Hard rock vocalist Ronnie Romero recently discussed his stance on potentially working with guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen. He explained his firm position against such collaboration in an interview with Chaos Zine.
When asked about whether he would seriously consider playing with Yngwie Malmsteen if approached, Romero was clear about his decision based on stories he’s heard from fellow musicians.
“I wouldn’t think about it. I wouldn’t wanna do it because of all the stories I’ve heard from people I’ve worked with who have worked with him,” Romero said. “I’ve worked with people like the Johansson brothers [Jens and Anders], Jeff Scott Soto and Mark Boals. I know all those guys, and they’ve told me some stories, and I was, like, ‘I don’t know…'”
Despite his reservations about working with Malmsteen, Romero acknowledged his appreciation for the guitarist’s music, particularly during the Mats Levén era.
“So, when somebody asks me, ‘What if Yngwie calls you?’ I would say, ‘No.’ I’d hang up the phone,” he continued. “But I would say that the way I discovered Yngwie was actually when [Swedish singer] Mats Levén was in the band. The first Yngwie album I heard was the [1998] live album ‘Live!!’, and Mats was singing on it. Then I heard ‘Facing The Animal’, which is one of my favorites, together with ‘The Seventh Sign’. So yeah, if that ever happened, I’d choose just one song — and that would be ‘Facing The Animal’, for sure.”
Romero’s reluctance to work with Malmsteen stems from a pattern of difficult working relationships that the Swedish guitarist has had with vocalists throughout his career.
Wikipedia reported that Ronnie Romero is a Chilean hard rock singer known for his collaborations with bands like Rainbow, Lynch Mob, and The Ferrymen. He also fronts his own projects such as Lords of Black. His extensive experience in the hard rock scene has given him connections with many musicians who have worked with Malmsteen over the years.
The stories Romero references appear to be well-documented in the metal community. Blabbermouth noted that Yngwie Malmsteen has a reputation for difficult working relationships with vocalists. Former singers like Jeff Scott Soto and Mark Boals reported conflicts over creative control and demanding rehearsal conditions in interviews.
The Johansson brothers that Romero mentioned have their own history with the guitarist. Metal Rules revealed that both Jens and Anders Johansson played drums on Yngwie Malmsteen’s 1988 album Odyssey. They have spoken about challenging experiences in his band due to his intense and perfectionist style.
These accounts from multiple musicians who have worked with Malmsteen paint a picture of a demanding collaborator. This explains why Romero has chosen to avoid potential future opportunities despite his respect for the guitarist’s musical abilities.
