Trully, the most under-rated guitar player (but in fact the greatest) on this planet. He was the "eye-opener" of Yngwie Malmsteen, Jason Becker, and thousands more, in the land of Neo Classical. But the huge difference is Uli still has "soul" and "feel" not just speed, while others don't.

Uli is the Man. Such a massive influence on the Metal scene in the Late 70's through the 80's. A true guitarists guitarist.

Possibly the most respected guitar solo of its time. This solo would still be impressive and technical even today

The Scorpions has had some really incredible guitarists, from Michael and Rudolf Schenker to Uli Jon Roth and Mathias Jabs.

I captured him front row with this very phone. I got to talk with him for a few minutes after the show. I talked him into holding my gold Mexican strat next to me old Mercedes. He was very patient with me. I was rush to get his pic because my battery was about dead but I was able to tape the entire show from the front row. Thanks Again Wings bro

On the 19th of Dec., in the year 2021, the word UNDERRATED was officially banded from all KZfaq posts and comments. The world, it did rejoice!

The band rides the band bus, while Uli and his guitar and knobs arrive in a spaceship. Uli is like no other.

The early 70s era albums bu Scorpions with ULI ROTH are so good, his tone rips and playing is untouchable, The Virgin Killer album is great!

Literally one of the most underrated guitarist to ever live

Uli was the golden era of Scorpions in my opinion. He isn't my favorite player of all time, but he is outstanding.

When Uli plays all I see is golden spires sparkling brightly.

For those not familiar with Uli here's a few more tracks to check out; Catch Your Train, Fly To The Rainbow, We'll Burn The Sky, Dark Lady, Robot Man, In Your Park.

His play is so effortless and smooth!

You're so switched on.... and clued up its crazy..... I'm nearly 50 and you know more about my generations greatest talents than I do!.... I agree, relate and enjoy your thoughts.... One of my favorite channels! "WINGS OF PEGASUS" :--)

Checking this out for the first time years after Fil posted it. For those who don't know just how well Fil understands music, he says minor, and Uli is throwing in a lot of major. I actually figured out how to play this note for note years ago (I've transcribed a lot of Bach and Paganini violin pieces), and this tune is based around the phrygian dominant mode, witch happens to be the minor scale, but using a Major third (D sharp in this case, whereas B minor uses a D). Excellent job Fil !! Uli Jon Roth has been one of my favorite guitarists since the 80's; along with David Gilmour, Alan Holdsworth, Steve Vai, Jimmy Hendrix, and Andres Segovia (and many more actually).

What a player! Uli's playing on "Tokyo Tapes" was a huge influence on me. I still listen to that record, never tired of it. Also, the lead playing on "Catch Your Train" - not many hard rock players (if any) were that quick and clean back then! He was a big influence on EVH too.

Insanely good. Waaaay ahead of his time! Can you believe this was written in 1977? Nothing came close to this in Rock. This and Backstage queen were my favorites featuring Uli on lead.

It is always great to listen to the members past and present of the Scorpions. Just listening to this song alone reminds me of how a twelve year old kid gets into rock!!!

Ive always thought he was the missing link between Blackmore and Malmsteen

I love his playing on the track, 'Firewind.' Just incredible.

He's number 1 in my list!

Hey, that is MY RECORDING, I'm the uploader haha! I'm so happy that this great recording of the master Uli is spreading around the world! Thank you so much for this :) Rock on, brother

I was born in 1962 but my mother and father listened to rhythm and blues. But Am radio then FM had us kids listening to Hard Rock of the early 70's. Our friend was a Kiss freak and wanted to start a garage band in 1975. So we started our band and bought many albums including Kiss, AC/DC, Nugent, Aerosmith, Queen, Rainbow, Montrose, Sabbath, Zep...but the Album that opened our ears and eyes was The Scorpions Toyko Tapes, Love Drive and UFO's Strangers in the Night! That's the stuff we wanted to play!!!

For me all it took was hearing "In Your Park" for the 1st time in 1983. From that point on all I wanted hear was (pre 1979) Scorpions, UFO, Thin Lizzy. I think you get my point. Great 🎸.

