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 Kevin Klingenschmid (since 2023). 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. 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). Jacob left during the tour and was replaced by Wally Voss. Soto left in 1985 and was replaced by Mark Boals, who performed on the 1986 album Trilogy but was fired by Malmsteen before its release after an altercation. Soto returned for the album's tour, after which it was reported in 1987 that Mark Weitz would perform on the next album.
Weitz was soon replaced by Joe Lynn Turner, who performed on 1988's Odyssey together with session bassist Bob Daisley. The subsequent tour spawned Malmsteen's first live album Trial by Fire: Live in Leningrad, which featured bassist Barry Dunaway. When the tour ended, Turner left and eventually joined Deep Purple
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. 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.
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. Von Knorring left after a few shows for health reasons and was replaced by Pete Barnacle on tour, before Bo Werner of Mogg joined to record 1992's Fire & Ice.
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. He subsequently enlisted vocalist Michael Vescera, drummer Mike Terrana and bassist Barry Sparks to join Olausson in the Rising Force band. B.J. Zampa replaced Terrana during the tour for The Seventh Sign, before Shane Gaalaas took over later in the year. Following the promotion of Magnum Opus in 1995, Malmsteen went on a temporary hiatus. He returned the following year to release Inspiration, an album of cover versions featuring several former bandmates, including vocalists Soto, Boals and Turner. 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.
Malmsteen enlisted Cozy Powell to perform drums on Facing the Animal in 1997. 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". Powell later died in a car crash on 5 April. By 1999, the band included returning vocalist Boals and new drummer John Macaluso, with Alchemy released before the end of the year. Randy Coven took over from Dunaway for the album's touring cycle, although bass on 2000's War to End All Wars was performed by Malmsteen. By the time the album was released, however, Boals had left Malmsteen's band again. 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. Out of "loyalty" to his Ark bandmate, Macaluso also left the band following the event. After it was initially reported that Soto would return to take over on vocals, the spot was later filled by Boals. It was also initially reported that Metal Symphony of Darkness drummer Ed Rock would replace Macaluso, although this was quickly altered to be Cherry Poppin' Daddies drummer Tim Donahue. 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. Attack!! was recorded and released as this lineup's only album the following year.
2002 onwards Touring for Attack!! began in December 2002 and featured Joakim Svalberg on keyboards. Rudy Sarzo replaced Cervino in February 2004, although by April he had left to join Dio's touring lineup. Cervino returned to the band for the tour in promotion of 2005's Unleash the Fury. Nick Z. Marino replaced Svalberg for a run of shows later in the year, before Sherinian returned for US tour dates in 2006. In February 2008, it was announced that White had parted ways with Malmsteen due to musical differences. His replacement was quickly confirmed to be former Judas Priest and Iced Earth frontman Tim "Ripper" Owens. Michael Troy and Bjorn Englen were subsequently announced as the replacements for Sherinian and Cervino, respectively. Marino rejoined the band in 2009, and in 2012 Englen was replaced by Ralph Ciavolino. Leading up to the release of Spellbound, rumors began to circulate that Owens had left the band. This was later confirmed by the singer, who was not featured on the album.
Owens was not replaced – Malmsteen and Marino have handled lead vocal duties since his departure. In 2015, Johansson left to join W.A.S.P. Mark Ellis took his place and performed on Malmsteen's next studio album, World on Fire. By 2018, Ellis had been replaced by Brian Wilson, who was replaced in 2023 by Kevin Klingenschmid.
Members Current ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsYngwie Malmsteen1984–presentall Yngwie Malmsteen releasesNick Z. MarinoEmilio Martinez2017–present Kevin Klingenschmid2023–present drums''Tokyo Live'' (2025)
