Yngwie Malmsteen – Far Beyond The Sun
Swedish guitarist and composer, one of the precursors of neoclassical metal. He influenced the playing style of many guitarists performing hard rock and heavy metal in various variations. He currently lives in Miami, USA.
The musician’s real name is Lars Yngve Johann Lannerback. He was born on June 30, 1963 in Stockholm. At the age of 7, after the death of Jimi Hendrix and inspired by his playing, he began learning to play the guitar. Among those who exerted the greatest influence on his playing style, Malmsteen himself mentions both rock musicians, including mainly Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple), Brian May (Queen), Steve Hackett (Genesis) as well as composers and virtuosos of classical music – among others Nicolo Paganini and Jan Sebastian Bach.
In 1981, the guitarist moved to the USA, where he initially performed in the groups Steeler and Alcatrazz. In 1983 he started his solo career, recording and performing as Yngwie Malmsteen’s Rising Force and Yngwie Malmsteen. The debut album “Rising Force” was released in 1984. The album won the award for the best rock album, awarded by the magazine “Guitar Player”. He also received a Grammy nomination in the category “Best Rock Instrumental”. The next albums are Marching Out (1985) and Trilogy (1986). Several well-known singers, including Jeff Scott Soto, Mark Boals and Joe Lynn Turner (ex-Rainbow), passed through the group at that time. In 1987, Malmsteen suffered a serious car accident, after which he remained in a coma for a week. After regaining consciousness, doctors stated, among others right-hand nerve damage. However, due to persistence and consistent exercise, it was possible to achieve full efficiency.
In 1988, another Odyssey album hit the market, reaching 40th position on Billboard’s sales list. During the tour the performance in Leningrad was recorded, which appeared in 1989 as the concert album “Trial By Fire: Live in Leningrad”. Also in 1988, Fender produced the Malmsteen-branded Stratocaster guitar model, which made the Swede the second musician after Eric Clapton honored by one of the most famous guitar manufacturers in the world.
Malmsteen has mainly used Fender Stratocaster guitars since the beginning of his career. He is a guitarist who (including Eddie Van Halen) entered the history of not only rock music, having made a significant breakthrough in the technique of playing. Characteristic features of his style are fast arpeggios and their sequences played with sweep picking.
Yngwie Malmsteen is an absolute wizard on the guitar