Great choice of song here. Sails Of Charon. Uli is one of the greatest musicians of all time. Experienced his band three times Uli era. Scorpions in Concord California. 2014. I believe. Almost three hour show. I dig the classical music as well. But that band Uli as Assembled really nailed those 70's Pychedlic Scorpions music

Uli was THE replacement for Michael Schenker for the Scorpions. The perfect person for the job. Fly to the Rainbow, In Trance, Virgin Killer and Taken by Force are top albums. It's so great to have UFO albums that came out the same years as these Scorpion ones and both of the Schenker bands were kickin' major arse .

I'll be front row tonight again watching this Master at work!!

Caught Uli in Blackpool late 2019. The man is in a class of his own.

He's awesome. The Scorpions' album Tokyo Tapes is one of my favorite records.

A true living legend.

Hi! Have seen a lot of your different videos but never seen You so thrilled...😊 He’s supernatural this guitarist, as I use to say... hat off, no comments👍👊🤟

I know I'm coming in here late sir, that you described all of those sections that you stopped very well. Excellent work brother

Fil: You Rock 🎸, 1000 Thank You’s. I ♥️ Uli. He always smiles and enjoys playing/performing.

Uli was by far the most fluid lead player of his generation, people continually go on about how Yngwie ripped off Blackmore, Yngwie only ripped off the look of Blackmore, his sound was all Uli.

Good gravy, Fil! Lately it's been like "Hidden Jems Week" on the channel. So many incredible, though underappreciated, players. You're on a tear, my friend. Cheers.

Thank you !!! I must have asked for an UJR video 10 times. If it weren't for UJR, that 80's neoclassical wave most likely never happens. So Yngwie, Marty Friedman, Jason Becker etc should all send UJR a thank you card. And what does Kirk Hammett start off his solo section with at a Metallica show? The riff to Sails Of Charon. I recommend everyone get SCORPIONS REVISITED and TOKYO TAPES REVISITED. These records have been in heavy rotation since they were released !!!

Uli just has a natural ease w playing. Great player. He does some stuff from a 77 scorpions set here on you tube where he does hendrixy stuff that is mindblowingly good.

Heard of him but never "heard" him. Really cool lines and definitely ahead of his time. \m/

This song is just a total masterpiece!

Thank you for doing this piece on Uli.

Thanks for this one Fil!, great breakdown as always. The band sounded so good when I caught them on the Tokyo Tapes tour. It was a tiny venue as well which made it even better and tickets were the equivalent of about £20. Very reasonable by today's standards. Your videos have now become part of my daily routine. 😀 Cheers!

Love Uli since The Scorpion days. The Zoo was one of my favorite songs in the '70's. And he STILL LOVES TO PLAY!!!!! THE sign of a players' player!!

great analyzing of an outstanding musical prodigy

Uli The Best 👍

He is incredible. I love Schenker too, but Uli sometimes doesn’t get the recognition he richly deserves

It was a joy also too look at your face expressions while listning. Can easily see you really like uli. I've followed him since first Scorpions album and seen a lot of concerts. Also had the pleasure to meet him several times. A true gentleman.

Thanks Fil! Love the review.

Blimey! What a hujpoytok intro! Indeed, sir, that is how to start a song! Mulpergy technical ability!! Great videos! I love them more than a ghetfet byfset with a single coil plucktup (a green one, naturally)! Keep it up, sir! You're my favourite KZfaq derliherg. Hewslup!

I wanted to also say thank you Fil because I too am unfamiliar with this guitarist, it's amazing how wonderful this man is! I hope through your work here that many others will discover this great guitarist.

Frank Marino. Then the Sails of Charon. You, sir, are reliving some very happy times from my childhood. What’s next? Vintage Pat Travers? Steve Morse and the Dregs? Holdsworth? Mike Stern? Suddenly my favorite channel!

The birth of Shred as we know it!!! Took until '80 to hear Tokyo Tapes which i loved dearly. Schenker fan at the time. Didn't hear Sails until a move in late '81and couldn't believe it. man, there was scene where all these cats were devotees of his. Sorta felt undergunned with my Meniketti/Schenker stuff. Did manage a fair jam with Cast Away Your Chains a few years back ;) ROCK!!

Say what you will about Uli in terms of the aesthetic qualities of his musical output, but his touch and approach to the guitar are unique. You always know it's him when you hear him.

