Scorpions survived the rise of grunge by moving their efforts elsewhere: “Why fight grunge in Europe and America when we could play huge shows in Russia, Taiwan and so on?”

When bands like Nirvana suddenly became popular in the 90s, grunge quickly became a huge new trend in the music world. Many previously popular bands struggled to stay afloat as new waves washed over people’s musical tastes.

However, the tactics of German hard rock band Scorpions were different to those of others who were desperately trying to change their music in a grungier direction.

Rudolf Schenker, the band’s guitarist, tells Metal Hammer about the band’s tactics:

When grunge and alternative blew up we were playing over in Asia, places like Thailand, the Philippines and Indonesia where we still played in huge stadiums. Why fight grunge in Europe and America when we could play huge shows in Russia, Taiwan and so on? It was a new generation of Germans coming into Russia not with tanks, but with guitars, bringing love and peace.”

“There’s an interview with Metallica and I don’t remember if it was James [Hetfield] or Kirk [Hammett] who was asked how many countries they played; and either James or Kirk said, ‘Not as many as Scorpions!’ We had no fear! It paid off too — we sold more albums in Thailand than Michael Jackson; something like 20 times platinum.”