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START to 1980 | 1980 to 1989 | 1990 to 2002 | 2003 to present
This wil be continually updated. Anyone who has any information to add or if you have any photos
please e-mail me to help make this the definitive UFO Web Family Tree. Thanks Tristan
Pre-UFO
1968/1969
It's hard to believe that UFO were recording music at the same time that bands like Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple were only beginning to set the standard of what Heavy Rock and Metal were to be for many years to come. In fact had it not been for one live and two studio albums before they could truly be called a "Heavy" Rock band, it would be possible that UFO would be celebrated as genre defining in the same way Zeppelin and Purple now are. Arguably they deserve that credit either way. Playing a more straight ahead, less grandiose or pretentious style of rock music, although never simplistic, it would be fair to suggest that U.F.O. influenced as many bands over the next couple of decades as either Zeppelin or Purple. Formed as The Boyfriends, Pete Way (bass), Mick Bolton (guitar) and Tic Torrazo (drums) would go through the monikers Hocus Pocus, The Good the Bad and the Ugly, and Acid.
Torrazo was replaced by Colin Turner before they teamed up with Phil Mogg on vocals and taking inspiration from a local club finally settled on UFO as their name. Turner wasn't to last long behind the kit either though, and before the band would play their debut gig in late 1969 Andy Parker had become their new drummer. words taken from Metal Perspective, © - all rights reserved - Visit the website, an excellent read 'DEBUT BY GROUP' Newspaper clipping above supplied by Phil Mogg - Thank you
Andy Parker "...and by ’69 I had formed a blues band along with my pal Steve Casey (some of you may remember him as the unseen guitar player with MSG). We were called Aurora Borealis, and what we lacked in talent we definitely made up in enthusiasm. Besides which we had our own van, a big plus back then.
©photo copyright - Andy Parker It was around the summer of ’69, that I first met Phil, Pete and Mick, who along with yours truly would form the first incarnation of UFO. I was in my then favorite watering hole, The Golden Lion in Hoddesdon, knocking back a few pints with Steve and some of his buddies from work (yes, I was only 17 at the time), when in walked the aforementioned trio. They were looking for somewhere to audition drummers, having recently sacked theirs, apparently due to him smelling like fish. So I duly auditioned, got the gig, and the rest, as they say, is history. Our first album ‘UFO 1’ was released in 1970, on the Beacon Records label. Man, was I thrilled! I remember having to wait until my 18th birthday to sign the contract because my parents refused to sign on my behalf. They had some crazy idea that I was being ripped off. Turns out that they were right, but at that time I really didn’t care. I just wanted to make a record. STORY CONTINUES ON ANDYS WEBSITE
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UFO #1
August 1969 - February 1972
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Original Fan Photo - September 1971 ©mgab archive
Left to right: Mick Bolton - Pete Way - Fan - Phil Mogg - Andy Parker
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ufo1 Album - AKA 1970 |
Flying Album - AKA 1972 |
ufo Live Album - GEMA Nova 1972 Album - AKA 1973 |
Originally known as HOCUS POCUS, UFO took the name in honour of the London Club
| Having found a more settled line up, 1970 would see the band release debut album "UFO 1" featuring a cover version of Eddie Cochrane's "C'mon Everybody" that was a huge seller in Japan. "UFO 2 – Flying-One Hour Space Rock" followed up in 1972 and was notable for the track Prince Kajuku which at the time was a live favourite and a stand out on the album "UFO Live" which also emerged in 1972. The majority of the world still remained ignorant to the band UFO, though amazingly those first three albums had racked up over three million sales in Japan, Germany and France alone. |
UFO #2
February 1972 - October 1972
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| As "Live" was coming out Mick Bolton decided to leave the band and Larry Wallis who would later feature equally fleetingly in Motorhead and then Pink Fairies, joined as replacement. Larry didn't manage a year with the band as he drunkenly telling Phil Mogg what he thought of him after/during the European tour - this led to him being fired. Lasting an even shorter time was replacement, Bernie Marsden. Bernie joined in November '72, but by June '73, he too was out although he would later find fame with his four years in David Coverdale's Whitesnake. |
