At 62, Yngwie Malmsteen Reveals 6 Guitarists He Hated The Most!

Summary

In this video, we explore the intense rivalries of legendary guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen, who openly despised certain peers in the rock and metal scene. From his bitter feud with idol-turned-rival Richie Blackmore to his disdain for the blues influence of Slash, Malmsteen’s philosophy centered on technical mastery and classical precision, rejecting what he saw as inferior playing styles. He even criticized Metallica’s Kirk Hammett, grunge icon Kurt Cobain, and the clone-like following of his own shred style. This deep dive reveals the complexity of Malmsteen's genius, ego, and the philosophy behind his intense musical battles.

Takeaways

• 😀 Yngwie Malmsteen's early admiration for Richie Blackmore turned into a bitter rivalry as Malmsteen sought to prove he was technically superior, particularly in classical music theory and guitar virtuosity.
• 😀 Malmsteen's criticism of Kirk Hammett stems from his belief that Hammett's reliance on effects like the Wah pedal was a crutch, masking a lack of technical skill and musical complexity.
• 😀 The feud with Slash is rooted in Malmsteen’s disdain for blues-based rock, which he considered a 'primitive' and 'lazy' style compared to his own technical, classical-inspired playing.
• 😀 Malmsteen’s refusal to join the G3 Guitar Summit reflected his view that collaboration and jamming diluted his brand of pure, composed artistry. He preferred to be a soloist and control the stage.
• 😀 Kurt Cobain and the rise of grunge represented an existential threat to Malmsteen, as Cobain’s 'anti-virtuosity' approach made Malmsteen’s technically demanding style seem irrelevant.
• 😀 Malmsteen’s personal hatred of grunge wasn't just professional envy; it was a rejection of the genre’s rejection of technical skill and its embrace of raw emotion over technical mastery.
• 😀 The influx of guitarists who imitated Malmsteen's neoclassical style, such as Tony MacAlpine and Vinnie Moore, frustrated him as he viewed their work as uninspired copycats rather than true innovators.
• 😀 Malmsteen's rivalry with other virtuosos like Joe Satriani and Steve Vai was driven by his belief in artistic purity. He saw collaborations as a dilution of his singular, uncompromising genius.
• 😀 Malmsteen’s philosophy on guitar was rooted in a commitment to classical music theory and extreme technical discipline, which he believed set him apart from other rock guitarists who focused on feel or improvisation.
• 😀 Malmsteen's hatred for his so-called 'clones' reflected his belief that true artistry came from original innovation, not just copying established players, even if they were inspired by his own work.

Q & A

Why did Ingui Malmstein's relationship with Richie Blackmore become so complicated?

Ingui Malmstein idolized Richie Blackmore in his early career, even emulating his style and stage presence. However, as Ingui’s technical ability grew, he became frustrated by the industry's lack of acknowledgment for his virtuosity, which he felt was superior to Blackmore's. This led to a rivalry where Ingui needed to prove he was better than his idol to assert his own identity and genius.

How did Ingui Malmstein's technical playing style differ from Kirk Hammet's?

Ingui Malmstein was known for his precise, classical-inspired technical playing, emphasizing clarity and harmonic complexity in his solos. Kirk Hammet, on the other hand, relied heavily on emotional expression and effects like the Wah-wah pedal, which Ingui saw as a crutch to cover up a lack of technical skill. Ingui criticized Kirk's style as inferior and a betrayal of true musicianship.

Why did Ingui Malmstein despise Slash's style of playing?

Ingui Malmstein had a disdain for blues-based rock, which was epitomized by Slash's style. He believed that blues rock, with its simpler pentatonic scales and emotional expressiveness, was a step backward for the guitar. Ingui valued technical mastery and saw blues as limiting and primitive, which made Slash's popularity frustrating to him.

What was the philosophical divide between Ingui Malmstein and Joe Satriani regarding their approach to music?

Ingui Malmstein refused to join the G3 Guitar Summit because it emphasized collaboration and jamming, which he viewed as an inferior form of music. For Ingui, every note in his solos was meticulously composed, like a classical concerto. In contrast, Joe Satriani and other G3 members valued the exchange of ideas and collaborative improvisation, which Ingui saw as a threat to his artistic purity.

How did Kurt Cobain and the grunge movement challenge Ingui Malmstein's worldview?

Ingui Malmstein saw the rise of grunge as an existential insult. While he was perfecting technically demanding compositions, bands like Nirvana embraced a raw, unpolished, and emotionally driven sound. Ingui couldn't understand how people could appreciate music that lacked technical skill and complexity, and he viewed it as a rejection of everything he stood for.

What was Ingui Malmstein's reaction to the rise of guitarists who mimicked his style?

Ingui Malmstein was frustrated by the emergence of 'Ingui clones'—guitarists who replicated his technical style without understanding the philosophy behind it. He believed that his own genius came from listening to classical music, not from other guitarists. He saw the imitation of his style as a dilution of his unique innovation, which made his work seem less magical and valuable.

Why did Ingui Malmstein think that the technical shred genre was being undermined by others?

Ingui Malmstein viewed the technical shred genre as being cheapened by guitarists who didn't understand the complexities and discipline behind it. He believed that the world was focusing more on emotional expression and simplicity, as seen with artists like Slash and Kirk Hammet, rather than appreciating the technical mastery that he had spent his life developing.

How did Ingui Malmstein's personal ego shape his relationship with other guitarists?

Ingui Malmstein’s ego was tightly connected to his belief in his own artistic purity. He saw himself as the true virtuoso and felt that other guitarists who didn’t share his philosophy or level of technical mastery were inferior. His ego fueled his disdain for guitarists like Kirk Hammet, Slash, and even Joe Satriani, whose styles and approaches he found flawed or unsophisticated.

What was Ingui Malmstein’s stance on collaboration with other musicians?

Ingui Malmstein was opposed to collaboration in the traditional sense, as exemplified by his refusal to join the G3 Guitar Summit. He believed that his work was a solo pursuit and that sharing the spotlight with others diluted his artistic vision. For him, collaboration was an inferior form of music-making that compromised the integrity of his compositions.

What were Ingui Malmstein’s thoughts on the grunge movement’s effect on the music industry?

Ingui Malmstein saw the grunge movement as a devastating shift in the music industry, where technique and virtuosity were dismissed in favor of raw emotion and simplicity. He blamed grunge for making his complex, classical-inspired guitar work seem irrelevant, and he viewed it as the ultimate insult to his life's dedication to technical mastery and musical sophistication.