Francis Buchholz

{{Short description|German bass guitarist (1954–2026)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2015}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Francis Buchholz | image = Francis Buchholz - MSG - 2 (cropped).jpg | caption = Buchholz performing in 2012 | birth_name = | alias = | birth_date = {{birth date|1954|2|19|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Hanover]], Lower Saxony, Germany | origin = | death_date = {{death date and age|2026|1|22|1954|2|19|df=y}} | death_place = | genre = {{hlist| [[Hard rock]] | [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]] }} | occupation = Bassist | years_active = 1969–2026 | past_member_of = {{flatlist| * [[Scorpions (band)|Scorpions]] * [[Dawn Road]] * [[Dreamtide]] * Michael Schenker's Temple of Rock * Phantom V }} | website = }}

'''Francis Buchholz''' (19 February 1954 – 22 January 2026) was a German musician best known as the bass guitarist of the German rock band [[Scorpions (band)|Scorpions]] from 1973 until 1992, a group that was successful internationally; his [[Riff|bass riffs]] for hits such as "[[Rock You Like a Hurricane]]" and "[[Wind of Change (Scorpions song)|Wind of Change]]" were regarded as iconic. After leaving Scorpions, he was a member of [[Michael Schenker]]'s Temple of Rock, among others.

== Early life and career == Born in [[Hanover]]<ref name="DeRiso" /><ref name="Colothan" /><ref name="Meinlschmidt" /> on 19 February 1954,<ref>[https://trauer-anzeigen.de/traueranzeige/francis-buchholz Francis Buchholz] HAZ 2016</ref> Buchholz discovered rock music at the age of 11.<ref name="Surmonte" /> His first public appearance as a bass player was at age 15, with a school band, Blue Carps.<ref name="Meinlschmidt" /> From then on he played in different rock, blues and jazz bands in his hometown.<ref name="Meinlschmidt" /> While studying [[mechanical engineering]] at the [[University of Hannover|TU Hannover]] and taking jazz classes at the [[Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien Hannover|Musikhochschule Hannover]],<ref name="Meinlschmidt" /> Buchholz joined the band [[Dawn Road]], whose lineup included vocalist and guitarist [[Ulrich Roth|Uli Roth]],<ref name="Colothan" /> drummer [[Jürgen Rosenthal]] and [[Scorpions (band)|Achim Kirschning]] on keyboards.<ref name="Meinlschmidt" /><ref name="Surmonte" /> Eventually they and the two members who first formed [[Scorpions (band)|Scorpions]], singer [[Klaus Meine]] and guitarist [[Rudolf Schenker]],<ref name="Meinlschmidt" /><ref name="Surmonte" /> merged into a new incarnation of the Scorpions in 1973, with Buchholz on bass.<ref name="DeRiso" /><ref name="Colothan" /> Buchholz's first recording with the Scorpions was 1974's ''[[Fly to the Rainbow]]'', and he stayed as a band member for 18 years, recording 12 albums<ref name="DeRiso" /> during the band's most commercially successful period.<ref name="Colothan" /> His [[Riff|bass riffs]] for hit songs such as "[[Rock You Like a Hurricane]]", "[[Wind of Change (Scorpions song)|Wind of Change]]", "[[Big City Nights (song)|Big City Nights]]",<ref name="Surmonte" /> "[[Still Loving You]]",<ref name="Colothan" /> "[[No One Like You]]", and others were regarded as iconic.<ref name="Surmonte" /> In 1988, Scorpions were the first metal band to tour the Soviet Union. They returned the following year for the [[Moscow Music Peace Festival]], where other bands included [[Bon Jovi]] and the [[Ozzy Osbourne Band]]. "Wind of Change" was written in the spirit of [[perestroika]] and also appeared in Russian.<ref name="Grow" /> Scorpions sold over 15 million records in the US and over 100 million records worldwide. For his success with the Scorpions, Buchholz was awarded with over 50 gold and platinum awards for record sales all over the world.<ref name="Meinlschmidt" />

Buchholz and the band separated after disagreement over band management in 1992.<ref name="Meinlschmidt" /><ref name="Surmonte" /> His last album with the Scorpions was ''[[Crazy World (Scorpions album)|Crazy World]]'', which also contained the only Scorpions track Buchholz contributed to writing, "Kicks After Six".<ref name="DeRiso" /> His final appearance on a Scorpions project, which was in the form of archived concert recordings, would be for their 1995 album ''[[Live Bites]]'', which involved concert recordings dating back to 1988.<ref name="DeRiso" /> Though the Scorpions would not disband, Buchholz's departure is acknowledged to have marked the end of the band's peak era, with the ''[[Las Vegas Sun]]'' stating in 1994 that "In the Garden of Eden time is running out. The party is over."<ref name="Renzi" />

