God.. Tony is such an underrated musician. Not fair, he's been at it since as far as I can remember when i first started listening to him in like '86-87. he is so talented, and always spicing up an otherwise world where few musicians like himself play so uniquely. When you hear MacAlpine, you know it's him because he has one of the most beautiful phrasings.
I took guitar lessons from Tony a while back. I've gone to so many of his shows over the years, solo stuff, CAB, Planet X. Played my guitar through his H & K rig. It was great.
The legend continues onward. The 7-string adds mysticism/malevolence to the tune, and the off-time motifs really help bring them out. Amazing how he gets that tone with the two humbuckers out-of-phase. No "twangyness" or shrill/scratchy highs. Just enough edge to keep it glassy and full-bodied.
That's true with one major caveat. Tony has been playing like this since the 80s. So he isn't one of the people that came to this late in his career. He is one of the true pioneers for this kind of thing.
Am a big fan of MacAlpine and luv the early albums. The recent stuff like this one is way too chromatic for me to the pt of sounding random at times. Maybe it's beyond me. This is even harder to follow then jazz.
aunque no lo vaya a leer y mas porque talvez no sepa español.. no me importa.. te admiro y mucho eres un exponente que merece ser aun mas reconocido en este asqueroso mundo.. eres increiblemente brutal... !
T-mac is one of my favorites...IMHO he is the most accomplished guitarist / pianist in the world. T-mac is Vai's pianist/rythm/lead player for the G3. His piano work also appears on Dave Weiner's solo album..."On Revolute"....( 5 star instrumental album by Weiner ). One song in particular...."Traces of Breath" takes me on an uplifting 'journey'. T-mac plays piano on it, and I did'nt even know it, until I read the album cover. T-mac is so under rated!
Spectacular ! Tony is one the very best on 6-7 & even eight strings ! Harmony & Technique is outstanding. I rip off his technique when ever I can ! I'm not ashamed to say it neither!
Tony...I've been listening to you since Insanity. It's your note selection, chord progressions and melodic content that has always made me listen. I also have to admit that while music is a listening experience first, your music has always had a cinematic aspect to it that I've thought was very cool. I like that there isn't someone singing...and telling me what the song is about. For me, the lack of vocals makes for a much more personal listening experience. Though I have MARS and EOTW as well.
Awesome Tony!!! You never let us down, especially with your solo records, throw on some phones crank it up and soar across the universe to uncharted musical galaxies!!!
I started listening to Tony MacAlpine waay back when lol, Edge of Insanity, got it when it first came out :) Project Driver, Planet X, he has always impressed and continues to inspire many.
@Sxrule Yeeeeeaaaaah! I loved "Maximum Security" and the melodic playing in there are awesome! And I´m getting real pissed at the drums sound here though, hahahah....Nice playing Tony, hope we hear more from you in the future!!
Brilliant! Man this takes me back to his first two albums. Awesome melody! I hope he continues with this style of playing. I can't believe Vai had a 3rd guitarist that was better than him! (jking, i love em both)
Last time I saw anything to do with Tony was in an old 80's guitar magazine when he had massive curly hair! Now he's playing 8 strings, awesome! Only thing I would like to hear more of is a couple of groovy riffs here and there to break up the constant soloing, get chugging! ha
Totally agree and also his solo album Master Of Paradise, which is criminally over looked. Some of his best playing on there and a great guitar tone too. The 1st Ring Of Fire album was scorching hot in all departments, but I felt this was absent from subsequent albums; it's like they threw everything into that first one and had nothing left. Oh and I wish I could find that Lost Treasures album from 1989. If anyone has this let me know!
Whaaaaaat no way, Blackmore is pretty much my favorite guitarist of all time! to do the shit he did back then? solo from Burn? Highway Star? all back in the stone age? jesus christ the man was an absolute genius
How bout we just listen to the music? It's not a competition, it's an art. If someone can play a guitar 100% accurately, awesome. In the end, whether or not he's 100% accurate is besides the point. How about this: if you like it - listen. If you don't like it, go.
