Ulrich Roth
Encyclopedia
Ulrich Roth more commonly known as Uli Jon Roth, is a German
guitarist
and one of the earliest contributors to the neo-classical metal
genre. He is also the founder of Sky Academy
and inventor of the Sky Guitar. He is the older brother of fellow guitarist and artist Zeno Roth
.
left the Scorpions
to join UFO
and the group disbanded. The two remaining Scorpions members, Rudolf Schenker
and Klaus Meine
merged with the four members of Dawn Road, (Uli Jon Roth, Achim Kirschning, Francis Buchholz, Jürgen Rosenthal) using the name Scorpions as they were more well known than Dawn Road.
During his tenure as lead guitarist, main songwriter and occasional lead singer for the Scorpions, the band released four studio albums between 1974 and 1977. In 1978, the Scorpions released the live album Tokyo Tapes
, which was recorded in Japan and sold nearly one million copies and went gold in several countries. However, Roth had left the band before the album’s release.
Roth formed his own band named Electric Sun
which released three albums. The first, Earthquake
(1979), was dedicated to the spirit of Jimi Hendrix. A second album released two years later, Fire Wind
(1981), was dedicated to Anwar el-Sadat (the assassinated President of Egypt who had tried to make peace in the Middle East), and featured a song called "Enola Gay" about the atomic bombing of Japan.
In 1985, Roth released his third and final Electric Sun album, Beyond the Astral Skies
, dedicated to Martin Luther King and to Roth's fans.
After Electric Sun, Roth entered a new phase of creative work, composing four symphonies and two concertos, and sometimes performing with symphony orchestras throughout Europe. Roth used the name ‘Uli Jon Roth’ for all subsequent album releases and concert appearances.
The G3
European tour of 1998 featured Roth playing with Joe Satriani
and Michael Schenker
. The tour show at London Wembley Arena also featured a jam with Brian May
.
Roth played at the outdoor rock festival at Castle Donington
in 2001 (also featuring original Scorpions lead guitarist Michael Schenker
on the bill), and this was filmed and subsequently released on DVD.
Roth appeared in concert with the Scorpions onstage at the Wacken Open Air Festival in 2006 along with two other former members of the band. Billed as “A Night To Remember, A Journey Through Time”, the Scorpions played four songs from the Roth era, most of which they hadn’t played live since Roth had left in 1978. The concert was filmed and released on DVD.
Although this was meant to be a ‘one night only’ special event, its success meant that the format was repeated on several tours afterwards.
On 2 June 2007 at the Rock am Ring festival
in Germany, Roth joined The Smashing Pumpkins
on stage for their epic closing song "Gossamer". He made another appearance with the Pumpkins upon their return to Germany on 26 February 2008.
In 2007, Roth had begun working on a new full-length studio album, which was to be released the following year. The title of the album would be "Under A Dark Sky" and was going to be the first official release in the long-awaited series of Symphonic Legends - a cycle of music written by Uli for his all-encompassing Sky of Avalon project.
Roth first debuted songs from "Under A Dark Sky" on 18 July 2008 in his headline set at the G-TARanaki Guitar Festival
in New Zealand, Roth's debut concert in the country. In the week previous Roth had taken his "Sky Academy" tuition classes to regional Taranaki towns in Waitara
, Inglewood
and Opunake
with guests Vernon Reid
and Gilby Clarke
.
"Under A Dark Sky" was released in Japan on 20 August 2008 via Marquee records. The European and USA releases followed a month later on 20 September 2008 on the SPV record label.
Andreas Demetriou. Andreas developed the concept adding many unique specifications. Uli Jon Roth has had five of these "Sky" guitars handcrafted by the British luthier. To be able to emulate the high notes of a violin, all of the Sky Guitars contain extra frets. The first Sky Guitar (used on the album Beyond the Astral Skies) has 30 frets. Later versions of the Sky Guitar overcame the problem of the higher register frets becoming too narrow by widening the frets by whole steps for the highest notes. In an April 2001 Guitar Player Magazine interview, Roth reports that the guitars are either fretless above the 30th fret or have whole step fret spacing above the 27th fret, with 35 effective (half step) frets. All of the Sky guitars with frets have extensive fretboard scalloping as is favored by Swedish guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen (who was influenced greatly by Roth) and many neoclassical metal guitarists. The Sky guitar's pickups are custom 4-coil humbuckers made by John Oram, with one guitar having an Oram pickup hidden under the 24th fret. The guitars named 'Mighty Wing' and 'Destiny' have 7 strings and the others have 6 strings. The 7th string is a low B. Roth preferred amplifier is currently the Framus Dragon, and he uses a stalk mounted Vibesware guitar resonator (sustainer) to introduce infinite sustain during solos both live, and on the song "Benediction" from "Under a Dark Sky".