Former ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsJens Johansson1984–1989keyboardsJeff Scott Sotolead vocals Barriemore Barlow1984drumsRising Force (1984)Anders Johansson1984–1989Marcel Jacob1984–1985 bass guitar Wally Voss1985–1987 Mark Boalslead vocalsMark Weitz1987Joe Lynn Turner1987–1989 Barry Dunaway Mats Olausson1989–2001 Göran Edman1989–1992lead vocalsSvante Henryson Michael Von Knorring1989–1990drums Pete Barnacle1990 Bo Werner1990–1992 Fire & Ice (1992) Michael Vescera1993–1996lead vocals Barry SparksMike Terrana1993–1994B.J. Zampa1994 drumsShane Gaalaas1994–1996Magnum Opus (1995)Tommy Aldridge1996 Mats Levén1996–1999lead vocalsCozy Powell1997–1998 drumsFacing the Animal (1997)John Macaluso1999–2001Randy Coven1999–2001 bassLive in Korea (2009)Jørn Lande2000–2001 lead vocalsTim Donahue2001 drumsLive in Korea (2009)Patrick Johansson2001–2015Doogie White2001–2008lead vocalsMick Cervinobass guitarG3: Rockin' in the Free World (2004)Derek SheriniankeyboardsJoakim Svalberg2002–2005Rudy Sarzo2004 bass guitarTim "Ripper" Owens2008–2012lead vocalsMichael Troy2007–2009keyboardsAngels of Love (2009) Bjorn Englen2008–2012 bass guitar Ralph Ciavolino2012–2017 Spellbound Live in Tampa (2014) Mark Ellis2015–2018drumsWorld on Fire (2016)Brian Wilson2018–2023 noneWyatt Cooper2024-2025
Timelines Touring
Recording AlbumGuitarVocalsKeyboardsBassDrumsRising Force (1984)Yngwie MalmsteenJeff Scott SotoJens JohanssonYngwie MalmsteenBarriemore BarlowMarching Out (1985)Marcel JacobAnders JohanssonTrilogy (1986)Mark BoalsYngwie MalmsteenOdyssey (1988)Joe Lynn TurnerYngwie MalmsteenBob DaisleyEclipse (1990)Göran EdmanMats OlaussonSvante HenrysonMichael Von KnorringFire & Ice (1992)Michael Von KnorringBo WernerThe Seventh Sign (1994)Michael VesceraYngwie MalmsteenMike TerranaI Can't Wait (1994)Barry SparksMagnum Opus (1995)Shane GaalaasInspiration (1996)Jeff Scott SotoJoe Lynn TurnerMark BoalsDavid RosenthalMats OlaussonJens JohanssonYngwie MalmsteenMarcel JacobAnders JohanssonFacing the Animal (1997)Mats LevénMats OlaussonYngwie MalmsteenBarry DunawayCozy PowellConcerto Suite for ElectricGuitar and Orchestra (1998)noneAlchemy (1999)Mark BoalsMats OlaussonYngwie MalmsteenBarry DunawayJohn MacalusoWar to End All Wars (2000)Yngwie MalmsteenAttack! (2002)Doogie WhiteDerek SherinianPatrick JohanssonUnleash the Fury (2005)Joakim SvalbergPerpetual Flame (2008)Tim "Ripper" OwensDerek SherinianAngels of Love (2009)Michael TroyRelentless (2010)Tim "Ripper" OwensNick MarinoPatrick JohanssonSpellbound (2012)Yngwie MalmsteenYngwie MalmsteenWorld on Fire (2016)Mark EllisBlue Lightning (2019)Lawrence Lannerbach Parabellum (2021)Tokyo Live (2025)Yngwie MalmsteenNick MarinoNick MarinoEmilio MartinezKevin Klingenschmid
Lineups PeriodMembersReleasesEarly 1984Yngwie Malmsteen – guitars, bass guitar Jeff Scott Soto – lead vocals Jens Johansson – keyboards Barriemore Barlow – drumsRising Force (1984)1984–1985Yngwie Malmsteen – guitars, backing vocals Jeff Scott Soto – lead vocals Jens Johansson – keyboards Marcel Jacob – bass guitar Anders Johansson – drumsMarching Out (1985) Live '85 (1985) Inspiration (1996) 1985–1986Yngwie Malmsteen – guitars, bass Mark Boals – lead vocals Jens Johansson – keyboards Wally Voss – bass guitar Anders Johansson – drumsTrilogy (1986) Inspiration (1996) 1986–1987Yngwie Malmsteen – guitars Jeff Scott Soto – lead vocals Jens Johansson – keyboards Wally Voss – bass guitar Anders Johansson – drumsrowspan="2" 1987Yngwie Malmsteen – guitars Mark Weitz – lead vocals Jens Johansson – keyboards Wally Voss – bass guitar Anders Johansson – drums1987Yngwie Malmsteen – guitars, bass Joe Lynn Turner – lead vocals Jens Johansson – keyboards Wally Voss – bass guitar Anders Johansson – drums with
Bob Daisley – bass Odyssey (1988) Inspiration (1996) 1987–1989Yngwie Malmsteen – guitars, backing and lead vocals Joe Lynn Turner – lead and backing vocals Jens Johansson – keyboards Barry Dunaway – bass guitar, backing vocals Anders Johansson – drumsTrial by Fire: Live in Leningrad (1989)1989–1990Yngwie Malmsteen – guitars, backing vocals Göran Edman – lead vocals Mats Olausson – keyboards, backing vocals Svante Henryson – bass guitar, backing vocals Michael Von Knorring – drumsEclipse (1990) Fire & Ice (1992) Inspiration (1996) 1990Yngwie Malmsteen – guitars Göran Edman – lead vocals Mats Olausson – keyboards, backing vocals Svante Henryson – bass guitar, backing vocals Pete Barnacle – drums 1990–1992Yngwie Malmsteen – guitars, backing vocals Göran Edman – lead vocals Mats Olausson – keyboards, backing vocals Svante Henryson – bass guitar, backing vocals Bo Werner – drumsFire & Ice (1992)Malmsteen on hiatus 1992–19931993–1994Yngwie Malmsteen – guitars, bass , vocals Michael Vescera – lead vocals Mats Olausson – keyboards, backing vocals Barry Sparks – bass guitar, backing vocals Mike Terrana – drums, backing vocalsThe Seventh Sign (1994) I Can't Wait (1994)1994Yngwie Malmsteen – guitars Michael Vescera – lead vocals Mats Olausson – keyboards, backing vocals Barry Sparks – bass guitar, backing vocals B.J. Zampa – drums 1994–1996Yngwie Malmsteen – guitars, backing vocals Michael Vescera – lead vocals Mats Olausson – keyboards, backing vocals Barry Sparks – bass guitar, backing vocals Shane Gaalaas – drumsMagnum Opus (1995)1996Yngwie Malmsteen – guitars Mark Boals – lead vocals Mats Olausson – keyboards, backing vocals Barry Dunaway – bass guitar Tommy Aldridge – drums rowspan="2" 1996–1997Yngwie Malmsteen – guitars