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The Scorpions, the German metal band whose biggest hits include "Rock You Like a Hurricane" and "Wind of Change," will no longer be stinging.

The band, which has been together in one combination or another for more than 40 years, announced Sunday it will be breaking up. They're in no rush to go, however: besides a new album, "Sting in the Tail," due out in March, the band is embarking on a three-year world tour.

"We want to end the Scorpions' extraordinary career on a high note," the band said in a message on its Web site. "We are extremely grateful for the fact that we still have the same passion for music we’ve always had since the beginning. ... We finish our career with an album we consider to be one of the best we have ever recorded and with a tour that will start in our home country Germany and take us to five different continents over the next few years."

The Scorpions' current lineup consists of Rudolf Schenker - who founded the group in 1965 - Klaus Meine, Matthias Jabs, Pawel Maciwoda and James Kottak.

In its history, the band became as well-known for its suggestive album covers - particularly some early releases, which were designed by Hipgnosis - as its hard-driving rock 'n' roll. After years of touring, the group broke through to the mainstream in the '80s thanks to "Rock You Like a Hurricane," which helped the album "Love at First Sting" go double platinum.

Other albums include "Crazy World," "Pure Instinct" and "Moment of Glory," the latter of which was recorded with the Berlin Philharmonic.