The results speak for themselves. The sound I always heard…this is it.

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These days, it seems that Yngwie Malmsteen has a lot to be happy about. He’s got a new album, Perpetual Flame, a new vocalist, Tim “Ripper” Owens [Iced Earth, Judas Priest], an upcoming tour, and some other good news that he shared with me in a recent phone conversation. Though we had not spoken before, after a few minutes into our discussion I sensed he was easy-going and open, and not the arrogant, alcohol-activated loose cannon that the media and haters had made him out to be. Ah, how our reputations precede us, don’t they?

Okay, set aside the bad press persona for a moment. Look instead at the man who moved legions of hard rock/metal fans with Marching Out, just to name one album in the sterling Malmsteen discography. Yngwie’s innovative, neoclassical style, agility, power, and precision has awed and inspired innumerable guitarists on today’s scene.

His people only gave me 25 minutes for the interview. We were just getting warmed up after 15 minutes. The essentials were covered, nonetheless.

MALMSTEEN: Hi. This is Yngwie.

KNAC.COM: Hi Yngwie. Hey, you’re calling a little early. That’s different for a rockstar.

MALMSTEEN: Well, this is my ninth interview, now. You’re number nine.

KNAC.COM: Perpetual Flame is the new record and you’ve got a new vocalist, Tim “Ripper” Owens.

MALMSTEEN: Yes.

KNAC.COM: You two worked together on the Ozzy tribute album a while back.

MALMSTEEN: Yeah, but that was a little different. We would send tapes around and I would do the guitar solos and he would do the vocals somewhere else, where with this one we were all together in my studio. I engineered and produced the whole thing myself. I mic’d out the drums—I was being a crazy little guy. This Time around I just took over the whole thing (laughs).

KNAC.COM: You did the bass and contributed vocals as well, right?

MALMSTEEN: I did all the bass.

KNAC.COM: Where will we hear your vocals on the album?

MALMSTEEN: It’s a song called “Magic City.”

KNAC.COM: Are you doing lead vocal on that?

MALMSTEEN: I’m doing the lead vocal, yeah. As far as background vocals, I sing on every song. I sing all the backing vocals…well, with Tim. For instance, one of my favorite ones is “The Damnation Game,” we did a little Queen tribute. On certain lines we harmonize kind of like Queen, which I love. But in “Magic City” I sing the lead. It’s more like a bluesy track.

KNAC.COM: This is the debut album on your label, Rising Force Records.

MALMSTEEN: Yeah, that’s right. Well, it’s been in the works for quite some time now. My wife sorted the whole thing out--April Malmsteen. She’s my wife and my manager. She started the whole thing and then we got the distribution thing with KOCH. It’s all been done properly. It’s a little more work than one would think, but at the end of the day it kind of leaves us a lot of freedom to put out a lot of things, a lot of DVD’s, and remixes and stuff like that. This is the first one: the big impact, new record, but there’s going to be a lot of other stuff going on as well—remixes and catalog boxes and all sorts of things.

KNAC.COM: You’ve got your touring lineup in place, ready to rip. Is this the quintessential Yngwie Malmsteen lineup?

MALMSTEEN: I think so. The results speak for themselves. The sound I always heard…this is it. I mean, Patrick [Johansson] has been in the band eight years now, so he’s been there forever and he’s a kick ass drummer, but what Ripper brought to the table is amazing. I think it’s a good thing altogether. We actually did six weeks in Europe this summer, so I know how good it’s going to be. We’ll be staring coast to coast starting October 4th in Texas. So yeah, it’s going to be great.

KNAC.COM: A lot of stuff’s going on this year for you this year. An induction into Hollywood’s RockWalk and the release of your custom Fender/Yngwie Malmsteen model.

MALMSTEEN: It seems so, yeah. A new album, a new tour, it seems like there’s a lot of stuff going on.

KNAC.COM: Not that you ever went away, but man you’re coming out big this year.

