History Music / UFO

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ufo_4.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:The classic late 70s lineup. Left to right: Phil Mogg, Michael Schenker, Paul Raymond, Pete Way, Andy Parker.]]

UFO is an English HardRock band that was formed in UsefulNotes/{{London}} in 1968. The group was founded by lead vocalist Phil Mogg, guitarist Mick Bolton, bassist Pete Way, and drummer Andy Parker. After releasing two unsuccessful PsychedelicRock albums, Bolton was sacked and the band recruited Michael Schenker, who had recently left Music/{{Scorpions}}, in 1974. With this line-up, later joined by keyboardist and rhythm guitarist Paul Raymond, the band recorded their most successful material. In 1979, however, just after the recording of their iconic live album ''Strangers in the Night'', Schenker left the band.

The band currently consists of Mogg, Parker, keyboardist Neil Carter, guitarist Vinnie Moore, and bassist Rob De Luca. Raymond died in 2019, just days after performing his last show with the band. Founding bassist Pete Way died in 2020 from injuries sustained in an accident. UFO are a highly influential band, being a heavy influence on the NewWaveOfBritishHeavyMetal and HardRock all around the world.

!!Studio discography:

* ''UFO 1'' (1970)
* ''Flying'' (1971)
* ''Phenomenon'' (1974)
* ''Force It'' (1975)
* ''No Heavy Petting'' (1976)
* ''Lights Out'' (1977)
* ''Obsession'' (1978)
* ''No Place to Run'' (1980)
* ''The Wild, the Willing and the Innocent'' (1981)
* ''Mechanix'' (1982)
* ''Making Contact'' (1983)
* ''Misdemeanor'' (1985)
* ''Ain't Misbehavin''' (1988)
* ''High Stakes & Dangerous Men'' (1992)
* ''Walk on Water'' (1995)
* ''Covenant'' (2000)
* ''Sharks'' (2002)
* ''You Are Here'' (2004)
* ''The Monkey Puzzle'' (2006)
* ''The Visitor'' (2009)
* ''Seven Deadly'' (2012)
* ''A Conspiracy of Stars'' (2015)
* ''The Salentino Cuts'' (2017)[[note]]A CoverAlbum of the band's personal favorites[[/note]]

!!"Only You Can Trope Me":

* TheBandMinusTheFace: The band became this after losing their most famous member, Michael Schenker. While he has returned a couple of times, all of them were relatively short-lived.
* BigRockEnding: "Rock Bottom".
* CatchPhrase: Most of the tracks on ''Strangers in the Night'' are introduced by Mogg saying "This is something called X". Other live versions from the 70s era feature him saying the same thing.
* CoverVersion: Several, scattered throughout their albums.
** ''UFO 1'': "C'mon Everybody" (Music/EddieCochran), "Who Do You Love" (Music/BoDiddley), "Come Away, Melinda" (FolkMusic standard)
** ''Phenomenon'': "Built for Comfort" (Willie Dixon)
*** ''Phenomenon Live At The Electric Ballroom, UsefulNotes/{{Atlanta}}, [[UsefulNotes/GeorgiaUSA GA]], [[UsefulNotes/TheUnitedStates USA]], 5th November 1974'' (a bonus disc with the 2019 reissue of ''Phenomenon''): "Cold Turkey" (Music/JohnLennon)
** ''No Heavy Petting'': "A Fool in Love" (Frankie Miller Band)
** ''Lights Out'': "Alone Again Or" (Music/{{Love}})
** ''No Place to Run'': "Mystery Train" (Junior Parker song popularized by Music/ElvisPresley)
** ''Mechanix'': "Somethin' Else" (Eddie Cochran again)
** ''The Salentino Cuts'' is a full-fledged CoverAlbum.
* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: The first two records released by the band are closer to PsychedelicRock than the HardRock they later became known for.
* EpicRocking: UFO's longest songs both come from their second album ''Flying'', with "Star Storm" being 19 minutes, and the TitleTrack being 26. Their most famous Epic Rocker, however, is fan favorite "Rock Bottom", which lasts 6 and a half minutes in its studio form, and twelve minutes live. "Love to Love" is also an example, reaching 8 minutes total.
* HardRock: The band's primary genre.
* HeavyMetal: A heavy influence on the genre.
* IntercourseWithYou: Plenty, but the most blatant is "Natural Thing" off of ''No Heavy Petting''.
* LiveAlbum: A zillion of 'em, including the band's magnum opus, ''Strangers in the Night''.
* OneWomanSong: "Cherry"
* RevolvingDoorBand: Vocalist Phil Mogg is [[IAmTheBand the only constant member]], and the band has had 12 guitarists, 3 bassists, 8 drummers, and 5 keyboardists. Keep in mind the vast majority of these members have had more than one stint in the band.
* SpaceRock: In their early years.
* TitleTrack: The albums ''Flying'' and ''Lights Out'' each have one.
* VisualPun: The cover of ''Force It'' is full of faucets.
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*** ''Phenomenon Live At The Electric Ballroom, UsefulNotes/{{Atlanta}}, [[UsefulNotes/GeorgiaUSA GA]], [[UsefulNotes/UnitedStates USA]], 5th November 1974'' (a bonus disc with the 2019 reissue of ''Phenomenon''): "Cold Turkey" (Music/JohnLennon)