album, he began incorporating elements from European classical music including pedal tone oriented riffs and licks, as well as sweep picking. This style became his signature beginning with Electric Sun where his solos became much more technical and classically influenced. Most notable in songs like "Cast Away Your Chains" and "Still So Many Lives Away". Overall, he tends to combine the bluesier, more classic rock oriented style with the more technical side. He mostly uses scales like major and minor pentatonic, the blues scale, phrygian, harmonic minor, diminished, and the whole tone scale(notably in his famous "Sails Of Charon" solo).
who had previously been Jimi Hendrix's girlfriend when he died. Roth and Danneman collaborated together on various songs including ‘We'll Burn the Sky’ from the Scorpions’ Taken by Force
album in 1977.
Danneman also painted the album sleeves for all three of the releases by Electric Sun.
In 1996 Monika Dannemann was convicted of breaking a British High Court order not to repeat allegations that Kathy Etchingham was an "inveterate liar" for accusing her of playing a role in Jimi Hendrix's death. Etchingham asked the judge to jail Dannemann but she was released. Two days later Monika Dannemann was found dead in a fume-filled Mercedes-Benz
near her cottage in Seaford
, East Sussex
, aged 50. Her death was ruled a suicide
, but Roth publicly stated his opinion that her passing had been the result of foul play. Roth dedicated later works to the memory of Dannemann.
Roth is a Christian.
, Yngwie Malmsteen, Kirk Hammett
, Joe Stump
, Gus G, Andy DiGelsomina
, Michael Romeo
, James Byrd
, Alex Masi
, Michael Amott
, and Chris Amott.
With Electric Sun
Solo and classical works (released)
Solo and classical works (unreleased)
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
and one of the earliest contributors to the neo-classical metal
Neo-classical metal
Neo-classical metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music that is heavily influenced by classical music. It refers to a very technical performanceExact quote from the french text: "L'arrivée du néoclassique remet au goût du jour la virtuosité et le travail de l'instrument", « Les secrets du metal-...
genre. He is also the founder of Sky Academy
Sky academy
Sky Academy is the title given to guitar innovator Uli Jon Roth's tuition seminars and concerts.Sky Academy was first established in May 2006, at the Ralph Freud Theater at the University Campus of Los Angeles....
and inventor of the Sky Guitar. He is the older brother of fellow guitarist and artist Zeno Roth
Zeno Roth
Zeno Roth is a German guitarist and songwriter, playing in a fluent neoclassical/blues style. He is the younger brother of acclaimed guitarist Uli Jon Roth of Scorpions.Zeno Roth is also a poet and writer...
.
Career
In the early 1970s, Roth formed a band called Dawn Road. In 1973, guitarist Michael SchenkerMichael Schenker
Michael Schenker is a German rock guitarist, best known for his tenure in UFO, in addition to his solo band. He first rose to fame as a founding member of the Scorpions, then achieved fame in the mid 1970s as the lead guitar player for UFO. Since leaving UFO in 1978, he has been leading the...
left the Scorpions
Scorpions (band)
Scorpions are a heavy metal/hard rock band from Hannover, Germany, formed in 1965 by guitarist Rudolf Schenker, who is the band's only constant member. They are known for their 1980s rock anthem "Rock You Like a Hurricane" and many singles, such as "No One Like You", "Send Me an Angel", "Still...
to join UFO
UFO (band)
UFO are an English heavy metal and hard rock band, who were formed in 1969. UFO became a transitional group between early hard rock and heavy metal and the New Wave of British Heavy Metal...
and the group disbanded. The two remaining Scorpions members, Rudolf Schenker
Rudolf Schenker
Rudolf Schenker is a German guitarist and founding member of heavy metal band Scorpions, being the rhythm/lead guitarist and one of the main song-writers of the band...
and Klaus Meine
Klaus Meine
Klaus Meine is a German singer, best known as the lead vocalist and occasional rhythm guitarist of the heavy metal band Scorpions...
merged with the four members of Dawn Road, (Uli Jon Roth, Achim Kirschning, Francis Buchholz, Jürgen Rosenthal) using the name Scorpions as they were more well known than Dawn Road.
