Disrespectful behavior of guitar virtuoso Yngwie Malmsteen: Graham Bonnet recalls being walked over and lewdly mimicked on-stage during a performance.
In the world of heavy metal, the band Alcatrazz made a significant impact with their debut album, "No Parole From Rock N' Roll," released in 1983. The band, led by English singer Graham Bonnet, featured a lineup of seasoned musicians, including former Alice Cooper drummer Jan Uvena, who replaced Clive Burr after he left the group.
The band's debut album was co-produced by Paul Stanley of Kiss and featured a relatively unknown guitarist, Yngwie Malmsteen. Malmsteen, who was only 19 years old at the time, worshipped Ritchie Blackmore and brought a fresh, energetic sound to Alcatrazz.
However, Malmsteen's tenure with the band was short-lived. During the touring phase, a disagreement escalated, with Malmsteen exhibiting poor stage etiquette. The situation reached a boiling point at a US show, where Malmsteen accused Bonnet of pulling out the cord of his guitar during a solo, while Bonnet insisted it was an accident. A crew member intervened and threatened to break Malmsteen's neck if he continued the attack.
Following this incident, Malmsteen was fired from Alcatrazz and apologized for his behaviour. He was replaced by Steve Vai, an emerging guitar talent who had previously played for Frank Zappa. Vai contributed to the album "Disturbing The Peace" in 1985 before leaving to work with David Lee Roth.
"Disturbing The Peace" was well received by critics, with standout tracks such as "Island In The Sun" and "Hiroshima Mon Amour" co-written by Bonnet and Malmsteen. After Vai's departure, Alcatrazz's trajectory declined, and they released one more album, "Dangerous Games," featuring guitarist Danny Johnson, before splitting up in 1987.
Bonnet, who had scored a solo hit in the UK with the song "Night Games," later claimed that Malmsteen was no longer the "crazy" person he was as a young man. The two musicians eventually made peace with each other.
Yngwie Malmsteen went on to enjoy a successful solo career, while Steve Vai became a highly respected guitarist, known for his work with artists such as David Lee Roth and Whitesnake. The short-lived collaboration between Malmsteen and Alcatrazz remains a fascinating chapter in the history of heavy metal music.
References:
- Yngwie Malmsteen - Wikipedia
- Alcatrazz - Wikipedia
In the realm of pop-culture, the heated dispute between Yngwie Malmsteen and Graham Bonnet during Malmsteen's time with Alcatrazz became a notable event, as it marked the end of his brief tenure with the heavy metal band. After Malmsteen's departure, celebrity guitarist Steve Vai took over, and his contribution to Alcatrazz helped shape the music industry.
