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Alcatrazz

A long-running hard rock/heavy metal band with roots in England and America, Alcatrazz was founded in the early '80s as a vehicle for U.K. vocalist Graham Bonnet and gained notoriety for introducing audiences to guitar heroes Yngwie J. Malmsteen and Steve Vai. Emerging in 1983 with No Parole from Rock 'n' Roll, featuring the hit "Island in the Sun," the group peaked in 1985 with the release of their sophomore effort, Disturbing the Peace, which housed their second most well-known single, "God Blessed Video." The band issued one more studio LP, 1986's Dangerous Games, before ceasing operations the following year. Alcatrazz re-formed in 2007 for a series of live performances and eventually returned to the studio, releasing Born Innocent in 2020. Shortly after that, the band split into two factions, with Bonnet spearheading one iteration with ex-Nevermore guitarist Jeff Loomis and co-founders Jimmy Waldo and Gary Shea leading the other with ex-Rainbow and Michael Schenker vocalist Doogie White behind the mic. The latter incarnation released V in 2021, with Take No Prisoners arriving in 2023. After spending most of the '70s with the Marbles, who had a hit with "Only One Woman," and as a semi-successful solo artist, Lincolnshire-born vocalist Graham Bonnet got his lucky break when he was chosen to replace Ronnie James Dio in Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow in 1979. After recording Down to Earth, which included the massive radio hit "Since You Been Gone," and headlining the first Castle Donington Monsters of Rock festival in the summer of 1980, Bonnet was unceremoniously sacked by the temperamental Blackmore. Down but not out, Bonnet set about forming Alcatrazz, drafting veteran musicians in keyboardist Jimmy Waldo, bassist Gary Shea, and drummer Jan Uvena, and looking to reproduce the basic Rainbow sonic formula. The arrival of Swedish guitar prodigy Yngwie J. Malmsteen, who had already spent a few years in America honing his chops in Steeler (featuring future Keel vocalist Ron Keel), helped to seal the deal. An avowed Blackmore disciple, Malmsteen was just coming into his own as a songwriter, and his collaboration with Bonnet yielded an impressive first album, 1983's No Parole from Rock'n'Roll. Malmsteen left Alcatrazz for a solo career following their first tour, and the band soldiered on, recruiting guitar virtuoso Steve Vai, who was still a relative unknown despite having accumulated years of experience under the tutelage of avant-rock legend Frank Zappa. 1985's Disturbing the Peace got some traction on the strength of the single "God Blessed Video," but Vai soon quit to join David Lee Roth's band. Once again needing a six-stringer, Alcatrazz hired Danny Johnson for 1986's Dangerous Games. Disheartened by the indifference of fans and media alike, Alcatrazz decided to call it a day soon after. A re-formed Alcatrazz under Bonnet's watch began performing live in 2007 and continued in that mode until 2014. In 2020, Bonnet, Shea, Waldo, and guitarists Mark Benquechea and Joe Stump released Born Innocent, Alcatrazz's first studio album in 34 years. Bonnet left the fold the following year and began operating under the moniker Graham Bonnet's Alcatrazz with guitarist Jeff Loomis (Nevermore, Sanctuary). At the same time, the remaining members continued as Alcatrazz with new vocalist Doogie White (Michael Schenker, Rainbow, Yngwie Malmsteen), releasing the studio albums V and Take No Prisoners in 2021 and 2023, respectively.
© TiVo Staff /TiVo
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