Uli Jon Roth

Uli Jon Roth may still be best known for his '70s tenure with famed German hard-rock outfit the Scorpions, but the talented ax maestro's career didn't come to an end when he left the group in 1978. While he contributed songwriting, vocals and incendiary lead guitar that often recalled Jimi Hendrix to such early classics In Trance, Virgin Killer and the seminal live document Tokyo Tapes, Roth's solo career has maintained his status as a six-string deity throughout the world.

One of the first players to explore a melding of rock and classical worlds (along with Yes guitarist Steve Howe and Deep Purple's Ritchie Blackmore), Roth led his Electric Sun ensemble through intricate songs that focused much more on spiritual and political themes than the party-hearty rock of his former band. Playing his custom-designed Sky guitars that had an extended octave range because of their 32 frets, Roth would later move on to writing symphonies and concertos for electric guitar and orchestra.

His most recent album, Under A Dark Sky in 2008, was hailed by some as a return to rock form for the guitar hero. Roth returns to the Bay Area for the first time since that album was released when he brings his Band of Sky to perform songs from throughout his career including early Scorpions gems. Support for this rare Oakland show by Roth will be provided by fellow guitar great Tony MacAlpine. One of the pioneers of the neo-classical metal shredder movement of the '80s, MacAlpine has released over a dozen albums as a leader in addition to long stints touring with Steve Vai (as guitarist and keyboardist) and playing with a variety of prog metal and fusion supergroups. Local guitar-centric acts LoNero and Flametal also perform.

Uli Jon Roth
Saturday, Feb. 11, 7:30 p.m. $22
Oakland Metro Operahouse