Yngwie Malmsteen FAQ

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions . . .

Q. On e-Bay there are a lot of CDs called "Birth of the Sun", and also "Fire In The Sky." They all say that it's a new release of Yngwie's songs before he came to the U.S. Are any of these albums an official release?
A. Yngwie's management says: "These are bootleg collections of old rehearsal tapes, which an old Swedish bandmate of Yngwie's has had in his possession for all these years. This is NOT a real Rising Force album and is not being released with Yngwie's knowledge or permission. It is of about the same quality and legitimacy as the large number of "Early Demo" tapes which have circulated for years from Yngwie's early days. Don't be fooled into thinking this is an official release. With the renewed interest in Yngwie this past year, some people are just trying to cash in on his name."

Q. I found an MP3 on Napster called "Over the Rainbow," that says it's by Yngwie. Is it really him?
A. No. You can't trust anything you find on Napster or similar music file-sharing sites. The track "Over the Rainbow" is by Chris Impelliteri, on his 1988 album "Stand in Line."

Q. Where can I buy Yngwie's CDs and videos? They aren't carried in my local music stores.
A. Yngwie's CDs and Japanese back catalog are available from Spitfire Records. In Europe, Yngwie's CDs are released on the Dream Catcher label (previously Music for Nations). The early Polygram/Polydor recordings can usually be found on the general music sites like CD Now or Amazon. Yngwie's videos are mostly distributed in Japan, but we hope that will be changing soon. Our Buy Yngwie Itemssection has a listing of some online music import sites that you can check to see if they still have copies of the videos or CDs you are looking for.

Q. What is the 2-CD set called Yngwie Malmsteen's Young Person's Guide to the Classics? Does Yngwie actually play on it?
A. This is a compilation of classical pieces by composers who inspired Yngwie when he was growing up. No, he does not play on it and he has not arranged any of the pieces. If you are looking for a collection of classical music by Yngwie's favorite composers, you might want this. Otherwise, he has no input into it.

Q. What are Yngwie's favorite things?
A. Fans keep asking about Yngwie's fave food, cars, music, etc., so click HERE for a long list.

Q. When and where was Yngwie born?
A. Yngwie was born on June 30, 1963, in a suburb of Stockholm, Sweden.

Q. Are there other Official Yngwie Web sites besides this one?
A. Yes. Yngwie's official Webring, "The Ring of Fury," contains numerous Yngwie-related fan sites. To join the webring or see the list of sites in it, go to the Contents page of our site and click on the Ring of Fury graphic. Yngwie's authorized Japanese website is Yoko Miyazaki's Mega Fan Site, which is also listed in the Ring of Fury webring.

Q. What does the "J" in Yngwie's name stand for?
A. The "J" stands for Johann.

Q. How do you pronounce Yngwie's name?
A. The Americanized pronunciation is "ING-vay".

Q. Did Yngwie take formal guitar lessons as a child? Where does his musical knowledge come from?
A. Amazingly, Yngwie is self-taught. His sister, a classically trained flautist, taught him most of what he knows about classical music and composers. He listened to hundreds of classical albums as a child and absorbed the styles and structures of the masters like Vivaldi and Bach. He had some formal lessons in how to read and write music, but the incredible skill he exhibits on the instrument came out of his own determination and innate musical talent.

Q. Why does Yngwie's lineup keep changing? Shouldn't he keep the same band for every album?
A. Yngwie says, "You have to understand that as a solo artist, I record under my own name, not a group name with a fixed lineup. For each new project, I assemble the best performers available to fit the album's material. Some players carry over from one album to the next and others don't. Often it depends on how they work out on tour--performing live is very different from studio recording. My band is a "touring orchestra," really. They interpret my music and sometimes contribute ideas to it, but they don't create it. As such, there are always going to be changes--the only constant is me. The band on any given album largely reflects where I'm at myself... the kind of music I'm creating for the album and the kind of sound I'm after."

Q: Does the Japanese version of the "Concerto Suite" album contain any extra songs? Is it different from the European release?
A: No, the music on the CD is exactly the same for all releases. The packaging may differ, depending on which release you buy. The so-called "24-bit Arton" version is just a different mastering of the same music. It is a conversion of the original multi-track version to a high-quality 2-track version that is standard for classical recordings. Most listeners won't be able to hear the difference, unless they can discern a slightly different balance between the guitar and orchestra.

Q: How come the Mercury Records version of "Facing the Animal" doesn't list the band members who played on the album?
A: The band member info was accidentally left off (on the CD liner only; the band is listed on the tape cassette liner). You can find out all about the band for this album in theBANDMATES section of our web site.

Q: Where can I find Yngwie's Concert Suite album?
A:The album was released in Japan on Feb. 4, 1998 and quickly sold out its original printing. It was re-released by Spitfire Records in 2000.

Q: How can I order Yngwie's Play Loud 3-part instructional video series?
A: Check in the Buy Merchandise section of this website for online import music sites that might have copies.

Q. Where can I find the live 1994 Japanese Budokan concert video?
A. The video "Live at Budokan '94" was released in Japan in July, 1994 in limited amount, and quickly sold out. However, you can check with any of the online music sites listed in the Buy Merchandise section of this website to see if they may have a copy or two.

Q. How can I get a copy of Yngwie's first album, "Steeler"?
A. Write to Shrapnel Records and ask for info on "Steeler" (number SH-10007): Shrapnel Records, P.O. Box 1755, Sebastopol, CA 95473, USA. If you're online, you can visit their website.

Q. Who is in the current band lineup?
A. Check in the NEWS FLASH, BANDMATES, or DISCOGRAPHY sections of our website for that information. It's usually different for each album.

Q. How did Ms. Fury (founding member and fan club puzzle master) get her name?
A. She took her name from her favorite song "Fury" on the "Trilogy" album. It also describes her sometimes fiery personality!

Q. Is Yngwie an atheist or a believer in black magic? His early songs seem to suggest it.
A. Yngwie says he used to be interested in the occult when he was a teenager. He studied about it out of curiosity, but he was never actually a practitioner of black magic. Says Yngwie, "I was just very much into the fact that there are a lot of unanswered questions about life and the universe. Some of my lyrics use occult imagery, and some are about questioning religion, especially when they try to tell you they have all the answers. I'm a very spiritual person, even though I don't follow any particular organized religion."

Q. Who are the family members Yngwie always thanks in the liner notes of his albums?
A. Rigmor Malmsteen is Yngwie's mother, Bjorn Malmsteen is Yngwie's older brother, Lolo Lannerbeck is his older sister, and Lennart Lannerbeck is his father.

Q. I have read somewhere that Yngwie Malmsteen is not his real name. If that's true, what is it?
A. Yngwie was born Lars Johann Yngve Lannerbeck. When his parents got divorced, his sister Ann Louise (Lolo) kept their father's name, and Yngwie and his brother Bjorn took their mother's maiden name of Malmsteen. He also dropped Lars and shortened the whole thing to Yngwie Johann Malmsteen, changing to a somewhat more Anglicized spelling.

Q. Where does Yngwie get his stage clothes, like the braid-trimmed jackets, pants, and ruffled shirts?
A. Most of Yngwie's clothes are custom made by a designer named Ray Brown of Phoenix, Arizona. He designs clothes for many well-known music celebrities. He has been working with Yngwie for nearly 10 years. Usually Yngwie sends him a sketch of what he wants, and Ray makes it up and mails it to Yngwie. This can be tricky when Yngwie's on the road and needs something ASAP!