As expected, UFO went out and played just enough newer material to consider the tour an extension of the latest album (2015’s great “A Conspiracy of Stars”) and not a greatest hits show. Deep down, the band knew the phenomenon the fans were obsessed with – and though UFO didn’t force it, the show was lights out

Unlike Saxon, UFO had some chart success, though it was with its albums and not singles. But behind each successful album was a great song or two that still sound great live – even if the players on the stage are not the ones on the album.

For me, hearing classics like “Rock Bottom,” “Lights Out” “Only You Can Rock Me” and “Too Hot to Handle” with Vinnie Moore on guitar instead of Michael Schenker does not detract from the greatness of the songs. Plus Moore always seems to toss a guitar pick my way during the shows, something I have not been able to get from Schenker – yet.

Even though UFO tends to be thought of as a rock band, “Love to Love,” is my favorite to hear live. So strange I pick a mellower song as my favorite, but for whatever reason, live, this one tops them all for me – probably the extended solo time the band puts into the middle of the song.

As an encore, bassist Rob De Luca let everybody know what was coming before the band emerged from the stage – the opening lines of “Cherry” are pretty unmistakable. Though not one of my favorites, I like how they handled it, and it is an instrument showcase for De Luca – just like “Love to Love” is Paul Raymond’s live keyboard showcase.

What UFO show would be complete without the excellent closing numbers, “Doctor Doctor” and “Shoot Shoot?” Two of the band’s best known tracks and always a fitting end for the show. Each UFO show I have seen has ended this way

READ REVIEW

1. Mother Mary
2. Long Gone
3. Wonderland
4. Run Boy Run
5. Lights Out
6. Baby Blue
7. Only You Can Rock Me
8. Burn Your House Down
9. Too Hot to Handle
10. Love to Love
11. Messiah of Love
12. Rock Bottom
13. Cherry
14. Doctor Doctor

Hello loved ones
It was a great show last night in Los Angeles. UFO is a great band that has stood the test of time. I found it humorous the Phil Mogg, the singer, and I have the same haircut now. He pointed me out and said " Me and the big guy I are in same Club". In this picture he's pointing at the smokin' hot ladies of the band "2 Hot 2 Handle".

Thank you Cherry Blackwolf for helping me get the ticket.

Cheers Dennis for posting and sharing the story

... UFO have settled on a great lineup that includes founding drummer, Andy Parker, longtime keyboard and rhythm guitarist, Paul Raymond, the incredible Vinnie Moore (Who has now been in the band for the last 14 years which is right up there with Michael Schenker’s 15 year combined guitar stretch!) and rounding out with Rob De Luca who has handled bass duties since 2008.

Highlights of tonight’s set included Vinnie Moore ripping through an extended version of “Rock Bottom”.  The double vision encore of “Doctor Doctor” and “Shoot Shoot“.  And the always amazing “Love To Love“.  The keyboard intro still gives me the shivers…

READ FULL REVIEW and PHOTOS

Above five photo's and review ©William Greenberg - Cheers Will

The Jimmy Cabbs 5150 Interview Series conducted an interview with SAXON frontman Biff Byford prior to the band's March 16 show at the Belasco Theater in Los Angeles, California where they were the support act for UFO. UFO related excerpts,transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET:

On the band's current United States tour with UFO:

Biff: "It's great, really. It's a good package. We love UFO and loved UFO for years. UFO are basically a '70s band and we're an '80s band so the two styles fit together really well. If you listen to UFO, you listen to us. It's where we started from that period."

On whether playing with UFO brings out the best in SAXON:

Biff: "Yeah, I think it does. Obviously, we don't have too long to play like we when we're headlining or closing the show. You have to compact it all in the period you have. We're playing for an hour and ten minutes, which is not bad. Our usual show is an hour forty-five, two hours, so you have to compact it in and I can't talk too much to the audience. [Laughs] It keeps us on the edge, I'm telling you. To go out in the middle, it's a nice spot to be in, in the middle of the show. It's great because everything is rushy-rushy. [You're] onstage, offstage. It just keeps you on your toes, really."

©2017 Blabbermouth | Watch Full Interview with Biff

Phil Mogg

Vinnie Moore

Rob De Luca

Paul Raymond

Jared James Nichols, along with the British invasion of Saxon and UFO, took control of the sold-out crowd on Saturday March 18th at the City National Grove of Anaheim.

