First Time Reaction To Yngwie Malmsteen - Black Star 

"Yngwie is the most confident guitar player I have ever met" - Steve Vai

I'm jealous. I wish I could experience Yngview for the first time again!

When this album (Rising Force) dropped, many guitarist’s dreams were shattered.

I've got a funny if not humiliating Yngwie story for you. I lived in South Florida for half my life. In 1994, maybe early '95 I was with friends and we were going to go out to a club to watch a show. I had no idea who Yngwie was at the time. We get there, the place is packed. I get a beer and tell my friends I'm going to look for a spot for us all to see the show. There's a table up front and to the side of the stage with only one guy sitting there. He's wearing leather and a poet shirt, so I just sit down and he looks at me. I say: "Hey man, you in the band?". He replies, "What are you drinking?". I had a Guinness. He points to someone and requests that I have another. Then he got up, went on stage and melted my fucking face with his guitar playing. And that was when I met Yngwie Malmsteen.

Malmsteen is one of the greatest iconic guitar player in history..he's style playing is wild..strong classical oriented player..he is famously known as "The godfather of Neo-Classical"...truly gifted..amazing talent..genius..genuine..his rockstar pesona is so huge..many influential guitarist player in the world look up to him making him a legend and a revolutioner is music history..that is the greatness of Yngwie Johan Malmsteen

Yngwie is a lot of the best guitarists of today's inspiration. He is one of many Swedish artists who also became a icon. Sadly his personality does not reflect on Sweden very well. But his skill on guitar does, so maybe they weight each other out.

When he came out he made many guitarist go back to the drawing board and re-examine their playing..

There’s something ironic, I think, in that when you said “Jesus,” he was playing the first bars of J.S. Bach’s “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring.” From Bach’s “St. John’s Passion” Mass.

Check out: Crystal Ball, Rising Force, Heaven Tonight, Dreaming, and Faster Than the Speed of Light.

Here's a funny anecdote about Yngwie Malmsteen: in the mid eighties with USA foir Africa and Band Aid releasing charity records, it was Metal legend Ronnie James Dio who decided that the metal community should also get involved resulting in the "Hear N Aid" program and a song called "Stars" The song featured not only the best of eighties metals vocalists but also their most ripping guitar players, which included Malmsteen. Anyway, while the recording of the song's guitar solos was filmed they had interviewed David St. Hubbins of the spoof band Spinal tap and he went "When I heard this Yngwie Malmsteen guy I almost threw my guitar away, I mean what's the use?" Before continuing by saying "I love how he puts the emphasis in the J in his name 'Yngwie J Malmsteen', so you don't confuse him with all the other Yngwie Malmsteens out there." Now back then, Yngwie had a name for being difficult and having a really short fuse and while Hubbins was interviewed, Malmsteen overheard him and people were going "Oh no, this means trouble!" But Malmsteen was a good sport about it and laughed at the joke.

I just say it "ing" (like Bing without the B) Vay Malmsteen. Worked 2 of his shows at the Culture Room in Ft Lauderdale.. once by himself and once with Tim "Ripper" Owens. His primadonna-ness was readily apparent. He bitched a lot about the size of the club.. he was not used to playing small clubs. Hes a major Diva but when the time comes he puts on a great show.

I witnessed him playing this song in person in 2016. He closed with this song in the Ryman Auditorium. I literally cried. Probably because I had 90$ worth of kamikazes

In a sea of so many gifted guitar players, Malmsteen is one of the few who have their own unmistakingly signature sound.

I like your analogy. Steve Vai makes love to his guitar, Yngwie fucks it lol. Yngwie, Marty Friedman, and Jason Becker were my foundational shred influences. In high school my best friend and I spent the whole summer learning to play his entire rising force album. Those were the good ol’ days practicing 6-8hrs a day.

This is from his debut solo album WAY back in 1984 or so. This man has singlehandedly influenced hundreds of thousands of guitarists the world over. His musical influence and impact on the neo-classical and power metal world, maybe contemporary music in general, CANNOT BE OVERSTATED!