Larry Wallis replaces
Mick Bolton (above) on Guitars
Larry
Wallis interview by Tony Rettman (June 2002)
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UFO #3
November 1972 - June 1973
BRAVO music magazine - VIEW POSTER
Left to right: Pete Way - Andy Parker - Phil Mogg - Bernie Marsden
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Bernie Marsden replaces Larry Wallis (who joined Pink Fairies) on Guitars
Larry Wallis joins PINK FAIRIES for a couple of years before forming MOTORHEAD with Lemmy
Bernie Marsden turned pro in 1972 with UFO touring Europe at 20 years of age
Bernie went into the studios with UFO and recorded some demos - Give Her The Gun
UFO sign to Chrysalis Records
Our dear Friend, Benji from Rock Hard posted part of the interview he had with Bernie Marsden about his next topic in Rock Hard France magazine : "birth of a legend : Whitesnake", the part concerning Bernie's story in UFO, and his credits in some titles of phenomenon. So, This interview with Bernie is some 35 years later in 2007 Rock Hard: Bernie, even if it is not the principal subject of our interview, I should like to take the opportunity to tell you about your short passage in UFO, between November 72 and June 73. You‘re not credited on the Phenomenon album, which was released just after your departure, but did you write something in this album? Bernie Marsden: I was implied in two or three titles which actually finished on Phenomenon. When we decided to do not work more together, I told them “ok, we do the things properly, I leave, you recover Michael (Schenker), I do not say anything on this subject, you either”. And the “secrecy” of my passage in the band lasted ready 20 years. Before that, for various reasons, one asked me “you ever played in UFO”, I always said “not! ".
But obviously, you made party of it, I saw photographs of the band with you, and anybody other! (laughs) It is true, but there are not not so much photographs which circulate! You have seen surely a photograph which was released on a German magazine at that time. It is almost the only one which I know officially. Now, we do not have any more problem to evoke my passage on both sides. We even laugh about it! But at the time, I had invested myself in UFO only because I was semi professional, and thanks to my integration in UFO, I became professional. The reason for which I joined them is that they had a contract with Chrysalis, a management, and an agency which organized the tours. And it was a good band. But it was not completely my universe. I am a guitarist of blues at the base, and I understood in the first weeks of my investment with the band that it was not really done for me. But we wrote tricks together. We recorded a session with Dave Edmunds, who remain a great mystery for the fans of UFO, because they never has been released nowhere. Because on these tapes, there is the initial version of “Doctor Doctor”. But it is not very a big issue. The track was not entitled yet “Doctor Doctor”, we had given it a name which I don't remember . I took part in the development of this title, but I have not problems with the fact that I was not credited on this subject. I must acknowledge that I laughed when I heard the title on the album a few months later, I said to myself “hum, that points out something to me! ". It is a very good piece, on which, is it necessary to specify it, Michael put his style, while playing superb parts. I was content that he joined the band to tell the truth, even if he had only muddles thereafter! I excuse myself to him! (laughs)
A rumor says that you also took part actively in the writing of the title “Oh My” on Phenomenon, as well as the title “Give Her The Gun”, the first individual one recorded with Michael, right before Phenomenon… “Oh My”, it is exact, there is no doubt. On the other hand, I never listened to “Give Her The Gun”. You have it? Because if I can listen to it, I could say to you so yes in the 20 seconds or not if I took part in it, as it was the case when I heard “Doctor, Doctor” for the first time, but sincerely, that does not say anything to me. But it is possible that the title was changed after my departure. When I reconsider this period, they was much less bad than the idea I had at this time. There are things that you only understand well later… I have much respect for UFO, and it is thanks to them that I succeded in music. Bernie's Myspace: myspace.com/berniemarsden |
UFO #4
June 1973 - April 1974
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The very first date from Michael Schenker with UFO was on 18. June 1973 in Regensburg/Germany.
