Guitarist Michael Schenker and bassist Pete Way and have confirmed that they will not take part in UFO's 50th-anniversary celebration in 2019. Schenker, who first joined UFO in 1973 and last played with the band in 2003, told Classic Rock that "bands like UFO and the SCORPIONS are trying to fool the audience, and I'm not a part of that world. It's becoming a trend to make a big deal about playing last shows, and those bands do it because they can't get anywhere in a normal way. For me, UFO only exists with the original five members, plus producer Ron Nevison. [Singer] Phil Mogg calls his current band UFO, but it isn't UFO." Way, who co-founded UFO in 1969, left for the first time n 1982, returned to the band in 1988 and remained with the group through 2008, wrote on Facebook: "After the publicity which is currently surrounding Michael Schenker's announcement that he most definitely will not be joining in with UFO's advertised outing, I would like to make sure that nobody is under the illusion that I will be appearing. It is not made clear in the advertising. I will be touring with my new band — Paul Chapman [former UFO guitarist who replaced Schenker] will not be on guitar, sadly, but it was a pleasure to see him again. I wish UFO all the luck in the world and I am sure fans would like to see the original lineup but for me, I can only say RIP UFO." Back in May, Mogg announced his plans to retire from UFO. The singer, who turned 70 in April, released a statement confirming that he will leave the band after UFO completes a farewell 50th-anniversary tour in 2019. "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," the vocalist, who has been the only constant member of UFO throughout its existence, said. "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." UFO's latest release was last year's covers collection, "The Salentino Cuts". SCORPIONS announced in January 2010 that they would mount one more world tour and then call it a day but changed their minds due to the phenomenal response they received from their fans.
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