Guitar legend, Yngwie Malmsteen, is set to release his brand new album, Tokyo Live, on April 25 via Music Theories Recordings. He recently spoke with Music Radar about the album and his evolution as a guitarist over the past 40 years. Following is an excerpt from the chat.
Music Radar: Talk to me about the difference between playing and performing. You famously said you didn’t practise.
Malmsteen: “I want to hear it as if it is a performance. I remember growing up hearing people doing scales, up and down, vocal scales or piano scales, flute or violin. My brother played violin. And it was cool because I knew they were doing it to warm-up, but, to me, even if I played in my bedroom, and there was no one there but my cat, in my head I was performing.”
“It’s weird. It is a lot of mental positioning, being a musician, a composer, or any sort of artist. Do you practise the mechanics or do you wanna practise your ability as a performer? Which is not (all) pre-set things. It is, ‘Step over the fucking cliff and see what happens.’ You have to take risks! And then, you go, ‘Wow! That needs more whatever.’ When you go into an improvisational thing, you want to go explore those things that you are maybe not amazing at. It’s a mindset.”
Music Radar: If things are too comfortable they become automatic, robotic.
Malmsteen: “I am in the studio right now and I’m writing stuff. I won’t brag but I can write anything I want. Just tell me what you want. You want death metal in C? Okay, here it is. A little country and western thing? Reggae, blues, whatever, I can do that. It’s just building blocks. That’s what it is. It’s like LEGO. But is it inspired? Probably not. But when you sit and improvise, or someone’s on TV and you have to run upstairs and record it, that’s the magic. To practise something, I mean, I have written parts in my set that, I guess, you could call demanding in a way, but they are not really demanding to me because they are (already) written. I know what they are! I’m not going out on a frozen lake wondering if I’m going to fall through. I know it’s solid. I know it. Whereas, if it’s an improvised intro, an improvised section, guitar solo or whatever, it is a complete blank slate. That to me is the magic and the challenge, and probably why I’m still in doing this.”
Read the complete interview via Music Radar here.
Malmsteen recently launched the video for “No Rest For The Wicked” from the upcoming release. Watch below:
The incomparable Malmsteen is one of the greatest guitarists to ever have lived. So, when the chance comes to witness the maestro in the live setting, you take notice. This mesmerizing spectacle can be witnessed on Tokyo Live.
The concert was recorded at the Zepp DiverCity, Tokyo on May 11, 2024 as part of his 40th Anniversary World Tour. Calling upon an enormous catalogue of material, Malmsteen shredded his way through a furious set, backed by a mountainous Marshall stack wall.
Talking about the live experience, Malmsteen says, “Playing live in front of people is really what it’s all about. It’s exciting and dangerous because you have to take risks and there’s no fixing afterwards.”
Malmsteen’s breathtaking technique takes centre stage of the 100 minute concert whilst being cocooned by exquisite musicianship throughout. The setlist tracks Malmsteen’s illustrious career, from “Hiroshima Mon Amour” and “Evil Eye” and through his remarkable solo career with “Rising Force,” “Far Beyond The Sun,” “Arpeggios from Hell” and “Seventh Sign” all the way up to his most recent material taken from 2021’s Parabellum, with “Wolves At The Door,” “Relentless Fury”, (Si Vis Pacem) Parabellum,” and not to mention rousing renditions of “Paganini’s 4th” and “Smoke On The Water.”
The name of Yngwie Malmsteen has always stood for uncompromising excellence. In a career that now spans more than 40 years he has proven himself to be a unique artist. You can try to categorize him in any way you wish. But the manner in which this supreme Swedish craftsman has continually developed his music makes Malmsteen sublimely transcend any definition you attempt to impose.
He now has a catalogue of 22 solo studio albums, each of which has much to commend. Malmsteen’s artistry has always clearly incorporated a healthy virtuosity, but his talent goes well beyond a comprehensive control of the guitar. The man is a fine composer and, on recent releases, has also showcased a strong vocal presence and now, with only this fifth live release, it captures four decades of relentless fury and blissful artistry of one of the true greats.
Available formats:
– CD+DVD
– 2LP
– Digital
Pre-order here.
Tokyo Live tracklisting:
CD1
“Rising Force” (Live)
“Top Down Foot Down” (Live)
“No Rest For The Wicked” (Live)
“Soldier” (Live)
“Into Valhalla” (Live)
“Baroque & Roll” (Live)
“Like An Angel” (Live)
“Relentless Fury” (Live)
“Now Your Ships Are Burned” (Live)
“Wolves At The Door” (Live)
“Hiroshima Mon Amour” (Live)
“(Si Vis Pacem) Parabellum” (Live)
“Badinere” (Live)
“Paganini’s 4th” (Live)
“Adagio” (Live)
“Far Beyond The Sun” (Live)
“Arpeggios From Hell” (Live)
CD2
“Seventh Sign” (Live)
“Toccata” (Live)
“Evil Eye” (Live)
“Smoke On The Water” (Live)
“Trilogy-Vengeance” (Live)
“Cadenza 1” (Live)
“Brothers” (Live)
“Fugue” (Live)
“Cadenza 2 – Grand Finale” (Live)
“You Don’t Remember I’ll Never Forget” (Live)
“Acoustic Cadenza” (Live)
“Black Star” (Live)
“I’ll See The Light Tonight” (Live)
“Top Down Foot Down” video:
The post YNGWIE MALMSTEEN – “I Can Write Anything I Want; You Want Death Metal In C? Okay, Here It Is” appeared first on BraveWords - Where Music Lives.
