- published: 18 Dec 2012
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Alcatrazz is an American heavy metal band formed in 1983 by Graham Bonnet, Jimmy Waldo and Gary Shea.
The band's initial line-up consisted of former Rainbow frontman Graham Bonnet, young Swedish guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen who had recently left American band Steeler, Gary Shea and Jimmy Waldo from New England and Clive Burr of Iron Maiden fame. Burr was reportedly only in the band for a week, and left upon discovering that the band was going to be based in the United States, as opposed to his native England. Burr was soon replaced by former Iron Butterfly drummer Jan Uvena, who had just left Alice Cooper's backing band. Shea dubbed the group "Alcatrazz". For the first album, the bulk of the material was written by Bonnet and Malmsteen, with Waldo contributing writing to several of the tracks.
Yngwie Johann Malmsteen (/ˈɪŋveɪ ˈmɑːlmstiːn/ ING-vay MAHLM-steen; born Lars Johan Yngve Lannerbäck on 30 June 1963) is a Swedish guitarist, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and bandleader. Malmsteen became known for his neo-classical playing style in heavy metal. Steve Huey of Allmusic stated that, "Yngwie Malmsteen is arguably the most technically accomplished hard rock guitarist to emerge during the '80s."
Malmsteen was born Lars Johan Yngve Lannerbäck in Stockholm, Sweden, as the second child of a musically-talented family. At age seven, he saw a television news report on the death of Jimi Hendrix, an event which had a profound impact on his musical path. Malmsteen, however, has stated that Hendrix had no musical impact on him, but on 18 September 1970 he saw a TV special of Hendrix, where he smashed and burned his guitar, and Malmsteen thought: "this is really cool". To quote his official website, "The day Jimi Hendrix died, the guitar-playing Yngwie was born".
At the age of 10 he took his mother's maiden name Malmsten as his surname, slightly changed it to Malmsteen, and Anglicised his third given name Yngve to "Yngwie". Malmsteen created his first band "Track On Earth" at the age of 10, consisting of himself and a friend from school on drums (Armin). Malmsteen was a teenager when he first encountered the music of the 19th century violinist composer Niccolò Paganini, whom he cites as his biggest classical music influence. Ritchie Blackmore and Uli Jon Roth are also cited as being significant influences, as is Brian May of Queen.
Steven Siro Vai (born June 6, 1960) is an American guitarist, songwriter and producer who has sold over 15 million albums. After starting his career as a music transcriptionist for Frank Zappa, Vai recorded and toured in Zappa's band for two years, from 1980 to 1982. He began a solo career in 1983, has released eight solo albums and won three Grammy Awards. He has also recorded and toured with Public Image Ltd., Alcatrazz, David Lee Roth and Whitesnake. Vai has been a regular touring member of the G3 Concert Tour which began in 1996. In 1999 Vai started his own record label Favored Nations, intending to showcase as he describes, "...artists that have attained the highest performance level on their chosen instruments."
Vai began playing guitar in 1973, at the age of 13. In 1974, he took guitar lessons from guitarist Joe Satriani and played in local bands, one of which was called "The Steve Vais". He was influenced by guitarists including Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, Brian May, Jimmy Page, Glen Buxton, and jazz fusion guitarist Allan Holdsworth. Vai attended the Berklee College of Music, afterwards recording a promotional piece for them in which he spoke about auditioning for Frank Zappa at age 20.
Metallic Live 1984 -- Alcatrazz (w/ Yngwie Malmsteen)
Alcatrazz - God Blessed Video
ALCATRAZZ - ISLAND IN THE SUN
Metal Mythos: ALCATRAZZ
Alcatrazz (w/ Steve Vai) -- Power Live (Tokyo, 1985)
Alcatrazz Guitar Solo Medley 1984 Yngwie Malmsteen Kree Nakoorie
Alcatrazz - Hiroshima Mon Amour (1983)
Alcatrazz - No Parole From Rock 'N' Roll 1983
ALCATRAZZ (1/28/84 Tokyo) Suffer Me
Alcatrazz - Hiroshima Mon Amour [HD]
See the man in the busy street He's almost incomplete He takes his pleasure in strange ways And the lady of the library She's just like you and me You wanna know her at all She takes the train up to the great big city She knocks the door and steps right in He's just a fool that someone likes to pity They work it out in the house of sin
Night Games They pay for their night games They were two lovers They dont use names It says in the rules I's strictly for the fools To play night games They pay for their night games Always play one last frame Games of the night
Every room has a different scene Everyone has a different dream They make it any way they choose You can get anything you need Anyone at the price agreed And it's up for grabs for you to lose It's entertainment for the lost and lonely A cabaret for those who dare Full entertainment of the one and only It's got to be if it gets you there
Night Games They pay for their night games They were two lovers They don't use names It says in the rules It's strictly for the fools To play their night games They pay for their night games Always play one last frame It says in the rules It's strictly for the fools Night Games