Francis Buchholz (* 19 February 1954 in Hanover; † 22 January 2026) was a German rock bassist, best known as the long-time bassist of the Scorpions.

Buchholz made his first appearance as a bass guitarist with his school band, Blue Carps, at his high school at the age of 15. In the following years, he played in various rock, blues, and jazz bands and completed his high school diploma. While studying mechanical engineering at the University of Hanover, he also attended jazz courses at the Hanover University of Music, Drama and Media. After being recognized as a conscientious objector, he completed his civilian service in social work at the Titus parish in Hanover.

In 1973, his band Dawn Road, consisting of Buchholz (bass), Uli Jon Roth (guitar), Jürgen Rosenthal (drums), and Achim Kirschning (keyboards), merged with the Scorpions, at that time comprised only Klaus Meine (vocals) and Rudolf Schenker (rhythm guitar). This laid the foundation for the Scorpions' worldwide career. The album Fly to the Rainbow was recorded later that same year. From 1974 to 1991, Buchholz recorded several more albums with the Scorpions: *In Trance*, *Virgin Killer*, *Taken by Force*, *Tokyo Tapes*, *Lovedrive*, *Animal Magnetism*, *Blackout*, *Love At First Sting*, *World Wide Live*, *Savage Amusement*, and *Crazy World*.

In 1978, he founded the company Rocksound, which provided sound engineering for major festivals in Germany and for tours by national and international artists during the 1980s and 1990s.
As the Scorpions' bassist, Buchholz achieved worldwide success. He and the band sold over 30 million records and received more than 50 gold and platinum awards worldwide, particularly in the USA and Canada.

He received the German Echo Award, the German Bravo Otto Award, the World Music Award, and other accolades. Mikhail Gorbachev received Buchholz and his bandmates from the Scorpions at the Kremlin in Moscow in 1991. In 1992, Buchholz and the Scorpions, for whose company Scorpions GmbH he worked as managing director, parted ways.He retired from public life and wrote the textbook Bass Magic.

In the 1990s and early 2000s, Buchholz worked as an artist consultant, artist manager, and music publisher.
In 2005, he made a comeback on stage, touring Europe and the USA with Uli Jon Roth, the former lead guitarist of Dawn Road and the Scorpions.

In 2008, he produced the album Dream and Deliver with the band Dreamtide, on which he played bass.
In 2012, Buchholz toured Europe with former Scorpions lead guitarist Michael Schenker, former Scorpions drummer Herman Rarebell, former Rainbow singer Doogie White, and keyboardist and guitarist Wayne Findley. They also performed a concert at the World Expo in Yeosu, South Korea.

In the spring of 2013, they embarked on a second tour of Europe and South America with the same lineup. The band was now called Michael Schenker’s Temple of Rock. In November 2013, they released a new studio album (Bridge the Gap), followed by the album Spirit on a Mission in 2015. Tours of the USA, Canada, Japan, and Europe followed in 2015 and 2016. In May 2016, they released the album Phantom 5 by a newly formed band of the same name, featuring Buchholz on bass and comprised of well-known German rock musicians, including rock singer Claus Lessmann.

Buchholz was married and had a son and twin daughters. He died in January 2026, four weeks before his 72nd birthday.

Scorpions - Blackout (Rockpop In Concert, 17.12.1983)

Scorpions - World Wide Live full album 1985

SCORPIONS - SAVAGE AMUSEMENT (1988) - FULL ALBUM

DREAMTIDE "Dream And Deliver" (2008)

 

R.I.P I grew up with "Scorpions"

 

I cant ignore this memorial part of the forum so i get remebered about dead every time i visit this website..