Namesakes #129: The Scorpions

This week's Namesakes come with a sting in the tail.

For the record, here's my favourite Scorpion...

But which will be yours?

THE SCORPIONS #1

We start with some London-based Scorpions who first raised their tails in the air back in 1959. Briefly involved with Joe Meek in the early 60s.

The Scorpions - Temptation

THE SCORPIONS #2

Next, a Sudanese jazz band formed in 1960 with Saif Abu Bakr on vocals.

The Scorpions - Forssa Saeeda

THE SCORPIONS #3

Mancunian Scorpions who formed in 1960 and became popular in the Netherlands following their cover of Fats Domino's Hello Josephine, a recording that hit the Dutch Top Ten twice, once in 1964... and then again in 1977.

Lead singer Pete Lewis developed stomach cancer in the 80s and died at home... having being treated by one Dr. Harold Shipman. 

The Scorpions - Hello Josephine

THE SCORPIONS #4

South African Scorpions with some traditional sounds, recorded in 1966. That's probably not them above, despite it being the image used on the tube of you. 

Scorpions - Cothoza Mfana

THE SCORPIONS #5

Early 70s reggae act who also recorded with Bill Gentles, The Viceroys, Derrick Morgan and Lloyd Jackson. Here they are in '71 with the Seventh Vibrations...

The Scorpions & The Seventh Vibrations - Pagan Hearted

THE SCORPIONS #6

Clearly the most famous of all musical Scorpions are the ones responsible for the infamous 1991 whistling song / soft-rock "message" hit The Wind Of Change. Incredibly, this break-through hit appeared on The Scorpions eleventh studio album, after they'd been kicking around Germany since 1965. Only guitarist and primary songwriter Rudolf Schenker has been with them from the start, accompanied by his younger brother Michael (later of UFO and the Michael Schenker Group) only in the early days. Rudolf didn't write the band's most famous tune though - that was the sole brainchild of frontman and lyricist Klaus Meine... and because I doubt it'll go down particularly well with those of you who got sick of hearing it on the radio back in the early 90s, I've chosen a much better track from 1984 today... your mileage may vary.

The Scorpions - Rock You Like A Hurricane

THE SKORPIONS #7

Costa Rican Skorpions from 1969, who appear to have got back together in 2016.

The Skorpions - Capricho

DE SCORPIONS #8

And finally, specially for our Portugal correspondent, here's 21 minutes 16 seconds of Portuguese Scorpions from 2018. The CD's available for a bargain price of eight euros, if you're interested...

De Scorpions - Roice Cosmos

Which are your Scorpion Kings... and which is your Sting?