HMO salutes Paul ‘Tonka’ Chapman who recently passed away aged 66. The Welsh guitarist had played with the Irish Skid Row, Lone Star, Waysted and others but he was most famous as the guitarist that replaced Michael Schenker in UFO. An unforgivable task that Tonka proved more than equal to: recording albums like The Wild, The Willing And The Innocent that remain fan favourites.
I was tempted to pick one of that album’s songs as a tribute but I decided to go for an older, and geekier, recording. After Schenker debuted with UFO on 1974’s Phenomenon the band decided to draft in a second guitarist for live duties and, for a brief period that year, the band featured both Schenker and Tonka on lead guitar! This fascinating and short-lived lineup can be heard on this BBC live recording from London. Rock Bottom was always a live centrepiece due to its extended soloing and here you get to hear both Schenker and Tonka trading wonderful solos. Chapman kicks his off at the 4:25min mark. It’s a cool, wah-tinged solo that makes jazzy use of the passage’s Dorian tonality and there’s a real chemistry between the two guitarists. Chapman was nicknamed ‘Tonka’ because, like the steel toys, he was thought to be indestructible, and he certainly sounded it here.
HEAVY METAL OVERLOAD 
I enjoyed listening to that.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Me too. It’s a great version!
LikeLiked by 1 person
They sounded awesome together. Too bad only 4 people clapped.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Haha I know! Too funny. Loads of those old BBC sets sounded like that. Guess they didn’t think to point any mics at the audience. Or maybe audiences were told to be quiet?
LikeLiked by 1 person
The concert was held in the BBC library and they were warned to not get on the bad side of Ms. Cratchett the librarian.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Tonka played some good guitar in UFO and my first discovery of Chapman was the Mechanix record.
Crazy thing is outside of Strangers in the Night I prefer the Chapman guitar driven UFO over the Schenker stuff in UFO.
My 2 cents worth though.
Having said that I liked that MSG period from 1980-1984 than it went sideways lol
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know quite a few folk that prefer the Chapman era. Fair enough! I like both but lean more to the Schenker UFO stuff myself.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I guess its jsut where I discoevred them really.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s always a factor. I started with Phenomenon.
LikeLiked by 1 person
See thats the thing as they weren’t really mainstream here in the early 80s It was when i seen the add for a Mechanix and a buddy and myself each bought it..
Mogg was a brilliant lyricist.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice one Scott! It is becoming too common now that we are losing all our idols. I guess that’s what happens as we get older. Live UFO is always the best UFO.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes it sucks. They always seem to come in batches too. Hopefully I won’t need to do any more of these kinds of posts for a while!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m hoping you won’t have to either.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great stuff! Has this been released somewhere? Besides Strangers in the Night, my live UFO is just what was included on The Chrysalis Years (1973-1979) and nothing from this BBC date seems to be included there.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s from a box set called UFO At The BBC 1974-1985. Think it’s still easy to get and it’s good value too. 5CDs and a DVD.
LikeLiked by 1 person
https://www.discogs.com/UFO-At-The-BBC-On-Air-1974-1985/release/5669739
LikeLiked by 1 person
Schenker… Schenker… I’m on the Schenker train. I was schooling the kids on Michael Schenker today.. played em Try Me for emotive lead, desert song for riffage, love to love and fly to the rainbow.
LikeLiked by 2 people
All great picks. I’m a big Schenker fan. He’s one of the best guys to ever strap on a guitar as far as I’m concerned.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I like that nickname – and you’re right, based on this tune, it’s apt!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Really enjoyed that version of Rock Bottom.
I had no idea he was Welsh – always thought he was good, now I know he was great!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep, he was one of the pantheon of Welsh greats that includes Budgie, Budgie, Shakey and Budgie.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m not biased but as a nation we truly put the pants in pantheon(s).
LikeLiked by 1 person
I like that cut
LikeLiked by 1 person