Yngwie J. Malmsteen (Vienna, Planet Music - 22.03.03)
Written by: Aleš Podbrežnik

Being in the same old town and the same old place again, very early to participate that special event, we found enough time to collect and read very precisely all flyers that were revealing hot spring events in Planet Music (Big Brother And Holding Company, The Yarbirds, Paul McCartney, John Mayal). But after couple of minutes we met Dougie, who was the most active Malmsteen's member at that moment. We asked him directly: "Where is Yngwie?" And Dougie replied: "He's watching CNN!" Dougie who worked with Blackmore and did vocals on Rainbow's "Strangers In Us All" was in good mood, positively surprised with three Purple and Rainbow die-hards and was ready to discus about all sort of things. So we've focused on Ritchie's case.

Mick Cervino (ex- Rainbow's Night) who also joined us in conversation applied, that Ritchie was even so arrogant that during one gig he approached to position where Mick was doing his bass job on stage and drew a line on the bottom of the stage. This line marked Mick's active space where he's aloud to move on stage in order to not cross that line. Mick added that he's enjoining very much being with Yngwie on tour. The working spirit of touring team is fantastic, everything runs smoothly and Yngwie leaves his mates plenty of room to breathe. Being a part of Malmsten's team in comparison with Ritchie's regime full of strange restrictions seems therefore as if you change a night for a day.

Meanwhile Dougie entered the Marshall's Café in Planet Music where Yngwie was still very busy with watching current CNN news about U.S.A. actions in Iraq. He returned with Yngwie's signatures saying: "Master sends me!" He also dropped three guitar picks on the table and invited us to enjoy the listening of band's sound check sessions that will include a lot of stuff from Deep Purple and Jimi Hendrix.

And so it was. Sound check jamming delivered Purple Haze, Voodo Chile (Hendrix), Heaven And Hell, Children Of The Sea (Black Sabbath), You Fool No One (Deep Purple) and was spiced up with classical stuff from 19th Century's translated and extracted into very special Yngwie's electrical experience.

Let's get to the point. Codex from Vienna as a local support hit the stage at eight p.m. They offered phenomenal sound as a support group. Supreme sound, they knew the acoustical specifics of Planet Music cellar hall. Everything was crystal clear for an ear. Band was perfectly tuned in. All effects, from singers echo up to stereo chorus and compressor's ringing were there to help in building a "no mistake" and perfect sound. Guys are four pieced group. Drummer, bassist, guitarist and vocalist. First three are experienced, good musicians and were looking very relaxed. Singer was a little stressed. He wasn't as convincible as he's pals. He looked frightened, but he balanced that lack of self confidence with he's trained clean vocals. From this guy we can expect more in the future, that's for sure. Maybe a little more emotional expressions on stage wouldn't harm at all. Codex are trying to develop their unique style. Passages are simplified, almost no guitar solos included, but first class riffing with great palm muted chords. Style is uhh... how to call this? Well, songs are caught in mid tempo thrash drive, based on obscure sounded half tune conclusions. But here we have interesting contrast between melodic clean vocals and this obscure sharp edged music style. General expressions also left a feel that Codex felt out to be slightly poppy (cause of singer's style). Unfortunately they didn't get me under their flag, but anyway, I wish them good luck in future. The band included also live performance of U2 With Or Without You. I'm still wondering what this bloody U2 did so special on a rock scene to deserve that?
Well Codex played one hour. We waited another hour for maestro and company to start their show. One plus one makes two hours of dying to meet El President. And he showed up with Rise Up at 22:00 (or 10p.m.). Opener wasn't sounding clear. Yngwie's riffing diminished other instruments including Dougie on vocals. But next piece Ship Of Fools placed things where they should be. I'm talking about sound improvement.

Hey, Yngwie just hardly appeared on stage and first thing he was up to do was, guess what? As usual he immediately kicked off a few guitar picks into the crowd. This Yngwie's behavior strategy is something very interesting to discuss a bit. It is a sort of communication between Yngwie and his audience. During the show, roadie appeared at least for a five times on stage in order to supply Yngwie with guitar picks. Roadie was looking very funny. He was sweating like hell and looking with eyes full of paranoia. I understand that, how can you ever find yourself relaxed in such position? You know that it is funny thing to do, but you must do it. Master commands you to. Well, almost any single time when Yngwie looked to the audience, he threw one pick into the crowd as it would be a part of ordinary way of "day to day" living (sleeping, eating, etc,...). It was funny when I watched how Yngwie kicked one pick with such force that it hit a fan in the front row in his stomach, but still kept enough kinesis, to return back on stage. So picks were lying all over the place. On stage, among the technical equipment, well they just kept on flying from all directions. One arpeggio, one flyin' guitar pick, next arpeggio, next flyin' pick. Again and again Yngwie just kept on showering us with those little plastic pieces. And he was having a real big time while doin' it.