Scorpions / UFO / Chicken Shack German Tour. Ufo rent Michael Schenker from Scorpions
Setlist UFO : 1. Cmon everybody 2. i’m a man (i dont know this song) 3. Jam 4. Blues
Michael Schenker leaves the Scorpions to replace Bernie Marsden On Guitars
Bernie Marsden joins WILD TURKEY for a year (June 1973 - June 1974) before joining Cozy Powell in COZY POWELL's HAMMER (July 1974 - June 1975)
then to BABY RUTH (August 1975 - August 1976) then to PAICE / ASHTON / LORD (August 1976 - March 1978) then to
WHITESNAKE (April 1978 - April 1982)
UFO record their third album, PHENOMENON - Released May 1974
UFO #5
April 1974 - January 1975
Chrysalis Official Band Photo
Left to right: Phil Mogg - Pete Way - Paul Chapman - Andy Parker - Michael Schenker
Left to right: Michael Schenker - Andy Parker - Phil Mogg - Paul Chapman - Pete Way
Left to right: Michael Schenker - Paul Chapman - Phil Mogg - Andy Parker - Pete Way
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Paul Chapman joins UFO having answered an advert in UK's music paper, 'Melody Maker'. Audition at the Unity Theatre in London
Paul left KIMLA TAZ (December 1972 - May 1974) and prior to this was with
SKID ROW (December 1971 (having replaced Gary Moore)) - July 1972)
Paul joins in time to tour and promote Phenomenon
UFO #6
January 1975 - August 1975
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Paul Chapman leaves UFO in January 75 to form LONE STAR (May 1975 - June 1978)
Keyboards are heard for the first time - Chick Churchill fills in on keys for the bands 4th album FORCE IT but is used as a session muscian
Recorded FORCE IT - released in July 1975
UFO #7
August 1975 - July 1976
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UFO in London
UFO in London
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Left to right: Danny Peyronnel - Phil Mogg - Michael Schenker - Andy Parker - Pete Way
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Danny Peyronel joins on Keyboards and Rhythm guitar from HEAVY METAL KIDS and plays his first gig at the Reading Festival
Recorded NO HEAVY PETTING - released May 1976
UFO #8
July 1976 - June 1977
A Happy New Year Message to the readers of Japanese Magazine - MUSIC LIFE in December 1976
The first photo with Paul Raymond in the band
Left to right: Pete Way - Paul Raymond - Phil Mogg - Andy Parker - Michael Schenker
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Left to right: Paul Raymond - Andy Parker - Phil Mogg - Michael Schenker - Pete Way
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Danny Peyronel leaves UFO to form THE BLUE MAX
Paul Raymond joins on Keyboards and Rhythm guitar from SAVOY BROWN
Recorded LIGHTS OUT - released May 1977
UFO support RUSH on their USA tour in September 1977
UFO #9
June 1977 - October 1977
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Left to right (Back): Paul Raymond - Andy Parker - Phil Mogg - Michael Schenker Front: Pete Way
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Michael Schenker leaves UFO without trace after the UK 'Lights Out' tour
Paul Chapman steps in for the remaining US tour
UFO #10
October 1977 - November 1978
Left to right: Paul Raymond - Michael Schenker - Pete Way - Phil Mogg . Drums: Andy Parker
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Michael Schenker returns
Paul Chapman continues with LONE STAR
Recorded OBSESSION - released June 1978
Recorded STRANGERS IN THE NIGHT - released January 1979
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UFO #11
December 1978 - June 1980
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Chrysalis Official Band Photo Left to right: Pete Way - Paul Chapman - Phil Mogg - Paul Raymond - Andy Parker |
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Michael Schenker leaves to join SCORPIONS
Paul Chapman leaves LONE STAR to join UFO
Recorded NO PLACE TO RUN with ex-Beatles producer George Martin - released January 1980
UFO #12
July 1980 - August 1980
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Paul Raymond leaves UFO at the end of the 'No Place to Run' tour to join the Michael Schenker Group
John Sloman (ex-LONE STAR) leaves Uriah Heep to join UFO for a couple of months
John Sloman leaves and later joins the following groups: Gary Moore, Paul Young, Todd Rundgren, Praying Mantis
