by Stephen Thomas Erlewine

For The Michael Schenker Story Live, Michael Schenker assembled a new band, comprised of former members of Mannequin, Yngwie Malmsteen's backing group, and Great King Rat. His intention was to retrace the progression of his career from UFO to MSG by hitting all of the highlights in front of a Japanese audience. The result is a double-disc, two-and-a-half hour tour de force designed for hardcore Schenker fans, since anyone else will find the ceaseless soloing a little indulgent. Still, the album scores points for demonstrating how consistent his music was throughout the years, as well as for showcasing some first-class soloing by Schenker.