Alcatrazz bassist Gary Shea has revealed the band’s unsuccessful attempt to secure Yngwie Malmsteen for their recent recordings. He cited an extraordinary financial demand in an interview with The Booked On Rock Podcast.
Shea discussed the band’s efforts to collaborate with the renowned guitarist and the prohibitive cost that prevented the partnership.
“We were trying to get Yngwie on some more recent Alcatrazz records,” Shea said. “His manager, his wife, she wanted a million dollars to play on one song. A million dollars, for one stupid song!”
The bassist emphasized the simplicity of what would have been required from Malmsteen’s perspective.
“It would take you half an hour to go into your studio in your house on Pro Tools we have today, record it into your computer, send the file to somewhere wherever it has to go, it would be over with,” he continued.
The revelation sheds light on the business side of high-profile musical collaborations and the financial barriers that can prevent reunions between former bandmates.
This incident highlights the complex dynamics within Alcatrazz. The band has experienced significant changes since Malmsteen’s departure four decades ago.
Wikipedia reported that Alcatrazz currently operates with two separate line-ups following an internal split in 2020. One features founding member Graham Bonnet while the other includes Jimmy Waldo and Gary Shea. Malmsteen was the original guitarist of Alcatrazz from 1983 to 1984 before being replaced by Steve Vai. This marked the beginning of his rise in the neoclassical metal scene.
The Swedish guitarist’s stature as a virtuoso is deeply rooted in his pioneering approach to heavy metal. Premier Guitar documented that Malmsteen developed his distinctive “Bach N’ Roll” style. This fusion of heavy rock with baroque melodies was inspired by classical composers like J.S. Bach and Paganini. This innovative approach helped define Alcatrazz’s early sound and established Malmsteen as a major influence in neo-classical metal.
Malmsteen’s brief but impactful tenure with Alcatrazz came at a crucial point in his career. Guitar World noted that the guitarist chose to join Alcatrazz over UFO in 1983. This decision would launch his international career and introduce his neoclassical style to a wider audience.
The million-dollar demand mentioned by Shea reflects not only Malmsteen’s established reputation but also the ongoing commercial value of reuniting original band members. This applies even for brief collaborations in today’s music industry.