Buchholz reunited with Uli Roth for a tour of Europe and the United States in 2005 and 2006.<ref name="Meinlschmidt" /><ref name="Surmonte" /><ref name="Brannigan" /> In 2008 Buchholz worked with the band [[Dreamtide]]<ref name="Colothan" /><ref name="Brannigan" /> as their bass player and co-producer for the album ''Dream And Deliver''.<ref name="Meinlschmidt" /><ref name="Grow" />

[[File:Michael Schenker Group - Kavarna.jpg|thumb|(from l.) Wayne Findlay, Buchholz, [[Herman Rarebell]], [[Doogie White]] and Schenker, 2012]] From 2012 to 2016, Buchholz toured with former Scorpions lead guitarist [[Michael Schenker]]<ref name="DeRiso" /><ref name="Brannigan" /> with his [[List of Michael Schenker band members#2011–2016: Michael Schenker's Temple of Rock|Temple of Rock formation]], first for the European dates of his "Temple of Rock – Lovedrive Reunion Tour" alongside former Scorpions drummer [[Herman Rarebell]], with ex-[[Rainbow (English band)|Rainbow]] [[Doogie White]] (vocals) and MSG's Wayne Findley (guitars and keys).<ref name="Colothan" /><ref name="blabbermouth" />

Temple of Rock's next album ''Bridge the Gap'' featured Buchholz on bass<ref name="Surmonte" /> and was released in November 2013.<ref name="Colothan" /><ref name="blabbermouth 2013" /> A European tour in 2013 was followed by concerts in Mexico and South America and in 2014 they toured Japan and Europe. Their new album ''Spirit On A Mission'' was released in 2015<ref name="Surmonte" /><ref name="Brannigan" /> and the band toured US, Japan and Europe. Early in 2016 they played more shows in UK and Scandinavia.<ref name="Schenker" />

== Personal life == In 1978, Buchholz founded a [[Public address|PA]] and [[stage lighting]] rental company, Rocksound, in Germany.<ref name="Grow" /> The company began as a way to distribute special [[Horn loudspeaker|exponential loudspeaker cabinets]] Buchholz had developed, but also to provide employment for the Scorpions' [[Road crew|roadies]] when not on tour.<ref name="Meinlschmidt" />

Buchholz lived in [[Hannover]] with his wife Hella; they had a son and twin daughters.<ref name="Colothan" /> In 1996, Buchholz authored the book ''Bass Magic'';<ref name="Colothan" /> he also worked as a record producer and consultant.<ref name="Meinlschmidt" />

Buchholz died from cancer on 22 January 2026, at the age of 71.<ref name="DeRiso" /><ref name="Colothan" /><ref name="Brannigan" />

== Discography == Recordings with Buchholz include:<ref name="Meinlschmidt" />

=== With Scorpions === * 1974: ''[[Fly to the Rainbow]]'' * 1975: ''[[In Trance]]'' * 1976: ''[[Virgin Killer]]'' * 1977: ''[[Taken by Force]]'' * 1978: ''[[Tokyo Tapes (album)|Tokyo Tapes]]'' (live) * 1979: ''[[Lovedrive]]'' * 1980: ''[[Animal Magnetism (Scorpions album)|Animal Magnetism]]'' * 1982: ''[[Blackout (Scorpions album)|Blackout]]'' * 1984: ''[[Love at First Sting]]'' * 1985: ''[[World Wide Live]]'' (live) * 1988: ''[[Savage Amusement]]'' * 1990: ''[[Crazy World (Scorpions album)|Crazy World]]''

=== With Dreamtide === * 2008: ''Dream and Deliver''

=== With Michael Schenker's Temple of Rock === * 2012: ''Live in Europe'' (DVD, bonus DVD, Blu-Ray and double-CD) * 2013: ''Bridge the Gap'' * 2015: ''Spirit on a Mission'' * 2016: ''On a Mission – Live in Madrid'' (DVD, double-Blu-Ray and double-CD)

=== With Phantom 5 === * 2016: ''Phantom 5'' (CD) * 2017: ''Play II Win'' (CD, vinyl)

