution to the development of rock music)
2010: Special postage stamp Scorpions for the Brazil tour, published by the Brazilian postal service
2010: Walk of Stars Munich
2010: Lifetime Achievement Awards, the Hard Rock Cafe chain
2011: Radio Regenbogen Award in the category Lifetime Rock
2011: Pioneer of Pop – awarded by SWR3-New-Pop-Festival
2011: Metal Guru Award from Classic Rock magazine
2012: CGDC Award for Music for Dialogue from the Center for Global Dialogue and Cooperation (CGDC)
2012: Deutscher Nachhaltigkeitspreis der Städte und Gemeinden
2013: Steiger Award
2017: 6 th of October is the "Scorpions Day" of the City of Los Angeles
2017: Hall of Heavy Metal History, Anaheim, California
2017: Wawel Royal Castle (Burg Wawel) Walk of Fame
June 5, 2023: Inclusion in the Signs of Fame of the Fernwehpark in Oberkotzau
July 25, 2023: Great Cross of Merit of the Lower Saxony Order of Merit (from the hands of Prime Minister Stephan Weil to Klaus Meine, Rudolf Schenker, Matthias Jabs for their political stance and their voluntary commitment)
2024: Handprints on the Walk of Legends, Wacken.
2024: Legend Award from Metal Hammer Awards 2024, Berlin.
2025: Entry into the Golden Book of Sarstedt (Hometown of Rudolf Schenker)

Concert residencies

2016: Blackouted in Vegas at the Joint from Hard Rock Hotel and Resort, Las Vegas (5 Shows)
2022: Sin City Nights at Zappo Theater from Planet Hollywood Resort Las Vegas (9 Shows)
2024: Love at First Sting Las Vegas Residency at Bakkt Theater from Planet Hollywood Resort Las Vegas (9 Shows)
2025: Coming Home to Las Vegas, 60 Years of Scorpions Residency at PH Live from Planet Hollywood Resort Las Vegas (5 Shows)
2027: Scorpions - Coming Home to Las Vegas Residency at PH Live from Planet Hollywood Resort Las Vegas (8 Shows)