I met Tony years ago. Such a super nice guy. I asked him how he can be so great on his instruments. He said he didn't have a life, meaning, it was all music, all the time. ALL THE TIME. That's all he ever did.
Tony is the only neo-classical shredder from the 80's who actually had a classical music education and background. He wasn't just copying Yngwie licks like the others were. Anyone here talking shit needs to post their own Chopin piano videos for us to watch. Notice how people keep stopping to watch him play? It's because he's bad ass.
0:57 Chopin Etude in F minor. To get through this piece is difficult because it is hard not to tense up. MacAlpine plays it effortlessly with a pretty even tone on the right hand. His arpeggios on the right hand are very even, too. He lowers his wrist on his right hand a touch when playing this etude but heck, what ever works for him!!! I’m a huge fan of this guy.
Not only is he incredible on guitar AND piano - he plays different styles - rock,classical,blues,jazz ..... on both guitar and piano ..... The Best imo
In the 80's everyone new that Tony's shit was higher level, special, REAL NEO-CLASSICAL FUSION, not organized scales and arpeggios. And this was told to me by some of the leading hard rock guitarists of that time who I played with and talked to about who was "Hot". Tony's stuff on Maximum Security was some of the best written instrumental metal you can get your hands on, to this day, piano or no piano.
Ok to inform everyone Tony was a acknowledged piano prodigy at age 6….won many awards and competitions at his age level…and competed and most of awards against older composers..and branched into guitar age 12/13 Enough said..he has played synth and piano for many projects including Steve Vai touring band and on guitar probably just as good as Vai on guitar..Tony is an insane all around gem..!
I don't believe my eyes or ears..he's great on guitar.. and even better on piano.. stunned to say the least . I just found out today he plays piano. shocked....
holy shit he is freaking insane....if somebody should be described as a real musician tony is the definition of that. have u ever seen someone being amazing on a piano and a guitar like him??? blows u right out
Wow... a lot of hate going on in these postings. Bizarre. Tony's an epic musician, with a mind that creates gorgeous and complex music (both metal and classical), from a foundation of discipline and mastery. Everything he does is delicious and moving. I'm been an awed and admiring fan since the 80s. Tony MacAlpine fucking rocks. Nuff said. Peace, all. =)
@AnnaAnnaYes Yep I love Satch's Surfing With The Alien album but Tony's Maximum Security is a powerful and moving album, packed with soaring melodies and epic emotions. Whenever I listen to this album it sends all kinds of emotions and energies through my whole body, and inbetween all of this I am admiring the sheer brilliance of both the compositions and performances. This truly is a masterpiece.
An absolute brilliant musician. I have a hard enough time trying to master the guitar, and he burns on both guitar and piano. God has truly blessed him with a great gift.
A very valid point: though he is a supremely talented, superbly trained, and thoroughly seasoned musician, he looks just the opposite of that in this vid. I still dig it because I know some of those peoples' jaws were rolling when this seeming panhadler displayed masterful prowess on the ivories: delicious absurdity.
U R Fucking Right!!! How can a single guy be a true master of piano as he is (he's a concertist) and still be a electric guitar god, a shredder with amazing phrasing??? Just unbelievable.
Serious question: are there any other multi-instrumentalists who play at this level of virtuosity? Shawn Lane had a natural gift for piano, but tony here is clearly a reference level classical musician. I guess there's Stevie Wonder and other pop stars, but I wouldn't call them multi-virtuosos. Gary Husband comes to mind as a phenomenal drummer and jazz keyboardist. I dunno. T-Mac is just a monster.
I've always admired people who can excel on more than one instrument. I have a hard enough time as it is practicing guitar, and this guy could bury me on both guitar and piano! Truly an amazing gift he has.
As everyone eventually clears out the man in the suit that is clearly a pianist himself stays near by as he appears to be very impressed.. and one more thing looking back on this so many years later how young he was .. crazy right .. ps you can still go see Tony at the Baked Potato in Hollywood from time to time. What a talent & such a nice guy.. He will talk to anyone who approaches him
His chopin pieces are some of the best i have ever heard. Everyone with a solid musical appreciation should know about this man's work. CHEERS TONY KEEP ROCKIN!
