UFO (band)

Not to be confused with UTFO.
This article is about the British rock band. For the American rock band, see the Unidentified Flying Objects. For the British R&B group, see UFO (R&B group).

UFO
UFO performing in 2015
UFO performing in 2015
Background information
OriginLondon, England
Genres
DiscographyUFO discography
Years active
  • 1968–1983
  • 1984–1989
  • 1991–2024
Labels
Past members
Websiteufo-music.info

UFO were an English rock band formed in London in 1968.[3][4] They became a transitional group between early hard rock and heavy metal and the new wave of British heavy metal. The band's final lineup consisted of vocalist Phil Mogg, lead guitarist Vinnie Moore, rhythm guitarist and keyboardist Neil Carter, bass guitarist Rob De Luca, and drummer Andy Parker. They had gone through several line-up changes, leaving Mogg as the only constant member, and had disbanded three times (first between April 1983 and October 1984, second from 1989 to 1991 and third in 2024). The band's classic line-up comprised Mogg, Parker, bassist Pete Way, keyboardist Paul Raymond and former Scorpions guitarist Michael Schenker. In May 2018, Mogg announced that he would retire from UFO after one last tour as a member of the band in 2019;[4][5] however, their farewell tour was set to conclude in 2022 before it was cancelled, due to Mogg's health issues.[6][7] Mogg confirmed UFO's third disbandment in April 2024.[8]

Over a career spanning five decades, UFO had released 23 studio albums (including one album of cover songs), 14 live albums and 16 compilation albums. They achieved moderate success in the late 1970s and early 1980s with several albums and singles (including their 1979 live album Strangers in the Night) in the UK and US Top 40 charts,[9][10] and have sold over 20 million records worldwide.[11] Some of their most-recognised songs include "Doctor Doctor", "Rock Bottom", "Natural Thing", "Lights Out", "Too Hot to Handle" and "Only You Can Rock Me".[5] UFO are considered one of the greatest classic hard rock acts,[12] and often cited as one of the key influences on the 1980s and 1990s hard rock and heavy metal scenes.[5] The band were ranked number 84 on VH1's "100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock".[13]

  1. ^ Prown, Pete; Newquist, HP (1 January 1997). Legends of Rock Guitar: The Essential Reference of Rock's Greatest Guitarists. Hal Leonard Corporation. ISBN 9780793540426. Retrieved 14 February 2017 – via Google Books.
  2. ^ Dave Pehling "CBS SF Talks To UFO Guitarist Vinnie Moore" "CBS SF Bay Area", 11 March 2017
  3. ^ Strong, Martin C. (2000). The Great Rock Discography (5th ed.). Edinburgh: Mojo Books. pp. 1014–1016. ISBN 1-84195-017-3.
  4. ^ a b "UFO's PHIL MOGG To Step Down After 50th-Anniversary Tour: 'This Is The Right Time For Me To Quit'". Blabbermouth.net. 28 May 2018. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
  5. ^ a b c "Phil Mogg: I Am Leaving UFO". Ultimate-Guitar.com. 29 May 2018. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  6. ^ "UFO - Announce 2022 European Tour Dates". Metal Storm. 4 June 2021. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  7. ^ "Phil Mogg suffers heart attack. Farewell tour in October 2022 cancelled ahead of schedule". Ufo-music.info. 1 September 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  8. ^ "How UFO Aimed for the Stars With 'Lights Out'". ultimateclassicrock.com. 13 April 2024. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  9. ^ "Artist Chart History – UFO". Billboard charts. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  10. ^ "UFO Discography". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  11. ^ "UFO – Seven Deadly". Spincds.com. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  12. ^ "Lights Out (Discontinued)". Soundstagedirect.com. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  13. ^ "The Greatest | Show Cast, Episodes, Guides, Trailers, Web Exclusives, Previews". VH1.com. Archived from the original on 16 March 2009. Retrieved 28 June 2014.