Headliners UFO took the stage at 10:15 for a ninety-minute set, touring in support of their 2015 studio album A Conspiracy of Stars. I’ll admit it’s been a while since I have listened to UFO. I was surprised how many songs I knew. Opening their set with Long Gone off The Wild, the Willing and the Innocent, my first impression this was going to be a long set, starting off a little slow. That quickly changed as frontman Phil Mogg and drummer Andy Parker (the only two original UFO members) along with keyboardist/rhythm guitarist Paul Raymond, guitarist Vinnie Moore and bassist Rob De Luca, found their rhythm for Run Boy Run off A Conspiracy of Stars, rounding out the first three songs with the self-titled track Lights Out. Mogg, a veteran of working the crowd, kept the fans attention with his humor in-between songs. At sixty-eight years young he does his fair share of working the stage, whipping that mic stand around like it’s nothing, delivering the classic UFO sound.

UFO formed in 1969, there’s a wealth of material to choose from, focusing more on their classic 70’sUFO material from albums Phenomenon, Force It, Lights Out, and Obsession, with a sprinkle of their current albums. The fans cheers erupted with songs Baby Blue off You are Here, Love to Love offLights Out and Mother Mary off Force It. Guitar virtuoso Vinnie Moore tears it up during the longest song of the night – Rock Bottom off Phenomenon. Bassist Rob De Luca  always looks so serious and is everywhere, he did show the fans the warm side smiling toward the end of the night. Keyboardist/rhythm guitarist Paul Raymond steps out from behind the keys, to play that left handed Gibson Les Paul, (of course I notice the Les Paul), what also grabbed my attention was drummer Andy Parker’s kit not on a riser, it was great to see the time keeper. Closing out a fifteen-song set including a three-song encore of Cherry off Obsession, Doctor Doctor off Phenomenon and Shoot Shoot off Force It.

UFO Setlist:
Long Gone
Run Boy Run
Lights Out
Baby Blue
Aint No Baby
Only You Can Rock Me
Burn Your House Down
Too Hot To Handle
Messiah of Love
Love to Love
Mother Mary
Rock Bottom

Encore:
Cherry
Doctor Doctor
Shoot Shoot

CONCERT REVIEW – UFO and Saxon live in Las Vegas

Feeling cool
Many thanks to Juan for the venue photo's

UFO - © Eric Steller

Paul Raymond - © Eric Steller

Almost Too Hot To Handle: UFO & Saxon In Denver, CO At The Summit Music Hall On 21 Mar 2017

NWOBHM was very much alive in Denver the other night. Saxon and UFO, two of the leading bands of the movement, took the audience on a trip down memory lane and it was spectacular. 

It can be hit or miss when some 'dinosaurs' of heavy metal come to play in Denver and one never knows if the gig is gonna tank. But as soon as I approached the venue, I knew the night would turn out great since it was still about an hour before doors and the fans already lined up alongside the building. 

If not for the band shirts, leather and denim jackets, a casual observer could have mistaken this for an AARP meeting.   But all kidding aside, while the venue was not packed to capacity, it was full nevertheless. The upper section of the Summit Music Hall was reserved for those who purchased a VIP ticket (at almost double the price of a regular one) and I guesstimate that around 50 or so die-hard fans splurged for the opportunity to watch the bands from a higher advantage point. 

UFO took the stage a bit behind schedule and I was wondering how they could top what we have just witnessed. In fairness, while Saxon is all about the heavy metal, fast and furious riffing, UFO toned it down with the more hard rock approach. Due to the somewhat legendary status of UFO who is widely credited for bridging the gap between hard rock and heavy metal in their early days, the heat was definitely on for the band. 

Vocalist Phil Mogg took command early on and made sure that no stone was unturned when it came to belching out those great UFO tunes. To be honest, he hasn't lost his vocal range at all over the years and sounded just as fresh as decades ago. 

Seventies hit songs such as "Lights Out", "Too Hot To Handle", "Only You Can Rock Me" and of course "Doctor Doctor" were the reason most of us were there and UFO didn't disappoint AT ALL. And while the crowd was overall older, there were still tons of 'young'ens' in the audience; especially right up the rail. Guitarist Vinnie Moore interacted with the younger fans quite often which was really nice to see.

"Run Boy Run" and "Messiah Of Love" were the only two songs from their 2015 release A Conspiracy Of Stars being heard that night (to the best of my recollection), but I bet nobody in the audience minded since it was great to hear 30-plus year old songs come to life on stage. And speaking of 'old'… at one point I was standing outside to catch some fresh air and engaged in a conversation with an older gentleman sporting a vintage UFO shirt. He told me that he hadn't been at a concert in years and actually found out about the show because his grandson follows the venue on Facebook. 