MALMSTEEN: Yeah, you know it’s a really cool thing just looking back at all the time that’s been gone, because there was a period here in The States where it was kind of difficult to even go out and do stuff that’s like what I do. That’s changed in a big way. Now, the whole scene’s just arms wide open for guitar. It’s great, man. I’m so happy. The American market’s just really cool right now.

KNAC.COM: We’ve all been hungry for guitar solos. What the world needs now…oh, that sounds like a Dionne Warwick song…

MALMSTEEN: (hysterical laughter)

KNAC.COM:…but we need more guitar solos, man.

MALMSTEEN: Well, I can give you some of those.

KNAC.COM: What can you tell us about the record that is the same and different as far as the Yngwie Malmsteen sound and style goes?

MALMSTEEN: It’s different in the way that it’s brand new, of course. I have a motto that’s “more is more.” Somebody said less is more. I don’t understand the logic behind that. “Less is less and more is more,” that’s my motto. Therefore, on this record more is more, and that’s what you get. There’s more guitar solos, more screaming vocals, more double-kick drums, there’s more heavy riffs, more of everything. The Ferrari song, “Red Devil,” it’s almost like party metal and then you have “Death Dealer,” which is full blown, full-throttle and double kicks. Then you have “Live to Fight,” which is more, I don’t know…tuned down “I’m a Viking, that’s me.” It’s a lot of different styles, but it definitely has a Malmsteen-esque thing about it, and with Tim on vocals it’s just one more step out. I’m really excited about it. I stay away from it for a long time and I put it back on and I’m like, “Shit. This is okay. I’m happy now.”

KNAC.COM: It isn’t a departure, but it’s got a different flavor, so to speak. I’m listening to it on a stream through my computer speakers because I don’t have the CD yet, but I imagine when I get that it’s going to sound great.

MALMSTEEN: Oh yeah. Put that in your car and just rock.

KNAC.COM: Yeah man I can’t wait. So you’re obviously going to be touring and promoting Perpetual Flame, and I would imagine your set is going to highlight your whole musical timeline?

MALMSTEEN: Yeah, you’ll have what people would call “classics,” but I’m going to try to stick the new stuff in. We haven’t really done it live yet. Last time we toured in Europe over the summer we did a lot of the older stuff and it was great. It works great with the lineup, because now we’re putting a different bass player and keyboard player on this tour as well. It’s going to be a cool thing.

KNAC.COM: You’ve had a couple of adjustments in your lifestyle over the last few years. Are you still abstaining from booze and smoke?

MALMSTEEN: Oh, clean as a whistle, man. In four years I’ve not touched anything--no, four and a half, almost. Trust me, man, I don’t wanna sound like I’m preaching or nothing, but man, oh man, it’s like, “Take the veil off my eyes, brotha!” I can’t even tell ya. It’s like I breathe and love and live. It’s just no comparison. It’s just really, really a great thing and you know, everybody’s got to do what they got to do. When I stopped smoking I promised myself I wouldn’t start bitching to people who smoke cigarettes. So I don’t. I don’t smoke, and if you smoke I don’t care. I don’t drink, but if you drink that’s fine with me, too. But I don’t. And I feel so much better for it.

KNAC.COM: Yeah, you never want to get up on some tower and talk down to somebody or preach.

MALMSTEEN: No! The funny thing is—I gotta tell ya—I never had so much fun and so much enjoyment out of everything I do as I do now. I’m having the best time of my life, so for whatever it’s worth—let me tell you--it was a good move for me (laughs).

KNAC.COM: Were the first couple of days, weeks, months a hard adjustment?

MALMSTEEN: Of course! I’m thinking the first year, even. But once you’re over that, man, then it’s all beautiful. I mean really. I’m not just saying that. Just the whole thing of getting up in the morning—I love the sunshine, I love the palm trees. I’m that kind of guy. I like to drive around with the top down and just enjoy life. I never did that before, so it’s a beautiful thing. You get so focused on everything you do, as far as the recording and the writing and all that shit. It’s like totally razor, pinpoint, very, very organized and on, you know? To me that’s extreme enjoyment, really, to be really together, instead of being confused and wondering what the hell’s going on (laughs).

