KNAC Interviews

KNAC Interview

Nov. 7, 2000

"Yngwie J. Malmsteen: Looking Into The Light" by Blake Kuehn, Contributor, Thursday, November 09, 2000 11:26 AM

Exclusive Interview: Axe-Master Yngwie J. Malmsteen Discusses The Ups and Downs Of His Career, With KNAC.COM Correspondent Blake Kuehn

If you happened to grow up in the 1980's and were somehow lucky enough to con your parents into buying you an electric guitar - like I did - there were some staple songs that you tried to learn while posing in front of your mirror. Any aspiring rock star like myself HAD to learn at least the opening riff to Ozzy's "Crazy Train" in addition to the signature opening of Van Halen's "Panama" and the first few chords of "Stairway to Heaven." You should have heard me attempt "Stars" off of the Hear 'N Aid album. It wasn't pretty. All of these songs were and still are standard fare for young guitarists - and all uniquely influential - but the songs were more notable for the sum total and not necessarily for the individual elements comprising the tunes.

The 1980s saw a new revolution in the way the guitar was viewed by musicians and critics alike. No longer was it an instrument that was narrowly defined by Arena Rock, Cock Rock, Heavy Metal and whatever. It was redefined into a precise weapon - capable by itself or otherwise - that broke the boundaries of mere conventionality by pushing the envelope of its capabilities. And the man who can truly claim to be the first to have wielded this great weapon is one Yngwie J. Malmsteen.

It's been 17 years since the speed-fingered Swede graced our American shores with his operatic Paganini-On-Acid approach to guitar playing. Over the span of his career thus far he's played alongside such notables as Joe Lynn Turner of Rainbow and Steve Vai. Never losing sight of his creative vision, Yngwie has continuously produced album after album of solid musicianship staying true to what he does best - songwriting. November marks the month that Yngwie's newest release, War To End All Wars, is unleashed to the guitar-hungry masses who have been starved by the inundation of phat beats and dope-ass jams. In his typical fashion, Yngwie has crafted yet another inspirational and influential piece of work that can appeal to all with an appreciation for music - not just for guitar fanatics alone.