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Music Radar: Talk to me about the difference between playing and performing. You famously said you didn’t practise.
Malmsteen: “I want to hear it as if it is a performance. I remember growing up hearing people doing scales, up and down, vocal scales or piano scales, flute or violin. My brother played violin. And it was cool because I knew they were doing it to warm-up, but, to me, even if I played in my bedroom, and there was no one there but my cat, in my head I was performing.”
“It’s weird. It is a lot of mental positioning, being a musician, a composer, or any sort of artist. Do you practise the mechanics or do you wanna practise your ability as a performer? Which is not (all) pre-set things. It is, ‘Step over the fucking cliff and see what happens.’ You have to take risks! And then, you go, ‘Wow! That needs more whatever.’ When you go into an improvisational thing, you want to go explore those things that you are maybe not amazing at. It’s a mindset.”
Music Radar: If things are too comfortable they become automatic, robotic.
Malmsteen: “I am in the studio right now and I’m writing stuff. I won’t brag but I can write anything I want. Just tell me what you want. You want death metal in C? Okay, here it is. A little country and western thing? Reggae, blues, whatever, I can do that. It’s just building blocks. That’s what it is. It’s like LEGO. But is it inspired? Probably not. But when you sit and improvise, or someone’s on TV and you have to run upstairs and record it, that’s the magic. To practise something, I mean, I have written parts in my set that, I guess, you could call demanding in a way, but they are not really demanding to me because they are (already) written. I know what they are! I’m not going out on a frozen lake wondering if I’m going to fall through. I know it’s solid. I know it. Whereas, if it’s an improvised intro, an improvised section, guitar solo or whatever, it is a complete blank slate. That to me is the magic and the challenge, and probably why I’m still in doing this.”
Read the complete interview via Music Radar here.
Malmsteen recently launched the video for “No Rest For The Wicked” from the upcoming release. Watch below:
The incomparable Malmsteen is one of the greatest guitarists to ever have lived. So, when the chance comes to witness the maestro in the live setting, you take notice. This mesmerizing spectacle can be witnessed on Tokyo Live.
The concert was recorded at the Zepp DiverCity, Tokyo on May 11, 2024 as part of his 40th Anniversary World Tour. Calling upon an enormous catalogue of material, Malmsteen shredded his way through a furious set, backed by a mountainous Marshall stack wall.
Talking about the live experience, Malmsteen says, “Playing live in front of people is really what it’s all about. It’s exciting and dangerous because you have to take risks and there’s no fixing afterwards.”
Malmsteen’s breathtaking technique takes centre stage of the 100 minute concert whilst being cocooned by exquisite musicianship throughout. The setlist tracks Malmsteen’s illustrious career, from “Hiroshima Mon Amour” and “Evil Eye” and through his remarkable solo career with “Rising Force,” “Far Beyond The Sun,” “Arpeggios from Hell” and “Seventh Sign” all the way up to his most recent material taken from 2021’s Parabellum, with “Wolves At The Door,” “Relentless Fury”, (Si Vis Pacem) Parabellum,” and not to mention rousing renditions of “Paganini’s 4th” and “Smoke On The Water.”
The name of Yngwie Malmsteen has always stood for uncompromising excellence. In a career that now spans more than 40 years he has proven himself to be a unique artist. You can try to categorize him in any way you wish. But the manner in which this supreme Swedish craftsman has continually developed his music makes Malmsteen sublimely transcend any definition you attempt to impose.
He now has a catalogue of 22 solo studio albums, each of which has much to commend. Malmsteen’s artistry has always clearly incorporated a healthy virtuosity, but his talent goes well beyond a comprehensive control of the guitar. The man is a fine composer and, on recent releases, has also showcased a strong vocal presence and now, with only this fifth live release, it captures four decades of relentless fury and blissful artistry of one of the true greats.
Available formats:
– CD+DVD
– 2LP
– Digital
Pre-order here.
Tokyo Live tracklisting:
CD1
“Rising Force” (Live)
“Top Down Foot Down” (Live)
“No Rest For The Wicked” (Live)
“Soldier” (Live)
“Into Valhalla” (Live)
“Baroque & Roll” (Live)
“Like An Angel” (Live)
“Relentless Fury” (Live)
“Now Your Ships Are Burned” (Live)
“Wolves At The Door” (Live)
“Hiroshima Mon Amour” (Live)
“(Si Vis Pacem) Parabellum” (Live)
“Badinere” (Live)
“Paganini’s 4th” (Live)
“Adagio” (Live)
“Far Beyond The Sun” (Live)
“Arpeggios From Hell” (Live)
CD2
“Seventh Sign” (Live)
“Toccata” (Live)
“Evil Eye” (Live)
“Smoke On The Water” (Live)
“Trilogy-Vengeance” (Live)
“Cadenza 1” (Live)
“Brothers” (Live)
“Fugue” (Live)
“Cadenza 2 – Grand Finale” (Live)
“You Don’t Remember I’ll Never Forget” (Live)
“Acoustic Cadenza” (Live)
“Black Star” (Live)
“I’ll See The Light Tonight” (Live)
“Top Down Foot Down” video:
The post YNGWIE MALMSTEEN – “I Can Write Anything I Want; You Want Death Metal In C? Okay, Here It Is” appeared first on BraveWords - Where Music Lives.
Continue reading...