List of Yngwie Malmsteen band members
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Yngwie Malmsteen is a Swedish neoclassical metal musician. After tenures in the bands Steeler and Alcatrazz, he started his solo career in 1984 with the release of Rising Force, which was the name of his first band in 1978 featuring bassist Marcel Jacob and drummer Zepp Urgard. The original 1984 lineup of Malmsteen's band included vocalist Jeff Scott Soto, former Jethro Tull drummer Barriemore Barlow and keyboardist Jens Johansson, with Jacob added as the first touring bassist. The current lineup includes keyboardist Nick Marino (since 2011), bassist Emilio Martinez (since 2017) and drummer Wyatt Cooper (since 2024). Marino (live) and Malmsteen (studio) perform lead vocals.
History
1984–1995
Malmsteen released his debut solo album Rising Force in 1984, which featured vocalist Jeff Scott Soto, keyboardist Jens Johansson and drummer Barriemore Barlow.[1] Soto and Johansson remained for the next year's follow-up Marching Out, which was credited as a band effort under the name "Yngwie J. Malmsteen's Rising Force" and saw the addition of bassist Marcel Jacob and new drummer Anders Johansson (Jens' brother).[2] Jacob left during the tour and was replaced by Wally Voss.[3] Soto left in 1985 and was replaced by Mark Boals,[4] who performed on the 1986 album Trilogy but was fired by Malmsteen before its release after an altercation.[5] Soto returned for the album's tour, after which it was reported in 1987 that Mark Weitz would perform on the next album.[6]
Weitz was soon replaced by Joe Lynn Turner,[7] who performed on 1988's Odyssey together with session bassist Bob Daisley.[8] The subsequent tour spawned Malmsteen's first live album Trial by Fire: Live in Leningrad, which featured bassist Barry Dunaway.[9] When the tour ended, Turner left and eventually joined Deep Purple[10]
Rehearsals started during the summer of 1989 with a returning Jeff Scott Soto on vocals, but the band's lineup changed dramatically when first Jens Johansson left to join Dio and then Anders Johansson also left "a few months" later, primarily due to frustration with the group's new management.[11] Another version, by bassist Dunaway, has Yngwie firing him, Johansson and Soto on the spot after an incident at Miami club Button Sout in late summer 1989.[12]
The Rising Force group was rebuilt as an all-Swedish lineup, with new vocalist Göran Edman, bassist Svante Henryson, drummer Michael Von Knorring and keyboardist Mats Olausson, all of whom contributed to 1990's Eclipse.[13] Von Knorring left after a few shows for health reasons and was replaced by Pete Barnacle on tour,[14] before Bo Werner of Mogg joined to record 1992's Fire & Ice.[15]
1992–2002
During 1992 and 1993, Malmsteen took a break due to the death of his manager, being dropped by Elektra Records, and his wrongful arrest.[16] He subsequently enlisted vocalist Michael Vescera, drummer Mike Terrana and bassist Barry Sparks to join Olausson in the Rising Force band.[17][18] B.J. Zampa replaced Terrana during the tour for The Seventh Sign,[19] before Shane Gaalaas took over later in the year.[20] Following the promotion of Magnum Opus in 1995, Malmsteen went on a temporary hiatus.[21] He returned the following year to release Inspiration, an album of cover versions featuring several former bandmates, including vocalists Soto, Boals and Turner.[22] Boals returned for the album's tour – which also featured Dunaway and drummer Tommy Aldridge – before Mats Levén took over at the end of 1996.[12]
Malmsteen enlisted Cozy Powell to perform drums on Facing the Animal in 1997.[23] The drummer was also scheduled to play on the next tour, but was forced to pull out in March 1998 after suffering a foot injury in a "minor motorcycle accident".[24] Powell later died in a car crash on 5 April.[25] By 1999, the band included returning vocalist Boals and new drummer John Macaluso,[26][27] with Alchemy released before the end of the year.[28] Randy Coven took over from Dunaway for the album's touring cycle,[29] although bass on 2000's War to End All Wars was performed by Malmsteen.[30] By the time the album was released, however, Boals had left Malmsteen's band again.[31] Jørn Lande took his place, on the recommendation of his Ark bandmate Macaluso.
