Maximum Security is a musical masterpiece. Steve Vai said it well, when introducing Tony to the audience at a G3 concert back in 2005: - This guy can kill us all. PERIOD.
If Satriani and Vai are Jupiter and Saturn then Tony was Neptune - a massive planet that none seems to know anything about. So glad to see Tony, Please, please get him on again. Love that guy!
Tony has to be one of the most advanced musicians out there. Underrated and under appreciated for sure. You can’t say there are many true virtuosos but he is one.
I went to High School with Tony and I am sure he doesn’t remember me or jamming at his house or my basement. He was way out if everyone’s league even back then. I remember watching him play songs from the Yes Fragile album. He played Chris Squire’s bass part on his left hand and switch between Wakeman’s keyboard parts and Howe’s guitar parts including solos on his right hand, all at the same time. Definitely a prodigy!
Quite incredible !! I didn't know that Tony liked Yes, by the way... Thanks for the memories. Tony's piano playing has always seemed fantastic to me, but I love classical music and I knew Chopin's works already pretty well when he did his first solo album... I had references, then. I once read in 1987 that Tony started electric guitar pretty late, when he was 17... well, that's what I remember... I think he became an absolutely awesome technician on electric guitar over the years more and more. I've always wondered why he never played acoustic/classical guitar on his records, on another side... ?
that's great thanks for sharing ! I have always thought of Edge of Insanity as "if Al DiMeola played Metal Fusion . Premonition is great to. what are your favorite CDs
@@TheCyberMantis Doesn’t Miyako remind you of Tony? I would *love* for them to meet and have a chat. I’m sure they would find some interesting common ground. Both on piano and guitar. Or at least for Tony to be aware of Miyako & Lovebites and what they’re doing. 80s style power metal in a modern context.
Tony is a gentle giant. His songs always have beautiful haunting melodies yet intense shred. Incredibly underrated player. One of The Godfather’s of the shrapnel era.
Tony’s Edge of Insanity record changed my life back in the 80s. One of the tracks was a Chopin piano prelude and that was my gateway into piano and classical music, then college, meeting my wife and eventually my film music career. All because of that one track. Thank you Tony ☺️
This a once in a lifetime thing to see for me. Tony MacAlpine has been an inspiration to me for 35 years. Thanks Rick Beato for making this possible. 🙏
Been a fan of Tony’s music since the Shrapnel Records days. In a time where neo-classical guitarists were emulating Yngwie Malmsteen, Tony was making his own path. He is a modern day virtuoso.
I saw him in Irving, Tx. in 1987 or 1988 at a music store and he did a clinic. Talked to him for a minute, signed my album and asked me about my Rush t-shirt. Love his playing, and glad to see he's healthy again. ❤
After all these years, Tony still amazes me. Such a phenomenal pianist and guitarist. Equally skilled on both. His album MAXIMUM SECURITY is simply GOLD! I met him years ago in the early 90s. I asked him HOW CAN YOU BE SO GREAT!? He said he literally had no life, just playing all the time. ALL THE TIME. Such a nice warm soul. Love this guy!
This is why the internet is so damn cool. Listening to two really gifted musicians having a conversation about what they love and how they think about it. This channel should be called "Fly on the Wall' because that's what we as the audience are. Love it! As a kid, I always loved "Midnight Special" and "Don Kirshner's Rock Concert" because it was live. This is as fulfilling. Maybe even more so.
So years ago, I went to CAB at a small place in South Milwaukee. Great show, and afterward I chatted with band members. Tony asked me if I knew where th Holiday Inn was and if I could give him a ride there - the road crew was tearing down and it was going to take awhile. Before I knew it, the Tony, Bunny, Virgil and Steve were all shoe-horned into my Geo Prizm sedan! It was surreal, to say the least!
We’ve all used the term ‘underrated’ when discussing musicians, but the term is most appropriate with the gentleman being interviewed. I love his guitar playing, but I’d rather listen to him play the piano running through all his favorite classical pieces. Obviously, a very intelligent being. Great interview.
I’ve seen people call Zappa underrated in the comments here and other very well known musicians. I have over a thousand vinyl records from waylon Jennings to Miles Davis and I have never heard of this man. To me that is underrated.
OMG Tony MacAlpine, he's my Shredding hero since the 1986. It should have been a one hour video at least. He must have many stories to share. Thank you Rick.
One of my three favorite electric guitarists (the others being Allan Holdsworth and Frank Gamble). I owe so much of my lead playing style & sensibilities to T-Mac. Most people know him for his neoclassical work, but his fusion stuff with CAB and Planet X in the early 2000s is LEGENDARY. The fact that he’s also an excellent pianist is just bonkers. Rick, thanks SO MUCH for giving this artist the visibility that he so rightfully deserves!!
Oh Tony, such an amazing musician and person. I toured with him twice and he is the best. It warms my heart to see him talking , playing and explaining things that he really knows about it. It was really magical listening to him almost 60 days in a row every night. Thank you Rick and Tony for this!