I read that he memorized all of Beethoven's sonatas. Who cares if he's the best pianist ever. The simple fact that he can play classical music proficiently shows his level of musical discipline. Combine that with an amazing talent for guitar and his ability to play classical/metal fusion (and more recently jazz fusion) and you have a fairly rare talent. Any musicians out there feeling qualified to criticize.. well... where's your you-tube video?
So much envy on some posts... Anyone who posted anything negative probably hasn't made a great life out of a music career, he has gone to places most wish for.
im a guitarist.. have been for 15 years. Can play a bit of piano too, used to play before i started on guitar. Playing two different rythym's with 10 digits, is far more difficult than any technique i have learned on a guitar. Guitar is mostly played with 4 fingers, and although it is difficult to master yes, its nothing on what your watching right now.
@AnnaAnnaYes I have plenty of Leviathan releases I think, but was not aware of the female vocalist thing so early on. I'll seek out the albums you mentioned. Oh and yes I will try and take more care (had a bad car crash Xmas 2010 but lived to tell the tale and ok + got another car last month). Thanks :-)
@AyanRafique - The point is, even a relatively simple tune on the piano, say for instance, "The entertainer" unless you have the ability to split your brain and play two different melodies at the same time, it's far more difficult to play than a tune that in "theory" should be as easy to play on the guitar. The actual fingering of the notes is easy, and that applies to both melodies on both hands. playing them together however, is where the difficulty lies.
i appreciate thought behind the music. like jason becker. sure he is very fast but he uses modes so much if you had to show the changes in keey they would be evry 2 or 3 bars. and they're not just alternating. he is going thorugh as many possible. he is not trying to show off. he acctually put thought and made somthing that sounds so natural and techniclly perfect at the same time.
tony is one of my heros from the 80 but why does he look like a homless in his cloths its a total contrast to the people walking by in there expensive suits... he looks like the wunderkind from the bronx who starts to play and no one expected him to be that great...
Sorry Signore Luigi ma Io non vedo il video in tua cannal. My Italian sucks but hey I was really looking forward to seeing yu playing and I agree. One of the main reasons guitar Gods in general take the folk world by surprise is because of their actual ignorance about music. In the end you have to thank them, if it wasn't for them how would the common folk will know about these things?
@brando18guitarplyr - Very very few guitar players, yourself included, will ever use polyrhythm's on guitar. There is no left / right divide involved. So basically it is far more difficult to master. Why do you think this man took to guitar like a duck to water?
@AnnaAnnaYes I might have already heard this but sadly I do not like his sound or style. I'll give it another shot though seeing as you recommended it. On a related note about melodies and so on, may I recommend very highly Jeff Kollman. Search for the band Edwin Dare and albums 'Can't Break Me' and 'My Time To Die' and also check out his solo albums. Each time you listen to his solo stuff, it reveals more goodies.
A fair and very funny point. I guess it's like watching a boxing match and thinking that you could knock a guy out, although, due to your lack of training, you would probably go down in the first round - but it looked easy on T.V!
You're right. He's no Jim Stanza either. Or Neil Rigotoni. He's also not a Jeff Hossenfeffor or a Bob Smith. Nor is Bill Jones or a Tom Smith. He's no Yakov Eatshitski either.
@Hardysamnin Blahh don't say that! There are difficult things on the guitar that are a pianoist's nightmare, and there are crazy things on the piano that are a guitarist's nightmare. But in no way is one instrument necessarily more "Difficult" than the other.
@Dihelson if he memorized everything he must have more of an understanding of the song than if he were to just play it off sheet music. You don't know what's going on in his head, I hate people who watch a video of a musician and just assume their playing is without feeling just because it's skillful, open your fucking mind.
@AngryLlamaz I think he is actually better in the piano, he could easily devote himself as a classical concertist and have total success, I think his passion is rock anyway
@bearfeymous Shawn's the only one that could've outplayed him. But considering that Tony's still kicking and Lane's teaching God how to play guitar... I sure miss Lane. Anyway, who cares, it's all music, not just skill and technique. Love this video!
I met Tony years ago. Such a super nice guy. I asked him how he can be so great on his instruments. He said he didn't have a life, meaning, it was all music, all the time. ALL THE TIME. That's all he ever did.
