Yngwie Malmsteen

Name: Lars Johan Yngve Lannerbäck aka Yngwie Johan Malmsteen
Born: 30th June, 1963 (Stockholm, Sweden)

Profile: Swedish guitarist notable known in the mid-1980s for his technical fluency and neo-classical metal compositions, often incorporating high speed picking with harmonic minor scales, diminished scales and sweep picked arpeggios, he is a composer, multi-instrumentalist and bandleader.

History: Born of a musically-inclined family, started to played guitar after the death of his idol Jimi Hendrix and formed a band at the age of 10. In 1982, he was bought to the US by a producer after hearing one of Malmsteen's demo tape; he then joined for a brief of time with "Steeler" then the famous rock band "Alcatrazz" in 1983. After the released of "Rising Force" he then went solo.

Influences: Jimi Hendrix, Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple), Brian May (Queen), Steve Hackett (Genesis), Uli Jon Roth (Scorpion), Alex Lifeson (Rush), Eddie Van Halen (Van Halen), J.S. Bach and Niccolo Paganini.

Axology: Fender Stratocaster Yngwie Malmsteen signature series with DiMarzio pickups: Marshall 50-watt Mark II heads.

"I know all the music theory there is to know" - Yngwie Malmsteen.