Sad to hear. HUGE UFO fan. Wish him the best. The guy still sounds great at 70. I think they're last release , "The Salentino Cuts" was one of his best studio vocal performances recorded.
Phil Mogg has confirmed that next year's 50th-anniversary tour with UFO will be his last as the frontman of the long-running hard rock band. Consequently, it seems almost certain that at that point they will cease to exist. UFO were formed in London in 1968 and Mogg is their only ever-present member, performing on all of the group's 22 studio albums.
"This decision has been a long time coming. I've considered stepping down at the end of UFO's previous two tours," Mogg explains. "I don't want to call this a farewell tour as I hate that word, but next year's gigs will represent my final tap-dancing appearances with the band.
"2018 marks UFO's 50th anniversary, so the timing feels right," he continues. "There will be a final tour of the U.K. and we will also play some shows in selected other cities that the band has a strong connection with. But outside of the U.K. this won't be a long tour.
"Being out on the road isn't always tremendously luxurious and although the playing is as great as it ever was, the stuff that surrounds it becomes very tiresome. I always told myself that when I reached that stage, I would step down, and that's what I'm going to do. This is the right time for me to quit."
Mogg turned 70 back in April and although his voice remains strong, he admits that age played its part in his conclusion.
"I'm a big reader of obituaries, and my finger always goes down to: 'I wonder how old they were…'," he chuckles. "The last few years have been tough — losing Lemmy was awful and I was sad that Jimmy Bain passed on a cruise ship. That distressed me quite a lot."
While many veteran bands in such a position simply cease playing live and continue to record, UFO will no longer be releasing new music. "A Conspiracy Of Stars" in 2015 and last year's covers collection "The Salentino Cuts" are set to become a signing-off point, though Mogg insists that however unlikely the prospect might seem — the singer is a lone strand of consistency throughout a 50-year history — he would have no problem with UFO continuing with a replacement.
The band's current lineup – completed by keyboard player/second guitarist Paul Raymond, guitarist Vinnie Moore, drummer Andy Parker and bassist Rob Le Luca — have, of course, been informed of Mogg's decision.
"I've told the guys that this is how it is," he says. "They know it's my time to go and they know that they can do whatever they want to do without me but I don't want to play live or make records anymore, though having said that I might go on and do an album of my own. I'll have to see how I feel about that."
Of course, UFO has either split up, retired or gone on hiatus several times before but Mogg is keen to make the distinction that next year's dates don't just mark the end of his touring commitments with UFO — for Phil, there will be no further concerts of any kind.
"For me, this is the end of my stint with UFO," he clarifies. "This is a line in the sand. I'm suggesting we call the tour 'Last Orders', though I also like 'The Bar Is Closing'. I'm also tempted to name it 'The Drinks Are On Parker'," he chuckles, referring long-suffering sticksman Andy Parker.
You'll have gathered that Mogg is not about to slash his wrists anytime soon. Of course, he is sad that the finishing line is now within slight but has had sufficient time to live with and process such a massive personal decision.
"Maybe the best word to use is 'bittersweet'," he concludes. "But my time has arrived and all that remains is to make sure that we have a good tour."
UFO's first confirmed live appearance of 2019 will take place in March at the Hard Rock Hell festival in North Wales.
[Edited on 6/3/2018 by jszfunk]
[Edited on 6/3/2018 by jszfunk]
[Edited on 6/3/2018 by jszfunk]
Everyone has a plan, till you get punched in the face,
Shame but happy if that is his choice. I was amazed when seeing them last year at how F'N good he sounded. Hadn't lost a thing and in fact he might have actually sounded better on some tunes.
Hope I can catch a couple of those shows.
Not pro shot but you get the idea.
Phil is bang on and Vinnie Moore absolutely soars on guitar. Last three minutes are basically a guitar clinic and could leave one just never picking up a guitar again. LOL
Love To Love Montreal
Can't get through a UFO thread without honorable mention of Old Dirt Road (Kenny) who was quite possibly the biggest UFO fan ever.
My older brother got turned onto UFO around 1984 and then I did. The band was either broken up or not active int he US at that time. They were about 5-6 years removed from their peak of being a headliner on a double bill at the Fox in Atlanta.
We jumped into Mechanix (not their greatest but it had some standout tracks that got video airplay on early MTV) then right into the red meat of Lights Out and Strangers in the Night. My crew from the Class of 1987 in metro-Atlanta were big late '70s UFO fans when no one my age knew what/who they were.
A buddy off mine was a great illustrator and artist and was on the yearbook staff. He got the UFO log into our high school annual about 15 times. We still laugh about it to this day.
I was super excited when the Lights Out lineup reunited but Schenker's sound/tone had changed. Wasn't the same. I've enjoyed some of the Vinnie stuff on youtube. They've never come to Atlanta in the last 35 years. I'd go see them if they did. Doesn't look like I'll have my chance.
Funny that you mention Mechanix. Was working radio at the time and when I got the advanced copy. Some of those songs hit me also and I felt it was a bit of a return.
I had lots of UFO and related bands. But whatever I didn't have ODR sent me. LOL - In one gigantic package...a box actually. A life's worth of UFO related material.
I have seen pretty much everyone but had never seen them until last year. I have the Vinnie Moore era albums and they are good. But live - these guys smoke. So F'N tight and Vinnie Moore flat out put on a display. He used so many styles and techniques and was a master at them all. In the world of hard rock/metal players, I don't think I have seen better. I was ready going in that he was a very talented guy but ..WOW.
I will travel to catch a couple of shows this time out if I have to. Really surprised that Atlanta has not been on their list of cities. Seem to play the same places each North American tour. Mogg mentioned that it was the first time in the history of the band that they had played Montreal. Hard to believe but I think it was part of the Guitar Gods plan to keep me from seeing Schenker.
Used to even road trip to see him and he would cancel or not show. LOL - Plenty of those stories.
Many British hard rock acts have ignored Atlanta now for decades. Atlanta is a good music town but not a great rock town any more (it was in the 1980s). Iron Maiden has played here one time since 1993 and the sold out our 19,000 seat Lakewood 5 years ago.
Edit - Maiden actually played Lakewood in 1992; then an 800 capacity place in 1996 (Blaze era; and Lakewood in 2012 (19K sellout). I wouldn't be surprised if that is the last time we get them.
[Edited on 6/6/2018 by hotlantatim]
I am just as much as a Paul Chapman era fan as a I am Schenker.
When I first started to learn to play the guitar , ",Lettin Go" and Blinded By a Lie" we're some of the first two songs I learned.
One of my all time fav songs
UFO - When It's Time To Rock
Everyone has a plan, till you get punched in the face,
I would be willing to bet ,as long as Pets Way is able, is to see a the classic UFO line up of ,Moog,Schenker,Parker,Way, Raymond will happen at least for a few songs on this last tour.
[Edited on 6/7/2018 by jszfunk]
Everyone has a plan, till you get punched in the face,
I wouldn't hold my breath on that reunion. Would be cool but I don't see it happening.