Tony is the only neo-classical shredder from the 80's who actually had a classical music education and background. He wasn't just copying Yngwie licks like the others were. Anyone here talking shit needs to post their own Chopin piano videos for us to watch. Notice how people keep stopping to watch him play? It's because he's bad ass.
So ridiculously good it's painful
He certainly is
One of the very few guitar virtuosos on earth who is equally well adept of playing the piano at a PRO level
If only we still had Shawn Lane...
Tony was a pianist first before he picked up guitar.
0:57 Chopin Etude in F minor. To get through this piece is difficult because it is hard not to tense up. MacAlpine plays it effortlessly with a pretty even tone on the right hand. His arpeggios on the right hand are very even, too. He lowers his wrist on his right hand a touch when playing this etude but heck, what ever works for him!!! I’m a huge fan of this guy.
Not only is he incredible on guitar AND piano - he plays different styles - rock,classical,blues,jazz ..... on both guitar and piano ..... The Best imo
In the 80's everyone new that Tony's shit was higher level, special, REAL NEO-CLASSICAL FUSION, not organized scales and arpeggios. And this was told to me by some of the leading hard rock guitarists of that time who I played with and talked to about who was "Hot". Tony's stuff on Maximum Security was some of the best written instrumental metal you can get your hands on, to this day, piano or no piano.
Ok to inform everyone
Tony was a acknowledged piano prodigy at age 6….won many awards and competitions at his age level…and competed and most of awards against older composers..and branched into guitar age 12/13
Enough said..he has played synth and piano for many projects including Steve Vai touring band
and on guitar probably just as good as Vai on guitar..Tony is an insane all around gem..!
This was the result of YEARS of hard work,he had to WOODSHED,to get those chops,both as Guitarist,and pianist,great composer too!
Incredible musician
I don't believe my eyes or ears..he's great on guitar.. and even better on piano.. stunned to say the least . I just found out today he plays piano. shocked....
0:56 - 12 Études, Op. 25 No. 2 in F Minor 2:12 - 12 Études, Op. 25 No. 1 in A-Flat Major (Harp Study)
And it's all in his head
holy shit he is freaking insane....if somebody should be described as a real musician tony is the definition of that. have u ever seen someone being amazing on a piano and a guitar like him??? blows u right out
I knew he was good , but he is even better than i thought.
His velocity is amazing
So relaxed and flowing
0:00: Ending of Liszt Tarantella
0:57: Chopin Etude Op.25 no. 2
2:13: Chopin Etude Op 25 no. 1
Amazing talent. Tony Macalpine is for me THE most talented musician in a generation.
can't stop smiling, guitar or piano, he is a master...
Wow... a lot of hate going on in these postings. Bizarre. Tony's an epic musician, with a mind that creates gorgeous and complex music (both metal and classical), from a foundation of discipline and mastery. Everything he does is delicious and moving.
I'm been an awed and admiring fan since the 80s. Tony MacAlpine fucking rocks.
Nuff said.
Peace, all. =)
@AnnaAnnaYes
Yep I love Satch's Surfing With The Alien album but Tony's Maximum Security is a powerful and moving album, packed with soaring melodies and epic emotions. Whenever I listen to this album it sends all kinds of emotions and energies through my whole body, and inbetween all of this I am admiring the sheer brilliance of both the compositions and performances. This truly is a masterpiece.
Incredible
Tony is a genius. not everybody can see that.
dimeheck I can!! You are 110% correct
And on each album he usually has a Chopin song or two 🎹
An absolute brilliant musician. I have a hard enough time trying to master the guitar, and he burns on both guitar and piano. God has truly blessed him with a great gift.
So frickin awesome! The only musician I know who is a real virtuoso on 2 instruments, but I assume there are others too
A very valid point: though he is a supremely talented, superbly trained, and thoroughly seasoned musician, he looks just the opposite of that in this vid. I still dig it because I know some of those peoples' jaws were rolling when this seeming panhadler displayed masterful prowess on the ivories: delicious absurdity.
U R Fucking Right!!! How can a single guy be a true master of piano as he is (he's a concertist) and still be a electric guitar god, a shredder with amazing phrasing??? Just unbelievable.
