Part 4/12:
Rising Through Battles and Breaks
Despite early promise, the band endured setbacks—Michael left to join UFO, a prominent British band, in 1973. This setback could have derailed their momentum but instead led them to find new talent—matias Jabs—whose explosive guitar skills completed their lineup. Between 1974 and 1976, the band released three defining albums: Fly to the Rainbow, In Trance, and Virgin Killer. These records, rife with rebellious spirit and inventive sound, established the Scorpions as a formidable European act, with electrifying live shows that became legendary.
Despite their rising fame, America remained elusive. The band’s obsession was to conquer the US market, where international success was conditional on the right breakthrough.