This article is about the rock band. For other uses, see UFO (disambiguation).

UFO is a rock band.

Vocalist Phil Mogg, guitarist Mick Bolton, bassist Pete Way and drummer Andy Parker formed the British rock outfit UFO in 1969. Originally known as Hocus Pocus, the group, which took the name UFO in honor of a London club, debuted in 1971 with the eponomously title UFO. Both the album and its follow-up, the same year's Flying, found great success in Japan, France and Germany but went barely noticed in the band's native country; as a result, their third effort, 1972's UFO Lands in Tokyo--Live, was released only in Japan.

In 1974, Bolton left the group; after brief trial runs with ex-Pink Fairies guitarist Larry Wallis and future Whitesnake member Bernie Marsden, former Scorpion Michael Schenker stepped in as a permanent replacement in time to record 1974's Phenomenon , which sported a harder-edged guitar sound. After 1975's Force It and 1976's No Heavy Petting brought UFO increased visibility with American audiences, keyboardist and guitarist Paul Raymond joined for 1977's Lights Out; however, after 1978's Obsession, Schenker left the group, first to rejoin the Scorpions and later to form his own band. Despite the addition of guitarist Paul "Tonka" Chapman, the next UFO LP, No Place To Run, failed to match the success of its predecessors. In 1981, they put out The Wild, The Willing And The Innocent .

In 1982, the band released Mechanix, notching a minor U.S. hit with "Back Into My Life"; later that year, Way exited to form Waysted, and was replaced by ex-Eddie and the Hot Rods bassist Paul Gray. After 1983's Making Contact, UFO dissolved, only to reform two years later for Misdemeanor; however, the album was met with little response, and they again called it quits. In 1993, the group's most popular line-up -- Mogg, Schenker, Way, Raymond and Parker -- reunited, and recorded the 1995 album Walk on Water; after a tour, the members yet again went their separate ways. Despite the disband, UFO reissued Making Contact in 2001 through Spitfire Records.

Current Line-Up

• Phil Mogg - Singer
• Jason Bonham - Drums
• Pete Way - Bass
• Vinnie Moore - Lead guitar
• Paul Raymond - Keyboards & Rhythm guitar

Previous Members Include

• Larry Wallis - Lead guitar
• Michael Schenker - Lead guitar
• Andy Parker - Drums
• Paul "Tonka" Chapman - Lead guitar
• Danny Peyronel - Keyboards
• Neil Carter - Keyboards & Rhythm guitar
• Mick Bolton - Lead guitar
• Paul Gray - Bass
• Atomik Tommy M - Lead guitar
• Laurence Archer - Lead guitar
• Clive Edwards - Drums
• Aynsley Dunbar - Drums
• Bernie Marsden - Lead guitar

Discography

Albums:

• UFO (1971)
• Flying (1972)
• 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)

Greatest Hits Albums:

• Space Metal (1976)
• Anthology (1986)
• The Essential UFO (1992)
• (1999)

Live Albums:

• Live (1972)
• Live In Concert (1974)
• Lights Out In Tokyo (1978)
• Strangers In The Night (1979)
• Live In Japan (1992)
• T.N.T. (1993)
• Live In Texas (1994)
• Heaven's Gate (1995)
• (1997)
• On With The Acton (1998)