During his tenure as lead guitarist, main songwriter and occasional lead singer for the Scorpions, the band released four studio albums between 1974 and 1977. In 1978, the Scorpions released the live album Tokyo Tapes
Tokyo Tapes (album)
Tokyo Tapes is a live album by German heavy metal band Scorpions."Tokyo Tapes" was Scorpions' first live album, recorded at Nakano Sun Plaza on April 24 and 27, during the band's Japanese tour in 1978....
, which was recorded in Japan and sold nearly one million copies and went gold in several countries. However, Roth had left the band before the album’s release.
Roth formed his own band named Electric Sun
Electric Sun
Electric Sun was a music group formed by Uli Jon Roth after his departure from the Scorpions in 1978. They recorded three albums between 1979 and 1985....
which released three albums. The first, Earthquake
Earthquake (album)
Earthquake is the first album from Uli Jon Roth's Electric Sun band. It was released in 1979 by Metronome GmbH.-Track listing:* All compositions by Uli Roth# Electric Sun 5:16# Lilac 2:49# Burning Wheels Turning 6:41# Japanese Dream 3:52...
(1979), was dedicated to the spirit of Jimi Hendrix. A second album released two years later, Fire Wind
Fire Wind
Fire Wind is the second album released by Uli Roth's Electric Sun band. It was released in 1980 by Metronome GmbH.-Track listing:*All compositions by Uli Roth# Cast Away Your Chains 3:56# Indian Dawn 5:16# I'll Be Loving You Always 5:00...
(1981), was dedicated to Anwar el-Sadat (the assassinated President of Egypt who had tried to make peace in the Middle East), and featured a song called "Enola Gay" about the atomic bombing of Japan.
In 1985, Roth released his third and final Electric Sun album, Beyond the Astral Skies
Beyond the Astral Skies
Beyond the Astral Skies is the third and final album from Uli Jon Roth's Electric Sun band. It was released in 1985 on EMI.-Track listing:* All songs composed by Uli Jon Roth# The Night the Master Comes 4:16# What Is Love? 3:24# Why? 4:51...
, dedicated to Martin Luther King and to Roth's fans.
After Electric Sun, Roth entered a new phase of creative work, composing four symphonies and two concertos, and sometimes performing with symphony orchestras throughout Europe. Roth used the name ‘Uli Jon Roth’ for all subsequent album releases and concert appearances.
The G3
G3 (tour)
G3 is a concert tour organized by guitarist Joe Satriani featuring him alongside two other guitarists. Since its inception in 1996, G3 has toured most years and has featured many guitarists, including Steve Vai , Eric Johnson, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Yngwie Malmsteen, John Petrucci, Robert Fripp,...
European tour of 1998 featured Roth playing with Joe Satriani
Joe Satriani
Joseph "Joe" Satriani is an American instrumental rock guitarist and multi-instrumentalist, with multiple Grammy Award nominations...
and Michael Schenker
Michael Schenker
Michael Schenker is a German rock guitarist, best known for his tenure in UFO, in addition to his solo band. He first rose to fame as a founding member of the Scorpions, then achieved fame in the mid 1970s as the lead guitar player for UFO. Since leaving UFO in 1978, he has been leading the...
. The tour show at London Wembley Arena also featured a jam with Brian May
Brian May
Brian Harold May, CBE is an English musician and astrophysicist most widely known as the guitarist and a songwriter of the rock band Queen...
.
Roth played at the outdoor rock festival at Castle Donington
Castle Donington
Castle Donington is a village, with a population of around 7000 in the North West of Leicestershire, part of the Derby postcode area and on the edge of the National Forest. It is the closest town to East Midlands Airport.-Transport and housing:...
in 2001 (also featuring original Scorpions lead guitarist Michael Schenker
Michael Schenker
Michael Schenker is a German rock guitarist, best known for his tenure in UFO, in addition to his solo band. He first rose to fame as a founding member of the Scorpions, then achieved fame in the mid 1970s as the lead guitar player for UFO. Since leaving UFO in 1978, he has been leading the...
on the bill), and this was filmed and subsequently released on DVD.
Roth appeared in concert with the Scorpions onstage at the Wacken Open Air Festival in 2006 along with two other former members of the band. Billed as “A Night To Remember, A Journey Through Time”, the Scorpions played four songs from the Roth era, most of which they hadn’t played live since Roth had left in 1978. The concert was filmed and released on DVD.