I caught up with him by phone while he was in N.Y. amidst a maelstrom publicity tour to promote his new album. He was jet lagged and I was hung over. It made for a fun conversation.
KNAC.COM: After seeing the video for "I'll See The Light Tonight," I promptly went into my room and decided that spinning a guitar around must be easy. I spun it into the back of my head. Thanks Yngwie.
YNGWIE: (Laughs) Yeah well, it took me a long time to get there without getting injured or having guitars flying all over the place.
KNAC.COM: So are you in New York just for the dedication at the Hard Rock Cafe?
YNGWIE: No, I'm actually here for a very, very hectic schedule of promo. Being signed to Spitfire, they're really pushing hard - I'm doing it from like 9:00 in the morning until midnight, four days in a row. Before I was here, I went to Japan for a few days of extremely intense promotion - then London, Paris, Milan, Munich, and Stockholm.
KNAC.COM: So you're a little tired huh?
YNGWIE: Yeah.
KNAC.COM: Spitfire's re-releasing a good chunk of your catalog but only material that was released after you left Polygram.
YNGWIE: Yeah, they're doing Seventh Sign, Magnum Opus, Inspiration, (and a few others). On top of that, they'll be releasing my brand new record worldwide, War To End All Wars, on November 21st or 22nd.
KNAC.COM: It's been over 17 years since the first Steeler album. How do you feel your playing has progressed, specifically how War To End All Wars differs from albums like Magnum Opus or Marching Out?
YNGWIE: There's obviously a red string going through. That's a Swedish saying that says there's some sort of logic behind the whole thing. Steeler can't be counted because I was hopping into this band that was quite run-of-the-mill. But with Alcatrazz I at least got to write all the songs on that. If I were to draw a whole across the board thing is that I've (gotten better) at songwriting, composing, and arranging. As far as solo lead playing, it's probably more technical than ever. I just feel more matured in my playing. I can imply more emotions and everything. I feel very - how do you say - fluid?
KNAC.COM: Over the course of your career, you've worked with around 33 different musicians between touring and the studio. You're kinda like a one-man Spinal Tap. Why do you work with so many different people?
YNGWIE: (Chuckles) It's like this. I write ALL the music. Even when I've worked with some really great people, it's always been my music, my compositions - it's always been my vision. Sometimes (some) personnel did not work out, sometimes it was other things. Sometimes it was just time for a change. It's really relevant of course.
KNAC.COM: What has been one of the most memorable experiences of your career?
YNGWIE: Obviously the most incredible event was me relocating to America (in 1983). I had just turned 19. That was of course an extreme event in my life. Everything changed. I sent a tape to Guitar Player Magazine and Mike Varney (Shrapnel Records) worked as sort of a scout for this spotlight column. Every month three guitar players were featured. So I figured, "Okay, I'll send my tape in." He called me back right away. He was talking about me doing some solo records using various musicians and making it a real guitar thing. Then - apparently - he sent my tape around to a bunch of people and one of them that sent me a letter was the band Steeler. The way they described their level of success; I was very impressed. They talked about all the equipment they owned, how many shows they did a year, and all that. So I figured that it would be the better thing for me to go ahead and go with a band that had something going and do the best I can in that situation and try to make a name for myself and then go somewhere.
KNAC.COM: Once you progressed past Steeler, past Alcatrazz, and into Rising Force, what kind of direction were you heading in the latter part of the '80s?
YNGWIE: 1987 was a shitty year - a lot of bad things happened. (There were) car crashes, earthquakes and the absolute most worst thing was my mother's death. I was a very confused and unhappy person. I think my writing suffered because I think I didn't give it 100% whereas on the Trilogy record - that was 100%. After that everything bad happened and the record turned out to be floppy and unsuccessful. Odyssey was a very successful album but it was an album I didn't like then and I don't like now but it has value to some people and that's what matters. (But) there were some really great songs on that album.
KNAC.COM: Since it was one of your more commercially successful songs, do you still perform "Heaven Tonight" live?
YNGWIE: I have to make an excuse for writing that song. Back in the late '80s, there was a very, very clear formula. If you wanted to get on the radio, if you wanted to get on MTV you had to write a song like that. And that's what I did. Whereas now - in this day and age - there's no such thing as a formula. "Heaven Tonight" served a purpose and that's all I can say about that.
KNAC.COM: Since the musical playing field is so different now - especially with the over-saturation of rap metal and one hit wonders - how are you and your record label planning on dealing with this?
YNGWIE: I can't give you a list that (Spitfire's) planning. Their plan of attack is so overwhelming that I couldn't believe it when I was reading it. It's so extensive and all over the place I had live interviews with two of the most important radio stations in New York. It was a really great feeling. We started playing some of the new songs and then took some phone calls. One guy called in and said, "I've never heard of you but that was some serious kick-ass metal. I'm gonna go buy that album." To me, that was very encouraging. You're not going to hear me do rap metal. That's not going to happen. If I can be successful on my own terms, that's obviously the goal.
KNAC.COM: One last question, what do you think of former Steeler bandmate Ron Keel's exploration into country music?
YNGWIE: No comment.

KNAC.com's Ad for the Live Chat Event:

November 7th marks the return of the legend. Yngwie Malmsteen is back in N. America after a long hiatus with a his strongest and heaviest album to date, W ar To End All Wars. Yngwie Malmsteen is arguably the most technically accomplished hard rock guitarist to emerge in years. Combining a dazzling technique honed over years of obsessive practice with a love for such classical composers as Bach, Beethoven, and Paganini, Malmsteen's distinctively baroque, gothic compositional style and lightning-fast arpeggiated solos rewrote the book on heavy metal guitar. Spitfire Records will also reissue several key titles from the Yngwie Malmsteen’s catalog including three records, never before released in North America as well as five vital reissues. The catalog albums contain new and improved artwork, liner notes and photos. Produced by Yngwie, War To End All Wars features lead vocalist Mark Boals, keyboard player Mats Olausson and drummer John Macaluso.