Serious question: are there any other multi-instrumentalists who play at this level of virtuosity? Shawn Lane had a natural gift for piano, but tony here is clearly a reference level classical musician. I guess there's Stevie Wonder and other pop stars, but I wouldn't call them multi-virtuosos. Gary Husband comes to mind as a phenomenal drummer and jazz keyboardist. I dunno. T-Mac is just a monster.
Holy damn. I did not even know he played piano. Amazing!
Check out Steve Vai live in Astoria, he is the Keyboardist and 2nd Lead Guitar
I've always admired people who can excel on more than one instrument. I have a hard enough time as it is practicing guitar, and this guy could bury me on both guitar and piano! Truly an amazing gift he has.
It's got to be the coolest feelings when you can go to a piano and play the great composers of the past
As everyone eventually clears out the man in the suit that is clearly a pianist himself stays near by as he appears to be very impressed.. and one more thing looking back on this so many years later how young he was .. crazy right .. ps you can still go see Tony at the Baked Potato in Hollywood from time to time. What a talent & such a nice guy.. He will talk to anyone who approaches him
His chopin pieces are some of the best i have ever heard. Everyone with a solid musical appreciation should know about this man's work. CHEERS TONY KEEP ROCKIN!
鍵盤も弾けるの知ってたけどここまで弾けるとは…
Amazing talent! His music will live through the ages.
Brillant guitar player. Concert level piano player. He should be in tux and at Carn
Very few guys like this. Shawn Lane played piano insanely as well.
You are one of my best influence ! Your are amazing Tony .
Tony Mac is so good, he could fart etudes.
I read that he memorized all of Beethoven's sonatas. Who cares if he's the best pianist ever. The simple fact that he can play classical music proficiently shows his level of musical discipline. Combine that with an amazing talent for guitar and his ability to play classical/metal fusion (and more recently jazz fusion) and you have a fairly rare talent. Any musicians out there feeling qualified to criticize.. well... where's your you-tube video?
Tony MacAlpine is a gift to us from God.
no other human beign is capable of master 2 instruments like him . he is divine.
Fantastic artist. The tony tone is magic! Thanks maestro!
Unreal musician!!!
I knew you are the man!! I’ve been listening to TM since the 1st album!! Awesome
immensely gifted musician.
Amazing
Tony is classicaly trained. His playing is just amazing. I wonder what KastleRevenge can do with the piano to critisize others like that.
Superb
Tony is amazing! wow
The guy in the suit is ready to say; we can do six months same as cash today.
I was 4 in that year and Tony was and is THE SHIT
T mac is so lucky to be so good! I wish i could do that.
some people is made for music!!
simple!
great player!
One of the greats.
So much envy on some posts... Anyone who posted anything negative probably hasn't made a great life out of a music career, he has gone to places most wish for.
Notable! Muy buen video!!!
awesome!!
I love how people keep stopping to watch.
im a guitarist.. have been for 15 years. Can play a bit of piano too, used to play before i started on guitar. Playing two different rythym's with 10 digits, is far more difficult than any technique i have learned on a guitar. Guitar is mostly played with 4 fingers, and although it is difficult to master yes, its nothing on what your watching right now.
Waaaaay too talented
@leozingy
I know whom I would rather listen to and that is Tony.
Wow.
@AnnaAnnaYes
I have plenty of Leviathan releases I think, but was not aware of the female vocalist thing so early on. I'll seek out the albums you mentioned. Oh and yes I will try and take more care (had a bad car crash Xmas 2010 but lived to tell the tale and ok + got another car last month). Thanks :-)
DA REAL THANG!!!!
🙏
A real musician
@AyanRafique - The point is, even a relatively simple tune on the piano, say for instance, "The entertainer" unless you have the ability to split your brain and play two different melodies at the same time, it's far more difficult to play than a tune that in "theory" should be as easy to play on the guitar. The actual fingering of the notes is easy, and that applies to both melodies on both hands. playing them together however, is where the difficulty lies.
i appreciate thought behind the music. like jason becker. sure he is very fast but he uses modes so much if you had to show the changes in keey they would be evry 2 or 3 bars. and they're not just alternating. he is going thorugh as many possible. he is not trying to show off. he acctually put thought and made somthing that sounds so natural and techniclly perfect at the same time.