This is an excellent conversation - no feigned persona, no hype - just class and musical learning and exploring. I never heard an interview with Tony previously nor could I tell you one of his songs, but I am aware of him - and now I know he is a classy fella with an encyclopedia volume of information and skill....wonderful chat
“Autumn Lords” from Maximum Security is one of my favorite tunes of his…He plays guitar, keys, and bass on it…killer playing, killer composition…Anyone who hasn’t heard this tune should check it out!
Oh yeah, the guitar solo in that is one of his best, his vibrato in it just kills, and then the keys come in and he trades bars with himself. Just phenomenal.
Although I'd heard some of Edge of insanity in my friends car, Maximum security was really my introduction to the God like guitar playing of Tony MacAlpine, and always gives me chills when I hear it, so much passion, intensity and soulfulness I can relate to as a player of pretty much 50 years
Tony Mac is still one of my all time favorite artists. I’ve been lucky to meet and talk with him a couple of times. Amazing player. I’m glad you had him on.
I want to take this oportunity to recommend everyone to listen to Planet X, great and not so known metal/jazz fusion proyect including Tony McCalpine, Virgil Donati and Derek Sherinian. Crazy instrumental band!! Also would like to say that as a classical pianist I was very amazed to find recordings of Chopin's Etudes in Tony's guitar solo albums!
I'm house photographer at Iridium Jazz Club in New York and I've seen Tony numerous times. Got to meet him and he is one of the coolest cats out there. Phenomenal musician.
Wooooooow, I can't believe this happened, this is like the best thing that ever happened, Tony MacAlpine is one of my favorite composers, musician, guitarist, keyboardist! What an absolute honor to have him on your channel, I enjoy his music and talent so much! His work with Planet X and his solo albums are truly beautiful music, his ability in composition and key changes, harmonizing and innovation in sound for guitar is incredible! Too much respect to you Mr. Tony!
I've seen Tony play live with CAB as well as Steve Vai's band. He truly is a gifted musician and has no right to be such an incredible guitar player when he's already a virtuoso pianist.
Tony is, among many things, an amazing human being and humble guy. I've hung out with him during the Violent Machines tour. He was nothing but gracious. His talent is par excellence and he is definitely a national treasure, by all musical standards. Thanks, Rick!
Wow! you got Tony MacAlpine, I'm so happy about this one. I love Tony's output he's one of the very best neo-classical artists. Absolutely titanesque, powerful tunes and what a player.
Saw and met tony at a hole-in-the-wall show in Nashville. There might’ve been thirty people there at best. I’ve had larger crowds in high school cover bands. He still played like it was a stadium show. He’s so incredible as a musician and was a hell of a nice guy to hang out with. He’s so very underrated in the music scene
Oh dear good I couldn’t click fast enough. Love love love Tony, got to see him a bunch of times with Vai, and he just blew my mind each time, so glad his health got better!
Tony Mac is one of my all time favourite artists, if I had a pound for every time I listened to his first 2 albums on my walkman, back in the late 80s, I would be a millionaire, Steve Smith and Billy Sheehan is the greatest rhythm section ever in heavy rock, and Tony was the cherry on the cake, master musician
check his group MARS album "Project Driver" from 1986 with Rob Rock on vocal, Rudy Sarzo on bass and Tommy Aldridge on drums. Amazing music, Tony also played on this tape on keys, killer melodies
Absolutely beautiful...thank you for this talk with Tony, Rick! I was aware of Tony when I was absorbing all of the Shrapnel guys - Vinnie Moore, Paul Gilbert and others. I've been a huge fan of George Lynch's since early Dokken days and was always following what he did. When I saw that he did a guest spot on Tony's Maximum Security, I became hooked on Tony's playing and his expressiveness with melody and feel - even while shredding - the emotion of the song was never lost. I count him as one of my major influences - and while it's not mentioned, and it's not necessarily needed to - it was important for me as a young guitarist to see an African American (as myself) playing heavy guitar with amazing chops and ability back in the 80s. There weren't too many of us! I'm glad to see Tony in good health these days...he is one of the greats out there still doing it. Again, great episode Rick...thank you!
When I first listened Tony’s music way back in middle of 80’s, I was completely blown away when realizing he was playing both, guitar and piano / keys, THE WAY HE DID…. With that insane level of mastery…. Chopin-like, Yngwie- like…. I’m still blown away….
My ears always perk up when someone mentions Johnny Winter. I feel he is very under rated. The first time I saw him play was early 1971, & about 15 times since then. "Still Alive & Well" is in my top five albums of all time. R.I.P. Johnny.
I've listened to Tonys stuff in the 80's and together with Satriani, Yngwie, Vinnie Moore and others I was inspired to take my guitar playing to a different level. Truly inspiring guy!
Yes, his keyboard work on Mind's Eye was awesome, but what about that Vinnie Moore?!! At 21 years old, he wrote that entire album with world-class guitar playing that could compete with the best of Joe Satriani, Yngwie Malmsteen, John Petrucci, and Steve Vai. To this day, I think Vinnie Moore is as good as any guitar player to ever play. He is a prodigy virtuoso.