* RevolvingDoorBand: Vocalist Phil Mogg is the only constant member, and the band has had 12 guitarists, 3 bassists, 8 drummers, and 5 keyboardists. Keep in mind the vast majority of these members have had more than one stint in the band.

* LiveAlbum: The band's magnum opus, ''Strangers in the Night''.

* CoverVersion: "C'mon Everybody" by Eddie Cochran on the band's first album.

UFO is an English HardRock band that was formed in UsefulNotes/{{London}} in 1968. The group was founded by lead vocalist Phil Mogg, guitarist Mick Bolton, bassist Pete Way, and drummer Andy Parker. After releasing two unsuccessful PsychedelicRock albums, Bolton was sacked and the band recruited Michael Schenker, who had recently left {{Music/Scorpions}}, in 1974. With this line-up, later joined by keyboardist and rhythm guitarist Paul Raymond, the band recorded their most successful material. In 1979, however, just after the recording of their iconic live album ''Strangers in the Night'', Schenker left the band.

* VisualPun: The cover of ''Force It'' is full of faucets.

UFO is an English HardRock band that was formed in London in 1968. The group was founded by lead vocalist Phil Mogg, guitarist Mick Bolton, bassist Pete Way, and drummer Andy Parker. After releasing two unsuccessful PsychedelicRock albums, Bolton was sacked and the band recruited Michael Schenker, who had recently left {{Music/Scorpions}}, in 1974. With this line-up, later joined by keyboardist and rhythm guitarist Paul Raymond, the band recorded their most successful material. In 1979, however, just after the recording of their iconic live album ''Strangers in the Night'', Schenker left the band.

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!UFO's music provides examples of

The band currently consists of Mogg, Parker, keyboardist Neil Carter, guitarist Vinnie Moore, and bassist Rob De Luca. Raymond died in 2019, just days after performing his last show with the band. UFO are a highly influential band, being a heavy influence on the NewWaveOfBritishHeavyMetal and HardRock all around the world.

* TitleTrack: The albums ''Flying'' and ''Lights Out'' each have one.

* CatchPhrase: Most of the tracks on ''Strangers in the Night'' are introduced by Mogg saying "This is something called X"

UFO is an English HardRock band that was formed in London in 1968. The group was founded by lead vocalist Phil Mogg, guitarist Mick Bolton, bassist Pete Way, and drummer Andy Parker. After releasing two unsuccessful PsychedelicRock albums, Bolton was sacked and the band recruited Michael Schenker, who had recently left Music/Scorpions, in 1974. With this line-up, later joined by keyboardist and rhythm guitarist Paul Raymond, the band recorded their most successful material. In 1979, however, just after the recording of their iconic live album ''Strangers in the Night'', Schenker left the band.