Alcatrazz Keyboardist Jimmy Waldo on Yngwie Malmsteen & Graham Bonnet
full in bloom interview with Alcatrazz co-founder/keyboardist Jimmy Waldo. Jimmy talks about Yngwie Malmsteen, Graham Bonnet, Ritchie Blackmore, Alcatrazz, No Parole, and more. #yngwiemalmsteen #ritchieblackmore #ronniejamesdio
Jeff Young Interview
https://youtu.be/JeLzccvtC44
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@juancarlosortiz4188
June 5, 2026 at 3:11 pm
Cuanto rencor, sin yngwie ni bonnet no hubiera sido un gran disco el no parole from rock roll,
@p.w.olivette
June 5, 2026 at 3:11 pm
‘No Parole’ is the greatest album
of all time.
Even with the oddly recorded drums
it’s also the coolest sounding record.
Those drums fit right in
with the mood/vibe of the songs.
@seanr2157
June 5, 2026 at 3:11 pm
Never been a fan of his guitar playing. Don’t understand why people put his playing on such a high pedestal. Sounds like a bunch of noise. But to each his own. 🙉
@arcanium
June 5, 2026 at 3:11 pm
Back in 2023 I saw Glenn Hughes open for Yngwie Malmsteen. After Glenn's set, about half the people left. They had no interest in watching Yngwie kick guitar picks into the audience for 2 hours.
@DogSlobberGardens-i7f
June 5, 2026 at 3:11 pm
Nobody buys an Yngwie album or ticket to listen to the fuckin' drums. 🤣I absolutely see why he'd want to just program the shit himself and wank over it. Why would anyone be surprised that he's a control freak? The man straight up oozes that vibe. And I got news, musicians – if the band name is one guy's name, he's in charge and you're gonna get fucked. You're just a hired hand. It's funny to me because in the country world, everyone knows that and accepts it and it's fine. But rockers think they deserve an equal split for being in So-and-So's back-up group.
@mattskustomkreations
June 5, 2026 at 3:11 pm
IJM is insufferable. No soul, I never understood the appeal.
@majinblood6133
June 5, 2026 at 3:11 pm
Yngwie’s style is great for about 30 seconds, then im desensitized and bored.
@ArkaneWill
June 5, 2026 at 3:11 pm
Graham is singing from what I heard the last decade online. You can hear he isn't hitting the notes, there's struggle, squeaks. How and why would that be programmed? Can anyone prove it with a video example?
@jayrusnak
June 5, 2026 at 3:11 pm
Steve Vai himself, who never says a bad word about anyone, in one of his books referred to Jimmy and the other guys (aside from Graham) as "not overly gifted with talent".
@alessandrobertonikeys
June 5, 2026 at 3:11 pm
I have been the keyboardist for Graham since 2020. I recorded his last album "Day Out in Nowhere" I did all the live shows and touring all over the world (except a couple in mid 2025 ), I am in the live DVD that was just released and I am currently recording keyboard for his next album TBA in 2026 and getting ready for the next touring cycle. I have no idea what happened before 2020 as it's never mentioned in the band environment but since I joined Graham's band he has never ever done that. We barely have tracks for the outro and intros and stage walk-in. I am not in the custom of lying, I have plenty of other gigs, session works and such but if you want the insight of someone who has been very close to Graham for the past 4 years there you have it.
@franciscoantoniomontoyaboc1852
June 5, 2026 at 3:11 pm
Y QUIEN OBLIGA A LOS MUSICOS A TOCAR POR POCO DINERO ??? si ellos tocan por monedas es por que quieren no por que se les obligue que pensamiento tan zurdo , segun tu logica entonses la gente es idiota y trabaja por poco dinero por que los obligan
@LazloRolka
June 5, 2026 at 3:11 pm
I just rabbit holed all the live footage I could. I do not see any credible evidence Graham is faking it. Does anyone have a video to prove this? That would be a shame.
@dino.manzella
June 5, 2026 at 3:11 pm
I have questions:
Why does it surprise anyone that Yngwie would not want to pay other musicians an equal share? (He's the person people are coming to see)
Why does it surprise anyone that Yngwie would be a control freak about his music? (It's his reputation on the line. Remember the story of Billy Squire when he let someone control his music video?)
Why does it surprise anyone that Yngwie would want to save money by not paying session musicians when he can do it himself or have the keyboard player do it?