I will always remember the first time I heard Yngwie. It was Black Star on the Guitar Player magazine sound page… a flimsy vinyl cut out that was sometimes included in the magazine…. It was a life-changing event for me…

You made me feel very old man... I’ve been listening to Malmsteen for 40 years. I’m glad you “get it” If you like this neo classical style, check out Uli Jon Roth. He is the father of this modern style. Peace🤘🎸

The album this is on literally changed my life. Its what got me into classical music and for that I will be eternally grateful

The first time I heard Yngwie was at High School around 1992 hearing the Trial by fire live album. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I was playing guitar for four years already, you know, chords and copied solos. Since that moment on I spent months searching for info about guitar scales. There was no internet at the time.

Yngwie and vai were touring together last year, Yngwie was the absolutely boss in 80's

I saw him open for Iron Maiden in Jacksonville Florida in the mid 80's.It was truly a night to remember .I was at the front of the stage when he walked offstage and came back with 2 ice cold Heineken and tossed one to me and said you are the only on old enough. I looked around and realized everyone else was like 15 to 16 years old.

MAESTRO Malmsteen. This is one of the best guitar performances on RU-vid, all categories.

Eeeng-vae J. Malmsteen Been following him since he arrived on the scene at 18 yrs old. They stuck him w/an American band Steeler then transitioned to Alcatrazz before going solo! He was the guy to start the entire metal/classical movement of the 80’s! The clones followed in droves after him!🎸

OMG!! There's life outside America!! A fourty years long career, and you are discovering Yngwie right now...

Dude introduced Neo-Classical metal to the world. Others were doing it, but he was the first to make it popular. You might notice that he is playing classical (namely Beethoven) guitar and mixing it into his own music in the intro .Before he went solo, he played for Steeler (check out Hot On Your Heels for a great intro) and replaced Steve Vai (Yeah, that STEVE VAI) in Alcatrazz. Ron Steel of Steeler later became a Country artist known as Ronnie Lee Steel. Neo-Classical became a third branch of metal at the time along with blues-based and punk crossovers.

AKA, The Stratocaster Master. He was my favorite guitarist growing up in the 80's. Still is. One of the few I know who plays a scalloped necked.

Suggestion anaalyze THE HALL OF THE MOUNTAIN KING by Savatoge its from the same time frame another deep track that meets the standards

Yngwie Malmsteen is "The Maestro". A Virtuoso. A pioneer of the guitar Neoclassical shredding and composing. You'll be surprised that every other famous guitarist, especially of the old school, knows who Malmsteen is and they have great respect for him - Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Michael Romeo, Paul Gilbert, just to name a few. Some of them were actually inspired by him and provoked to step up their game. Here's some fun facts. Satriani once said about Malmsteen: "Joe Satriani: Yngwie Malmsteen loves to play guitar, and he's really good at it. I know this from personal experience. I've stood right next to him on many a stage, shoulder to shoulder, trading solos, celebrating our influences, taking chances, playfully testing each others limits and putting on a great show for our fans. At the end of every performance I was sure of two things: Yngwie is an amazing guitarist, and that there is only one Yngwie Malmsteen. Let's face it, every guitarist wishes they could do what he does with those six strings and a pick, but what he does is not only super human, it is undeniably unique and original too. There are imitators, some with equal proficiency, but none that can match the heart and the confidence behind his virtuosity. The last time we played together was at Marshall's 50th Anniversary Concert at Wembley Arena in London on September 22nd, 2012, and I think it was the best I'd ever heard him play. Yes, he's getting better! I was on stage just behind the curtain warming up with my guitar as I listened to Yngwie enthrall the audience with his impeccable and furious technique. But it's his passion for music that really lights everyone up in the audience up. It's the fire burning in those hands that make every note scream. He puts all of who he is, no excuses, no apologies, into every note and every sound he makes on his guitar. There is only one Yngwie Malmsteen." A few things that Vai said about Malmsteen during the years: “I’ve known Yngwie since he came to America,” he replies, “and I think that people are intimidated by his confidence. He’s so confident in what he does that maybe he comes off as cocky sometimes. I think to know Yngwie is to really, really like him, but to not know him is to think maybe he’s pretty self-centred.” "Yngwie - we go back, geez, 35 years? Something like that. He was in that band Alcatrazz and when he left I wound up joining and replacing him. So we were always running into each other and we actually became friends. We’ve been supporting each other through the years, and then I toured with him on the G3 tour. And it was fantastic. Then when this came along, I reached out to him and he was really very interested. So we have all known each other, some more personally than others but now it’s a team." "I know Yngwie and I know how intense he is. Yngwie doesn't compromise. There are no excuses. He plays the way he feels is appropriate for him. He's got a lot of energy and a lot of passion. When you're going to work with someone like Yngwie you've gotta know this and you've gotta let them just cut loose and do his thing, you know? Some nights it was more than others. When you accept that you can enjoy it. The jam at the end, everybody knows what's going on. You let him do his thing and there are a lot of people that find it very entertaining and very cool. So, there's that :)

