Uli Jon Roth 50th Anniversary Concert Comes to NJ, NYC

In December 1968, 13-year-old guitarist Uli Jon Roth took to the stage for the first time, performing at a church hall dance. Now, 50 years later, Roth is still at it. The German guitarist and forerunner of the neo-classical movement has inspired hundreds if not thousands of six-stringers the world over with his passionate, melodic, classically influenced playing. Roth’s groundbreaking style and feel laid the foundation for future virtuosos such as Eddie Van Halen, Yngwie Malmsteen, Steve Vai and Joe Satriani.

Roth is on tour performing a special50th anniversary set spotlighting his entire career, from his Scorpions and Electric Sun days to his solo work. He performs on April 23 at the Gramercy Theatre in New York City, April 24 at the Wonderbar in Asbury Park and May 3 at the Newton Theatre in Newton.

Roth is best known for his time in the Scorpions in the 1970s, his melodic, psychedelic and heavy sound crafting the legendary band’s early songs and career path. Roth played on five Scorpions albums, including the classic live record, “Tokyo Tapes.” He wrote or co-wrote many of the band’s best songs of the time, including “Virgin Killer,” “Pictured Life,” “The Sails of Charon” and “Fly to the Rainbow.” He also took lead vocal duties on several tracks, most noticeably “Hell-Cat.”

After exiting the Scorpions, Roth founded and led the eclectic and psychedelic Electric Sun, which has been described as somewhere between Beethoven and Hendrix. Electric Sun released three mesmerizing albums in the late 1970s and early 1980s. After Electric Sun Roth concentrated on composing symphonies and concertos and performing with symphony orchestras.

Recently, Roth reimagined his Scorpions material on the 2015 album, “Scorpions Revisited” and 2016’s live effort, “Tokyo Tapes Revisited - Live in Japan.”

Roth is also known for inventing the Sky Guitar. The specially crafted instrument allows him to play a six-octave range, which enables Roth to perform Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons” at concert pitch and clears the way for additional fretboard adventures. Roth designs each custom-made guitar. The guitars are available at www.sky-guitars.com

We recently spoke with Uli Jon Roth.

You first took the stage 50 years ago, in December 1968. What do you remember about that show?

I remember quite a lot. It felt really natural being onstage. I didn't have any jitters and luckily to this day it doesn't happen. I was very much at home. We played maybe for 1-and-a-half hours in a Church Parish. A lot of R&B, Cream. It was exciting. More shows followed right afterward and each one was a new adventure. I've always tried to improve to become a better performer. It’s been a lifelong journey.

Did you know right then and there that you wanted to be a performer?

Oh no, I had no idea what the future would hold. As a teenager I wanted to be a film director or a zoo director, anything with animals or movies. But I did love music above all else. I just took it step by step. It was only later that I thought this would be a professional choice.

You’re a huge Hendrix and Clapton fan. How did their influence help you grow as a player and how did you eventually create your own unique style?

In the beginning I learned from other players and Hendrix was a tremendous influence playing wise and artistically and spiritually. You try to emulate and learn the instrument and at the same time some originality starts to emerge subconsciously. Gradually I had my own way of playing. I didn't force it. It was organic.

After I started to play electric guitar very soon I started to get interested in flamenco and classical, and electric took a back seat. I fell in love with listening to piano concertos, violin concerts and symphonies. That's where I really started to learn a whole new universe. Then there came a point when I started to combine these two worlds and forge something new out of it.

How does it feel to know you've influenced so many guitarists the world over, including maestros like Yngwie Malmsteen, Joe Satriani and Steve Vai?

It's gratifying to see that I must've done something right (laughs). It's a logical thing as it was the same with me; you look at the ones before you and learn from that and try to continue to grow.

Can you tell us about the 50th Anniversary shows?

It's a three-hour show that reflects my passage through music. It's got some of the complex recent pieces like "Transcendental Sky Guitar" and "Sky of Babylon" and quite a large section devoted to Electric Sun. We haven't played most of that since the band existed in the 1970s and 1980s. Then there are selected highlights from my Scorpions days, the more well known like "The Sails of Charon" and "In Trance" and some lesser known ones. Then we play Hendrix songs every night.

There are other things. I have a 15-minute solo spot on my 8-string flamenco Sky Guitar. The other thing we're doing before the show is a VIP performance after sound check of my "Metamorphosis Concerto" (Roth's interpretation of Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons") for people who like that kind of music.

You've had many highlights in your 50 years performing. Does this tour count as one of them?

Definitely. I've played in the States so many times now over the years. Every tour brings its own excitement and surprises but this tour is different. Hands down this is my favorite so far in America. The audiences are happy every night and it just feels so good.