Yngwie Malmsteen Discusses His New Album Perpetual Flame

October 14, 2008 sees the release of guitar legend Yngwie Malmsteen’s first studio album in three years. In fact, 2008 has been quite a remarkable year for him. I decided to ask him just what has been happening and caught up with him on the eve of his upcoming tour of the States. Perpetual Flame (Rising Force Records) will be reviewed here prior to that release date.

This cross-Atlantic telephone interview (US East Coast to France) occurred on Thursday, September 25, 2008.

Hi Yngwie, thanks for calling and thanks for your time! How was the European leg of the tour?

It was fantastic. I mean, I really enjoyed it. I thought the last tour was good and hoped that this one might be as good but, in fact, it was better. It’s not like you have a favourite one or anything. London was great though, in fact, they were all good.

The new band was just fantastic. So much energy and passion. Stockholm was very special. They all were but it’s always kind of special going back to the place where you came from. It was a great reception.

This really is your year: new album, the tour, and I’ve just read that you are gong to be inducted on the Hollywood Rock Walk. That puts you right next to Elvis, Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash. How does that make you feel?

I tell you it is so humbling. Unbelievably humbling. When I first came to the States I used to walk down that street peering in through guitar store windows to see if I could afford anything. It’s sort of surreal to be going back there for this. It is a real honour.

If they were to put a plaque next to your name at the Rock Walk, what piece of work would you like them to put there? What would you like to be remembered for?

I’m just happy to be remembered at all.

And later this year there’s the new custom built guitar …

Yes, another fantastic thing. I was actually the first to have my own signature guitar. Again it’s a huge honour. Maybe it comes from my loyalty to Fender over the years, Fender and Marshall. I’m very excited about it. It’s a very nice thing.

How did you hook up with Tim (Tim ‘Ripper’ Owens)?

Well, I was writing some new songs and they certainly had a hard edge to them. I needed someone who could carry that across. I got together with Tim in Miami and he sang three tracks and it was like wow. Yes. He really does have a great voice and once we started together I just knew that he could do those songs. Sure enough he does. You know it’s like casting a movie you need just the right guy to put over what you want.

Is that where Roy Z came into it, through Tim and the Judas Priest connection?

Well actually I did the all the production on the album. I produced it, engineered it the whole thing really. From the first drum being wired to the final thing it was me. Roy came in and mixed it at the end. He did a great job.

Article Author: Jeff Perkins

Jeff is a writer who lives in France. He writes CD/DVD box sets, music reviews and has had a book published about David Byron of Uriah Heep. He is 'busy' exploring the music of Europe with his wife Debbie and dog Dylan. It's Dylan that does the writing of course. …

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