Francis Buchholz

Francis Buchholz (born 19 February 1954 in Hannover, Germany) is a German bassist best known as a member of the rock/hard rock band, the Scorpions.

Buchholz discovered rock music at the age of 11. His first public appearance as a bass player was at age 15 while in a high school. From then on he played in different rock, blues and jazz bands in his hometown of Hannover. While a mechanical engineering student at the University of Hanover and taking classes at the Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien Hannover, Buchholz joined Dawn Road, whose lineup included guitarist Uli Roth. Eventually the musicians from Dawn Road and the Scorpions merged into a new incarnation of the Scorpions in 1973, with Buchholz on bass. Buchholz' first recording with the band was 1974's Fly to the Rainbow, and he stayed with the band for 18 years, recording 12 albums during the band's most commercially successful period. Together they sold over 15 million albums in the USA alone and over 65 million albums worldwide. For his success with the Scorpions, Buchholz was awarded with over 100 gold and platinum awards for record sales all over the world. He left the band after a disagreement over band management in 1992. His last album with the band was Crazy World.

Buchholz reunited with Uli Roth for a tour of Europe and the United States in 2005 and 2006. He recorded bass tracks for Dreamtide's 2008 album "Dream And Deliver" and is now a permanent member of their lineup.

In 2012, Francis Buchholz toured with former Scorpions member Michael Schenker for the European dates of his Temple of Rock Tour alongside former Scorpions drummer Herman Rarebell.