I saw Yngwie play in Memphis. I also met him backstage. I was the only one who bought the $400 VIP package. Not only was he and his guitar tech super nice and accommodating, Yngwie simply played his ass off. Im talking a jaw dropping performance. Even my gf was impressed. I dont know how elder Yngwie is now but as a performer and guitar virtuoso, the man is ageless.
$400!!!??? Wow, I'm not judging. I'm just glad you had a killer time. The older I get, the more I appreciate Yngwie. Really excellent interview.. Nice job.
I don't know about you, but I remember paying premo bucks to see bands like the Eagles who for the same amount of money 30 years ago was for just general admission. At least with Yngwie, you get to meet the guy. I would seriously be tempted to pay $400 to meet Yngwie.
Well worth the clams just for the experience. I also got some picks directly from the Man himself, merchandise package, was shown around backstage, got to strum his guitars, check out his amps, and was offered to peep my head out and look out at the crowd from on stage, but I chickened out (I'm shy). :)
Edit your post to include decimal point you meant $4.00 obviously. Yngwie's career is sadly at its lowest point ever - selling very little and playing to small audiences, doing everything album wise himself (rather than pay out for good musicians, co producer, top studios, etc as he has done in the past), and with a live band that are basically Spinal Tap Mark II with ridiculous stage set up, etc. If he has to sell $400 VIP packages to try pull in money and people are willing to pay that then why not especially as ''Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.'' and his career looks highly unlikely to pick up much.
On the 2019 tour when he came on stage I actually did a double take. It was like seeing late 80's Yngwie... super slim, young looking... I was like "am I actually seeing Yngwie?"
how come people say so many bad things About him he's a nice guy down to earth would love to sit in a room with him listen to his playing and learn from him you're the greatest maestro 😊🎸
yngwie has definitely humbled himself over the years and seems super cool, laid back, and down to earth.... He seems like a really cool dude these days.... and of course just a phenomenal player... who else can match that vibrato??? Hail YJM!
Seen him at the dallas guitar show I think it was back in 2010 or 2011...he and his management were walking to sign autographs...he walked right past me I half to say just his presence was overwhelming...a true guitar God!!!!
You hear about how much of an ass he's supposed to be and everything. But I don't think that's the case at all. He seems very down to earth, but uncompromising. That can come off wrong with many people that has a big ego, but to me, his attitude is just perfect. He serves the muse100%. What I mean by that is that he serves the music he hears in his head as honestly as humanly possible without maing any sacrifices or compromises. Now name me someone who's had that much sucsess doing just that. Like it or not, he's had as much an impact on the world of guitar as Hendrix, Van Halen or any other famous guitar player, in some ways even more. Yngwie rocks! (Great interviewer too btw, use him more often!)
Gusrid The Guitar Player I think he threatens people with his skill. He also doesn't play that false modesty that a lot of players use to get that "I'm like one of you" thing that soothes the ego of weak-minded listeners. He's good. He knows it. We know it. He plays the part.
kungfuman82 You got it! He's not like us. He changed guitar in a way never done by anyone else. His legacy is astounding. And I'm not even a fanboy, I just recognize and appreciate greatness when I see it. Also, false modesty is horrible. It's okay to as you say, know that you're good and play the part. Having an ego isn't negative either. I think it's about having a healthy relationship with ones ego. I'm sure Yngwie is very humble though, just not in a way that's acceptable amongst small people. I've noticed my self that unless I'm SUPER friendly, people will tend to think I'm an egocentric ass. Like I have to behave in a certain way so that other people will be comfortable with me being good at something. It's pathetic and small minded. I guess it's that which separates winners from losers ☺
There is no smoke without fire as they say! Yngwie is more diplomatic now in interviews because his following has diminished so much he probably realizes he has to be now. Many musicians and actors, etc learn with experience or come across as less crazy or arrogant when older than they were when young. In the past he has said silly things, and negative things about other musicians and players, etc and numerous incidents didn't help his reputation - ''I don't like doughnuts'' (video on here), unleash the fury on flight, flatulence incident live on stage, etc. Before they worked together live, even Joe Satriani said ''he's an asshole, and it is widely known in music circles he is just an idiot.'' As for as much impact as Hendrix, EVH, etc? Not true, not even close actually. But sure Yngwie was influential especially in the 1980's to metalheads in to technical playing. In a 1000 years time EVH & Hendrix will be remembered but Yngwie? Sadly no chance! He won't be remembered then as a player or songwriter/composer. Out of the big players today e.g. Eric Clapton, Slash, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, etc = Yngwie sells the least and has the smallest following with e.g. much less social media likes. Players like Satch & Vai left that 80's metal image behind but Yngwie never did. No major record label (that have Clapton, Satch, VH, etc) especially in U.S., U.K. etc would touch Yngwie now.
What a great Interview he didn't ask Yngwie the same questions that are the Norm on his interviews. It's refreshing to hear him talk about something different. I'm sure Yngwie gets tired of having to repeat himself.There's only so many ways to answer the same questions after so many years in the Business.
Cool laid back interview. Saw Malmsteen and Joe Satriani in Edmonton back the day for the Dream #11 tour when Yngwie was the special guest. Always have loved that guy. Warts and all.
Great interviewer! YJM is pretty cool. I saw him in 2006-7 and he was truly versatile and a freak. THROWING his guitar 12 feet in the air, catching it in time to finish a solo? NOBODY does that shit!
Hurray for Yngwie ! Great Interview too . Beautiful player he certainly is -and that Strat-Marshall combo yum yum. Also check out Bill Frisell another of my favourite players from other part of the musical spectrum.