Although this was meant to be a ‘one night only’ special event, its success meant that the format was repeated on several tours afterwards.
On 2 June 2007 at the Rock am Ring festival
Rock am Ring
The Rock am Ring and Rock im Park festivals are two simultaneous rock music festivals held annually in Germany....
in Germany, Roth joined The Smashing Pumpkins
The Smashing Pumpkins
The Smashing Pumpkins are an American alternative rock band that formed in Chicago, Illinois in 1988. Formed by Billy Corgan frontman and James Iha , the band has included Jimmy Chamberlin , D'arcy Wretzky , and currently includes Jeff Schroeder Mike Byrne , and Nicole Fiorentino The Smashing...
on stage for their epic closing song "Gossamer". He made another appearance with the Pumpkins upon their return to Germany on 26 February 2008.
In 2007, Roth had begun working on a new full-length studio album, which was to be released the following year. The title of the album would be "Under A Dark Sky" and was going to be the first official release in the long-awaited series of Symphonic Legends - a cycle of music written by Uli for his all-encompassing Sky of Avalon project.
Roth first debuted songs from "Under A Dark Sky" on 18 July 2008 in his headline set at the G-TARanaki Guitar Festival
G-TARanaki Guitar Festival
GTaranaki also known as G-TARanaki was New Zealand's first international guitar festival held in New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand annually from July 2008. The week long festival brings some of worlds best guitarists to Taranaki to perform, educate and inspire Kiwi guitarists and music fans...
in New Zealand, Roth's debut concert in the country. In the week previous Roth had taken his "Sky Academy" tuition classes to regional Taranaki towns in Waitara
Waitara, New Zealand
Waitara is the name of a town and a river in the northern part of the Taranaki Region of the North Island of New Zealand. Waitara is located just off State Highway 3, 15 km northeast of New Plymouth....
, Inglewood
Inglewood, New Zealand
Inglewood is a town in the Taranaki Region of New Zealand's North Island. The population was 3,090 in the 2006 Census, an increase of 144 from 2001. Inglewood lies 200m above sea level....
and Opunake
Opunake
Opunake is a small town on the southwest coast of Taranaki in New Zealand's North Island. It is located 45 kilometres southwest of New Plymouth. Rahotu is 16 km to the northwest. Manaia is 29 km to the southeast. State Highway 45 passes through the town.The population was 1368 in the...
with guests Vernon Reid
Vernon Reid
Vernon Reid is an English-born American guitarist, songwriter, composer, and bandleader. Best known as the founder and primary songwriter of the heavy metal band Living Colour, Reid was named #66 on Rolling Stone magazine's 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.Critic Steve Huey writes, "[Reid's]...
and Gilby Clarke
Gilby Clarke
Gilbert "Gilby" Clarke is an American guitarist and record producer best known for a 3-year tenure as the rhythm guitarist of Guns N' Roses, replacing Izzy Stradlin in 1991 during the Use Your Illusion Tour...
.
"Under A Dark Sky" was released in Japan on 20 August 2008 via Marquee records. The European and USA releases followed a month later on 20 September 2008 on the SPV record label.
Sky guitars
In the 1980s, Roth commissioned construction of custom guitars with additional frets from master luthierLuthier
A luthier is someone who makes or repairs lutes and other string instruments. In the United States, the term is used interchangeably with a term for the specialty of each maker, such as violinmaker, guitar maker, lute maker, etc...
Andreas Demetriou. Andreas developed the concept adding many unique specifications. Uli Jon Roth has had five of these "Sky" guitars handcrafted by the British luthier. To be able to emulate the high notes of a violin, all of the Sky Guitars contain extra frets. The first Sky Guitar (used on the album Beyond the Astral Skies) has 30 frets. Later versions of the Sky Guitar overcame the problem of the higher register frets becoming too narrow by widening the frets by whole steps for the highest notes. In an April 2001 Guitar Player Magazine interview, Roth reports that the guitars are either fretless above the 30th fret or have whole step fret spacing above the 27th fret, with 35 effective (half step) frets. All of the Sky guitars with frets have extensive fretboard scalloping as is favored by Swedish guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen (who was influenced greatly by Roth) and many neoclassical metal guitarists. The Sky guitar's pickups are custom 4-coil humbuckers made by John Oram, with one guitar having an Oram pickup hidden under the 24th fret. The guitars named 'Mighty Wing' and 'Destiny' have 7 strings and the others have 6 strings. The 7th string is a low B. Roth preferred amplifier is currently the Framus Dragon, and he uses a stalk mounted Vibesware guitar resonator (sustainer) to introduce infinite sustain during solos both live, and on the song "Benediction" from "Under a Dark Sky".
