After more successful world tours, in 1981, while recording Blackout, KlausMeine lost his voice. Not wishing to stand in the way of the band's success,Klaus Meine wanted to pull out. But the unshakeable friendship between RudolfSchenker and Klaus Meine and the close and supportive relationship within theband allowed the seemingly impossible to happen. After lengthy vocal retrainingand two operations on his vocal chords, Klaus Meine overcame the trauma. Andthat was not all: in 1982, he re-emerged with a much increased vocal range. Onecritic wrote: "They have given Klaus Meine metal vocal chords." The band'sdecision to stand by their lead singer through this troubled time later provedto be the most crucial the SCORPIONS ever took in the their entire career. Itwas Klaus Meine who in 1989 composed their smash hit Wind of Change.In 1982, on their second US tour as headliners with Iron Maiden as support act,the SCORPIONS promoted their groundbreaking album Blackout, with Helnwein'sstunning sleeve design. The single No One Like You and the Blackout LP reachedthe US Top Ten, the LP was voted Best Hard Rock Album of the year and awarded aPlatinum Disc. One hit followed another, and in the 1980s the SCORPIONScaptured the hearts of hard rock fans around the world.