Jeff Scott Soto recently addressed his relationship with former bandmate Yngwie Malmsteen, expressing his desire to reconcile their differences in an interview with Artists on Record with Stefan Adika.
The former Yngwie Malmsteen vocalist was asked about reaching out to the guitarist personally during the holiday season.
When asked “You never reached out to Yngwie Malmsteen, right? Saying like, ‘Hey Yngwie, how you doing? Merry Christmas. Happy New Year,'” Soto explained his position on potential reconciliation.
“I wouldn’t know how, you know, I don’t have any numbers, any contacts or anything. So I wouldn’t know how to reach out to him,” Soto said. “So, but there’s enough I put out there when I do interviews or or when I do anything, even cameos, I put it out there all the time that I would love to just bury the hatchet, whatever that hatchet is, and just walk away as friends again one day.”
The vocalist emphasized that his intentions are purely about friendship rather than professional opportunities.
“I’d love to go to his shows and be in the audience watching the show and not saying, ‘Oh man, hopefully one day he’ll have me back.’ It’s not about that at all,” he continued. “I did my time with him. If someday one day he wanted to do something like that, I’d absolutely be open to it. But I’m not looking for that. I don’t need that in my life in terms of that’s the only thing I have going for me. You know, I got a lot going for me. I just want to be the guy’s friend again.”
Soto’s comments reflect on a professional relationship that began nearly four decades ago. The relationship helped launch both musicians’ careers in the metal scene.
Jeff Scott Soto’s official biography revealed that the vocalist answered an open call for audition tapes in late 1984. This led to his collaboration with the Swedish guitarist. This partnership resulted in Soto providing lead vocals for Malmsteen’s debut album Rising Force (1984) and its follow-up Marching Out (1985). Wikipedia’s list of Yngwie Malmsteen band members documented these collaborations.
The working relationship between the two musicians eventually soured, leading to Soto’s departure from the band. In a previous interview, Soto explained his reasons for leaving. He stated that he realized “you don’t really work with Yngwie; you work for Yngwie.” Blabbermouth reported this statement.
Despite the professional tensions that led to their split, Soto has maintained his willingness to reconcile on a personal level. The vocalist has gone on to establish a successful career beyond his time with Malmsteen. This includes a stint as Journey’s lead singer from 2006 to 2007. Wikipedia noted this career milestone.
The peace offering comes at a time when both musicians continue to tour and record. Soto emphasized that his desire for reconciliation stems from genuine friendship rather than any professional ambitions or need for career advancement.
