There are moments in every music fan’s life when certain albums pass you by — not because you don’t love the artist, but because life intervenes.
This new 4CD box set, Bad Boys – The McAuley Schenker Group Story 1987–1992, released via HNE Recordings (Cherry Red), gave me the perfect opportunity to revisit a period of Michael Schenker’s career that I largely leapfrogged at the time.
As a lifelong fan of UFO and the early Michael Schenker Group material, I absolutely adore Schenker’s playing. But this late 80s/early 90s era? For me, it coincided with two periods in life when buying music dropped down the priority list — first when I was trying to make it as a musician myself, and later in the early 90s when mortgages and family life quite rightly came first.
So coming back to this era now has been a genuine voyage of discovery.
What’s in the Box?
This set gathers four key releases:
- Perfect Timing (1987)
- Save Yourself (1989)
- MSG (1991)
- Unplugged Live (1992)
The CDs replicate the original sleeves and are accompanied by a detailed booklet featuring an insightful essay, period photography (yes… the hairstyles!), single sleeves and bonus tracks — including edits and B-sides, particularly on Save Yourself.
It’s a beautifully presented snapshot of this chapter in Schenker’s career — and importantly, of vocalist Robin McAuley’s contribution.
The Line-Up
Across these albums, the core line-up featured:
- Michael Schenker – Guitar
- Robin McAuley – Lead Vocals
- Steve Mann – Guitar / Keyboards (whom I’ve interviewed on the podcast)
- Rocky Newton – Bass (Perfect Timing)
- Chris Glen – Bass (Save Yourself / MSG)
- Bodo Schopf – Drums (Perfect Timing)
- James Kottak – Drums (Save Yourself / MSG)
This was a polished, arena-ready band — and listening back now, you can hear the ambition in every chorus and guitar break.
Perfect Timing (1987)
I’ll be honest — I had preconceived ideas before pressing play.
I expected glossy late-80s production and perhaps songwriting that leaned too heavily into American radio rock.
What I got instead was a collection of superbly crafted melodic hard rock songs.
Track after track delivers soaring choruses, tight arrangements and, of course, Schenker’s fluid, lyrical guitar playing. There genuinely isn’t a weak track on this album. It’s cohesive, confident and packed with hooks.
How did I miss this?
Save Yourself (1989)
The second album opens with a blistering guitar statement clearly designed to showcase Schenker’s firepower.
Interestingly, that particular track — despite its jaw-dropping solo — is probably the one I feel least connected to. It feels slightly forced compared to the natural flow of the rest of the material.
Beyond that? It’s outstanding.
There’s a definite kinship here with Scorpions — particularly in the ballads and the polished European hard rock feel. Even Sue commented while listening, “Is that the Scorpions?”
No — but you can hear that melodic DNA.
This album absolutely delivers. Anthemic, radio-ready, yet musically strong.
MSG (1991)
By the third album, the band sound supremely confident.
It’s slick — yes — but not sterile. The songwriting remains strong, the choruses memorable, and Schenker’s playing is as expressive as ever.
If you love 80s melodic hard rock, this era absolutely deserves re-evaluation.
Unplugged (1992)
The early 90s were the era of MTV Unplugged. Some bands flourished in that format. Others… not so much.
I’ll admit, I approached this disc cautiously. Songs built around riffs and big drums don’t always translate well to an acoustic setting.
But here’s the surprise: it works.
Even classics like “Doctor Doctor” (from Schenker’s UFO era) translate beautifully. And much of that success is down to Robin McAuley’s vocals.
Robin McAuley – The Perfect Voice?
Michael Schenker has worked with some fine vocalists:
- Gary Barden
- Graham Bonnet
- And, of course, Phil Mogg in UFO
But listening through this box set, I have to say:
Robin McAuley might just be the perfect foil for Schenker during this era.
His voice is powerful, melodic, emotive — and across these four discs, he sings his heart out. The acoustic material especially highlights his control and warmth.
A Voyage of Discovery
This box set has done exactly what a great retrospective should do:
It filled a gap in my musical journey.
It reminded me that sometimes the albums we miss — for whatever reason — are waiting patiently for rediscovery.
If you’re a fan of Michael Schenker, melodic 80s hard rock, or that late 80s European/American crossover sound, this is essential listening.
And for me personally?
This has been one of those moments where you realise you skipped something special the first time around.
ORDER THE MSG BAD BOYS BOX SET HERE
Phil Aston | Now Spinning Magazine