Lande only remained with Malmsteen until 8 April 2001, when he was involved in a backstage altercation which led to his departure.[32] Out of "loyalty" to his Ark bandmate, Macaluso also left the band following the event.[32] After it was initially reported that Soto would return to take over on vocals,[33] the spot was later filled by Boals.[34] It was also initially reported that Metal Symphony of Darkness drummer Ed Rock would replace Macaluso,[35] although this was quickly altered to be Cherry Poppin' Daddies drummer Tim Donahue.[36] After the conclusion of the tour, Malmsteen introduced a brand new lineup of his band: vocalist Doogie White, keyboardist Derek Sherinian, drummer Patrick Johansson and touring bassist Mick Cervino.[37] Attack!! was recorded and released as this lineup's only album the following year.[38]
2002 onwards
Touring for Attack!! began in December 2002 and featured Joakim Svalberg on keyboards.[39] Rudy Sarzo replaced Cervino in February 2004,[40] although by April he had left to join Dio's touring lineup.[41] Cervino returned to the band for the tour in promotion of 2005's Unleash the Fury.[42] Nick Z. Marino replaced Svalberg for a run of shows later in the year,[43] before Sherinian returned for US tour dates in 2006.[44] In February 2008, it was announced that White had parted ways with Malmsteen due to musical differences.[45] His replacement was quickly confirmed to be former Judas Priest and Iced Earth frontman Tim "Ripper" Owens.[46] Michael Troy and Bjorn Englen were subsequently announced as the replacements for Sherinian and Cervino, respectively.[47] Marino rejoined the band in 2009,[43] and in 2012 Englen was replaced by Ralph Ciavolino.[48] Leading up to the release of Spellbound, rumors began to circulate that Owens had left the band.[48] This was later confirmed by the singer, who was not featured on the album.[49]
Owens was not replaced – Malmsteen and Marino have handled lead vocal duties since his departure.[50] In 2015, Johansson left to join W.A.S.P.[51] Mark Ellis took his place and performed on Malmsteen's next studio album, World on Fire.[52] By 2018, Ellis had been replaced by Brian Wilson,[50] who was replaced in 2023 by Kevin Klingenschmid. In 2024, Klingenschmid was replaced by Wyatt Cooper, who is Malmsteen's current touring drummer.
Members
Current
| Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yngwie Malmsteen | 1984–present |
|
all Yngwie Malmsteen releases | |
| Nick Z. Marino |
|
|
| |
| Emilio Martinez | 2017–present (touring only) |
|
| |
| Wyatt Cooper | 2024–present (touring only) | drums |
Former
| Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jens Johansson | 1984–1989 | keyboards |
| |
| Jeff Scott Soto |
|
lead vocals |
| |
| Barriemore Barlow | 1984 | drums | Rising Force (1984) | |
| Anders Johansson | 1984–1989 |
| ||
| Marcel Jacob | 1984–1985 (died 2009) | bass guitar |
| |
| Wally Voss | 1985–1987 (touring only) (died 1992) | none | ||
| Mark Boals |
|
lead vocals |
| |
| Mark Weitz | 1987 | none | ||
| Joe Lynn Turner | 1987–1989 |
| ||
| Barry Dunaway |
|
|
| |
| Mats Olausson | 1989–2001 (died 2015) |
|
| |
| Göran Edman | 1989–1992 | lead vocals |
| |
| Svante Henryson |
| |||
| Michael Von Knorring | 1989–1990 | drums |
| |
| Pete Barnacle | 1990 (touring only, after Michael Von Knorring's departure when he got sick) | none | ||
| Bo Werner | 1990–1992 (touring only Japan leg, after Pete Barnacle's departure when the European leg ended) |
|
Fire & Ice (1992) | |
| Michael Vescera | 1993–1996 | lead vocals |
| |
| Barry Sparks |
|
| ||
| Mike Terrana | 1993–1994 |
|
| |
| B.J. Zampa | 1994 (touring only, after Mike Terrana's departure) | drums | none | |
| Shane Gaalaas | 1994–1996 | Magnum Opus (1995) | ||
| Tommy Aldridge | 1996 (touring only) | |||
| Mats Levén | 1996–1999 | lead vocals |
| |
