Graham Bonnet recently shared insights into his working relationship with guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen in an interview featured on Sticks for Stones. He addressed the musician’s personality and ambitions.
When asked about Malmsteen’s reputation as a difficult personality to work with, Bonnet reflected on their collaboration with nuance. He explained that while Malmsteen was initially humble and receptive, the guitarist held strong convictions about his artistic direction and goals.
“At first, he was very humble, and he listened to what I was saying,” Bonnet said. “I tried to explain to him what I wanted to do, but he had ideas, too. His motive was very strong about what he wanted and who he wanted to be.”
Bonnet elaborated on Malmsteen’s competitive drive. The guitarist was motivated by a desire to surpass his own musical hero. “He wanted to be better than Ritchie Blackmore and write better songs than Ritchie Blackmore. Even though Ritchie was his hero, he wanted to show, you know, he took it further, like kids are doing now with playing, you know, singing, and whatever.”
Despite their musical compatibility in the studio, Bonnet described significant challenges during live performances. “Me and I, I think, matched up very well, but on stage live, he was, oh God, it was awful. Because he was standing in front of me with his guitar. I’m singing a verse of a song, and he comes over to me with the guitar going, you know, and I’m going, ‘Well, wait a minute. It’s my go now.’ You know what I mean? It’s my turn to have the solo, and then you come in and do your bit.”
Bonnet attributed the recurring issue to Malmsteen’s awareness of the audience’s attention. “But it was like that every night because he would get a little drunk and he knew that the audience were watching him because he’s taller than me and they can see what he’s doing, that’s incredible, you know, guitar playing and you can’t see what’s inside a singer’s throat.”
The tensions Bonnet describes were part of a larger story that began in 1983. That year, the veteran vocalist formed Alcatrazz and recruited the then-unknown 20-year-old Swedish guitarist. Ear of Newt reported that Bonnet was enthusiastic about landing Malmsteen fresh from his brief stint in Steeler. He described him as “shit hot” and comparable to Eddie Van Halen. The audition process was remarkably swift, taking only about five minutes. Malmsteen impressed the band through his undeniable talent, though he was described as “a little bit sloppy and really loud.”
The band’s debut album, No Parole from Rock N’ Roll, was released in October 1983. It featured a distinctly heavy metal sound that Bonnet described as the heaviest material he had recorded to date. Z Rockr noted that the album showcased strong collaboration. Tracks like “Hiroshima Mon Amour” stood as the album’s strongest rock anthem, combining Bonnet’s vocals with Malmsteen’s riffs in what seemed like a “rock and roll match made in heaven.” The band enjoyed moderate success in the United States but achieved major success in Japan.
Alcatrazz toured Japan in early 1984, with a notable performance at the prestigious Nakano Sun Plaza in Tokyo on January 28th. The Rock Pit documented that this concert featured the complete repertoire from No Parole from Rock N’ Roll, including “Island In The Sun” and “Hiroshima Mon Amour.” The setlist also included material from Bonnet’s time with Rainbow and the Michael Schenker Group. The performance captured Malmsteen at age 20, showcasing his guitar wizardry through instrumental showcase pieces like “Evil Eye” and “Coming Bach.”
However, the collaboration unraveled relatively quickly. Music Radar revealed that Bonnet later recalled Malmsteen “had no stage etiquette. He’d walk in front of me going ‘widdle widdle widdle’ over a verse of a song. It was very rude.” Malmsteen left the band shortly after the album’s release. He continued to perform these songs as a solo artist. Despite the brief partnership, the Malmsteen era remained historically significant as one of the earliest major showcases for the young virtuoso. It produced some of the band’s most celebrated work, capturing a unique moment when Bonnet’s mature vocal talents met Malmsteen’s emerging genius.
