Graham Bonnet recently made scathing comments about the current Alcatrazz lineup. He declared the band “dead” and expressed embarrassment over their performances in a statement shared on Stairway To Rock.
The former Alcatrazz frontman directed harsh criticism at the current members. He questioned their legitimacy and musical abilities.
“It’s ridiculous. I wrote the songs — me and the guitar players. Joe Stump has nothing to do with Alcatrazz. And neither do the other people in the band — the band, whatever it’s supposed to be,” Bonnet said. “It’s not even a good cover band. It’s terrible.”
Bonnet expressed particular frustration with the band’s use of his image and songs without his involvement.
“I saw videos of it, and it’s laughable. They’re trying to do something that is not working for them. And I’m very happy it isn’t, because they’re stealing my image on t-shirts and stuff, selling t-shirts, blah, blah, blah, blah, Alcatrazz, yada, yada, yada, and all the songs I’ve written with [former Alcatrazz guitarists] Yngwie Malmsteen, with Steve Vai, they’re doing those things,” he continued. “It’s not their music. They are not a musical band. None of those guys in that band. It’s not even a band.”
The vocalist was especially critical of the current lineup’s musical competence and authenticity.
“There’s the keyboard player and our manager, our ex-manager, my ex-manager, their ex-manager singing. I mean, how stupid is that? It’s, like, what the hell’s going on here? And if you’ve ever seen a video of them, it’s laughable. It’s so bad,” Bonnet said. “I’m embarrassed to even think that I put that band together years ago with Yngwie. And it was a good band for a while. And when Yngwie was gone, that’s when the band started to go downhill. And then Steve Vai came along, and we were up again. It was okay. I mean, we had some great players, but not what they are doing right now.”
Bonnet concluded with specific accusations about the current members’ performances and a final declaration about the band’s status.
“A keyboard player who can’t play. He presses the button… He doesn’t play all [the notes]. He pretends to play it. It’s all pre-recorded. And I’m saying this because it’s true. And they’re telling the public that I don’t sing. Come on. If they’re saying that, I can say this, that the keyboard player can’t play and that the manager of the band can’t sing. It sounds ridiculous,” he said. “Anyway, that’s my bit. And Alcatrazz is dead, it’s dead — long dead — and the name now embarrasses me.”
Bonnet continues to pursue his musical career through different avenues and collaborations while distancing himself from the current Alcatrazz incarnation.
The current Alcatrazz lineup features Giles Lavery on vocals, Joe Stump on guitars, Jimmy Waldo on keyboards, Gary Shea on bass, and Mark Benquechea on drums. Blabbermouth reported that Bonnet has been particularly vocal about his disapproval of this configuration. He called their performances “laughable” and “terrible.”
Bonnet has chosen to tour under his own banner with the Graham Bonnet Band instead of reviving the Alcatrazz name. RAMzine noted that his current lineup includes guitarist Conrado Pesinato, bassist Beth-Ami Heavenstone, keyboardist Alessandro Bertoni, and drummer Francis Cassol. This configuration has been performing live shows and recently released material under the Graham Bonnet Band moniker.
The veteran vocalist has also been exploring new musical partnerships beyond his established band. Metal Injection revealed that Bonnet is currently collaborating on new music with guitarist Jeff Loomis, known for his work with Arch Enemy and formerly with Nevermore. This collaboration represents a fresh creative direction for the singer as he continues to distance himself from the Alcatrazz legacy.
The Graham Bonnet Band has maintained an active touring schedule and recently captured their live energy on record. Frontiers Music confirmed that the band released a live album titled “Lost In Hollywood Again.” The release showcases Bonnet’s iconic vocals supported by his current lineup’s performances. This release demonstrates his commitment to moving forward with new material and collaborators rather than dwelling on past band disputes.