Tony was an idol of mine when I started playing guitar. Such control and burn. Great technique and songs. He even plays Chopin's Revolutionary etude on piano. Good man.
I SO LOVE YOU Rick!! Tony has been an IMMENSE influence in my musical life. A MASSIVELY talented musician that deserves WAY MORE credit than he gets in the guitar instrumental community. Thank you for getting him in for this interview. This just made my day!
I was in architecture school in Italy in 1988. During spring break, one of my classmates traveled over to Instanbul and while there, bought Maximum Security on a cassette tape. He didn't like it much and gave it to me. I listened to the tape a million times and still have it today. Phenomenal musician! MacAlpine is a living legend.
I was heavily into shred in the 80s and 90s, and although in many ways I’ve moved on from shred, there are two shredders I still listen to regularly and they are Tony Macalpine and Greg Howe!
Holy Cow! Tony... I'm out of words to describe my admiration for you. It's great to see you around and thank you so much Rick, for having him with you! The best with the best.
My guitar teacher (known in the local scene for his neoclassical shred albums) has smaller hands whereas I've been blessed with larger hands. He always tells me how lucky I am to be able to stretch to certain extensions or play Yngwie type lines/sweeps with only my index,pointer and middle. However I'm with Tony on this one, small handed players often have exceptionally clean technique. My teacher's technique for extremely fast playing is insanely efficient. I've been training my long, spidery fingers to make the minimal movement required to fret and unfret notes at high speed, since naturally I tend to make larger movements. My pinky has improved a lot in that regard though. I think small handed players have an advantage for that type of finesse at high speed, simply because their fingers are shorter and can travel less distance to the strings,provided they are keeping them close to the strings. I love that type of physical uniqueness (lots of examples on drumset players too) that sets us all apart and creates differences in approach how we sound!
IMO one of the most underrated (i know this word is a cliche by now) multi-instrumentalists to have come out of the 80s. had cassettes of his work both as solo artist and with the other "monsters" back then.
Thank you so much for this interview, i really enjoyed it so very much Rick! Tony MacAlpine must be one of the most underrated players of his generation, but he's a HUGE musician, he deserves much more recognition for his amazing talent. Greetings from Mexico! 🇲🇽
I listen Tony MacAlpine for the first time live in G3 with Steve Vai, Billy Sheehan and Virgil Donati ... It was amazing ... I drop my jaw to the ground ... I just can't belived how they could play those amazing sounds ... awsome concerts ...
I had the great privilege and pleasure of seeing Tony Mac back in January of 2020, just before the tour with Sons of Apollo got shut down. It was a wonderful experience. It was great to finally see him live. I was first introduced to Tony in about 1990 by my friend's Father when he lent "Maximum Security" to me. It was also that album that got me in to Deen Castronovo's work.
I just love Tony! He’s just a big kid. He get so excited about music, he can’t contain it!!! Saw Planet X in pdx and they absolutely blew me away. I’d been listening to him since maximum security and to see them live was nirvana.
He's brilliant. That anyone can sit at a piano and play anything it astonishing to me, never mind playing at the level he does. Such a pleasure to listen to this musical genius. Thank you, Rick and Tony.
Tony has always lived in his own musical universe. I remember listening those first albums, full of guitar shredding, and suddenly on the next track being listening to some Chopin stuff. He's really a remarkable musician. Glad he's doing fine after some health issues he has had lately.
Tony I attended the benefit show for you and your wife at the Wiltern a few years back. I glad to see you doing well. Peace👍👍👀🎸 and by the way I’ve been a big fan of yours for many years.
Tony plays keys in the first CD I bought, Vinnie Moore's "Minds Eye". He was also the soul of MacAlpine's "Eyes of the World", one of my all time favourites, which features some of the best guitar solos ever recorded. Saw him some years ago here in Spain with Stu Hamm. Tony is no doubt up there with Vai, Satch, Nuno, May, Malmsteen, anyone you can imagine. Not only as a player, but as a composer.
I always thought he was equal superior to yngwie His composing is beyond. Blistering guitar playing is what I was there for I've met him a few times @sound checks w Mike Terrana. Most straight up nicest guys, opposite pretentious .... Phenomenal musicians 🌟
How great to see a video on Tony here! His cover of Chopin's 3 Piano Sonata 3rd mvt. (Porcelain Doll) has got to be one of the best cover versions of anything I've ever heard.
@@loknloll Agreed! To my mind, Chopin has to convey a feeling of improvisation - rubato, phrase shaping etc - as though it’s being pulled out of a hat. Horowitz was one of the greatest exponents of this and Tony demonstrates it and explains it beautifully.
The first piece is Chopin Mazurka, Op.17 No.4 in A minor - and the haunting tone is achieved as it exploits the ambiguity of minor and major throughout.
@@SCALERAIL Oh! Thank you! I don't know much about Chopin, so if you recommended more pieces by him it would be fantastic! Anyway, I was asking about the piece from minute 3:35, what is his name?
