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ALCATRAZZ BIOGRAPHY
Alcatrazz was a heavy metal band formed in 1983 in Los Angeles by Graham Bonnet.
The band's initial line-up consited of Graham Bonnet (vocals - ex-Rainbow / Michael Schenker Group), Yngwie J. Malmsteen (guitar - ex-Steeler), Gary Shea (bass - ex-New England, Jimmy Waldo (keyboards - also ex-New England) and Jan Uvena (drums - ex-Alice Cooper / Pointer Sisters).
After recording the first two albums musical differences surfaced, and Malmsteen quit in 1985. Against the wishes of the band's management, he was replaced by Steve Vai who also left after recording the album Disturbing The Peace. The band brought in Danny Johnson to replace him, and recorded the album Dangerous Games before finally breaking up in 1987.
Graham Bonnett described their sound as "The thinking man's heavy metal".
Their most famous song is God Blessed Video, a somewhat comic song which makes fun of MTV. It can be found on the fictional radio station, V-Rock, on Grand Theft Auto: Vice City.
ALCATRAZZ GENRES
Traditional/shred
ALCATRAZZ ORIGIN
United States of America (Los Angeles, CA), formed in 1983
ALCATRAZZ CURRENT RECORD LABEL
Capitol Records
ALCATRAZZ STATUS
Active
ALCATRAZZ CURRENT LINE-UP
Stig Mathisen - Guitars
Gary Shea - Bass
Jan Uvena - Drums
Jimmy Waldo - Keyboards (Blackthorne)
ALCATRAZZ PREVIOUS LINE-UP
Graham Bonnet - Vocals (ex-Impellitteri, ex-Rainbow, ex-Anthem (Jpn), ex-Michael Schenker Group, The Marbles, Blackthorne , Taz Taylor Band, Forcefield)
Steve Vai - Guitars (David Lee Roth, Whitesnake, Alice Cooper, Munetaka Higuchi (Guest))
Yngwie J. Malmsteen - Guitars (ex-Steeler (US), ex-MVP, Derek Sherinian)
Danny Johnson - Guitars (Private Life)
Clive Burr - drums (ex-Iron Maiden, Elixir (UK), Gogmagog (UK), Trust (Fra), Desperado (US), Samson (UK), Stratus, Clive Burr's Escape, Praying Mantis) (played in the band for 1 week only)
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