Why does it surprise anyone that Yngwie would want to shred over all of his music? (That's what (he believes) people see as value in him and his band(s))
Why does it surprise anyone that Yngwie would want control of everything?
If he was not a control freak with Graham, then, he'd doing it on his own term under items that are in his control.
It's funny how people spin this around like he's doing something wrong. Taking control of your own destiny is key to not falling victim to the bad plans of others. If he fails, he fails on his own. With that, he can fail with dignity.
Do I think he's successful under his own guidance, not as much as what he could have been. But at least he did not fall the way of Billy Squire's career.
@zachary_attackery
June 5, 2026 at 3:11 pm
750-1000 people would be considered a successful show in the US for a metal band. I've played with some pretty big bands like Udo Dirkschneider, Deicide, Doro, etc and we literally had shows where only 20 or less people were there
@richardsantillano7153
June 5, 2026 at 3:11 pm
Y.M. is an Ass!
@Jack_cx
June 5, 2026 at 3:11 pm
Yngwie 'J' Malmsteen should be universally applauded for his lifelong service to the principle that more is, in fact, more.
@johnmcminn9455
June 5, 2026 at 3:11 pm
Yngwie DID have a gold record ECLIPSE went GOLD , Goram Edmund was paid 75K for singing that record.
Marc Boals would actually read the sheet music Yngwie would write , like on Alchemy ," Wield My Sword, sounds like a lead guitar melody , more than what a singer would write , if you listen to it
@thesentinel5523
June 5, 2026 at 3:11 pm
Nobody ever talks about how good Malmsteen's rhythm playing is. Go back and listen to marching out, trilogy, Odyssey, etc. Marching out, specifically. That album gets slept on and it's the prototype for every power metal album that's been made. Stratovarius and hammer fall are two legendary power metal bands. I don't think it's a coincidence that both bands have had the Johannson brothers play for them. The first four Malmsteen albums have Jens Johansson on keyboards and Anders Johansson on drums. In my opinion that's his best work.
@JimmyGallowayGuitar
June 5, 2026 at 3:11 pm
Graham was an incredible talent- I can't imagine how loud YJM was on stage to compete w Graham's monitors way before the IEMs hit the scene. YJM is a hot dog- I respect him and his talent but it is very one dimensional.
@tr-austin
June 5, 2026 at 3:11 pm
Yngwie is a LEGEND. Period.
@krisbritwres394
June 5, 2026 at 3:11 pm
But jimmy why is your fat band manager the only guy you can get to sing for alcatrazz
@Takis_Playloud
June 5, 2026 at 3:11 pm
Jimmy Waldo sounds like a broke up, bitter girlfriend
@mrbrianmccarthy
June 5, 2026 at 3:11 pm
The problem with Yngwie is he never progressed beyond what he did in the mid 80's. His style never changed, and most of what he plays is very derivative of old classical music—right out of Vivaldi/Bach. So it was amazing when you first heard it, but it got old quick, and he never changed. He still sounds exactly the same.He has never ventured into any other style, nor did his harmonic vocabulary ever grow or become any different. Its still basically the same old diminished, minor, lydian over and over.
@mrbrianmccarthy
June 5, 2026 at 3:11 pm
I wonder how many of these old rock singers are lip synching like Graham Bonnet? What a rip off. These guys need to get off the stage.Thats fraud. People are paying to see a live show, not a lip synch contest.
@SeedHousePrints
June 5, 2026 at 3:11 pm
I've liked your vids for years, I gotta say that the stock footage filler adds nothing and is annoying, you don't need it
@billyguthrie3176
June 5, 2026 at 3:11 pm
My thing with Yngwie he's good but his leads sound regurgitory. I think think he'd be even better if he'd learn to connect with the feel of the song he'd play much more interestig things. I'm really happy that Yingwie has Vai for a friend because he really needed one and steve is an excellent choice.
@tonebrennan8475
June 5, 2026 at 3:11 pm
❤Jan Uvena❤ I was lucky enough to have cut some tracks with Jan,Jimmy Haslip,& April Lawton at Kingdom Sound,Syosset,L.I. In ‘77! Wonderful memories 😊
@HAPPYYY-BIRTHDAY-TO-YOU
June 5, 2026 at 3:11 pm
I was at Graham Bonnet's concert before 2 hours in Sofia, Bulgaria – he made GREAT SHOW, and sing all songs alone – I am composer and I can see it.
Great voice, nice jokes, great musicians in the band… All was perfect, hall was full. Come AGAIN Graham Bonnet!!!