Playing style
In Roth's early days with Scorpions, his soloing style was more blues based but with notes from other scales thrown in here and there. By the time the band recorded the Virgin KillerVirgin Killer
Virgin Killer is the fourth studio album by the German heavy metal band Scorpions. It was released in 1976 and was the first album of the band to attract attention outside Europe. The title is described as being a reference to time as the killer of innocence. The original cover featured a nude...
album, he began incorporating elements from European classical music including pedal tone oriented riffs and licks, as well as sweep picking. This style became his signature beginning with Electric Sun where his solos became much more technical and classically influenced. Most notable in songs like "Cast Away Your Chains" and "Still So Many Lives Away". Overall, he tends to combine the bluesier, more classic rock oriented style with the more technical side. He mostly uses scales like major and minor pentatonic, the blues scale, phrygian, harmonic minor, diminished, and the whole tone scale(notably in his famous "Sails Of Charon" solo).
Personal life
Roth was romantically involved with artist Monika DannemannMonika Dannemann
Monika Dannemann was a German figure skater and painter, mainly known as the last girlfriend of US rock guitarist/singer Jimi Hendrix and later the wife of german guitarist Uli Jon Roth.-Figure skating:...
who had previously been Jimi Hendrix's girlfriend when he died. Roth and Danneman collaborated together on various songs including ‘We'll Burn the Sky’ from the Scorpions’ Taken by Force
Taken by Force
Note that most versions of this album feature an edited version of 'The Sails of Charon'. The editing removes a "psychedelic" like sound-effects introduction. The intro doesn't actually contain any music performed by the band...
album in 1977.
Danneman also painted the album sleeves for all three of the releases by Electric Sun.
In 1996 Monika Dannemann was convicted of breaking a British High Court order not to repeat allegations that Kathy Etchingham was an "inveterate liar" for accusing her of playing a role in Jimi Hendrix's death. Etchingham asked the judge to jail Dannemann but she was released. Two days later Monika Dannemann was found dead in a fume-filled Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. Mercedes-Benz is a division of its parent company, Daimler AG...
near her cottage in Seaford
Seaford, East Sussex
Seaford is a coastal town in the county of East Sussex, on the south coast of England. Lying east of Newhaven and Brighton and west of Eastbourne, it is the largest town in Lewes district, with a population of about 23,000....
, East Sussex
East Sussex
East Sussex is a county in South East England. It is bordered by the counties of Kent, Surrey and West Sussex, and to the south by the English Channel.-History:...
, aged 50. Her death was ruled a suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
, but Roth publicly stated his opinion that her passing had been the result of foul play. Roth dedicated later works to the memory of Dannemann.
Roth is a Christian.
Influence
Roth has been on the covers of many guitar magazines and has influenced many notable guitar players, including Marty FriedmanMarty Friedman
Marty Friedman may refer to:* Marty Friedman , musician* Marty Friedman , basketball player and coach-See also:*Martin Freedman, Canadian judge*Martin Freeman...
, Yngwie Malmsteen, Kirk Hammett
Kirk Hammett
Kirk Lee Hammett is the lead guitarist and a songwriter in the heavy metal band Metallica and has been a member of the band since 1983. Before joining Metallica he formed and named the band Exodus. In 2003, Hammett was ranked 11th on Rolling Stones list of The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time...
, Joe Stump
Joe Stump
Joe Stump is an American guitarist and composer. He plays neo-classical metal, in a style similar to that of Yngwie Malmsteen. He has released albums with his band, Reign of Terror, and as a solo artist. He also plays the lead guitar for the symphonic metal band HolyHell...
, Gus G, Andy DiGelsomina
Andy DiGelsomina
Andy DiGelsomina is a composer, lyricist, and guitarist. He came to prominence working with internationally acclaimed vocalists Graham Bonnet, Veronica Freeman, and Tommy Heart for his heavy metal opera, Lyraka...
, Michael Romeo
Michael Romeo
Since 2005, Romeo has taken advantage of a new custom model, Caparison Dellinger II - Michael Romeo Custom, which he used to record the Symphony X album Paradise Lost...
