In a recent interview with Dr. Music, former Scorpions drummer Herman Rarebell shared his personal perspective on the band’s evolution, expressing that for him, the spirit of the Scorpions as he knew it came to an end in 1996. Though the band continues to record and tour successfully today, Rarebell believes the unique chemistry that once defined the group faded long ago.

“For me, the band has been over since 1996,” he said candidly. “The Scorpions you see now is a totally different band than the band that was famous between 1978 and 1992, let’s say. That was the real Scorpions, with [guitarist] Uli [Jon Roth], with [drummer] Herman Rarebell, with [bassist] Francis Buchholz, and of course [guitarist] Matthias Jabs, [singer] Klaus Meine, and [guitarist] Rudolf Schenker.”

Herman Rarebell joined the Scorpions in 1977 and remained with the band until 1995. He was part of the group during its most successful period, contributing not only as a drummer but also as a co-songwriter. His work can be heard on classic albums like Lovedrive, Animal Magnetism, Blackout, Love at First Sting, and Savage Amusement. Songs such as “Rock You Like a Hurricane” and “Another Piece of Meat” are just a few examples of tracks that featured his creative input.

Over the course of the interview, Herman Rarebell made it clear that his opinion is based on personal feeling rather than criticism of the band’s current direction. He pointed to lineup changes as a major reason for his disconnection from what the Scorpions eventually became. The departure of Roth, and later his own exit along with Francis Buchholz, marked a shift that made the group feel fundamentally different to him.

“Now, there are three guys on stage that I have nothing to do with,” he noted. “And I wish them good luck, don’t get me wrong. But it’s a different band.”

Rarebell’s comments reflect more of a nostalgic attachment than disapproval. He acknowledged that fans of the current Scorpions lineup still have genuine appreciation for the band, but emphasized that many of them never experienced the group’s early live energy.

“When you ask people today, ‘Do you like the Scorpions?’ they say, ‘Yes, I love the Scorpions.’ But they were never in the hall when we played, so they don’t know how it was,” he added.

Despite having parted ways with the band nearly three decades ago, Herman Rarebell continues to speak respectfully about his former bandmates. He made it clear that his views are personal and rooted in a deep connection to a particular era in the band’s history, not a dismissal of what the Scorpions have accomplished since.

“I have great respect for the new musicians, but I don’t know them,” Rarebell said. “For me, what we had back then was something special, and it ended when that lineup changed.”

Since his departure, Rarebell has remained active in music, working on solo projects and collaborations while preserving the legacy of the band’s classic years.