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.
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.
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.
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. 🙏
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!
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.
@@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’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 ☺️
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
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. ❤
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.
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!!
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!
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!
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.
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
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!
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!
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, 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!
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!
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.
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.
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.
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'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.
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! 🇲🇽
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 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
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.
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
“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
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.
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….
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.
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!
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 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 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 ...
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!
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! I wore out Maximum Security, Project Driver, and Edge of Insanity albums as a kid. Learned most of Maximum Security note for note. This was a nice surprise Rick. Thanks!
I was like "who learned most of MS note per note?" ... then I saw your name and said ... "oh yeah ... he definitely did". Love your playing man. Cheers!
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 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.
Was fortunate to meet him not long after Maximum Security, we rehearsed at the same place.. and we went for a 6lb Lobster someone we knew mutually took us to in a limo… and he was just super humble, while everyone else what acting like rock stars we geeked out and talked about gear. He used Rockman gear at the time. He was married then to a guitarist and our singer was doing vocals on her demo. Deen Castronova was around then, too, and played on Tony and Marty’s Shrapnel records (Marty Friedman Dragon’s Kiss) so it was good times being around all that talent in a small music community where everyone kinda knew everyone in music circles. Anyway, there were a few egos but Tony wasn’t anything but accessible and kind. Marty and I jammed a few times at his apt., and he was showing me his unorthodox out of the box way of looking at the guitar. There were just lots of great players in Marin, and almost all of them were approachable and we shared gear and little guitar secrets etc I wish I could go back in time and relive that as I really took it for granted then. Michael Lee Firkins was another incredibly talented player, he could have done anything… he was just content playing with his local band, and did some stuff for Jason Becker.. played his compositions on Perspectives and it was such great tone and chops. Very close to Uli in tone. Nothing like his live faux slide guitar type of chicken pickin stuff. Good times.
Cool story! What a blast jamming with Marty,and talking shop. Tony is truly an incredibly warm and humble person who has more reason than many (and much more talent!) to be a jaded prick in person after nearly 4 decades in the music biz,yet is the antithesis of all that pretentious BS. Speaking of tone,T-Mac's live tone is killer! The notes explode from his H & K half stack and cut right through the mix...like good tone and playing should. God bless and long live Tony MacAlpine!
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!
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 ...
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.
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.
Anytime I hear Tony’s name I automatically stand up out of respect. From his keyboard playing days at Vai band to his out of this world solos at Planet X, he has introduced the world to a different level of musicianship which can only be compared to classical era giants.
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.
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.
A true virtuoso and such a gentleman. No ego. Just pure humble genius. Love his music and style!
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
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.
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: “I haven’t played this in a thousand years…” 🎹🎵🎶🎵
(Proceeds to blow us all away with his masterful playing!) 🤯🤘😉👏🥳
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. 🙏
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....
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.
"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’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.
Tony MacAlpine is SOOOOOO underrated. People need to listen to his music just absolutely brilliant.
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.
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.
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. ❤
So glad to see Tony healthy and in your channel, his music made me fly.
Thank God Tony didn't leave us when he was hit with cancer. He's a virtuoso and an amazing musician.
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
Ahh the smile on Ricks face when he plays :D Never heard of the guy but enjoyed the conversation 110%!
Damn, this guy is good. One of the most accomplished and complete musicians of our era.
I had the honor of seeing Tony play with Steve Vai on a G3 your. What a player!!!
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.
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!!
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 was a prodigy. Now he is still one of the best musicians out there.
Only Rick can get a personal concert from the great Tony McAlpine!
Tony never stops making me smile. From the pure charisma to the talent and ability, it's all a package worth listening to.
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 😁
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!
Lifelong MacAlpine fan! This interview was terrific! That short piano outro was amazing!
His band's album Eyes Of The World is especially, crimininally unknown and underrated. What a master!
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. 😃
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
Love the big smile on Rick's face when Tony does his stuff on the piano. Love music.
“If you enjoy a story, it’s easy to re-tell it.” Excellent!
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!
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!
T-Mac is criminally underrated. Seeing him play the Mazurka totally made my day. More please!
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, 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!