Insane talent...he could win a gold medal in the olympics if he wanted
tony like chopin?
Do the dummies walking by realize that the great Tony MacAlpine is at work?
@MackCockstack - Oh, ok =)
@boredouttamind Fucking A right, brother...couldn't agree more.
What’s his hand span on piano, think it’s like 11 note span 😱😱😱 think I saw someat on TH-cam elsewhere… anyone know?
i wish he would do more classical piano recordings - im sure he could do all teh studies
tony is one of my heros from the 80 but why does he look like a homless in his cloths
its a total contrast to the people walking by in there expensive suits...
he looks like the wunderkind from the bronx who starts to play and no one expected him to be that great...
Sorry Signore Luigi ma Io non vedo il video in tua cannal. My Italian sucks but hey I was really looking forward to seeing yu playing and I agree. One of the main reasons guitar Gods in general take the folk world by surprise is because of their actual ignorance about music. In the end you have to thank them, if it wasn't for them how would the common folk will know about these things?
@brando18guitarplyr - Very very few guitar players, yourself included, will ever use polyrhythm's on guitar. There is no left / right divide involved. So basically it is far more difficult to master. Why do you think this man took to guitar like a duck to water?
@AnnaAnnaYes
I might have already heard this but sadly I do not like his sound or style. I'll give it another shot though seeing as you recommended it. On a related note about melodies and so on, may I recommend very highly Jeff Kollman. Search for the band Edwin Dare and albums 'Can't Break Me' and 'My Time To Die' and also check out his solo albums. Each time you listen to his solo stuff, it reveals more goodies.
You've never owned any of his cds? Every album has at least one classical piano piece on it.
move along, nothing to see here, just Tony Macalpine stretching his fingers.
1. unknown for me /request info
2. chopin etude opus 25 no 2
3. chopin etude opus 25 no 1
4. unknown 4 me / request whats it
@venom1stas
Art Tatum.
Also w/ Vinnie Moore.
A fair and very funny point. I guess it's like watching a boxing match and thinking that you could knock a guy out, although, due to your lack of training, you would probably go down in the first round - but it looked easy on T.V!
Forget the piano. The jerry curl is world class!
You're right. He's no Jim Stanza either. Or Neil Rigotoni. He's also not a Jeff Hossenfeffor or a Bob Smith. Nor is Bill Jones or a Tom Smith. He's no Yakov Eatshitski either.
And they’re NOT TONY MACALPINE EITHER 😎
played keys with steve vai. yep.
@Hardysamnin Blahh don't say that! There are difficult things on the guitar that are a pianoist's nightmare, and there are crazy things on the piano that are a guitarist's nightmare. But in no way is one instrument necessarily more "Difficult" than the other.
@Dihelson if he memorized everything he must have more of an understanding of the song than if he were to just play it off sheet music. You don't know what's going on in his head, I hate people who watch a video of a musician and just assume their playing is without feeling just because it's skillful, open your fucking mind.
Right there is passion in classical, not to mention smoothly transitioning through techniques that are totally different than one another
@AngryLlamaz I think he is actually better in the piano, he could easily devote himself as a classical concertist and have total success, I think his passion is rock anyway
@bearfeymous Shawn's the only one that could've outplayed him. But considering that Tony's still kicking and Lane's teaching God how to play guitar... I sure miss Lane. Anyway, who cares, it's all music, not just skill and technique. Love this video!
@dpapaioannow In case it wasn't clear, I was being sarcastic. I think Tony is amazing.
@metalhead692219701
Probably to check on guitars. Not everyone is interrested in Classical, you know...
О, Тарантеллу Листа может)
@leozingy are you talking guitar or piano, tony was def beyond shawn him at piano
@brando18guitarplyr - Playing with 10 digits, is harder than 4.
Just listen to his studio recordings.He plays Chopin's etudes much better than famous piano performers!.He is fucken amazing.
My point exactly... heheh
Multi Player
@RoyZAZA He's no douchebag sitting in his mother's basement dissing people who actually have a career, either.