Talking to Yngwie Malmsteen for the release of his latest album Perpetual Flame, he jumps in with the quirky remark “its amazing people still want to talk to me”. Why wouldn’t they? I ask as I’ve been gagging to reacquaint with the guitar maestro. By Marija Zeko
For my last interview I asked all the questions that an avid fan would want to now. Who is your favourite composer? Bach. How many Ferraris do you have? 3, among many other titbits such as he picked up the guitar the day that Jimi Hendrix died. He wanted to do a Queen song for the Inspiration album – as he’s a big fan, he had 99 songs in the pipeline, plays a host of instruments including drums and plays tennis to keep fit, “But I’m no Roger Federer” he modestly reveals. Not forgetting, he has given up on the cigarettes, “Oh my God! That was a long time ago. I gave that up, oh yeah!”
The album covers can be brash, the solos eccentric and unless you have had the good fortune to speak to him personally, you may think he’s arrogant. To my luck, he’s far from it, being nothing short of accommodating and helpful. Malmsteen’s album output is prolific, averaging an album every 2 years with the latest introducing “Tim “Ripper” Owens” on vocals. Judas Priest fans may remember Ripper as singer Rob Halford’s replacement during those feuding years. Ripper seemed the right candidate for this album that required heavier vocals. “I started writing when I was touring, I came back and put live guitars (on the songs), started writing lyrics, toured again and every time I wrote lyrics they got a bit heavier…as the songs were done I began to realise I needed a different singer. The old singer was good but this wasn’t going to come across the way I wanted to with him. Writing these lyrics I knew exactly what I wanted. I invited Tim to sing and the songs sounded amazing”.
This is the first album on the “Rising Force” label. The title appears on numerous records i.e. Yngwie Malmsteen’s Rising Force. It’s become enigmatic but is clear to Malmsteen who lets out a laugh as I ask him to explain. “Many years ago when I lived in Sweden I started a band called POW and I had a band called Rising Force. I had many bass and guitar players that came and left. That was my vehicle so to speak, up until I came to America. So when I did my first solo album after Alcatraz, I decided to add Rising Force because it is mine… It is basically another name for me. A bit of a tag name”.
I’m glad that was sorted because many times the Rising Force title was added whereas other times it wasn’t, with the same applying to his name “Yngwie Malmsteen” sometimes and “Yngwie J Malmsteen” other times. What is it with the inclusion of the J, which stands for Johan? For the record he’s a bit baffled himself, “I don’t know! The first time I did it no one knew what it stood for! Then I took it out but the funniest thing is that the guy from Spinal Tap said (putting on an English accent), “There’s this bloke called Yngwie Malmsteen who uses J. The good thing is that you won’t confuse him with Yngwie Malmsteen”. We both let out a laugh as he tells me he thought that was really funny. “Sometimes it goes up, sometimes it doesn’t. I don’t know exactly why”.
By Malmsteen’s estimates he owns over 300 guitars that are all over the place such as behind the sofa, on the sofa and the like. His signature guitar is a cream coloured scalloped neck Fender Stratocaster. Despite having every colour there is, “It’s so beautiful, it couldn’t be more perfect, that when you wear black onstage if you have a black guitar it doesn’t show up, that’s why I use cream”.
The biggest headache of the profession for Malmsteen is the touring, and he should know being on the road nonstop for the past 2 years and more so for the latest album. “Oh my God! This year it’s been extreme travelling but its part of the gig”. Australia is sure to be on the agenda sometime next year as is Japan, who are known for their strong following as I cheekily ask if they still love him to death? Surprised he lets on “I hope so!” as he lets out a chuckle and tells “they’ve always been very loyal!”
The album reviews according to Malmsteen are “so far, so good. People seem to really dig it, touch wood”. The significance of the title Perpetual Flame is “it’s exactly what it says! It’s amazing, it’s all of that (touring, recording albums etc…) but it’s also about that inner fire, that machine pushing forward all the time”. Funnily enough that inner flame is stronger now than when he released his first solo album, “that’s even more remarkable! “ As he lets out a giggle, “I don’t know how to explain it, it’s a very strange thing. Back then, it was strong and I was very young. Now it’s simple, I’m focused, it’s not blurry, it’s crystal clear. It’s a big difference from when I was younger”.
Having played for the bulk of his life, he must have sore fingers by now. To the contrary, “they don’t get tired, no! I always have a guitar with me, even when watching television”. Perhaps that’s the reason for the ongoing albums as I remark they seem to sound fresh every time. “Thank you very much for that comment, sometimes people say the exact opposite… I think it comes from a conscious effort to do good. I don’t want to leave it a little bit ok or halfway. I want it to be good, it’s very passionate, capturing the moment in time and trying to keep it fresh” On that note, we say our goodbyes and I’m satiated in the knowledge that the Perpetual Flame is still burning after all these years.
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