This was so enjoyable for me. TMac is everything to me. I couldn’t play anything until I heard Edge of Insanity. It changed my life. I was able to go to college because of how it influenced me. I learned all that incredible music on the piano/keyboard.
This is Amazing!! I growed up with McAlpine records, and later on, the planet x records were a new universe of sound to me. His words, knowledge about any kind of music , and thoughts showed me how big is this guy. Tony McAlpine Rules!!!!!!! Thanks Rick.!!!!
Tony Macalpine is without any doubt the most incredible musician and composer. He is a talent who has embraced his heavenly gift and is an incredible example of an artist who has cultivated his music to inspire and share to the world ...
YES!!!! Tony! I'm a big fan since Edge of Insanity. My best friend was a huge Steve Smith fan, and that's why we got the record. When I heard Tony's guitar playing I was blown away; I had been playing guitar for maybe a year and a half at the time. Then in the middle of this wonderful maelstrom of instrumental neo-classical guitar virtuosity, there's Chopin Prelude 16, Opus 28. I had never heard anything like that. It opened up a whole different world of music to me. Forever grateful!
Mad respect for Mr. MacAlpine. Tragically under-recognized and under appreciated master musician.
Cleanest sweep picker
Yeah it’s weird, I just found him now and I’m old!
No doubt. I love his perspective and abilities on both guitar and piano. I saw a video of his and then this popped up - totally blown away.
Very underatted genius.
Knew of him since the 80’s. Thanks to Guitar Player magazine. Great to know he’s still around, but didn’t know for decades.
"What's the most difficult thing to play?"-"Anything you don't know well"....The answer of Legends. Literally.
Maximum Security is a musical masterpiece. Steve Vai said it well, when introducing Tony to the audience at a G3 concert back in 2005:
- This guy can kill us all.
PERIOD.
One thing Steve doesn't play is piano. I remember him talking about recording things at a reduced tempo and then speeding up the playback.
TRUE.
Wow, perfect quote, spot on.
here to add and confirm Maximum Security is a masterpiece. what a record.
Still one of my favorites in my original collection of 80’s vinyl records; Maximum Security
A true virtuoso and such a gentleman. No ego. Just pure humble genius. Love his music and style!
If Satriani and Vai are Jupiter and Saturn then Tony was Neptune - a massive planet that none seems to know anything about. So glad to see Tony, Please, please get him on again. Love that guy!
Who’s Pluto?
More surely than Neptune, he'll be Planet X!
Planet X?
@@wewewewa Buckethead!
I agree..i would add Vinnie Moore to that planet system....melodic larger than life guitar soloing....
Tony has to be one of the most advanced musicians out there. Underrated and under appreciated for sure. You can’t say there are many true virtuosos but he is one.
I went to High School with Tony and I am sure he doesn’t remember me or jamming at his house or my basement. He was way out if everyone’s league even back then. I remember watching him play songs from the Yes Fragile album. He played Chris Squire’s bass part on his left hand and switch between Wakeman’s keyboard parts and Howe’s guitar parts including solos on his right hand, all at the same time. Definitely a prodigy!
I DO remember those days. : )
Quite incredible !! I didn't know that Tony liked Yes, by the way... Thanks for the memories. Tony's piano playing has always seemed fantastic to me, but I love classical music and I knew Chopin's works already pretty well when he did his first solo album... I had references, then.
I once read in 1987 that Tony started electric guitar pretty late, when he was 17... well, that's what I remember... I think he became an absolutely awesome technician on electric guitar over the years more and more. I've always wondered why he never played acoustic/classical guitar on his records, on another side... ?
that's great thanks for sharing ! I have always thought of Edge of Insanity as "if Al DiMeola played Metal Fusion . Premonition is great to. what are your favorite CDs
What a cool memory!
Thanks for sharing. He’s had some health issues with colon cancer. Poor guy.
"Music needs to be idolized by the young, to survive."
Tony Macalpine-
SO true.
Well... it is. In JAPAN.
The most significant statement from a wonderful interview. Thank you both.
@@TheCyberMantis Doesn’t Miyako remind you of Tony? I would *love* for them to meet and have a chat. I’m sure they would find some interesting common ground. Both on piano and guitar.
Or at least for Tony to be aware of Miyako & Lovebites and what they’re doing. 80s style power metal in a modern context.
@@DomainObject Yeah, absolutely. Tony would dig Lovebites! Princess Miyako is amazing.
Tony is a gentle giant. His songs always have beautiful haunting melodies yet intense shred. Incredibly underrated player. One of The Godfather’s of the shrapnel era.
Tony’s Edge of Insanity record changed my life back in the 80s. One of the tracks was a Chopin piano prelude and that was my gateway into piano and classical music, then college, meeting my wife and eventually my film music career. All because of that one track. Thank you Tony ☺️
That CD is one of a select view that I listen to when I want instrumental rock. And his piano pieces ROCK.
that's a helluva butterfly effect hahah good for you bro!!
