Blackout by Scorpions

Album: Blackout (1982)

Get the Sheet Music License This Song

Songfacts®:

An incident involving Judas Priest guitarists K.K. Downing and Glenn Tipton inspired Scorpions guitarist Rudolf Schenker to write this song. Schenker recalls: "I remember we had a party with K.K. and Glenn from Judas Priest and for a while, there were also the guys there from Def Leppard. And we were having a party with K.K. and Glenn and they gave me a drink, and it was beer, and I was, 'No, no, you have to have the right mix: whiskey, beer and wine on top of it.' And they are like, 'What!?' And I was, 'Yes, come on.' And we were getting heavily drunk and we had a good time. And I think K.K. had the idea, 'Hey, let's go to the Def Leppard guys.' Because we were in Cleveland - the Cleveland Hall, next door was the hotel."

"So we went to the Def Leppard guys and then somehow, they were watching television. They were very young in these days. This was 1980 I think, because we were playing together, Def Leppard, Judas Priest and Scorpions in Cleveland. So I saw them watching TV and I poured my drink into the television. And the whole television went 'poof!' And this was the situation and I said, 'OK, we have to leave, we have to go now.'"

"But anyway, it became so crazy, and the next morning I wake up in my hotel room and I said, 'What's happening?' I went to Herman and he wasn't there, he wasn't at the party, and I said to Herman, 'Hey, I'll tell you what, it was crazy last night. I remember to this point and this point' and he said, 'You know what you had? You had a blackout.' And I said, 'Blackout?' And then he said, 'Hey, you know, that's a great title for an album. And because of this kind of special party, I went back home and said I think I have to write a song, the music, because Klaus was writing most of the lyrics."

"So I sat at home and made the song and then went to Klaus and he came up with the lyrics and then we had it." >>
Suggestion credit:
Jon - Sweden

Comments: 4

Gary from Pageland, ScHerman Rarebell tells a different story in his book. He doesn't mention the TV getting blown up at all, but said Rudolf Schenker was plastered and wandering around in a parking lot and was approached by some cops. Herman said he came to the rescue and promised the cops he would take care of Rudolf and kept him from getting arrested. But, Herman's book is not worth reading anyway, and this is from a huge Scorpions fan.
Luke from Dayton, OhThis alwyas reminds me of a haunted cave because they played this song
Alex from Boucherville (montreal), QcThat fact is completely stupid! How can you come with a title like that with a story like that? XD it has nearly nothing to do with Judas Priest, Def Leppard and the TV thing, why tell it? XD
Ani from Yerevan, Armenia"Blackout" is my favorite album from Scorpions. Great album, Powerful songs!!!

see more comments

Song Titles That Inspired MoviesSong Writing

Famous songs that lent their titles - and in some cases storylines - to movies.

Lip-Synch RebelsSong Writing

What happens when Kurt Cobain, Iron Maiden and Johnny Lydon are told to lip-synch? Some hilarious "performances."

Amy Lee of EvanescenceSongwriter Interviews

The Evanescence frontwoman on the songs that have shifted meaning and her foray into kids' music.

Creedence Clearwater RevivalFact or Fiction

Is "Have You Ever Seen the Rain" about Vietnam? Was John Fogerty really born on a Bayou? It's the CCR edition of Fact or Fiction.

David Bowie Lyrics QuizMusic Quiz

How well do you know your David Bowie lyrics? Take this quiz to find out.

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"They're Playing My Song

A song he wrote and recorded from "sheer spiritual inspiration," Allen's didn't think "Southern Nights" had hit potential until Glen Campbell took it to #1 two years later.

Poker FaceLady Gaga

The "Mum-mum-mum-ma" hook on lady Gaga's "Poker Face" was sampled from Boney M's 1977 hit "Ma Baker."

HeroinThe Velvet Underground

When the Velvet Underground song "Heroin" got screechy, Maureen Tucker stopped drumming, figuring it would bust the take, but her bandmates kept going. You can hear it at the 5:20 mark.

Burning Down The HouseTalking Heads

"Burning Down The House" by Talking Heads was inspired by chant band members heard at a P-Funk show where the crowd yelled, "burn down the house... burn down the house."

Time After TimeCyndi Lauper

Cyndi Lauper came up with the title "Time After Time" when she saw it in TV Guide magazine. It's the name of a 1979 movie about a man who invents a time machine.

We're An American BandGrand Funk

"We're An American Band" by Grand Funk describes real events on their 1972 tour, including an encounter with a legendary groupie called "Sweet Connie."

UmbrellaRihanna

When Rihanna's "Umbrella" was a hit in the summer of 2007, it rained constantly in London, prompting their newspaper The Sun to suggest a "Rihanna Curse."