After band did Stronghold we face one stage - one man scene. It was Yngwie's journey through Paganini's and Albigioni's legacy, but blazed out on electric way. Translated hellish precise, every single tune was clearly detached with my ears. It was manifestation of pure speed, speed and again blistering speed of fuckin' light. Maestro who meanwhile received a company on stage (with Dougie's exception) drove his band directly (with no pause) in the next instrumental song Baroque And Roll. Dreaming (from "The Odyssey" album) calm things a little bit. Yngwie used for that special acoustic event his guitar with a rising horse symbol drawing on it.

A highlight of that evening was Trilogy. Machine gun guitar hero with his astonishing wizardry all over the guitar's fingerboard was highly determinate to rip it up. Mood completely took him in and he really gave all his 110% here. I popped my eyes out while standing still in front row with my mouth wide opened. Those were a real breathtaking moments.

What is also very interesting is the fact about Yngwie's obsession with Ritchie Blackmore. It is an old story but anyway. "At the age of nineteen, he became the Macedonian king"..., sorry (this is Iron Maiden, 1986). Let's start again. At the age of twelve, he knew all Deep Purple's solos to slide them in both directions of guitar fingerboard. Yngwie's gestures on the stage reminds on those of Ritchie, also swinging the guitar around and over his body, than sliding the fingerboard with both hands, etc... This heaven's solo fantasy faded directly into earthly Hendrix's cover Red House with Yngwie on lead vocals. He tried to sound raunchy. This move (including of Red House in set list) made a nice contrast to a gig as whole.

Mood completely changed after Yngwie fired Fugue from his album "Concerto Suite". This was firing storm of blazing arpeggios all over the place again. Where are his fingers, does anybody probably sees them? This was first highlight of the evening. This solo attraction was even lengthened with its orgasmic end with Yngwie who scrapped all six strings from poor instrument and threw them into the audience. At a moment I thought to myself: "Hey, his going for that Hendrix's ritual!" (to burn guitar with gasoline). But instead of doing this he waited at the end of that act for roadie to appear behind his backs. After a sign, Yngwie thrown instrument over his head backward in the arms of roadie who scored his final touch down.

After that, the band went for a couple of beers. But Mick remained on stage and provided some good vibes out of his astonishing bass solo. After Mick ended his thing, Patrick Johanson's drum flak began to thunder all over the hall. At a certain point Yngwie ran back on stage and band fired as one You Don't Remember, I'll Never Forget. Audience became more active again. In the middle section of a song, maestro started a well known riff. The band incorporated Purple's classic "Demon's Eye". I was amazed. After that Dougie replied to the audience: "Some people believes in heaven, Ronnie James Dio believes in hell, and Yngwie believes in Valhalla!" This was the ending song.

Encore. After acoustically driven intro with his Fender Strato, maestro turned everything into pure delirium by opening theme of another unbeatable Purple's classic Mistreated. Perhaps Dougie can't get so high in vocals as his predecessors Mike Boals or Michael Vescera, but with Mistreated he showed all his great talent and amazing feeling for improvisations. He did it with full force, soulful and this felt out to be very convincible. This majesty from Purple's Mk.III period (Lord/Paice/Coverdale/Hughes/Blackmore) got its wings. Yngwie perforated the song with his solos and arpeggios. Almost all guitar lines where riffs are placed in song's original version were done in that Yngwie's fashion and spiced up with all sorts of his own guitar ornaments, as it was actually expected. A long lasting beauty of this song faded into grand bluesy end that seemed as it won't ever stop. A real dedication to the legendary band. Pure gates of delirium ended with full blown striker Rising Force with audience singing along with the band.

Malmsteen's show is always something special. It is unique and unusual (from metal maniac's point of view) and I think that every single one of us should taste it once in his life. It was also cool because there were no frustrated "metal earthdogs" that would come on gig to stage dive or to pour litres of beer on the crowd a and headbang through entire show, giving a common listener a real hard time to enjoy the live act (I'm too old for this shit!). Yngwie and guys, thank you for giving us incredible and unforgettable show. Take care and see you again as soon as possible!

Set list Y.J. Malmsteen (Vienna, 22.03.2003):

01. Intro
02. Rise Up
03. Ship Of Fools
04. Stronghold
05. Solo (Yngwie plays Paganini)
06. Baroque And Roll
07. Dreaming
08. Razor Eater
09. In The Name Of God
10. Trilogy
11. Red House
12. Fugue
13. Solo Keyboards (incl. Toccata And Fugue)
14. Solo Bass
15. Solo Drums
16. You Don't Remember, I'll Never Forget (incl. Demon's Eye)
17. Valhalla
---------------------------------------------------------------- encore
18. Intro
19. Mistreated
20. Rising Force
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