I GOT INTO CLASSICAL MUSIC BECAUSE OF TONY MACALPINE. EDGE OF INSANITY IS MY FAVOURITE MACALPINE LP.
wow damn ill check it out thanks
Nice.
This a once in a lifetime thing to see for me.
Tony MacAlpine has been an inspiration to me for 35 years.
Thanks Rick Beato for making this possible. 🙏
Been a fan of Tony’s music since the Shrapnel Records days. In a time where neo-classical guitarists were emulating Yngwie Malmsteen, Tony was making his own path. He is a modern day virtuoso.
Tony: “I haven’t played this in a thousand years…” 🎹🎵🎶🎵
(Proceeds to blow us all away with his masterful playing!) 🤯🤘😉👏🥳
So glad to see Tony healthy and in your channel, his music made me fly.
Tony MacAlpine is SOOOOOO underrated. People need to listen to his music just absolutely brilliant.
Thank God Tony didn't leave us when he was hit with cancer. He's a virtuoso and an amazing musician.
I saw him in Irving, Tx. in 1987 or 1988 at a music store and he did a clinic. Talked to him for a minute, signed my album and asked me about my Rush t-shirt. Love his playing, and glad to see he's healthy again. ❤
Unbelievable that Tony is 60. He's got the energy of a teenager
@@interestingthings8598 Yeah, it's hard to imagine. This guy's been playing since my parents were kids
After all these years, Tony still amazes me. Such a phenomenal pianist and guitarist. Equally skilled on both. His album MAXIMUM SECURITY is simply GOLD! I met him years ago in the early 90s. I asked him HOW CAN YOU BE SO GREAT!? He said he literally had no life, just playing all the time. ALL THE TIME. Such a nice warm soul. Love this guy!
Tony Macalpine is amazing. Just as good as Vai, Satch, Petrucci, Romeo. Any of those guys. Not nearly recognized enough with all the work he has done.
Tony is FAR superior to Vai and Satch with huge respect for both... MacAlpine is eons above either
@@collegeparkwhiteboysatch is extremely good! They all are
Yeah Macalpine is in another echelon that those two respectfully.
Tony was a prodigy. Now he is still one of the best musicians out there.
I had the honor of seeing Tony play with Steve Vai on a G3 your. What a player!!!
This is why the internet is so damn cool. Listening to two really gifted musicians having a conversation about what they love and how they think about it. This channel should be called "Fly on the Wall' because that's what we as the audience are. Love it! As a kid, I always loved "Midnight Special" and "Don Kirshner's Rock Concert" because it was live. This is as fulfilling. Maybe even more so.
TONYS AMAZING
So years ago, I went to CAB at a small place in South Milwaukee. Great show, and afterward I chatted with band members. Tony asked me if I knew where th Holiday Inn was and if I could give him a ride there - the road crew was tearing down and it was going to take awhile. Before I knew it, the Tony, Bunny, Virgil and Steve were all shoe-horned into my Geo Prizm sedan! It was surreal, to say the least!
LOL! what a great memory.
Wow. That’s amazing. Would’ve been great to capture pictures or video of this. I guess it wasn’t the days of Instagram. LOL.
That's great! A can of virtuoso sardines.
That is a pretty awesome story
Dang, it was almost a nice setup for a punchline! CAB inside a cab 😁
Ahh the smile on Ricks face when he plays :D Never heard of the guy but enjoyed the conversation 110%!
Only Rick can get a personal concert from the great Tony McAlpine!
We’ve all used the term ‘underrated’ when discussing musicians, but the term is most appropriate with the gentleman being interviewed.
I love his guitar playing, but I’d rather listen to him play the piano running through all his favorite classical pieces. Obviously, a very intelligent being.
Great interview.
I’ve seen people call Zappa underrated in the comments here and other very well known musicians. I have over a thousand vinyl records from waylon Jennings to Miles Davis and I have never heard of this man. To me that is underrated.
OMG Tony MacAlpine, he's my Shredding hero since the 1986. It should have been a one hour video at least. He must have many stories to share. Thank you Rick.
Yup. Need a “part 2”, with a guitar in his hands. 😃
“If you enjoy a story, it’s easy to re-tell it.” Excellent!
Lifelong MacAlpine fan! This interview was terrific! That short piano outro was amazing!
I’ve always been impressed with Tony’s guitar playing, but, he is equally impressive on the keys. Amazing!
T-Mac is criminally underrated. Seeing him play the Mazurka totally made my day. More please!
His band's album Eyes Of The World is especially, crimininally unknown and underrated. What a master!
Love the big smile on Rick's face when Tony does his stuff on the piano. Love music.
Damn, this guy is good. One of the most accomplished and complete musicians of our era.
Tony never stops making me smile. From the pure charisma to the talent and ability, it's all a package worth listening to.