Thsnk you got this take man. I played lead, a while back before people knew who he and other guitarists today know of, and copied all of them. I remember playing this song so many times, but you are just being taught a lesson by people who are great like him. Some talents just practice like hell like Michael Jordan, this musician is the same way. I remember blood on my strings from my fingers learning. This artist is one of a few who taught me structure and to branch out at the same time. Doesn't matter where you are from, it's about making the right choices, even in music.

The master! AKA "El Maestro". You should see him play a concert where he fronts an orchestra That first guitar wasn't just an acoustic, it was a friggin 'nylon string acoustic' and those strings are so damn slippery, which makes them even more difficult to play. You should hear "Far Beyond the Sun" (and many more) His "Rising Force" album is a flawless and perfect masterpiece , 'Black Star' is the first song on that album, on the album he plays an intro that sounds like a keyboard, you'll think it's a keyboard, but it's not, it's Yngwie tapping on the fret board (pronounced 'ing-vay malm-steen) Iv'e seen him play live a few times, i got one of his picks. He basically invented this 'neo-classical-metal genre. He's the best

It is pronounced “Ing-vay” Malm-steen.

Haha this guy is such a showman, you gotta love him... dripping with gold jewellery, sash around the elbow, long shaggy hair, supreme confidence, facial expressions, power... oh and he can play crazy as! I assume the audience knows the song. I guess with that technique and abilities, this guy could play anything. He’s certainly musical... kind of reminds me of Bach the way he waves his arm i the air , and played Bach’s air on G string on the acoustic. Even his name Yngwie J Malmsteen is similar to Johan S Bach... hmmm and his music has lots of classical scales. I like the reaction too haha comparing Steve Vai too. Yea nice. I’m not sure this music is my cuppa tea but you gotta respect this guy... he’s mastered this genre of music and the guitar... oh and I presume he’s successsful business wise since he’s performing as a professional 😀

Yngwie malmsteen-let the good times roll

When I first experienced his Adagio I was about to cry ❤️

(Ing-vey Malm-steen) He lead the neo-classical metal movement, back in the early 80’s. He’s the guitarist all the other guys in his ilk were striving to emulate. Before his solo career, he was the guitarist in the band, “Alcatrazz”. Seeing him live is a spiritual experience.

A gazillion Guitar Player magazine covers tell you how important he was to the speed metal movement... Number one in that genre

Try "I'll see the light tonight", "I'm a Viking", , "You Don't Remember...I'll Never Forget"

Black Star was Malmsteen first hit, and what a hell of a hit that was!!!

the intro was from Air on theme. what a legend

He actually played with Vai and Satch in a G3 concert in Denver.

The white Fender Stratocaster, he plays & also on the frontcover was on , used to belong to Jimmi Hendrix

If i am correct, the original is not this dramatic and yet still so intense.

Been listening to him since 84

One of the few guitarists that uses a scalloped fret board. Now You are going to have to look that up.

if you like shredding guitar - try - tony MacAlpine - hundreds of thousands.

You've tapped into greatness! I haven't researched his guitar training, but I have to think prodigy or virtuoso.

I gotta add that malmsteen is for sure one of the greats...and that Steve Vai was correct in his statement that he is very confident in himself

I'm black and a drummer from the 70 and 80s anybody that played guitar was dead in the water. I heavy metal drums.he is well beloved.

Yngwie is pronounced ING VEE I watched him live years ago when he came to Myrtle Beach SC. He's a real showman.

