UFO Live 1970–1976 The Raw Years That Rock Hard

UFO is probably one of the most underrated bands to ever plug in and turn it up. Seriously, they absolutely smoke. The playing is tight, the songwriting hits hard, and when they lock in, it is just a full-on assault of pure rock energy. This collection feels like catching lightning in a bottle, with live performances that finally see the light of day and remind you just how explosive they were on stage. Between 1970 and 1976, UFO was in that raw, hungry phase, still figuring out who they were, and that is exactly what makes this so good. You can hear the band carving out its identity in real time, shifting lineups, evolving sound, and just going for it every single night.

UFO didn’t just show up in the ‘70s; they built something real, brick by brick, riff by riff. Between 1970 and 1976, they dropped five studio albums and a live record, cranking out 46 songs that still hit hard today. You can trace the evolution right through the tracks, from the raw punch of “C’mon Everybody” (1970) and “Prince Kajuku” (1971) to the full-on sonic assault of “Doctor Doctor” and “Rock Bottom” in 1974, then straight into “Shoot Shoot” (1975) and “Natural Thing” (1976). This was a band finding its voice and then turning it all the way up.

The early stuff has that loose, almost gritty charm, especially with Phil Mogg fronting the charge and players like Mick Bolton and Larry Wallis helping shape the foundation. Then Michael Schenker steps in and everything levels up. His playing on tracks like “Rock Bottom” is just ridiculous in the best way, melodic, aggressive, and totally unforgettable. Add in Pete Way and Andy Parker holding down that rhythm section, and you have a band firing on all cylinders.

Everything shifted in 1973 when Michael Schenker stepped in. That’s when UFO went from promising to dangerous. Phenomenon (May 1974), his first album with the band, feels like the ignition point. The sound got heavier, tighter, and way more confident. Some would argue it’s the peak, and honestly, it’s hard to disagree.

Schenker’s first run with UFO came to an abrupt end in October 1978, when he walked away mid-U.S. tour after a final show in Palo Alto. Classic rock drama, but also the end of a seriously explosive chapter. That era still looms large, so much so that Schenker is out there celebrating it all over again with his 2024 album and the “My Years with UFO” tour, marking 50 years since he first plugged in and changed the band forever.

The tracklist jumps between Germany, France, and the UK, and you can feel the different moments in time. From the early “Boogie For George” and “Come Away, Melinda” to the later, more polished punch of “Out In The Street” and “Shoot Shoot,” it is all killer, no filler. And yeah, “C’mon Everybody” shows up more than once, but honestly, when it hits this hard, you do not mind hearing it again.

Bottom line, if you ever needed proof that UFO deserved way more credit than they got, this is it. Raw, loud, and alive. Exactly how rock and roll is supposed to sound.