, James Byrd
James Byrd
James Byrd may refer to:*James W. Byrd , Wyoming State Representative*James Byrd, Jr., African-American murder victim*James Byrd , American metal guitarist*Sgt. James Byrd, A flying penguin in the Spyro the Dragon series...
, Alex Masi
Alex Masi
Alex Masi is an Italian guitarist.He was born in Venice, and studied at the Conservatory of Music in Verona. He formed the heavy rock band Dark Lord in 1984 and recorded two EPs with them...
, Michael Amott
Michael Amott
Michael Amott is a Swedish guitarist, songwriter, founding member of the bands Arch Enemy, Spiritual Beggars, and Carnage, as well as a member of the death metal band Carcass. He is the older brother of Christopher Amott...
, and Chris Amott.
Discography
With Scorpions- Fly to the RainbowFly to the Rainbow-Personnel:Scorpions*Klaus Meine – lead vocals*Ulrich Roth – lead guitar, backing vocals, lead vocals on "Drifting Sun" and co lead-vocals in "Fly To The Rainbow"...
(1974) - Guitar, vocals - In TranceIn Trance-Personnel:* Klaus Meine – lead vocals* Ulrich Roth – lead guitar, backing vocals, lead vocals on "Dark Lady" and "Sun In My Hand"* Rudolf Schenker – rhythm guitar, backing vocals* Francis Buchholz – bass guitar, backing vocals* Rudy Lenners – drums, percussion...
(1975) - Guitar, vocals - Virgin KillerVirgin KillerVirgin Killer is the fourth studio album by the German heavy metal band Scorpions. It was released in 1976 and was the first album of the band to attract attention outside Europe. The title is described as being a reference to time as the killer of innocence. The original cover featured a nude...
(1976) - Guitar, vocals - Taken by ForceTaken by ForceNote that most versions of this album feature an edited version of 'The Sails of Charon'. The editing removes a "psychedelic" like sound-effects introduction. The intro doesn't actually contain any music performed by the band...
(1977) - Guitar, vocals - Tokyo TapesTokyo Tapes (album)Tokyo Tapes is a live album by German heavy metal band Scorpions."Tokyo Tapes" was Scorpions' first live album, recorded at Nakano Sun Plaza on April 24 and 27, during the band's Japanese tour in 1978....
(live recording, 1978) - Guitar, vocals
With Electric Sun
- EarthquakeEarthquake (album)Earthquake is the first album from Uli Jon Roth's Electric Sun band. It was released in 1979 by Metronome GmbH.-Track listing:* All compositions by Uli Roth# Electric Sun 5:16# Lilac 2:49# Burning Wheels Turning 6:41# Japanese Dream 3:52...
(1979) - Guitar, vocals - Fire WindFire WindFire Wind is the second album released by Uli Roth's Electric Sun band. It was released in 1980 by Metronome GmbH.-Track listing:*All compositions by Uli Roth# Cast Away Your Chains 3:56# Indian Dawn 5:16# I'll Be Loving You Always 5:00...
(1981) - Guitar, vocals - Beyond the Astral SkiesBeyond the Astral SkiesBeyond the Astral Skies is the third and final album from Uli Jon Roth's Electric Sun band. It was released in 1985 on EMI.-Track listing:* All songs composed by Uli Jon Roth# The Night the Master Comes 4:16# What Is Love? 3:24# Why? 4:51...
(1985) - Lead/harmony vocals, guitar, keyboard, bass
Solo and classical works (released)
- 1991 - Aquila Suite - 12 Arpeggio Concert Etudes for Solo PianoAquila Suite - 12 Arpeggio Concert Etudes for Solo PianoAquila Suite - 12 Arpeggio Concert Études for Solo Piano was a music project by Ulrich Roth composed for solo piano, or two pianos. It was written in the summer of 1991, and recorded at Sky Studio Seaford in 1991, but unreleased until 1998. All piano music performed and sequenced on Kurzweil...
- 1996 - Sky of Avalon - Prologue to the Symphonic LegendsSky of Avalon - Prologue to the Symphonic LegendsSky of Avalon – Prologue to the Symphonic Legends , a music project by Uli Jon Roth, was produced at Sky Studios, Earl's Farm - Autumn 1995. "Starlight" and "Winds of War" - 1992 produced at Sky Studios, Seaford. Released in 1996 in Japan and Europe, finally reaching the U.S...