One of my three favorite electric guitarists (the others being Allan Holdsworth and Frank Gamble). I owe so much of my lead playing style & sensibilities to T-Mac. Most people know him for his neoclassical work, but his fusion stuff with CAB and Planet X in the early 2000s is LEGENDARY. The fact that he’s also an excellent pianist is just bonkers. Rick, thanks SO MUCH for giving this artist the visibility that he so rightfully deserves!!
Oh Tony, such an amazing musician and person. I toured with him twice and he is the best. It warms my heart to see him talking , playing and explaining things that he really knows about it. It was really magical listening to him almost 60 days in a row every night. Thank you Rick and Tony for this!
Tony is incredible live! Highly recommend his live show! One of the most gracious and cool AF people/virtuoso musicians you could ever hope to meet.
Props for Tony. I still can't get over how good his playing was on the Planet X records
This is an excellent conversation - no feigned persona, no hype - just class and musical learning and exploring. I never heard an interview with Tony previously nor could I tell you one of his songs, but I am aware of him - and now I know he is a classy fella with an encyclopedia volume of information and skill....wonderful chat
“Autumn Lords” from Maximum Security is one of my favorite tunes of his…He plays guitar, keys, and bass on it…killer playing, killer composition…Anyone who hasn’t heard this tune should check it out!
Oh yeah, the guitar solo in that is one of his best, his vibrato in it just kills, and then the keys come in and he trades bars with himself. Just phenomenal.
Those first two albums were integral in the evolution of shred guitar … and the piano was amazing as well ( so was Billy Sheehan )
One on my favourite albums and songs, The Vision is frantic also :)
Although I'd heard some of Edge of insanity in my friends car, Maximum security was really my introduction to the God like guitar playing of Tony MacAlpine, and always gives me chills when I hear it, so much passion, intensity and soulfulness I can relate to as a player of pretty much 50 years
@@MrMvidz George lynch on aditional solos😉
Rick knows when he's encountered an artist who's achieved their God given potential.
Tony Mac is still one of my all time favorite artists. I’ve been lucky to meet and talk with him a couple of times. Amazing player. I’m glad you had him on.
I want to take this oportunity to recommend everyone to listen to Planet X, great and not so known metal/jazz fusion proyect including Tony McCalpine, Virgil Donati and Derek Sherinian. Crazy instrumental band!!
Also would like to say that as a classical pianist I was very amazed to find recordings of Chopin's Etudes in Tony's guitar solo albums!
I'm house photographer at Iridium Jazz Club in New York and I've seen Tony numerous times. Got to meet him and he is one of the coolest cats out there.
Phenomenal musician.
Wooooooow, I can't believe this happened, this is like the best thing that ever happened, Tony MacAlpine is one of my favorite composers, musician, guitarist, keyboardist! What an absolute honor to have him on your channel, I enjoy his music and talent so much! His work with Planet X and his solo albums are truly beautiful music, his ability in composition and key changes, harmonizing and innovation in sound for guitar is incredible! Too much respect to you Mr. Tony!
I've seen Tony play live with CAB as well as Steve Vai's band. He truly is a gifted musician and has no right to be such an incredible guitar player when he's already a virtuoso pianist.
Tony is, among many things, an amazing human being and humble guy. I've hung out with him during the Violent Machines tour. He was nothing but gracious. His talent is par excellence and he is definitely a national treasure, by all musical standards. Thanks, Rick!
Wow! you got Tony MacAlpine, I'm so happy about this one. I love Tony's output he's one of the very best neo-classical artists. Absolutely titanesque, powerful tunes and what a player.
Saw and met tony at a hole-in-the-wall show in Nashville. There might’ve been thirty people there at best. I’ve had larger crowds in high school cover bands. He still played like it was a stadium show. He’s so incredible as a musician and was a hell of a nice guy to hang out with. He’s so very underrated in the music scene
Oh dear good I couldn’t click fast enough. Love love love Tony, got to see him a bunch of times with Vai, and he just blew my mind each time, so glad his health got better!
MacAlpine is such a great musician through and through, it's unbelievable how good he is on both keys and guitar.
Tony Mac is one of my all time favourite artists, if I had a pound for every time I listened to his first 2 albums on my walkman, back in the late 80s, I would be a millionaire, Steve Smith and Billy Sheehan is the greatest rhythm section ever in heavy rock, and Tony was the cherry on the cake, master musician
Exactly, but on the second there was Dean Castronovo on drums and bass was played by Tony himself
@@ЕвгенийКрейнес-о8н And Atma Anur on drums😉
check his group MARS album "Project Driver" from 1986 with Rob Rock on vocal, Rudy Sarzo on bass and Tommy Aldridge on drums. Amazing music, Tony also played on this tape on keys, killer melodies
@@vladimirseroukhov155 I've listened to it since 90s.
Tony is truly gifted and a gift to us all. To see him live is a musical dream and I suggest if the opportunity arises please do so.