I’ve always been impressed with Tony’s guitar playing, but, he is equally impressive on the keys. Amazing!
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
Props for Tony. I still can't get over how good his playing was on the Planet X records
Maximum security and his MARS - Project Driver record, some of the best lead sounds ever ⚡️
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!
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.
Rick knows when he's encountered an artist who's achieved their God given potential.
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.
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.
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.
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!
Tony has been one of my favorite artists since my 20th birthday....I'm 55 now😆👍thanks Rick!
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 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.
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! 🇲🇽
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 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.
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.
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
MacAlpine is such a great musician through and through, it's unbelievable how good he is on both keys and guitar.
“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😉
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.
Tony is probably my favourite guitarist ever, a musical genius and absolute monster player
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!
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….
Great interview. Tony MacAlpine is a musical master…
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.
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 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!
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 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 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 ...
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!
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! I wore out Maximum Security, Project Driver, and Edge of Insanity albums as a kid. Learned most of Maximum Security note for note. This was a nice surprise Rick. Thanks!
thought I was the only guy who knew Project Driver haha. I wore that tape out
I was like "who learned most of MS note per note?" ... then I saw your name and said ... "oh yeah ... he definitely did". Love your playing man. Cheers!
Such a great album and his work with Planex X.
Derryl I still love your solo on George Lynch Tierra del Fuego song.
Hey Derryl, you should hook Troy Grady up with Rick. That would be an incredible interview. Love your playing, btw.
@@nickcharles7972 I tried already about 3 years ago.
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.
Tony's such a humble guy and brilliant musician! Loved this episode.
TONYS AMAZING
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.
Was fortunate to meet him not long after Maximum Security, we rehearsed at the same place.. and we went for a 6lb Lobster someone we knew mutually took us to in a limo… and he was just super humble, while everyone else what acting like rock stars we geeked out and talked about gear. He used Rockman gear at the time. He was married then to a guitarist and our singer was doing vocals on her demo. Deen Castronova was around then, too, and played on Tony and Marty’s Shrapnel records (Marty Friedman Dragon’s Kiss) so it was good times being around all that talent in a small music community where everyone kinda knew everyone in music circles. Anyway, there were a few egos but Tony wasn’t anything but accessible and kind. Marty and I jammed a few times at his apt., and he was showing me his unorthodox out of the box way of looking at the guitar. There were just lots of great players in Marin, and almost all of them were approachable and we shared gear and little guitar secrets etc I wish I could go back in time and relive that as I really took it for granted then. Michael Lee Firkins was another incredibly talented player, he could have done anything… he was just content playing with his local band, and did some stuff for Jason Becker.. played his compositions on Perspectives and it was such great tone and chops. Very close to Uli in tone. Nothing like his live faux slide guitar type of chicken pickin stuff. Good times.
Cool story! What a blast jamming with Marty,and talking shop. Tony is truly an incredibly warm and humble person who has more reason than many (and much more talent!) to be a jaded prick in person after nearly 4 decades in the music biz,yet is the antithesis of all that pretentious BS.
Speaking of tone,T-Mac's live tone is killer! The notes explode from his H & K half stack and cut right through the mix...like good tone and playing should. God bless and long live Tony MacAlpine!
I love the look on ricks face when he’s listening to something he likes
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!
My favorite interview so far. Love Tony, what a legend.
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 ...
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.
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.
So good to see Tony on here. He and Vinnie Moore were incredibly impactful in my musical journey.
Edge of Insanity is one of my favorite albums. Love this dude.
Anytime I hear Tony’s name I automatically stand up out of respect. From his keyboard playing days at Vai band to his out of this world solos at Planet X, he has introduced the world to a different level of musicianship which can only be compared to classical era giants.
It's wild that all 3 members of Planet X are talented keyboardists, despite Virgil and Tony being monsters on their respective main instruments too
Explain ?
one of the real meanings of a real artist, of real genius is Tony Macalpine
Tony’s musical talent is amazing & inspiring. Great to see him healthy also! 🤘
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.
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
I love tony MacAlpine the guy is humble and it is an amazing guitar player.
Maximum Security is still one of my favorites.
One of the most gifted musician ever… amazing !