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The journey traces back to 1965, long before fame, when a young German teenager named Rudolph Shanker (later known as Rudolf Schenker) dreamed of putting Germany on the rock map. Starting with a band called The Nameless, Rudolph faced early setbacks—members leaving, burnout, military service—yet his unwavering determination kept him going.
By 1969, significant changes entered the fold. Rudolph's younger brother Michael, a prodigious guitarist, joined, along with Klaus Mina, a vocalist with a gritty yet soulful voice. These additions set the foundation for what would become the Scorpions. Their debut album, Lonesome Crow, released in 1972, showcased dark, psychedelic experimentation—an ambitious start but far from the stadium-rock sound they'd later develop.