If you ask me (you didn't but I'm gonna say it anyway) The pioneers for the instrument in popular music, and cultivating the art in modern times are in order: Django Reinhardt Dick Dale Jimi Hendrix Eddie Van Halen Yngwie Malmsteen Yea, I could include tons of other players who have just as much / significant influence , and I love them just the same, but these 5 , IMO, took the guitar to new levels . Yngwie is definitely THAT IMPORTANT in the evolution of modern day guitar .

The best comparison of Vai to Malmsteen I've ever heard: "Vai makes love to his guitar, Yngwie just fucks it". Brilliant :joy:

his first name is pronounced Ing Vey. The Y sounds like a soft I. Swedish, like German pronounces their W like V. His last name is pretty easy, just like it's spelled Molm Steen. A god of neo-classical metal, Yngwie lives and dies in the harmonic minor scale, which is just the natural minor with a raised 7th. But it makes a huge difference in tone. Really enjoyed your reaction to his playing. Among shred-heads Yngwie is legendary.

I hate to be picky and you tried so hard to pronounce his name right but ......you forgot to check the spelling. 😉

Legend has it, hes been wearing the same leather pants since 1987. They expand and contract with his weight. Lol!

3:07 - 4:00 - johann sebastian bach - aria on the 4th string - "this is not the orthodox way, this is the way he plays it)

He made me want a Fender Strat and I don't even play the guitar. Cream with a white pickguard and all silver knobs, tuners, etc. just to put on my wall and appreciate like a painting right next to my Goldtop Les Paul.

“Ing-way” .... best way to learn his name. Look him up in a band called Alcatraz with the song “Lost in Hollywood”

I sometimes wonder how great a more mainstream record would sound and sell? Like actually catchy songs with awesome powerful chorus´s and verses and great vocals and lyrics that arent so freaking hard to make sound good when singing. I dunno exactly what I mean here, but like just great hardrock songs. Does anyone get how I mean? Yngwie is a far far far better guitarist than a songwriter I think. Like some songs he wrote with Graham Bonnet in Alcatrazz (I assume that Bonnet co-wrote many songs). Combine good songs with the amazing guitar play of Yngwie. Am I the only one who would find that interesting? Now I KNOW Yngwie does his own thing and writes in a style he wants and would never sell out, but the last 30 years his songs and music sounds the same more or less and it gets boring fast. My favorite Yngwie album still is Marching Out. It had GOOD songs. I guess Im saying more songs, little less guitar.

Johann Sebastian Bach was the greatest composer ever.

Ing vea Malm steen with an American Accent or Ing ga vea mam steen pronounced like a Swedish person would. Notice the smooth switch of the picks around 8:13, doesn't even miss a note getting new pick. He opened for Iron Maiden back in the day, I think it was the Somewhere tour.

Buckethead makes this man look like he needs to go practice. And I absolutely love Yngwie Malmsteen... Yngwie worked almost all of his leads off of three fingers. Buckethead and cabs. Absolutely ridiculously over-the-top amazing. They are both amazing guitarist but if I had to pick one it would be Buckethead every single time without a doubt without a question. The two guitarist simply can’t be compared. They’re in different paradigms.

You know you're watching someone special when you can say "Jesus Christ" and "goddamn" in the same video!

Black Star is in my Top 5. And his confidence level puts him at a Master Level. Your facial reaction is the best...lol. He took you to another place at the beginning. A place where only an accomplished musician on an acoustic guitar could take you. Then he shot you across the universe through space and time with his electric guitar. And Vai? LOL...Another Master Class Musician!

You should see the G3 show, Steve Vai with Yngwie trading licks... There's video of them doing Black Star, together. AMAZING.

Stuff from his second album "Marching Out" has a real 80's Dio vibe to it. "Disciples of Hell", "I Am a Viking", "Don't Let it End"

Far Beyond the Sun is my favorite instrumental by him.

Yngwie the one magic ♡

I've watched this man for many years, and the only way I know how to describe his talent is "He's the Neil Peart of guitarist" Straight up the goatiest of all G.O.A.T's

My favorite players are *1 Mr Joe 'the alien' Satriani..such a cool dude! And #2...Mr.Steve Vai...Joe's #1 student.Stevie ray Vaughn is also there and greatly missed..I hope to meet him and Edward in Heaven, my great eternal home.Steven Casady

Check out "Heaven tonight" with Joe Lynn Turner singing Joe from Germany

In the same neo-classical vein of music, you should check out an artist named Tony McAlpine who is a master of piano and guitar. "Edge of Insanity" would be a good intro.