| Cozy Powell | 1997–1998 (until his death) | drums | Facing the Animal (1997) | |
| John Macaluso | 1999–2001 |
| ||
| Randy Coven | 1999–2001 (touring only) (died 2014) | bass | Live in Korea (2009) | |
| Jørn Lande | 2000–2001 (touring only) | lead vocals | none | |
| Tim Donahue | 2001 (touring only) | drums | Live in Korea (2009) | |
| Patrick Johansson | 2001–2015 |
| ||
| Doogie White | 2001–2008 | lead vocals |
| |
| Mick Cervino |
|
bass guitar | G3: Rockin' in the Free World (2004) | |
| Derek Sherinian |
|
keyboards |
| |
| Joakim Svalberg | 2002–2005 |
| ||
| Rudy Sarzo | 2004 (touring only) | bass guitar | none | |
| Tim "Ripper" Owens | 2008–2012 | lead vocals |
| |
| Michael Troy | 2007–2009 | keyboards | Angels of Love (2009) | |
| Bjorn Englen | 2008–2012 (touring only) | bass guitar | none | |
| Ralph Ciavolino | 2012–2017 (touring only) |
|
Spellbound Live in Tampa (2014) | |
| Mark Ellis | 2015–2018 | drums | World on Fire (2016) | |
| Brian Wilson | 2018–2023 (touring only) | none | ||
| Kevin Klingenschmid | 2023–2024 (touring only) | Tokyo Live (2025) |
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Timelines
Touring
Recording
| Album | Guitar | Vocals | Keyboards | Bass | Drums |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rising Force (1984) | Yngwie Malmsteen | Jeff Scott Soto | Jens Johansson | Yngwie Malmsteen | Barriemore Barlow |
| Marching Out (1985) | Marcel Jacob | Anders Johansson | |||
| Trilogy (1986) | Mark Boals | Yngwie Malmsteen | |||
| Odyssey (1988) | Joe Lynn Turner | Yngwie Malmsteen Bob Daisley | |||
| Eclipse (1990) | Göran Edman | Mats Olausson | Svante Henryson | Michael Von Knorring | |
| Fire & Ice (1992) | Michael Von Knorring Bo Werner | ||||
| The Seventh Sign (1994) | Michael Vescera | Yngwie Malmsteen | Mike Terrana | ||
| I Can't Wait (1994) | Barry Sparks | ||||
| Magnum Opus (1995) | Shane Gaalaas | ||||
| Inspiration (1996) | Jeff Scott Soto Joe Lynn Turner Mark Boals |
David Rosenthal Mats Olausson Jens Johansson |
Yngwie Malmsteen Marcel Jacob |
Anders Johansson | |
| Facing the Animal (1997) | Mats Levén | Mats Olausson | Yngwie Malmsteen Barry Dunaway |
Cozy Powell | |
| Concerto Suite for Electric Guitar and Orchestra (1998) |
none | ||||
| Alchemy (1999) | Mark Boals | Mats Olausson | Yngwie Malmsteen Barry Dunaway |
John Macaluso | |
| War to End All Wars (2000) | Yngwie Malmsteen | ||||
| Attack! (2002) | Doogie White | Derek Sherinian | Patrick Johansson | ||
| Unleash the Fury (2005) | Joakim Svalberg | ||||
| Perpetual Flame (2008) | Tim "Ripper" Owens | Derek Sherinian | |||
| Angels of Love (2009) | none | Michael Troy | none | ||
| Relentless (2010) | Tim "Ripper" Owens | Nick Marino | Patrick Johansson | ||
| Spellbound (2012) | Yngwie Malmsteen | Yngwie Malmsteen | |||
| World on Fire (2016) | Mark Ellis | ||||
| Blue Lightning (2019) | Lawrence Lannerbach (a.k.a. drum machine programmed by Yngwie himself) | ||||
| Parabellum (2021) | |||||
| Tokyo Live (2025) | Yngwie Malmsteen Nick Marino |
Nick Marino | Emilio Martinez | Kevin Klingenschmid | |
Lineups
| Period | Members | Releases |
|---|---|---|
| Early 1984 |
|
|
| 1984–1985 |
|
|
| 1985–1986 |
|
|
| 1986–1987 |
|
none |
| 1987 |
| |
| 1987 |
with
|
|
| 1987–1989 |
|
|
| 1989–1990 |
|
|
| 1990 |
|
none |
| 1990–1992 |
|
|
| Malmsteen on hiatus 1992–1993 | ||
| 1993–1994 |
|
|
| 1994 |
|
none |
| 1994–1996 |
|
|
| 1996 |
|
none |
| 1996–1997 |
| |
| 1997–1998 |
|
|
| 1998 |
|
|
| 1999 |
|
|
| 1999–2000 |
|
|
| 2000–2001 |
|
none |
| 2001 |
|
|
| 2001–2002 |
|
|
| 2002–2004 |
|
|
| February — April 2004 |
|
none |
| 2004–2005 |
|
|
| 2005 |
|
none |
| 2005 |
| |
| 2006–2007 |
|
|
| 2008–2009 |
|
|
| 2009–2012 |
|
|
| 2012 |
|
none |
| 2012–2015 |
|
|
| 2015–2017 |
|
|
| 2017–2018 |
|
|
| 2018–2023 |
|
|
| 2023–2024 |
|
|
| 2024–present |
|
|