Absolutely beautiful...thank you for this talk with Tony, Rick! I was aware of Tony when I was absorbing all of the Shrapnel guys - Vinnie Moore, Paul Gilbert and others. I've been a huge fan of George Lynch's since early Dokken days and was always following what he did. When I saw that he did a guest spot on Tony's Maximum Security, I became hooked on Tony's playing and his expressiveness with melody and feel - even while shredding - the emotion of the song was never lost. I count him as one of my major influences - and while it's not mentioned, and it's not necessarily needed to - it was important for me as a young guitarist to see an African American (as myself) playing heavy guitar with amazing chops and ability back in the 80s. There weren't too many of us! I'm glad to see Tony in good health these days...he is one of the greats out there still doing it. Again, great episode Rick...thank you!
When I first listened Tony’s music way back in middle of 80’s, I was completely blown away when realizing he was playing both, guitar and piano / keys, THE WAY HE DID…. With that insane level of mastery…. Chopin-like, Yngwie- like…. I’m still blown away….
This and the Ron Carter interview are standing out for me as some of the very best YT content I've seen released this year.
agreed
My ears always perk up when someone mentions Johnny Winter. I feel he is very under rated. The first time I saw him play was early 1971, & about 15 times since then. "Still Alive & Well" is in my top five albums of all time. R.I.P. Johnny.
I've listened to Tonys stuff in the 80's and together with Satriani, Yngwie, Vinnie Moore and others I was inspired to take my guitar playing to a different level. Truly inspiring guy!
Tony MacAlpine is a pure genius.
His keyboard work on Vinnie Moore's album Minds Eye is incredible.
absolutely mind blowing!!!
And on Joey Tafolla album, Out of the sun😉
Agreed 100%. A phenomenal showcase of taste and technique.
@@andrewwall2730 Pieces of a Picture is far and away my favorite all-time Vinnie Moore tune. Such a standout!
Yes, his keyboard work on Mind's Eye was awesome, but what about that Vinnie Moore?!! At 21 years old, he wrote that entire album with world-class guitar playing that could compete with the best of Joe Satriani, Yngwie Malmsteen, John Petrucci, and Steve Vai. To this day, I think Vinnie Moore is as good as any guitar player to ever play. He is a prodigy virtuoso.
Edge of Insanity is one of my favorite albums. Love this dude.
That was frickin awesome. I’ve been in awe of him since his first Shrapnel release. He’s under celebrated. Truly gifted from God.
Nice to see Tony well. Very happy here.
Tony was an idol of mine when I started playing guitar. Such control and burn. Great technique and songs. He even plays Chopin's Revolutionary etude on piano. Good man.
Great interview. Tony MacAlpine is a musical master…
I SO LOVE YOU Rick!! Tony has been an IMMENSE influence in my musical life. A MASSIVELY talented musician that deserves WAY MORE credit than he gets in the guitar instrumental community. Thank you for getting him in for this interview. This just made my day!
I was in architecture school in Italy in 1988. During spring break, one of my classmates traveled over to Instanbul and while there, bought Maximum Security on a cassette tape. He didn't like it much and gave it to me. I listened to the tape a million times and still have it today. Phenomenal musician! MacAlpine is a living legend.
I was heavily into shred in the 80s and 90s, and although in many ways I’ve moved on from shred, there are two shredders I still listen to regularly and they are Tony Macalpine and Greg Howe!
Holy Cow! Tony... I'm out of words to describe my admiration for you. It's great to see you around and thank you so much Rick, for having him with you! The best with the best.
My guitar teacher (known in the local scene for his neoclassical shred albums) has smaller hands whereas I've been blessed with larger hands. He always tells me how lucky I am to be able to stretch to certain extensions or play Yngwie type lines/sweeps with only my index,pointer and middle. However I'm with Tony on this one, small handed players often have exceptionally clean technique.
My teacher's technique for extremely fast playing is insanely efficient. I've been training my long, spidery fingers to make the minimal movement required to fret and unfret notes at high speed, since naturally I tend to make larger movements. My pinky has improved a lot in that regard though. I think small handed players have an advantage for that type of finesse at high speed, simply because their fingers are shorter and can travel less distance to the strings,provided they are keeping them close to the strings. I love that type of physical uniqueness (lots of examples on drumset players too) that sets us all apart and creates differences in approach how we sound!
IMO one of the most underrated (i know this word is a cliche by now) multi-instrumentalists to have come out of the 80s. had cassettes of his work both as solo artist and with the other "monsters" back then.
Thank you so much for this interview, i really enjoyed it so very much Rick!
Tony MacAlpine must be one of the most underrated players of his generation, but he's a HUGE musician, he deserves much more recognition for his amazing talent.
Greetings from Mexico! 🇲🇽
I love Tony’s responses to the “what’s challenging” questions. So real and well said. “Anything you don’t know well”.
I listen Tony MacAlpine for the first time live in G3 with Steve Vai, Billy Sheehan and Virgil Donati ... It was amazing ... I drop my jaw to the ground ... I just can't belived how they could play those amazing sounds ... awsome concerts ...
Tony has been one of my favorite artists since my 20th birthday....I'm 55 now😆👍thanks Rick!