(with Sky Orchestra) - 2000 - Transcendental Sky GuitarTranscendental Sky GuitarTranscendental Sky Guitar is a music project by Uli Jon Roth. It was recorded in various locations throughout 1998-2000 and was released in September 2000. It is dedicated to the memory of Monika Dannemann.-Track listing:Disc One - Vol...
Vol. I & II - 2003 - Metamorphosis of Vivaldi's Four SeasonsMetamorphosis of Vivaldi's Four SeasonsMetaporphosis of Vivaldi's Four Seasons is a musical piece featuring guitarist Uli Jon Roth's interpretation of 'Antonio Vivaldi's work The Four Seasons, in a rock-classical fusion. The album also includes a new concerto, "Metamorphosis". "Metamorphosis" is separated into 24 tracks bridged by...
(with Sky Orchestra) - 2008 - Under A Dark SkyUnder A Dark SkyUnder A Dark Sky is a progressive rock album by Uli Jon Roth, featuring Mark Boals and Liz Vandall on vocals. It marks the first official release in the long-awaited series of Symphonic Legends, which is a cycle of music written for Roth's all-encompassing Sky of Avalon project.Mark Boals has...
(Sky of Avalon)
Solo and classical works (unreleased)
- 1987 - Sky Concerto
- 1992 - Europa ex Favilla (symphony)
- 1994 - Hiroshima de Profundis (symphony)
- 1996/97/98 - Requiem for an Angel (dedicated to the memory of Monika DannemannMonika DannemannMonika Dannemann was a German figure skater and painter, mainly known as the last girlfriend of US rock guitarist/singer Jimi Hendrix and later the wife of german guitarist Uli Jon Roth.-Figure skating:...
)
Videography
- 2000 - The Electric Sun Years Vol. I & IIThe Electric Sun Years Vol. I & IIThe Electric Sun Years Vol I & II is a DVD by Uli Jon Roth. It was released in 2002 and features archive footage of the early years of his band Electric Sun.-Track listing:Electric Sun era I*Amsterdam 1979/1980# Lilac 1:34# Electric Sun 5:12...
(in the Historical Performances series) - 2002 - Legends Of Rock: Live At Castle DoningtonLegends of Rock at Castle DoningtonLegends Of Rock: Live At Castle Donington is a DVD released by Uli Jon Roth. It features Uli's headlining show at Castle Donington in 2001, along with his special guests Michael Schenker, Phil Mogg and Pete Way from UFO, and Jack Bruce from Cream...
- 2006 - Scorpions Reunion at Wacken Festival in Germany
Notable public appearances
- 1991 - Live TV Concert at E-Werk, Cologne "The Spirit of Jimi Hendrix" with Jack Bruce, Simon Phillips, Randy Hansen, John Wetton, Michael Flexig, Zeno and others
- 1993 - Symphonic Rock For Europe - 3 hour concert with Brussels Symphony Orchestra and choir, performing Roth's first symphony "Europa Ex Favilla" and other pieces. The show featured 4 Rock singers: John Parr, Tommy Heart, Michael Flexig, Peter Goalby. Broadcast by German TV.
- 1998 - G3 Concert Tour in Europe with Joe SatrianiJoe SatrianiJoseph "Joe" Satriani is an American instrumental rock guitarist and multi-instrumentalist, with multiple Grammy Award nominations...
and Michael SchenkerMichael SchenkerMichael Schenker is a German rock guitarist, best known for his tenure in UFO, in addition to his solo band. He first rose to fame as a founding member of the Scorpions, then achieved fame in the mid 1970s as the lead guitar player for UFO. Since leaving UFO in 1978, he has been leading the...
(jam with Brian May at London Wembley Arena) - 1998 - G3 Concert at Monsters of Rock - Turin, Italy
- 2000 - October. Performance of VivaldiAntonio VivaldiAntonio Lucio Vivaldi , nicknamed because of his red hair, was an Italian Baroque composer, priest, and virtuoso violinist, born in Venice. Vivaldi is recognized as one of the greatest Baroque composers, and his influence during his lifetime was widespread over Europe...
's Four SeasonsThe Four Seasons (Vivaldi)The Four Seasons is a set of four violin concertos by Antonio Vivaldi. Composed in 1723, The Four Seasons is Vivaldi's best-known work, and is among the most popular pieces of Baroque music. The texture of each concerto is varied, each resembling its respective season...
and Transcendental Sky Guitar (with Detmold Chamber OrchestraDetmold Chamber OrchestraThe Detmolder Kammerorchester is a German chamber orchestra based in Detmold. The current music director is German-Chilean pianist Alfredo Perl. The primary concert venue of the orchestra is the Konzerthaus Detmold. Eckhard Fischer formed the ensemble in 1989, from musicians of the Hochschule für...