Fil, Uli is an exceptional guitarist. In interviews and rig rundowns he seems to be genuinely a humble nice guy. Yngwie, also an exceptional guitarist but arrogant and definitely not a humble guy. Like em both as musicians but favor Uli. His custom guitar designed by him is amazing. This was awesome and I liked the way you put it, as sort of a melting pot and mixing it up with several styles. Indubitably so !! Thanks. I have shared your channel with my oldest son. And we will always discuss your breakdowns and views. Keep up the incredible melting pot of different guitarists, as this makes your channel the best unjaded look at all styles. Cheers !!

Very cool. Thanks Fil! 🤘

IF only scorpions had toured the us during the uli years... steamrockfever!!

Uli is an incredible gee tar player. A well rounded stellar musician.

I have Uli "Light and Shadows" on my playlist.....I sit and bask, (when my dog doesn't "sing" to it)....he is so talented! 👍👍👍

@wingsofpegasus hey Fil amazing video, thanks for going over it. I wanted to add a piece to what you were saying about his awesome vibrato. If you werent aware already, on top of having more frets, they are also scalloped as well so the more pressure he uses the sharper the note. Cheers!

🎸🤘 great video 🤘🎸 great guitarist & great technic 🎼🎸👍🤘🎵🎵🎵🎼🎼🎼 he look"s like bohemian egyptian 🤘

great review Fil. hadn't listened to much Uli Jon Roth but i'll definitely check out some more. cheers. peace man

It sounded to me with a touch of Malmsteen there. Or maybe it's the other way around. Loved a live vid I saw with both Schenkers, Roth and Jabs all together.

Sympathies to those not in the know who do not know who this man is, one of the greatest ever!

That was awfully good. Just fantastic. So good. Great tone.

Sorry I just can’t get enough of all these musicians and u...wish I could jam with u....I don’t play much anymore and have sold all my big gear and most of my pedal boards and attenuators...I have one rack mount left and one boss pedal board and 22 guitars...I’m not a shredder. I’m a melodic player like Satriani...and Augustine Barrios.

Fun fact; Uli was married to Monika Dannemann, the last girlfriend of Jimi Hendrix until her death in 1996

Uli mid 70's blew out mind! Tokyo Tapes is a killer double live album from Scorpions!

The second half of the song is the best part.

The superb Gandalph of Rock ! ;-)

Uli one of the best!

Thee Godfather of Neo-classical!

A few years ago I contacted Sky about possibly getting one of these since I have a pretty good guitar collection. I knew it would be expensive but I had NO IDEA! I've owned several cars that cost less. If you're lucky enough to have one I'm so jealous.

Uli is the guitarist in a very small group of peers - The living Michael Schenker, Eric Clapton, David Gilmore, Mark Knopfler and the deceased Jim’s Hendrix, Eddie Van Halen, Chet Atkins, Leslie West, Gary Moore & Stevie Ray Vaughn are the few peers he has.

Uli pra sempre.!🇧🇷

He is a bit of segovia black meets blackmore in German version. He played with leslie west a few years back

Can definitely here where Yngwie got some inspiration. Glad to see Uli toured with the G3 show.

I resisted but I gave in... I'm now subscribed.

Uli rocks!

Amazing piece of music I fell in love with way back when I was just ten. I tried doing this song with several different pairs of bassists and drummers. It takes really really skilled players who actually "count" to get it right. (Otherwise, its just devolves into a mess.)

Uli....Uli.....Uli.....Uli.....Uli !!!!!!!!!!

Love Uli's Sails of Charon, (virgin killer album)...he fell to hard times as some musicians do, then he found his way back...good on him.

A player that can branch out on many tangents. Rhythmic yet captivating sound. FIL he put a lot of work technically into those guitars which are cool as shit. Old legends are a dying breed so get to see them live. They are a dying breed

Uli has fallen under the same shadow that Jimi has. How inspirational he was to later day guys like VanHalen & Malmsteen. Sure he was, but, like Jimi, who was one of his main influences, instead of hearing about comparisons, let's just sit back & listen to his playing & how great he actually is...

"What if Jimi Hendrix wanted to be a pirate and studied violin and flamenco instead of blues?"

