Ep 604 Uli Jon Roth on touring the USA, having Synesthesia, painting plus lots of new music coming !
Uli Jon Roth is a German guitarist, composer, and visionary best known for his groundbreaking work with the Scorpions in the 1970s and for pioneering a neo-classical approach to rock guitar. Born on December 18, 1954, in Düsseldorf, Germany, Roth joined the Scorpions in 1973, helping shape their early sound on albums such as Fly to the Rainbow (1974), In Trance (1975), Virgin Killer (1976), and Taken by Force (1977). His emotive phrasing, fluid bends, and extended melodic solos set him apart from his contemporaries, influencing generations of guitarists including Yngwie Malmsteen, Kirk Hammett, and Steve Vai. Roth’s classical leanings and improvisational flair brought a sense of artistry and spirituality to the hard rock landscape of the time.After leaving the Scorpions in 1978, Roth formed his own band, Electric Sun, which became the platform for him to explore a more personal and philosophical form of music. Albums such as Earthquake (1979), Fire Wind (1981), and Beyond the Astral Skies (1985) blended Hendrix-inspired rock with symphonic and spiritual elements, showcasing his evolution from guitar hero to musical poet. His lyrics and themes often touched on mysticism, universal consciousness, and the search for enlightenment—concepts that would define much of his later work.Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Roth expanded beyond rock, composing orchestral works and developing his own instrument, the Sky Guitar, which extends the range of a traditional electric guitar to encompass violin-like tones. This innovation allowed him to perform complex classical pieces alongside rock compositions, bridging two worlds few musicians had combined so seamlessly. His projects such as Metamorphosis of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and Under a Dark Sky demonstrated his ambition to merge classical grandeur with electric intensity.In the decades since, Uli Jon Roth has remained a respected figure in both rock and classical circles, often described as a philosopher with a guitar. He continues to tour internationally, performing retrospective concerts that celebrate both his Scorpions legacy and his later symphonic works. Revered for his technical mastery, tone, and spiritual depth, Roth’s influence endures as one of the most unique voices in the evolution of modern guitar music—a true bridge between the soul of classical composition and the freedom of rock improvisation.https://ujr.info/
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