) - 2001 - First Japanese Roth tour since 1978. (May)
- 2001 - Legends of Rock Concert at Castle Donington. Played with Jack Bruce, UFO, Michael Schenker. (June 23)
- 2002 - Legends of Rock Tour of 13 UK venues with Frank Marino, Jack Bruce, Glenn Hughes
- 2004 - First US tour (19 dates) since 1985. Co-head-lining with Michael Schenker. (August–September)
- 2004 - Jamming onstage with Deep Purple at Cardiff International Arena
- 2005 - Scorpions reunion with Roth in France. (September)
- 2006 - Jamming with Deep Purple at Max Schmeling Halle, Berlin
- 2006 - First U.S.A. tour as headliner since 1985
- 2006 - Three Sky AcademySky academySky Academy is the title given to guitar innovator Uli Jon Roth's tuition seminars and concerts.Sky Academy was first established in May 2006, at the Ralph Freud Theater at the University Campus of Los Angeles....
Concerts at UCLA Los Angeles - Roth taught his approach to the guitar and to music. "Uli Jon Roth and Friends" concerts were part of the Academy. Roth performed with guests including Jeff Scott Soto, Chris Impellitteri, Joe Stump, Graham Bonnett, Robbie Krieger and many others - 2006 - Scorpions Reunion at Wacken Festival in Germany (July)
- 2007 - With The Smashing PumpkinsThe Smashing PumpkinsThe Smashing Pumpkins are an American alternative rock band that formed in Chicago, Illinois in 1988. Formed by Billy Corgan frontman and James Iha , the band has included Jimmy Chamberlin , D'arcy Wretzky , and currently includes Jeff Schroeder Mike Byrne , and Nicole Fiorentino The Smashing...
at the two Rock am Ring and Rock im Park festivals performing their 28-minute epic song Gossamer - 2007 - With Scorpions at Paris, Nantes, Dijon, Rouen - France. (May)
- 2007 - With Scorpions at Sweden Rock Festival. (9 June)
- 2007 - With Scorpions at Karaiskaki Stadium in Athens - Joe Cocker as support (18 June)
- 2007 - With Scorpions, London, Manchester. (July)
- 2007 - Two Sky Academy Concerts and seminar at the Hollywood MI - with Paul Gilbert, Robbie Krieger, Johnny Hiland and others. (August)
- 2008 - With Smashing Pumpkins (Billy Corgan) at Hamburg Colour Line Arena (February)
- 2008 - Sky academySky academySky Academy is the title given to guitar innovator Uli Jon Roth's tuition seminars and concerts.Sky Academy was first established in May 2006, at the Ralph Freud Theater at the University Campus of Los Angeles....
New Zealand at the G-TARanaki Guitar FestivalG-TARanaki Guitar FestivalGTaranaki also known as G-TARanaki was New Zealand's first international guitar festival held in New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand annually from July 2008. The week long festival brings some of worlds best guitarists to Taranaki to perform, educate and inspire Kiwi guitarists and music fans...
- UJR appears with his new band Sky Of Avalon (special guests: Gilby Clarke, Vernon Reid, Alex Skolnik) - 2008 - With AvantasiaAvantasiaAvantasia is a heavy metal project created by Tobias Sammet, vocalist and frontman of the band Edguy. The project's title is a portmanteau of the words "avalon" and "fantasia" and describes "a world beyond human imagination"...
(Tobias Sammet) at Wacken Open Air Festival. (1 August) - 2008 - With Sky of Avalon in North America. (September–October)
- 2008 - With Scorpions, London, Manchester, Newcastle, Glasgow, Southampton and Wolverhampton, Strasbourg. (October 2008)
- 2008 - With Sky of Avalon in Japan. (November)
- 2010 - Uli John Roth jams with Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash, bass player Tony Franklin and drummer Brent Fitz on the "Midnight Session" of the 2010 Gtaranaki Festival in New Plymouth, New Zealand, on August 15. Uli John and Slash play at least three songs together: "Little Wing", "Communication Breakdown" and "Sunshine of Your Love".
- 2011 - Uli John Roth plays two sets on the 70,000 Tons of Metal floating heavy metal festival with an impressive line-up of 41 other bands. (January 2011)