Band: UFO

Less regarded, even forgotten, by today's metal audience, UFO nonetheless helped to establish the form in the 1970s, particularly in the years 1974 to 1978. Before this, the band had played an almost Pink Floydes que space rock but with the third studio album UFO was joined by 16 year old guitarist Michael Schenker and began  playing a loud, archetypal style of melodic heavy rock and metal that like their contemporaries featured spectacular guitar work - although Schenker's is more spectacular than most. By the end of the 80s however the band's day had passed. UFO continues to the present day with its usual personnel reshuffles, and a style now best described as bluesy hard rock.