==References== <references>

<ref name="Brannigan">{{cite news | last = Brannigan | first = Paul | url = https://www.loudersound.com/bands-artists/former-scorpions-bassist-francis-buchholz-dead-at-71 | title = Former Scorpions/Michael Schenker Bassist Francis Buchholz Dead at 71 | work = Louder Sound | date = 23 January 2026 | access-date = 23 January 2026 }}</ref>

<ref name="Colothan">{{cite news | last = Colothan | first = Scott | url = https://www.hellorayo.co.uk/planet-rock/news/rock-news/scorpions-michael-schenker-francis-buchholz-dead | title = Scorpions and Michael Schenker Bassist Francis Buchholz Dies Aged 71 | work = RAYO | date = 23 January 2026 | access-date = 28 January 2026 }}</ref>

<ref name="DeRiso">{{cite news | last = DeRiso | first = Nick | url = https://ultimateclassicrock.com/scorpions-francis-buchholz-dies/ | title = Scorpions Bassist Francis Buchholz | publisher = Ultimate Rock Classic | date = 23 January 2026 | access-date = 23 January 2026 }}</ref>

<ref name="Grow">{{cite news | last = Grow | first = Kory | url = https://au.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/francis-buchholz-scorpions-bassist-death-obituary-90118/ | title = Francis Buchholz, Scorpions' Hurricane-Rocking Ex-Bassist, Dead at 71 | work = RollingStone | date = 24 January 2026 | access-date = 28 January 2026 }}</ref>

<ref name="Meinlschmidt">{{cite news | last = Meinlschmidt | first = Thomas | url = https://www.bonedo.de/artikel/scorpions-bassist-francis-buchholz-ist-tot-ein-nachruf/ | title = Scorpions-Bassist Francis Buchholz ist tot – ein Nachruf | work = Bonedo | date = 23 January 2026 | language = de | access-date = 28 January 2026 }}</ref>

<ref name="Renzi">{{cite news | last = Renzi | first = David | url = https://lasvegassun.com/news/1999/jun/25/scorpions-buffeted-by-the-winds-of-change/ | title = Scorpions Buffeted by the Winds of Change | newspaper = [[Las Vegas Sun]] | date = 25 June 1999 | access-date = 23 January 2026 }}</ref>

<ref name="Schenker">{{cite news | url = http://www.michaelschenkerhimself.com/tour.php | title = Temple of Rock—Spirit on a Mission—World Tour | website = michaelschenkerhimself.com | date = 4 February 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160204131839/http://www.michaelschenkerhimself.com/tour.php | archive-date = 4 February 2016 | access-date = 28 January 2026 }}</ref>

<ref name="Surmonte">{{cite news | last = Surmonte | first = Connor | url = https://nypost.com/2026/01/23/entertainment/scorpions-bassist-francis-buchholz-dead-at-71-cause-of-death/ | title = Former Scorpions Bassist Francis Buchholz Dead at 71: 'Our Hearts Are Shattered' | newspaper = [[New York Post]] | date = 23 January 2026 | access-date = 29 January 2026 }}</ref>

<ref name="blabbermouth">{{cite news | url = https://blabbermouth.net/news/michael-schenker-to-be-joined-by-ex-scorpions-members-doogie-white-on-u-k-tour | title = Michael Schenker to Be Joined by Ex-Scorpions Members, Doogie White on U.K. Tour | website = blabbermouth.net | date = 6 February 2012 | access-date = 28 January 2026 }}</ref>

<ref name="blabbermouth 2013">{{cite news | url = https://blabbermouth.net/news/michael-schenkers-temple-of-rock-audio-samples-of-entire-bridge-the-gap-album | title = Michael Schenker's Temple of Rock: Audio Samples of Entire 'Bridge the Gap' Album | website = blabbermouth.net | date = 12 November 2013 | access-date = 28 January 2026 }}</ref>

</references>

==External links== {{Commonscat}} * {{Official|http://www.francisbuchholz.com}} * {{Discogs artist|Francis Buchholz}} * {{IMDb name|1193970}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Buchholz, Francis}} [[Category:1954 births]] [[Category:2026 deaths]] [[Category:Businesspeople from Hanover]] [[Category:German heavy metal bass guitarists]] [[Category:German male bass guitarists]] [[Category:German record producers]] [[Category:German rock bass guitarists]] [[Category:Glam metal musicians]] [[Category:Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien Hannover alumni]] [[Category:Michael Schenker Group members]] [[Category:Musicians from Hanover]] [[Category:Scorpions (band) members]]