UFO fan site Strangers In The Night reports:

"With the approval of Michael and other band members, Alan Walsh - a long time Michael Schenker fan and close friend of Michael - has asked to be interviewed by SITN, so as to have a platform for shedding some light for the fans on recent events.

All the questions will be answered by Alan without any kind of 'operational cover-up'. We will not patronize Michael's loyal fans, or even Michael's ex-loyal fans, by including 'propaganda' from outside sources. If there is a conflict between what Alan feels able to say out loud, and what he's been told in confidence, then those questions will not be answered. But apart from leaving out any confidential stuff, Alan's answers are his sincere beliefs, based on what he saw for himself, what he's been told by people he trusts, and what he knows."

The following is an excerpt from the interview:

Q: Regarding the recent US tour dates, which came to an abrupt end after twelve shows, reviews from those shows were generally very positive. And although the details haven't been made public, other members of MSG have written that the tour was badly managed, and they've absolved Michael of blame for the cancellation. Obviously with a string of cancelled dates already behind him, Michael got a lot of flak in the Trial By Message board which followed - undeservedly on that occasion, but understandably as people were never given the facts. The message board opinions - and there are plenty! - are divided between well-wishers who believe (or want to believe) that he can get help and then bounce back again - and people who are mocking him, calling him 'a drunk', 'a washed-up junkie', 'a tramp', etc etc etc, and that his career is over.

A: "Regarding opinions on message boards (and I've read plenty this week), many of them are irrelevant. They are born out of ignorance, judgementalism and a desire to kick someone when they're down. Absolutely ridiculous and sick behaviour! Indeed, there has been a story put out by (of all people) Dave Ling of Classic Rock, that Michael and Rudolph came to blows backstage. I can vehemently attest that this is a total fabrication. It never happened and is just plain 'tabloid journalism.' I've since heard that Ling heard it on 'good authority' that this incident had occurred, but no one in the Schenker camp was approached or asked about any such incident, thus, he didn't have it on 'good authority' at all. The same old sensationalism from those with no real stories to tell. Garbage really. The truth is, Michael never saw Rudolph at the Rock n Blues."

Read the full interview at Strangers In The Night.