I bet he had a great time and it also was a great night for both 'dinosaur' bands and their performances proved once again that (old-school) rock and metal will never die. 

READ FULL REVIEW

©2017 Metal Storm / D.T. Metal

VIEW PHOTOS

©2017 Metal Storm / D.T. Metal

"UFO brought their A game with some of their greatest hits from almost 5 decades of rock ... Hits like Lights Out and Shoot Shoot to Rock Bottom and Doctor Doctor... One of my all time favorites Love to Love.. enjoy" - Chris Rose

The entire set encompassed hit after hit with a handful of the new material just to garnish. Set staples like “Let It Roll”, “Too Hot To Handle” and “Rock Bottom” were all executed flawlessly. What a night – two legends sharing the same stage and proving not only their relevancy, but their supremacy.

READ FULL REVIEW | PHOTOS - All Photos By Geoff Ketler/Aces High Photography

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS of the concert can be
viewed on Aces High Photography FB page

British space rockers UFO landed at House of Blues Cleveland last Tuesday (March 28) at the top of a double-header doozy pairing the quintet with English metal mavens Saxon.

Still fronted by boxer-turned-singer Phil Mogg (the group’s sole constant member), the influential (Metallica, Testament, Def Leppard) London-spawned outfit also features long-time drummer Andy Parker Paul and keyboardist/guitarist Paul Raymond (both on board since the ‘70s), lead guitar sensation Vinnie Moore (joined 2003), and bassist Rob De Luca (since 2008).

Formed in the late ‘60s, UFO excelled at blending the hard rock of Black Sabbath and Cream with the psychedelia of Pink Floyd and classicism of the Moody Blues and Yes into a unique, muscular mix. 

A lot has changed over the years for Mogg and company—gone are the cheeky anthems of Force It (1975) and No Heavy Petting (1976)—but the elder statesmen of art rock still perform with the energy and enthusiasm of over-adrenalized teenagers. Unwilling to trade entirely on the past, the UFOers continue to make compelling records and tour fresh tunes well into its 50th year: They played “Run Boy Run” and “Messiah of Love” from 2015’s A Conspiracy of Stars for Cleveland—and revisited “Burn Your House Down” from 2012’s Seven Deadly CD.

But breakthrough UFO album Phenomenon (1974) and fan favorites Lights Out (1977) and Obsession (1978) received the most attention, with Mogg and the gang tearing through “Baby Blue,” “Only You Can Rock Me,” and “Too Hot To Handle” with youthful abandon.

Mogg juggled his mic stand and prowled the HOB as if looking to pick a fight, but engaged the audience with gentlemanly rapport. DeLuca thrummed a Gibson Thunderbird bass, his long hair flailing to Parker’s brutal beats.  Moore—borne of the same ‘80s “shredder” movement—was dazzling on guitar, his fingers flaying and tapping the strings. Raymond layered the sound with lush keyboard chords and catchy, mischievous riffs.

Late-set goodies included “Love to Love” and “Rock Bottom.” The encore squeezed “Cherry, “Doctor Doctor” and “Shoot Shoot” into a single-bang bang bonanza. READ FULL REVIEW AND PHOTOS - By: Peter Roche 

The House of Blues hosted UFO, Saxon and Jared James Nichols last Tuesday. The concert was sold-out with the walk-up crowd. Many of the fans were interested in the appearance of Saxon, while others wanted to hear UFO. Perhaps it was the cold damp evening outside or people arriving late after work. Regardless, the Cleveland House of Blues offered a great night of entertainment between the two British Bands, along with American born artist, Jared James Nichols...

...UFO is another band I’ve never had the pleasure of seeing on tour. The hit the stage running with “Mother Mary”. The band continued their onslaught of powerful music with “Long Gone”, “Run Boy Run”, and the fans favorite of “Lights Out”. By this point, the romp was on as UFO took us through there stable of tunes designed to carry you away!

I was surprised UFO didn’t feature any tunes from their latest release, ‘A Conspiracy of Stars’. The fans didn’t mind as they wanted the hit songs performed in all their glory and UFO gave us just that. The set continued with “Baby Blue”, “Only You Can Rock Me”, “Let It Roll”,  “Burn Your House Down”, “Too Hot To Handle” and “Messiah of Love”.