Love the dog on the front row - 5:20 ;-)

I grew up listening and learning Yngwies stuff..hes awsome!!wow you just mentioned for the love of god..lol..great analysis between Steve and Yngwie..make live and f@#k..you got it.. Hey check out Nuno Bettencourt..one of my favorites of all time..hes got some serious right hand techniques with funk rhythms along with killer leadwork..Yngwies Swedish and Nuno is from Portugal..Nunos also the guitar player for Rhianna

I'll see your Yngwie Malmsteen and I'll raise you a Guthrie Govan.

The entire intro I was saying wait for the electric 😆

Got it! ("ing-vay"*) BTW, the Wikipedia article on the name Yngwe (alternate spelling) is interesting 😝 Metalheads know about Yngwie. Welcome (again) to the fam! 😎🤘 Of the super-virtuosos, his style is my favorite because of the neo-Baroque influences and, as you said, he rips. (As Daryl Van Horne quipped to the uptight cellist he was trying to button down musically, and otherwise, in The Witches of Eastwick: "Precision is the soul of passion.") Just saw that The Onion wrote a satirical headline: "Yngwie Malmsteen Officially Changes Middle Name To 'Fucking'" lol

I watched him play this song with Steve Vai live; My life is complete.

Malmsteen is technically proficient but I still think his music sucks. Can't explain why, it just doesn't move me.

YNGWIE MALMSTEEN with the Japanese orchestra

I find it interesting to see black people reacting and listening to this kind of music I grew up with, like the stereotype is hip hop and rap for black people. So excluding Kings X and Living colour, What black artists can we find that are from this level of guitar based rock. And I dont mean Prince as he isn't really a metal player.

One of my favorites by malmsteen the enfant terrible

There is a 3:30 minute intro of a song called “Hot on your Heels” by the band Steeler than solidifies the greatness of Yngwie for sure

Ing-Vay Malm Steen! Took me DECADES to get it right, don't feel bad. Just enjoy the SHREDDING!!!

he said never heard of Yngwie as one of the best, is like saying never heard of Mike Tyson in 2002....! Yngwie been out for years and years. Google G3, they all play together - Satriani, Malmsteen & Vai - playing Hendrix ;)

Hi. I am glad for this video as for me Malmsteen is the best guitar player, setting new standarts for playing this instrument. I also recommend you to listen to Buckethead, especially the live show back in 2012. I also recommend Babysaster, a masked female guitar player, playing the guitar error free and so effective. A third recommendation from me is Andy James, especially the contest winner solo. I wish you the best.

Welcome to Yngwie's world friend. :)

Check out also Don't let it End, You Don't Remember, and the whole of 2 albums with JOE LYNN TURNER former singer for Rainbow

Hey check out the G3 concert with Yngwie Malmsteen, Joe Satriani and Steve Vai, you can pronounce his first name as Ingvey

Nuno Bettencourt is a other technical guitar god you might like. He toured with Rihanna for a few years when his band Extreme was on hiatus. You'll dig his style 🤙🏾

another great reaction

Reaction or not, you should get the CD Rising Force and listen all the way through. This song is the first. This album was nominated for a Grammy, and should have won. Yngwie said that when they announced his name and got it wrong... he knew he hadn't won.

Love my INGVAY! Commercial placement killed it for me and just pissed me off.

I LOVE Yngwiewigweeienngie!!

There's the right way to do music, then there's the wrong way. Then there's the Ynwie!

You say it like eengvey malmsteen. Seen him live. It was stupid crazy

Check out Zakk Wylde doing Voodoo Chile on the acoustic guitar w Les Paul's Trio. Mindblowing

He made many people quit, or go back to straight up blues, the fast picking was new to the genre , jazz and country guys had been doing it but he was the first rock guy to do it.

You need to check out Michael Angelo Batio. Invented and plays a double guitar, a true left and right handed guitar at the same time.

Another great guitarist,.not in the metal genre, is Chet Atkins. Country, but still incredible. Often wonder what he would have done with a metal riff.

Seen him 3 times, even front row, and the dude rips! I got a string he ripped off of his guitar and a pick at one show...prized possessions!