Vai- Alcatraz

Love Vai. His licks were so wormy and slick. Wanted a signed JEM back in 1989 when they were like $1799 or something. I had no money to do anything like that.
 
Never liked it personally. Thought he was a horrible fit and he struggled playing Malmsteen's stuff there is no question. Like Vai more as a rythm player actually.
 
Big Vai fan here and I think he's on another planet as far as his playing goes as nobody sounds like him.

Jeff Beck, Alan Holdsworth, Shawn Lane are also from another planet as far as I'm concerned. All very unique players with there own thing going on and they may not be easy listening for everybody which I get, but they each have their own sonic identifiable footprint as far as their playing goes.
 
I definitely much prefer Vai Alcatrazz than Yngwie. Disturbing the Peace is a great record. No Parole from Rock n' Roll is dumpy by comparison.
 
I think he wrote all those parts in 2 weeks, if memory serves.

Man, Bonnett was a fucking beast of a vocalist (still is, I think?). I dig that dudes vocals more now than I did when I found out about these guys in the 90’s. Dude just belts the shit out and his pitch is dead fucking on.

Despite being a Vai fanboy, I actually prefer Yngwie Alcatrazz more.
 
DrewJD82 said:
I think he wrote all those parts in 2 weeks, if memory serves.

Man, Bonnett was a fucking beast of a vocalist (still is, I think?). I dig that dudes vocals more now than I did when I found out about these guys in the 90’s. Dude just belts the shit out and his pitch is dead fucking on.

Despite being a Vai fanboy, I actually prefer Yngwie Alcatrazz more.
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I agree. I love Steve's solo compositions, but every band he's played with changes them for the worse IMO, with the exception of the DLR stuff.

I started following Steve when he was still in Zappa. He blew my young mind. Must have been 1980 when I first saw him. I was at the Carvin plant when he did his first endorsement photo shoot. Got his telephone number and copied his style a bit in my early days....
 
Techdeth said:
Man his solos on this are harder than Tim Henson solos . Fr I love the licks here . Vai did all the licks by 85 lol
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Started listening to this album because of this, wow I never realised Alcatraz were that good really, the album is great! I was always a bit put off because Bonnett has never been my favourite singer tbh🤷🏻‍♂️

Vai's tone is excellent too and his playing style is all there pretty much. Really enjoy a lot of his solo albums, but when he's a bit more "confined" into a band situation he really stands out I think.
 
geetarmikey said:
Started listening to this album because of this, wow I never realised Alcatraz were that good really, the album is great! I was always a bit put off because Bonnett has never been my favourite singer tbh🤷🏻‍♂️

Vai's tone is excellent too and his playing style is all there pretty much. Really enjoy a lot of his solo albums, but when he's a bit more "confined" into a band situation he really stands out I think.
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I totally agree . Vai’s solos on Eat em and Smile are just perfect compositions that fit the songs right . Also when Kotzen played his leads on tha Poiisin album he played the mostbieect solos ever
 
espquade said:
That is an excellent one as well and certainly would be in my top 3 from him. I also really like Fire Garden , but it took me a long time to really absorb and get into it.
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I been really into After the Burial. Shits an adventure . They take time too
 
Unpopular opinion maybe, but I always thought of Alcatraz as a second-string band that had 2 amazing guitar players. I bought the live album with Yngwie on it when it was released, back when I was a road musician in my early 20's. When I played the cassette for our guitarist, he said of Yngwie "He kicks Van Halen's ass". I can't stand Bonnet's voice. Fucking caterwauling IMO. Same goes for Glen Hughes and Ray Gillen. Blecch.
 
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Techdeth said:
I been really into After the Burial. Shits an adventure . They take time too
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I remember the first time one of my homies put on the song Berzerker I was like wtf is this!?

Saw them live not too long after that (when both OG guitarists were alive). Was dope
 
Devin said:
I remember the first time one of my homies put on the song Berzerker I was like wtf is this!?

Saw them live not too long after that (when both OG guitarists were alive). Was dope
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Hell ya ! I feel like they are underrated .
IMO they are a 8/9 string version of pantera mixed with prog
 
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