Rock Icons Slash and Michael Schenker Band Together to Perform a UFO Anthem Live
At the Wacken Open Air festival in 2025, two guitar legends took the stage together, delivering a performance that was a highlight of the event. Michael Schenker and Slash combined their distinctive styles for a memorable rendition of the UFO classic "Mother Mary."
Schenker, known for his love of the Flying V shape, played an Olympic White Gibson Flying V during the performance. He took a more supportive role, providing a thick wall of sound behind Slash's lead, watching on with a gleeful expression. Slash, playing his Gibson Les Paul, delivered warm, pentatonic blues guitar solos, characterised by expressive wah pedal use, typical of his signature style.
The collaboration mirrored their recent studio reunion on the track "Mother Mary" from Schenker’s 2023 album My Years With UFO, which celebrated Schenker's 50 years with UFO and featured Slash on guitar along with former Skid Row vocalist Erik Grönwall.
Fans at Wacken were treated to the sight of two legendary guitarists combining their unique styles: Schenker’s melodic, precise playing and Slash’s blues-inspired, emotive leads. A fan-filmed video of the live performance is available, further capturing the intensity and skill of the guitar solos delivered by both players on stage.
Interestingly, Slash traded licks with Eric Gales on a fiery Purple Haze cover last year, and he recently made a shock switch from Marshall Amps to Magnatone. However, during the Wacken performance, Marshall amps were still in use.
The show, while spectacular, did not quite reach the intensity of Guns N' Roses' recent Saudi Arabia show, which reportedly melted Richard Fortus' pickups. But for those in attendance at Wacken, it was a night they would never forget, with Erik Grönwall commenting that the performers were "two fucking legends."
In other news, Michael Schenker has a Gibson signature guitar in the works, and Slash is set to continue his musical journey, leaving fans eagerly anticipating his next move.
- During the performance at Wacken Open Air festival in 2025, Michael Schenker played his Gibson Flying V, while Slash wielded a Gibson Les Paul, their guitars creating a symphony of sound.
- Schenker, noted for his clean, melodic playing, supported Slash's emotional, blues-inspired leads, resorting to expressive wah pedal techniques, characteristic of Slash's signature style.
- The live performance of "Mother Mary" by Schenker and Slash, captured in a fan-filmed video, exemplifies the excitement and mastery of guitar solos by both players, adding another memorable moment to their entertainment careers.
- Despite Slash's recent switch from Marshall Amps to Magnatone, the Wacken performance still featured Marshall amps, retaining a sense of continuity in their musical technique.
- With new projects in the pipeline, such as a Gibson signature guitar for Schenker and continuous musical explorations for Slash, fans remain optimistic about future collaborations and contributions to the realm of music.
