Matthias Jabs facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Matthias Jabs
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Jabs with the Scorpions in 2014
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| Background information | |
| Born | 25 October 1955 Hannover, West Germany |
| Genres |
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| Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter |
| Instruments | Guitar |
| Years active | 1978–present |
Matthias Jabs was born on October 25, 1955. He is a German musician. He is best known as the lead guitarist for the famous hard rock band Scorpions. Matthias joined the Scorpions in 1978. He has played on almost all their studio albums since then, starting with Lovedrive in 1979. Besides playing music, he also owns a music store called MJ Guitars in Munich.
Contents
His Music Journey
Matthias Jabs was first noticed by the Scorpions' bassist, Francis Buchholz. Buchholz had actually tutored Matthias in math when Matthias was still in school. Later, in 1978, when the Scorpions' lead guitarist Uli Roth left the band, Buchholz suggested Matthias for an audition. Before joining the Scorpions, Matthias Jabs played in other bands like Lady, Fargo, and Deadlock.
Joining the Scorpions
The Scorpions' album Taken by Force was released. The band's record company, RCA Records, worked hard to promote it. However, Uli Roth, the band's guitarist at the time, was not happy with the band's new commercial direction. Even though he went on a tour in Japan with the band, he decided to leave. He formed his own band called Electric Sun.
After Uli Roth left, the Scorpions needed a new guitarist. They auditioned about 140 guitarists! In mid-1978, they chose Matthias Jabs to join the band.
A Brief Return for Michael Schenker
After Matthias Jabs joined, the Scorpions moved to new record labels. They signed with Mercury Records in the United States. They also signed with Harvest/EMI Electrola for the rest of the world. They did this to record their next album, Lovedrive.
During the recording of Lovedrive, Michael Schenker, another talented guitarist, returned to the band for a short time. This meant the band had three guitarists for a bit. However, Michael Schenker only played on three songs on the final album.
Many music critics think Lovedrive was one of the Scorpions' best albums. It had popular songs like "Loving You Sunday Morning" and "Holiday." It also featured the instrumental song "Coast to Coast." This album helped create the "Scorpions formula." This was a mix of hard rock songs and beautiful, melodic ballads.
After the album was finished and released, the band decided to keep Michael Schenker. This meant Matthias Jabs had to leave the band for a short time. But in April 1979, after only a few weeks on tour, Michael Schenker left the band again. Matthias Jabs was immediately asked to come back and became the permanent guitarist.
Matthias Jabs' guitar playing style was a big part of the new, heavier sound on Lovedrive. This fresh sound helped the band become very famous in the 1980s.
Awards and Recognition
In 2000, Matthias Jabs received two special honors. He was given a plaque from the city of Hanover. He also received the Cross of Merit on Ribbon (Verdienstkreuz am Bande) from the Lower Saxony Order of Merit.
See also
In Spanish: Matthias Jabs para niños
