Why Yngwie Malmsteen No Longer Enjoys Collaborating With Singers

Guitar virtuoso Yngwie Malmsteen has collaborated with various vocalists over the years, but during his recent press conference at Hellfest, he elaborated on why he prefers to work solo, rather than with singers or other external contributors. His main reason centers on maintaining his artistic vision.

The conversation began with a question about producing his own music. Malmsteen shared his perspective on working with producers as opposed to self-producing.

“I’m not knocking producers. I think they’ve done a lot of great things for many bands,” Malmsteen stated, applauding noted producers like Mutt Lange and Martin Birch. He continued, “The difference is I already have this in here (points to his head). So when someone else comes in, it doesn’t add, it dilutes. Some might think I’m an egotist. No. The music is done. I record it. I play it. It’s done.”

Malmsteen then discussed how his approach to music contrasts with the norms prevalent in the rock industry.

“In rock and roll, even if you’re a solo artist, like Ozzy Osbourne, they have songs written for them, they have producers, and so on. I don’t do that. I do everything. I actually do everything,” he explained.

He added, “It’s not because I’m an egotistical person who doesn’t want others to take the credit. No. Instead of a traditional rock and roll Lennon-McCartney, Keith Richards-Mick Jagger sort of partnership – and I love all those guys; I think they’re great – I work more like an author, like Stephen King or Johann Sebastian Bach. So basically, I’m like a painter or an author.”

Throughout his career, Malmsteen has worked with talented vocalists such as Jeff Scott Soto, Mark Boals, Joe Lynn Turner, Mats Levin, and Tim “Ripper” Owens, with Nick Marino recently handling some live vocal duties. However, he feels that outside contributions can dilute his vision.

“That’s why I don’t have co-writers,” says Malmsteen. “Because when I did have that, I was always unhappy with the result. I live only once, so what I want to leave behind, what I want to create, what I want to put out on records, what I want to perform onstage, is something that is purely my expression.”

He continues, “I want a pure expression of myself, not diluted by having Elvis Presley in the band. Most singers think they’re Elvis Presley. They’re not. They’re just another instrument in my orchestra.”

Currently, Malmsteen is on tour, concluding his European dates with performances in Helsinki, Finland on July 4, and Sisil, Turkey on July 6. After a brief break, he will kick off his 40th Anniversary North American tour on Sept. 26 in Fort Myers, Fla., with the tour running through Nov. 22. Details and ticket information are available on Yngwie Malmsteen’s website.