The encore was great with powerful renditions of  “Love To Love” and “Rock Bottom”. I was discouraged that “Venus” was excluded from the set-list, but UFO rarely tours the USA and the opportunity doesn’t come around often to see the band in action. The band drove the HOB with accuracy and astounding musical and vocal appeal.

Lead singer, Phil Mogg was a pleasure to see onstage between his rich brooding vocals and veteran leadership. The amazing resemblance at times vocally to Ian Gillian of Deep Purple is eerie! His mature, stage presence was a treat to witness! It’s clear the vocalist has taken care of himself over the years as he smoothly delivered the tone of the delivery. The English charm presented onstage was something I miss in today’s era of bands.

Phil represents the same category of English front-men such as:  Ian Gillian, David Coverdale, Robert Plant and David Byron. It was an honor to witness his performance! His classy, professional and polished presence was a sight as he expounded his vocal ability!

Lead Guitarist, Vinnie Moore shredded the solos and captivated the crowd with his technique. Calibrated with systemic fret runs and riveting highlights the guitarist let everyone know he is a power to be reckoned with!

Keyboardist/Guitarist, Paul Raymond switched between instruments often. On some tunes played both as he revved-up the songs with orchestration, riffs and energy. His purposeful domain was held near the keyboard, sometimes stepping to the front of the stage and smiling at some fans, only to move back in the shadows behind the keyboard setup.

Drummer Andy Parker kept the band in the groove as he walloped the kit with power and sonic precision. The original member permeated the tunes with his accents and grandiose rhythm! It was great seeing a man his age still able to punch UFO into space!

Bassist, Rob De Luca gave us staggered bass lines as he drove the music. Robb steered his way down and up the neck like a madman! This guy clearly knows the technique of  his instrument as he gravitated across the stage.

UFO displayed their power, rockin’ tunes and measured aura as if it was the 70’s all over again. The band is far from done based on what I witnessed. Catch them live on tour near you!

READ FULL REVIEW AND VIEW 48 PHOTO'S

©2017 Jim Carver, The Rust Belt Chronicles.

About Jim Carver

Jim Carver is the President of The Rust Belt Chronicles.

In 2004, Jim graduated from North Central State College with a degree in Business Information Technology. Jim developed "Rock Lines" news report online in 2010.After a trial-run of The Rust Belt Chronicles in April of 2013, Jim decided to make his dream a reality in 2014 by re-launching The Rust Belt Chronicles.

Eddie Trunk posts on his FB page on Thursday before UFO's second night appearance at BB Kings New York:

"Huge thanks to Phil Mogg UFO for joining me this afternoon on TrunkNation! It was his only interview on the US tour and he said it will likely be his last (which we bet on!). Hear it again tonight 9P ET SiriusXM VOLUME 106. Also thanks to Jared James Nichols for coming in. Off to B.B. King Blues Club & Grill NYC soon to host night number 2!" - Eddie Trunk

photo: Eddie Trunk and Phil Mogg in the Studio

"Had an great couple nights at BB Kings hosting UFO, Saxon and Jared James Nichols to sold out crowds. All the bands sounded great and Jared is one to watch for sure. Everyone knows how special UFO are to me and they were sooo good! Everyone played amazingly well and Phil sang so great. Slightly different sets each night too. Thursday they opened with two Chapman songs in a row! Thanks to Eddoe Oertell and all the guys in UFO for the hospitality and tolerating my fan boy geekness! And special thanks to Phil Mogg for doing my radio show. Phil doesn’t love interviews but did his only one of the tour on TrunkNation, and he says his only US one for the next 18 months (he bet me $50 haha). Two more sold out shows on this tour and then hopefully they are back soon. It was a great tour and package with these three bands" - ET. - Podcast Info

UFO and Saxon Invade Penn’s Peak

APRIL 6, 2017 BY LOUIS QUATTRINI

On Saturday April 1, 2017, the only fools were the ones who did not get a ticket to the UFO-Saxon concert at Penn’s Peak in Jim Thorpe, PA. Close to 2000 fans, mainly middle-aged men clad in leather and denim jackets donned with classic rock and roll patches, attended the sold out rock show at the scenic concert venue in the heart of central Pennsylvania near the Pocono Mountains. The Penn’s Peak show was the second to last on this classic US tour before heading to Europe to begin the summer festival season. Both Saxon and UFO have storied careers spanning decades with a diehard and loyal fanbase. READ REVIEW - ©2017 NYS Music

