FOREVER MAN

THERE ARE A HANDFUL OF LEGENDARY, GENRE-DEFINING GUITARISTS WHO ARE INS TANTLY IDENTIFIABLE BY THEIR FIRST NAME ALONE: JIMI, EDDIE AND ANGUS, FOR EXAMPLE.

ARGUABLY THE MOST immediately recognizable name of all is that of Yngwie, the man who invented an entire genre of music known as neoclassical rock. Yngwie J. Malmsteen’s astounding technical ability and unprecedented approach to virtuoso guitar playing set the bar to a previously unimaginable level when he was first heard on record in 1983, on the self-titled debut album from American heavy-metal band Steeler.

For those old enough to remember, Malmsteen’s initial appearance in the U.S. press was in Mike Varney’s “Spotlight” column in the February 1983 issue of Guitar Player. The tape he submitted to Varney has surfaced on YouTube and serves as a sobering example of the difference between a great guitarist and one who is truly gifted. The 19-year-old’s style was already fully formed and unlike anything else that came before it. Critics will sometimes try to point to some of Malmsteen’s influences, such as Ritchie Blackmore, but his playing and chops were from another universe.

At the time of his emergence, the undisputed god of all things shred was Eddie Van Halen. Remarkably, Malmsteen rapidly became as influential as Eddie, and was copied by many — from players who threw a few harmonic minor runs into their solos to imitators who appropriated his technique wholesale. The copycats are considerably fewer these days, but Malmsteen’s 1984 debut album, Rising Force, remains one of the definitive go-to shred albums of all time.

Malmsteen is currently promoting his new release, (Rising Force). Early is a testament to his ability to take songs like the Rolling Stones’ “Paint It Black” and Eric Clapton’s “Forever Man” and make them his own. In addition to playing all the instruments, Yngwie sings all vocals, as he has since 2016’s . His voice has continued to develop with each release, making the final product an even more personal statement.