KNAC.COM: There were a few accounts that the media ran with, but were you getting into a lot of trouble out there?

MALMSTEEN: Well, I’ve had my fair share, but I wouldn’t say more than anybody else, or maybe a little more (hysterical laughter). I don’t know--somewhere in between. That’s so far away and behind me now, so I don’t really reflect on it.

KNAC.COM: It’s been three years since you’ve put out anything in the studio. I’m sure your new adjustments will reflect that in your music.

MALMSTEEN: It’s a really focused thing. The whole album is very focused and I think it shines through. Everyone I work with—we’re all the same. Dead on, all the time. There’s no slack from anybody and I find that extremely inspiring. Things just happen quicker and they’re more together, so it’s all good.

KNAC.COM: You’re regarded as one of the finest guitarists in the world. For you, as a player, do you ever say to yourself, “Man, I’d love to have the vibrato that Eric Clapton has,” or who do you look up to right now?

MALMSTEEN: You’re probably going to think I’m mad saying this, but my favorite living musician…living musician is Itzhak Perlman, the classical violinist. His vibrato I want (laughs). My wife bought me a present one time that was a concert and a dinner with Itzhak Perlman here in Miami and he played a Tchaikovsky violin concerto, and I’ll never forget it. It’s the only time I ever asked someone for an autograph in my whole life.

KNAC.COM: You came here to The States when you were sixteen and you started playing in Steeler, then Alcatrazz, and then you went on to a long and hugely successful solo career. Did you ever envision this kind of success?

MALMSTEEN: Absolutely not, and it never ceases to amaze me. It was 25 years ago, now, that I landed in L.A., and I came to The States with a dream, but the dream was kind of like, “If I don’t have to go in the Army,” like I would have in Sweden, or if “I don’t have to flip burgers or something just to pay the rent then I’m good.” If I could just live on playing the guitar I’d be good with that. That was pretty much what my aim was. That was many years ago and it never ceases to amaze me—because I’ve been doing interviews all day—you’re the ninth interview today, and I’m amazed that people still care what I’m doing, you know? And I’m going, “Wow. I couldn’t wish for anything else.” I couldn’t wish for anything more than that. A Number One hit is a good thing, but to have long, long, long, longevity—that’s better. So, I am extremely honored and humbled and I feel privileged. I can’t even give you enough adjectives. I mean, I’ve gone through the wringer. It’s been a ride, let me tell ya. But I’m still here, I’m still fighting. I’m just really pleased at the moment. Right now is the best time of my life.

KNAC.COM: That’s good to hear. You’re on rotation on KNAC.COM and obviously back when we were on the FM airwaves…

MALMSTEEN: Yeah, I remember coming down to see you guys.

KNAC.COM: One of my favorite songs is “Queen in Love.” I lose it every time I hear that.

MALMSTEEN: Alright. We should bust that one out for a change, then.

KNAC.COM: Put it on your setlist!

MALMSTEEN: I hadn’t thought of it before. That would be crazy.

KNAC.COM: What do you think makes a song a hit anymore? What is the gauge?

MALMSTEEN: That’s a funny thing that you say that, because I was talking to someone earlier in an interview about how I approach something now. There was a time many years ago when there was a radio format, and if a song fit that format it would more than likely get played. I’m talking about “Heaven Tonight,” songs like that. There are two things I had to say about that: even if there was a format I wouldn’t follow it, but the fact of the matter is there isn’t any. After the grunge movement came and went there was no sound that took over—after the Nirvana sound there was no definite sound. That was it. It’s funny, and in a way it’s good, because it opens the door for other things. But it’s weird, too, because like you said, there’s no gauge.

KNAC.COM: It’s been a pleasure talking with you and it’s good that you’re back out there. Congratulations on the new album and I’ll see you when you come to town.

MALMSTEEN: You got it, man. God Bless.

KNAC.COM: God bless you.

MALMSTEEN: See you later.

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