Lucky bugger! I wonder how Angus and Malcolm felt after seeing him for the first time. It was the Fly on the Wall tour, and Angus was at his peak then, imo.
Oh finally!!!!!!!!! A proper Yngwie thread where we can discuss the mans music and not resort to comments about his weight or how he doesn't play with any feeling I am a huge fan. I first caught wind of Yngwie when I turned on MTV one morning and saw Graham Bonnet fronting a band called Alcatrazz. The song was "Island In The Sun." I thought the keyboards sounded like a bad 70s porn soundtrack, but when the guitar solo came around - whoa! Who is this guy? After some digging, I realized he was someone I read about in Guitar Player magazine via Mike Varney's column. Since then, I have purchased every album and saw him close to 30 times in concert. In 84-85, I cut school many times trying to learn the songs off the first two albums. I started to cool off around the time of Eclipse - I honestly thought he started to lost the plot around then. However, I really liked Fire And Ice, which I think is a very under rated album of his (despite making poor Goran Edmond sing WAY out of his range.) And yes - the man is pretentious as hell I saw his wife April blow drying his hair in between songs, his wife Amber bringing him a glass of wine and then sitting on the stage while he played "Forever One." I saw him throw a fit and walk off the stage, threatening not to come back unless someone with a camcorder was removed. Topless woman at the Capital Theater, Passaic N.J. 1985 (yes, you read that correctly.) Although I consider everything up to Trilogy his best work, I really have a soft spot for Alchemy. This album could have been released right after Trilogy and no one would have batted an eyelash. "Leonardo", "Blue", "Wield My Sword." all good stuff. The follow-up, War To End All Wars has some great songs, but suffers from what may be the worst mix and sound quality of any pro level release, ever. It's a real shame that following Perpetual Flame and Relentless, Yngwie took his totalitarian approach to a whole new level. These days, he is basically a one man band. Spellbound and World On Fire are all him - vocals included and what sounds like a bad drum machine. I really wish he would assemble a proper band, because the music suffers as a result of this. I realize I am jumping all over the place. These are just some of my first thoughts after seeing the thread title. I will be back!
I get triggered when I read/hear that from people, I mean his playing is nothing BUT feeling, imo!? (well, with additional notes cascade...) He's the feeling-est guitar player I've ever heard!! Awesome anecdotes jhonny q, thanks for your input!
I remember in the early 80s my friend was transcribing the solos of an LP of a band called Steeler. He said the music sux but the solos are just amazing. Had pages of Yngwies solos transcribed. Something new at the time. Of course this crowd dug Uli and saw where Yngwie came from but he brought something new to it. He just never progressed. Uli and Ritchie did. And Yngwie's somewhat defensive relationship with Hendrix shows a glaring achillies heel. Eddie Van Halen is the same way. Both Eddie and Yngwie wanna be top dogs. So they can't give Hendrix his true due in the liniage. Even with old age they can't speak of Hendrix's influence in the overall in the way it is. Which is iconic and lastingly important. Hendrix wrote songs that will last and his whole package is just something that few will ever touch.
I guess my mention of Hendrix was more in the pantheon of electric rock players in the room. He's kind of always lurking. So, when Yngwie and Eddie can't give him due it's kind of an oversight by them, i guess. We all like different stuff but sometimes an artists influence can't be denied. Whether we dig 'em or not. On my end, i don't think Yngwie ever wrote a memorable or good song? He' s more of a player rather than a songwriter. It's too bad he couldn't find a set of musicians that he could fit in with do his thing, his part and have them do their thing, their part and make some memorable records.
Malmsteen made one listenable record... the ST album. Everything followed... a pain to listen to an egocentric musician.
This may seem odd, but my introduction to Yngwie J. Malmsteen took place a few years ago through a Sega fan message board, of all things... As someone who'd exhausted the relatively limited catalogues of the SST Band, B-Univ, Crush 40, Hardline and Axel Rudi Pell, I remember asking fellow members for any recommendations in this general style, with one name appearing more than any other. Curiously, the very first "piece" of his that I recall hearing was an extract from a Young Guitar tutorial DVD that had been uploaded to YouTube, specifically a segment where he is shredding while showing off an impressive collection of what appeared to be every last vintage Fender Stratocaster to have existed in faded Olympic White, complete with Ferrari stickers and heavily scalloped necks! I think one of the first actual songs YouTube automatically suggested to me was something from the live performance of Concerto Suite for Electric Guitar and Orchestra in E Flat Minor Op. 1 (!!) with a full Japanese orchestra, followed by the Young Guitar version of Arpeggios from Hell. I wasn't just intrigued - I was already hooked. To this day, my favourite album remains the CD variation of his Concerto, which I'm sure not going to write in full again, since it's one of the few discs that I can entirely listen to in the background while I'm working. Anyway, that's my contribution to this thread, and long may ol' Yngwie Johan continue unleashing* his distinctive brand of neoclassical fury! *I always thought it sounded like he said release as opposed to unleash in the now-infamous audio clip I'm referencing here, but who am I to argue with such a legend?
I don’t understand the Hendrix comments as he has gushed about him for 35 years now. Played countless Hendrix covers and says in every interview that Hendrix is the reason for him picking up a guitar. It’s Uli who he fails to give credit to.
I got off the train earlier than most of you. Loved the first two Rising Force records but thought he lost the plot at Trilogy.
I got to meet Yngwie back in the old timey metal days (1985). This was around the time of Marching Out. He was at KNAC and stopped to talk to the metalheads on his way out. I use to have his autograph from that day. But I lost it years ago.
I went with a friend of mine and we both went to see Yngwie. I wasn't a huge AC/DC fan, but I tried to convince him to stay for the whole show. After all, its all rock n roll, right? Well, after 15 minutes of AC/DC, he had enough. I was a bit pissed off, because to this day, I've never seen an audience react to any band the way the 16,000 fans reacted to AC/DC that night. It was continuous frenzy and energy and I have no doubt it continued well beyond the 15 minutes, straight till the end that night. It was just the band and the open stage. No fire breathing dragon or elaborate stage show (popular at the time). You could feel the floor and your own body vibrate. It was a sight and sound I've never seen or felt since. I wonder what Yngwie might have felt and took away of Angus and the band. I know I gained a new level of respect.
I’m not the biggest fan in the world (really like the debut and Trilogy to a lesser degree) but the man fundamentally changed rock guitar. You have to respect that. As a side note, it’s amazing to me how many people won’t admit the scope of his influence.
When the first Rising Force album was released Yngwie announced he would mix more commercial releases with more serious neo-classical releases. I haven't heard all of his albums but are there any album's that comes close to the self-titled? Please refrain to respond if your answer is NO.
Is that the Euro original that is quiet and you can't crank but soundd accurate? Sorry i only have the one copy. Just listen to more soul & blues and you may get Jimi.