You're forgetting The Who and Pete Townshend. He's the one who pushed distortion to a whole new level with Marshall amps, and Jimmy Page who came out with heavily distorted guitar. Jimi is one MAJOR piece of the puzzle (he did amazing things with his guitar) BUT there were so many other people who were influential in pushing rock/metal guitar.
I'd recommend the following because they're very diverse in how he plays: "Freedom to Fly" "MacAlpine" ( pretty rare, but I've seen a few songs on this site.. can find it easily tho on Ebay as it didn't really do well for some reason. It took me a while to warm up to it myself because I was expecting "Shredding" and this album doesn't offer that but it does offer great music). "Maximum Security" These are great albums, check them out! =-)
He could be your favorite guitarist of all time (and I didnt say blackmore sucks, I like him too) but Steve Hackett created tapping and sweep picking. Listen to Genesis: Dancing with the moonlit knight. That's the beginning of tapping and sweep picking. Keep in mind that song was released in 73.
he is like jimmy vai or steve hendrix, because he plays guitar perfectly just like vai, and hendrix because his,em,well you'll know jajja, tony macalpine, you are a genius
"Yea but who knows what level musically Hendrix would be today " He'd probably be doing what Jeff Beck is currently doing (i.e. playing the same old pentatonic Rock riffs with Fusion musicians).
Tony fucking ROCKS ! ! ! Such a BadAss Musician - so cool ! And. don't forget That Metal Show What a stand-in musician ! He's got my vote ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
Wasn't Fire Mountain a level too? The one where you fly around and pick up eggs and put them in the lava and have to keep the other players from stealing your eggs? Or am I smoking crack?
the statement wasnt based on how hendrix might play "today" - this would be purely hypothetical. hendrix is being judged on his style and music when he was at his peak
So, the phrase starting around 1.56 doesn't evoke any emotions?! I think you're speaking for yourself mate, to my ear it's powerful stuff. I've played for 35 years and think Tony's always worth listening to.
Gotta love LACS. Beautiful guitar brother. Have you noticed any difference in tone with the crunchlab being installed with the bar facing the bridge or away from the bridge?
Yes, I am speaking for myself. And the phrase at 1:56 doesn't do anything for me any more than any other part of this video does. Look, the guy is a great guitarist...I don't think anybody is disputing his abilities. It's just that nobody but guitar-heads and other shredders really care to listen to this stuff. No commercial viability.
Well if you think in terms of how much we progressed since Jimmi's time, how much more the technics, tricks and theory of it all has evolved, it's not a the dumbest comment, I mean sweeps were non existing at that time, Jimmi only picked down so no sort of speed picking there, they hadn't figured tapping out, no whammy bars, no concept of harmonies in third, no concept of palm mutting...yeah in sheer terms of what you can do with a guitar, this guy could make Jimmi seem less for untrained eyes
Hey guys, I wanted to let you know that this song inspired me to replay Diddy Kong Racing. I was having such a good time...and then I got to the coin challenges...
what video are you watching exactly? if it is macalpine,he hasn't missed a note in anything he has played that ive watched here?you must have left your headphones on with your iphone i guess.
I only really know Tony MacAlpine from Vai and Planet X, so what album would you recommend as the first for some like me to pick up? I typically like progressive rock and fusion, but I also appreciate good engineering, production and tone. So any recommendations?
Dont forget Steve Hackett. If we didnt have him Tony wouldnt exist (we also wouldnt have Eddie van halen, the Dragonforce guys, anyone who made their living tapping). Most of you people forget that heavy metal is a mixture of the heavy rock of Black sabbath, deep purple, etc + The british prog rock guys. They were the ones who did things like odd time changes, tapping, incorporating classical music into rock etc.
Psychofunk you should totally download "Maximum Security!" It has some of his best stuff including The King's cup and Hundreds of Thousands if you want to see the best video on here though you should check out "The Taker" and "Sophisticated Domination". I FUCKING LOVE YOU TONY!!!