Tony is probably my favourite guitarist ever, a musical genius and absolute monster player
I had the great privilege and pleasure of seeing Tony Mac back in January of 2020, just before the tour with Sons of Apollo got shut down. It was a wonderful experience. It was great to finally see him live. I was first introduced to Tony in about 1990 by my friend's Father when he lent "Maximum Security" to me. It was also that album that got me in to Deen Castronovo's work.
So great to see the legendary Tony Macalpine on here and healthy . I’ve been learning and enjoying Tony’s music since Edge of Insanity came out .
I was gigging at a nice local bar 1994 and he popped in. So humbling. He was so nice and signed my strat. Love this guy!
I just love Tony! He’s just a big kid. He get so excited about music, he can’t contain it!!! Saw Planet X in pdx and they absolutely blew me away. I’d been listening to him since maximum security and to see them live was nirvana.
He's brilliant. That anyone can sit at a piano and play anything it astonishing to me, never mind playing at the level he does. Such a pleasure to listen to this musical genius. Thank you, Rick and Tony.
Maximum Security is a Mt Rushmore-level instrumental guitar record.
In my rotation now
It inspired the hell out of me
My favorite album by Macalpine
Tony has always lived in his own musical universe. I remember listening those first albums, full of guitar shredding, and suddenly on the next track being listening to some Chopin stuff. He's really a remarkable musician. Glad he's doing fine after some health issues he has had lately.
Tony I attended the benefit show for you and your wife at the Wiltern a few years back. I glad to see you doing well. Peace👍👍👀🎸 and by the way I’ve been a big fan of yours for many years.
Tony plays keys in the first CD I bought, Vinnie Moore's "Minds Eye". He was also the soul of MacAlpine's "Eyes of the World", one of my all time favourites, which features some of the best guitar solos ever recorded. Saw him some years ago here in Spain with Stu Hamm. Tony is no doubt up there with Vai, Satch, Nuno, May, Malmsteen, anyone you can imagine. Not only as a player, but as a composer.
I always thought he was equal superior to yngwie
His composing is beyond.
Blistering guitar playing is what I was there for
I've met him a few times @sound checks w Mike Terrana.
Most straight up nicest guys, opposite pretentious ....
Phenomenal musicians 🌟
Tony’s musical talent is amazing & inspiring. Great to see him healthy also! 🤘
How great to see a video on Tony here! His cover of Chopin's 3 Piano Sonata 3rd mvt. (Porcelain Doll) has got to be one of the best cover versions of anything I've ever heard.
Such emotion and passion on that song
Tony’s demonstration of Horowitz’s characterful interpretation of Chopin, seen clearly though the eyes of improvisation.
Great interview, guys!
Not to mention his explanation of that! Agreed!
@@loknloll Agreed!
To my mind, Chopin has to convey a feeling of improvisation - rubato, phrase shaping etc - as though it’s being pulled out of a hat.
Horowitz was one of the greatest exponents of this and Tony demonstrates it and explains it beautifully.
whats the name of the first piece?
The first piece is Chopin Mazurka, Op.17 No.4 in A minor - and the haunting tone is achieved as it exploits the ambiguity of minor and major throughout.
@@SCALERAIL Oh! Thank you! I don't know much about Chopin, so if you recommended more pieces by him it would be fantastic! Anyway, I was asking about the piece from minute 3:35, what is his name?
Wow! This made my day…..I met Tony back in 87 and I can’t tell you how gracious and accommodating he was ….a true virtuoso…thank you Rick
This was so enjoyable for me. TMac is everything to me. I couldn’t play anything until I heard Edge of Insanity. It changed my life. I was able to go to college because of how it influenced me. I learned all that incredible music on the piano/keyboard.
This is Amazing!! I growed up with McAlpine records, and later on, the planet x records were a new universe of sound to me. His words, knowledge about any kind of music , and thoughts showed me how big is this guy. Tony McAlpine Rules!!!!!!! Thanks Rick.!!!!
I hope you have an excuse to bring Tony back. I bought his 80s albums in the 90s. Double thumbs up for having him on your video!
Tony Macalpine is without any doubt the most incredible musician and composer. He is a talent who has embraced his heavenly gift and is an incredible example of an artist who has cultivated his music to inspire and share to the world ...
So good to see Tony on here. He and Vinnie Moore were incredibly impactful in my musical journey.
YES!!!! Tony! I'm a big fan since Edge of Insanity. My best friend was a huge Steve Smith fan, and that's why we got the record. When I heard Tony's guitar playing I was blown away; I had been playing guitar for maybe a year and a half at the time. Then in the middle of this wonderful maelstrom of instrumental neo-classical guitar virtuosity, there's Chopin Prelude 16, Opus 28. I had never heard anything like that. It opened up a whole different world of music to me. Forever grateful!
I always knew Tony was an intelligent guy, but this interview was seriously enlightening!
So much respect for this incredible talent! ❤️
Imagine being capable of playing liszt and chopin on piano and bringing thosechops to the guitar !
Maximum security and his MARS - Project Driver record, some of the best lead sounds ever ⚡️