PHIL MOGG - Above two photos ©2017 LOUIS QUATTRINI

ENTER for a chance to win an autographed copy of their "A Conspiracy of Stars" CD. It's autographed by: Phil Mogg, Vinnie Moore, Andy Parker, Paul Raymond, and Rob De Luca. We'll also include two of Vinnie's custom picks and two of Rob's.... READ MORE

UFO Soars Into Anaheim With Saxon In Tow

For those of you who prefer rock bands to be hard and/or full of hair, you’ll be excited to know that the veteran hard rockers of UFO and Saxon have decided to go on tour together. And as Southern Californians, we’ll have more than enough chances to bang our heads to the pulsing boom of their music. Be sure to catch them at the House of Blues San Diego Mar 14, Belasco Theater Los Angeles Mar 16, or The Grove of Anaheim Mar 18.

Starting out as a space rock band in the early 70’s, UFO has made its way through various forms of rock music, as well as lineups. Amidst all this change however, founding member Phil Mogg has managed to keep at least one thing consistent: the quality of his band’s musical output. To aid in this endeavor, Mogg sought out the mind of Vinnie Moore, who joined the band in 2003 to take up the role of lead songwriter.

Just weeks before he takes several stages all across America, Moore was kind enough to sit down and converse about all things music: how he makes it, how it exists today, and how we’d all be dead without it.

Concert Guide Live: I read on your website that you composed the majority of your latest album, Conspiracy of Stars. Was your input on the band’s music this significant when you first joined the group back in 2003?

Vinnie Moore: Yeah, it was pretty much the same. I think Phil wasn’t necessarily looking for only a guitar player, he knew he needed someone who wrote music. And that’s kinda why I got the gig. Not only for the guitar playing, but for the fact that I was a writer and he needed a partner, like he’d done with other people in the past.

CGL: When you write, do you ever have any specific goals, or, a specific direction you want to take the band? Do you listen to any particular music/artists to inspire your writing?

VM: I don’t really think about it that much, it’s kinda like, you pick up the guitar and start playing and whatever comes out, comes out. And my philosophy is write a bunch of songs and see what sticks. Then I’ll send the demos to Phil and he’ll pick the ones he feels he could do something with and they’ll be the ones we’ll go with.

CGL: I’ve seen videos of you guys playing “Love To Love” in which an acoustic guitar is set up on a waist high stand that enables you to play both electric and acoustic in the same song without taking off one guitar and putting on the other. I think that is just delightfully clever. How did you come to use this technique?

VM: Well, the Gracie Stand has been available for quite some time. But I never really had one until I joined UFO and there was a need for it. And actually – it’s funny – we tour over in Europe a lot, and our manager is really good friends with some of the guys in Scorpions. And when I first joined the band, you couldn’t get one of these Gracie Stands over there in Europe, so he would always borrow Rudolf Schenker’s. We would take it on the road and use it, until one time the Scorpions also needed it, at which point we finally had to get our own. But they were hard to get for a while. It was like, there’s only one in the world and Rudolf Schenker has it.
CGL: Beyond just playing music, I see that you’ve also done a couple of instructional videos. That must feel pretty great, you know, showing people how to access the wonderful world of music.

VM: Yeah, it definitely feels good. When I was a kid playing guitar, if I could have watched somebody’s video or talked to them at a clinic and directly asked a question that would have just been amazing.

CGL: Do you also find yourself diving into that world of instructional YouTube videos?

VM: Oh I’m always learning. I mean, music is endless. You can never stop learning. And yeah, I’ll check things out online, I’ll look into different musicians. Not only guitarists, but horn players, violin – whatever – you can pick up things everywhere.

CGL: Through the Internet and the spread of information and technology, I like to think we’re currently in a musical renaissance of sorts. What are your thoughts on this?

VM: I totally agree, but I think it’s also making people more lazy, too. I can’t tell you how many times people will send me messages on Facebook asking me if I could transcribe one of my songs for them in tablature. And you know, when I was a kid, I put on the record and learned the stuff. It’s really important to do it yourself because your ear gets better by doing it that way.

CGL: How would you describe the importance or function of music? In a general sense, you know, like in the context of a society or our species.

VM: I think people would be dead without music. It’s so important – it provides so much entertainment, so much emotion. I mean – it’s magical. You listen to a song on the radio and it can take you back to when you were a kid. It’s just unbelievably powerful. I’ve been studying it all my life and understand a lot about it, but then, in another way, I don’t understand anything about it. It just hits you very, very deeply. It’s spiritual.

©2017 source