@davidepannone6021
June 5, 2026 at 3:11 pm
Oh that explains why I saw Graham clips of him singing "live" and I was actually "wait a minute, he couldn't sing half the stuff since the 2000s and now can sing again in 2023? What?"
Also explains why even tho no parole has real drums in it, they sound like shit. What a shame. Such a classic somewhat hidden gem completely ruined because of a drunktard.
@stevesapp9987
June 5, 2026 at 3:11 pm
That's why yngwie sucks as a writer. Same shit different album.
@JamesBurchell-r5p
June 5, 2026 at 3:11 pm
Music biz is a load of shit
@JamesBurchell-r5p
June 5, 2026 at 3:11 pm
Graham is a great person but yeh shit happens the voice gets old kids it's a thing
@JamesBurchell-r5p
June 5, 2026 at 3:11 pm
Sounds like the kaiser
@Menace.2487
June 5, 2026 at 3:11 pm
I always liked Yngwie, but I always respected this guy – what would a guy want? 😊
@skeptic10
June 5, 2026 at 3:11 pm
I had to look up whether it's true that Graham Bonnet lipsyncs. I don't see it. I usually can tell in 2 seconds, yep this is lipsyncing but looking up Bonnet's many many recent shows and I think he sings for real.
@artnditty
June 5, 2026 at 3:11 pm
So how do you fade in and out witn no click track and the band is on time with the recording ?????????
@UtoniumJock
June 5, 2026 at 3:11 pm
Graham Bonnet is one of the most luckiest vocalists to ever record and a damn great one too.
He has sung with some of the worlds best guitarists ever.
Richie Blackmore,
Michael Schenker,
Yngwie Malmsteen,
Steve Vai,
Chris Impellittery.
I seen him only onec with Yngwie and what a show.
@stevencook6750
June 5, 2026 at 3:11 pm
Yngwie needs a “lead vocalist” again like in the past, not somebody who can just sing, big difference, also Yngwie cannot sing, he can vocalise sure but not “sing”, his records and concerts are not good, I don’t go.
@randychambers1704
June 5, 2026 at 3:11 pm
Cool to hear the early Alcatrazz story from another guy in the band.
@jonmanau1921
June 5, 2026 at 3:11 pm
I'm so tired of people talking shit about Yngwie. Asshole or not… Doesn't matter. People come to see him because they want to see and hear Yngwie. We know what to expect. If he's happy with his situation… Good for him. Why judge him or his fans.
I've seen him many, many times… With many singers (including JOE LYNN TURNER). It's always been a good show.
@LuisDHern
June 5, 2026 at 3:11 pm
18:11 What’s the context of that image? 😂🤣
@ericcollins1824
June 5, 2026 at 3:11 pm
Yngwie will be remembered for generations to come .
Graham who ?!?
It’s a business dumbass .
@robotflag
June 5, 2026 at 3:11 pm
"He's a control freak…." Bro, it's his band. Nobody is there to see you. Everyone was there to see Yngwie.
@sebastianknobloch9080
June 5, 2026 at 3:11 pm
Jimmy Waldo … the best Keyboarder out there! Of course because he isn’t performen live. He pretends to be playing live while saying Graham is singing Playback. 😂 just think why he is the only one and even the only Keyboarder I’ve seen live with a notebook next to him 😉
@Baneumann66
June 5, 2026 at 3:11 pm
He should be a control freak. It’s HIS THING not yours. Do what you’re told. He should get more money too! It’s his THING not yours 😂🤘🏻❤️
@underlocknkey1
June 5, 2026 at 3:11 pm
I wish you would leave Graham alone ..It's sounds like sour grapes.The guys a legend and that's it .Not in good taste and as a fan why try to ruin the guy
@TJH3113
June 5, 2026 at 3:11 pm
I’ve seen quite a few of crowd shot live clips of Graham Bonnet that were recorded over the past 5 years or so. He sounds really good, especially considering the vocal range of the songs and his age. He sounds good, but not backing track good.
@MikeSmedleyOLDSCHOOLSTRIPERS
June 5, 2026 at 3:11 pm
A lot of that Alcatraz stuff was impossible to sing night after night. That Hiroshima song had ridiculously high vocals in 90% of it. I love Bonnet, but no human could reproduce that for 90 minutes night after night. It’s been years, so I re-visited some of it and it’s insanely hard to sing. Way higher than I even remembered. Give Hiroshima a listen.
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