In a recentish interview he said that on the original recording the arabic type fills were a tribute to Rainbow

Saw Uli recently as part of the G3 with Joe Satriani and John Petrucci. The guy is still amazing, very unique.

Thank you so much

Some of Uli's phrasing is like Brian May's more inspired soloing. They do these odd, yet pleasing and unexpected licks. Especially that part 3/4 of the way thru 15th - 17th fret, To some of us the performance in this song is kind of like Eddie Van Halen's Eruption, its a high water mark and I dare say starts the tides churning for the wave of virtuosity pre-Van Halen. I think the theatricality of tapping and Eddie's writing catchy, very American pop and rock songs makes him more influential. But in my book? If you create something as timelessly great as the opening solo to Sails of Charon, you should be lauded for touching greatness. Future guitarist to analyze _ Elliot Easton. Elliot Easton. Elliot Easton. Elliot Easton. Elliot Easton. Elliot Easton.

For those not familiar with Uli, here's where I first encountered his awesome playing style - kzfaq.info/get/bejne/kNllgbKjvr-6Yqc.html

Plus he was doing all of this in the mid 1970's Just don't let him sing ;-)

uli is the most unheard of guitarist you have done so far. i prefer him to bucket head.

I remember hearing this,Dark Lady,Hellcat,and some others i haven't heard for awhile. This one definitely stood out for me because i never heard playing like this.Early Scorpions were unique with the sound they had.

Uli destroys on all levels! Glad you're covering him. Sadly I can't find any classic Scorps live footage to share with your followers. It's all lip-sync. Oh well.... we can still llisten to Tokyo Tapes though!

Hey Phil, when you're in the mood listen to Uli' Earthquake and Frank Marino's Ain't dead yet. They came out at the same time roughly. While they displayed speed to the max both were very clear and played with feel despite their different styles. Both of those are still tops in the guitar annals of history for long epic songs. With feeling!!!

CRAZZYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY GOOD!

Just going by this and other analysis I've seen you do, I really respect the appreciation you have for the disturbingly lesser heralded greats like Uli, Gary Moore, and Frank Marino. Saw Mr. Roth several years ago (on my bucket list forever) and immediately made me want to go back to more of my neoclassical roots and away from thrash.

A very interesting track. Has a cool Groove and makes me want to break out my pots and pans...

Well articulated explanation of why the whammy bar sometimes hinders. You're the gold standard for reaction videos Fil. I don't know who was the first to do reaction videos but you have taken this genre to greater heights. I've seen at least 15 different ppl doing reaction videos and yours are the best. Your critiques are comprehensive, insightful and intelligent. Your focus on Glen Campbell had me going thru my own Glen Campbell phase. I'll stop now. Don't mean to embarrass you. But when I have blocks of time (and aren't trolling. Lol) I love watching your videos. I wonder what your retention is? The video below is a great representation of the early Scorpions. Although Uli is featured for the intro, the cut away shots of the band show them in full splendor. Herman Rarebell snarling behind his kit, bouncing bassist, Rudolph aping his flying V, Klaus in full on storytelling mode ....they're fully engaged in the song. But check out how passive, almost effete, Uli's performance is here (see link below) compared to the rest of the band, these theatrical, showy Germans! Marshall stacks, Uli's anachronistic hippy kit, aggression against the restrained..... It's a cool contrast. He's just not as demonstrative and showy as the others. He puts it all into his playing. Even tho his eyes are mostly closed you can clearly see he's nailing it. The flair and fluid use of his picking hand. His skilled vibrato and bends. Still, only once does he grimace from effort at :57. This solo has some uber melodious and interesting unexpected phrasing that is similar to Brian May's playing. We Will Rock You comes to mind. While a great deal of the solo is his modest shredding made to look easy, the parts where he's not consist of some really savory playing (video in link). Indeed, he touched greatness and created an enduring masterpiece of heavy metal guitar playing. Guitar players? Look at the cord Uli's using. One of those curly deals. What was the purpose behind that design? Lol! kzfaq.info/get/bejne/l9V5aseWuJ2ac58.html

Off subject but you have the coolest shirts on KZfaq Fil PS wow this guy is amazing. I thought I sensed a hint of classical guitar within the rest of it.

Hahaha :-) brilliant musician, a class on his own!!! :-)

A fantastic guitar player,to me he is the very best.