Got too see Yngwie J. Malmsteen on the US Tour in Kalamazoo, Michigan and it was fantastic! I've been a long time fan since 1984 , Glad to see he is in top form! He sounded great and the band was exceptional! Rock on!
Phenomenal Player...not my preferred style but i bought Rising Force when it came out so i suppose i owe Yngwie a debt of gratitude to introducing me to the neo classical style...very humble guy...if there was no Yngwie there would be no Tony McAlpine ,Vinnie Moore, Chris Impelitri, Dave Chastain or Joe Stump
Yngwie is so great! Yngwie Malmsteen, Van Halen, George Lynch, Akira Takasaki, and Steve Clark needed to get together back in their primetime to make the worlds most heavy instrumental music!
Has Yngwie mellowed over the years? This interview was very laid back, not like his earlier interviews where he sounded self-centered. This one felt like you were sitting at a pub, knocking back a pint and chatting up a storm. Yeah interviewer was really good, might have something to do with how Yngwie went about it.
I would like to see Yngwie form a band. I think a good band would be (a bit on the Purple side), Glenn Hughes, Chad Smith, David Coverdale and perhaps a keyboardist. I think the songwriting would improve with Glenn writing too, and the band sound would be more 3D. I love Yngwie’s tone. It’s sweet.
Great interview!! Very interesting!!! Not the same boring questions as "Why do you use scalloped fretboard??" or "What are your influences??". Very nice job!!! I appreciate!!!
just love how malmsteen express himself about the sweep picking; "i don't do sweep picking by the way ,thats not how its done".without explaining anything either xD
jonathan robinson he’s gotta be denying it for some reason. His technique has been analyzed countless times. There’s no way he’s alternate picking on those 3-4 string arpeggio sequences
He just doesn’t care about correct names of the picking technique. He also might understand it differently but what matters the most (for him) is it sounds the way he wants it. Watch his video ‘play loud’ he explains it there. Let’s leave the correct naming of technique to us, the spectators. Let the performers perform.
You want to sound like YJM? Well you will need to have the right genes and practice day and night and yes, do theory. The man also possessed passion and persevered with a relentless attitude. As Richie Blackmore said "he is the best at what he does."
hmm. maybe i am wrong but yngwie sounds really down to earth. maybe after all these years it might be the interviewers that caused him to act like mr. ego..splendid interview btw.
Well he’s a self taught guitarist and probably does not want to be bothered by music terminology. I still have Yngwie’s VCD lesson and he did mention economy picking but not really explain it thoroughly. He’s one of the guys who care only to sound good (good vibrato, accurate bending, and clean fast runs) instead of correctly naming stuff he plays. Troy Grady explains Yngwie’s technique better than the man himself. I’m not attacking you just trying to give you some answers. Cheers.
How many guitarists have created a genre or style? Clapton, Hendrix, Van Halen, ... Malmsteen... the guy literally created a signature style of playing, in a very competitive environment. .. people get hung up on the fact that he was a little arrogant? ?
Don’t get me wrong, I’m a huge Yngwie fan. But the California scene had heard the whole neo-classical thing way before Yngwie arrived. I mean, Randy Rhoads had exploded onto the scene with Ozzy, left his mark & was dead by the time Malmsteen showed up. I’m not saying that’s where he got it from.. but he was by no means the first
Randy Rhoads had some classical influences, just as Blackmore or Uli. But noone did it even close to the amount as Malmsteen did. Just because Randy Rhoads played some Harmonic Minor scales before Yngwie arrived doesn't mean LA had heard "the neo classical thing". Yngwie was way more extreme and yes, first in the way he did it. He was all in Neo classical. Have you heard Yngwies demo from 78? 15 year old blasting out neo classical all over it.
Yngwie absolutely DOES do sweep picking for the downward motion. On his 3 string arpeggios he 100% is doing a 3 note sweep. On his 5 string arpeggios he is doing 4 down strokes for the ascending notes. Then some alternate picks for the descending notes. Not sure why he is trying to deny it.
@@RonPro-u1t Yngwie is notorious for talking BS. He's also stated in interviews that every Marshall in his wall on stage is plugged in. Total BS. If you know anything about Yngwie's playing then you'll know that he uses sweep picking for his one octave arpeggios. Watch my "Yngwie Malmsteen sweep picking demonstration" video and you can see closely my right hand. Or watch and close up video of Yngwie. Beyond any doubt, he uses sweep picking. The G, B and E strings are all picked using one downward sweep. This is just a fact.
The thing that puzzles me is he only uses 2 heads and 2 4x12's. Yet he carries dozens of real Plexi heads and loaded 4x12's, loads them in and stacks them up at very expensive shipping and handling costs. Very wasteful.
What a fake negative guitar sound !!! Rather you dont see it yourself? Make sound like - surf guitar rock cool positive joyfull - for workout fitness sport drum.n.bass styles etc not for drugs!
Sure he is boring. No progress in the last 20 years of playing, always the same boring speed licks, the same boring chords. Is there something more to say ?
Micheal Achenbach you absolutely right,all I hear when this fatso play is fast loop of guitar doodling going up and down the neck.what's left is a fat dude with ugly ass blouse ,or whatever he have on with only one button buttoned up and his belly spewing out.what a joke this guy is.
For what should I do RU-vid vids dude? The tone is the meanest thing in playing a guitar, not boring shredding like Yngwie does. Look at Santana, Clapton, May, BB King, just to name a view.
At what time? When this was published, Hendrix had been dead getting on for 50 years. And had only had about 3 years in a situation where he could get his music out. If you’re going to make statements like that, at least make sense.
