Origin: Hanover, Germany  
Genres: Hard Rock
DISBANDED
Page online: October 5, 2007
Last update/review: April 14, 2023

Viva

Many know that Rudy Schenker (longtime Scorpions guitarist) and Michael Schenker (UFO, Michael Schenker Group, and on a few occasions, Scorpions as well) are brothers. Fewer know that the pair has a sister, Barbara, also involved in metal. She was the songwriter, keyboardist, and leader of Viva, a German band that achieved some success in the early eighties, making them one of the older metal bands from that country (though her brother's group Scorpions was far older). Style-wise, as heard on 1981's What The Hell Is Going On, Viva was firmly rooted in early 80's rock/metal. The band released five albums, but Schenker was only a part of the first three, as she had departed before 1984's Apocalypse and was not a part of the odd Andy Fach-led version of the band that recorded the obscure Cream Cake Box in 1996. Eventually Schenker and vocalist Marc Paganini from the old days decided there was still some live in the band, and they put together a new lineup in 2007, which lasted until 2012.

Last Lineup

Marc Paganini

vocals

Pete Southern

guitars

Leon Lawson

guitars

Gui Ghost

bass

Barbara Schenker

keyboards RIP: April 13, 2023, age 56

Ricko Walsh

drums

Former Members/Guests

Frank Algermissen

vocals

Chris Thow

vocals

Eddie Peterson

vocals

Kai Reuter

guitars

Andy Fach

guitars

Ralph Murthy

guitars RIP: September 15, 2013, liver failure

Andy Kawaldt

bass

Lars Ranzenberger

bass (ex-Metalium, ex-Velvet Viper) RIP: April 18, 2021, personal plane crash, age 53

Ronald Hensel

keyboards

Michael Lauer

keyboards

Shaban Yavaz

drums

Martin Pietschak

drums

R.R. Oddly

drums



Discography


Born To Rock  
1980 Aves
  1. Fire
  2. Hard Rock Lover
  3. What I Need
  4. Darkness
  5. No Hopeless Dreams
  6. Blue Jeans Forever
  7. Viva
  8. Dark Eyes
  9. Rock'n'Roll Singer
  10. City Of Love
  • Frank Algermissen
  • Kai Reuter
  • Ralph Murthy
  • Andy Kawaldt
  • Barbara Schenker
  • Shaban Yavaz



What The Hell Is Going On!  
1981 CBS
  1. The Bitch
  2. Little Rock Tonight
  3. What Next
  4. Break Out
  5. What The Hell Is Going On
  6. Give It To Me
  7. Screaming For Your Love
  8. White Snow
  • Marc Paganini
  • Andy Fach
  • Ralph Murthy
  • Andy Kawaldt
  • Barbara Schenker
  • Martin Pietschak



Dealers Of The Night  
1982 Brain
  1. Falling In Love
  2. Ten Years Later
  3. I Didn't See It Coming
  4. Dealers Of The Night
  5. Some Kind Of Wonderful
  6. Take Me To The Doors
  7. Spend The Night
  8. Looking For An Answer
  • Marc Paganini
  • Andy Fach
  • Ralph Murthy
  • Andy Kawaldt
  • Barbara Schenker
  • Martin Pietschak



Apocalypse  
1984 Macho
  1. Gambled And Lost
  2. I Want It I Need It
  3. Marianne
  4. Apocalypse
  5. It's Not What I Mean
  6. Lady In Love
  7. Nite Side
  8. Don't Hold Back The Tears
  9. Keep Rockin'
  10. Love Me
  • Chris Thow
  • Andy Fach
  • Ralph Murthy
  • Andy Kawaldt
  • Michael Lauer
  • Martin Pietschak



Cream Cake Box  
1996 KDC
  1. Street Survivor
  2. Oriental
  3. It´s All Over Now (Baby Blue)
  4. Deeper
  5. Dare
  6. How Can You Feel
  7. The Storm
  8. Cream Cake Box
  9. Love In Slow Motion
  10. Get It On
  11. Love Drug
  • Eddie Peterson
  • Andy Fach
  • Lars Ranzenberger
  • Ronald Hensel
  • R.R. Oddly




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