Neo-classical guitar virtuoso Yngwie Malmsteen recently reflected on his reputation for wanting complete control over every aspect of his music and live performances.
While Malmsteen’s approach to rock music may be polarizing for some, there’s no denying his monumental impact on the guitar world. His preference for managing his business exactly how he envisions it sets him apart, as the musicians who work with him support his vision of the music and show. Simply put, there is no one quite like him.
In a recent conversation with Stairway to Rock, Malmsteen explained why he prefers to handle everything on his own. He shared his thoughts on the topic, saying:
“I’d like to make something very clear to people like you — no offense — you writers. Some of you have misunderstood what I am, what I’m doing, what I’m all about.”
Malmsteen spoke about his upbringing in Sweden, a place where aspiring musicians were often dismissed. “It wasn’t considered to have a real job if you were a musician, composer or whatever. So, I felt not at home there,” he said.
Since his earliest musical ventures, Malmsteen has always been the one in charge. He explained his “control freak” reputation with humor, acknowledging that he is deeply involved in every aspect of his music.
“If you want to, you [can] call me a control freak,” he said. “Go ahead. Call me that all day long. I decide when the smoke machine goes off. I decide what light colors are gonna be in the front truss of the lighting. I decide exactly what’s gonna be the intro, what’s gonna not be the intro. I construct the whole show, the whole thing, every night.”
For Malmsteen, this isn’t about micromanaging but ensuring his musical and theatrical vision comes to life. He compared his approach to art, saying, “Music is an art form. So is painting. So is writing books. The way Leonardo da Vinci and people like that approached their art is more akin to what I do. I don’t paint half the painting and call someone, ‘Hey, can you come and help me paint the rest of the painting?’”
Malmsteen emphasized that his approach isn’t about disliking collaboration; it’s about maintaining a singular vision. “I’m thinking closer to a classical composer or a painter. And it’s nothing to do with that I don’t like other people or that I don’t want to be with other people. It’s just that I have such a perfect idea.”
He added that while there are countless ways to create art, his vision remains clear: “The thing is that that’s the way I am. I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with what other people do. I’m just saying that for me, I have such a clear vision of what I wanna have in my head already.”
Malmsteen also pointed out that everyone has their own method for making art. “Listen, everybody has to find their own way. Like Lennon and McCartney. Come on. You know what I mean? This is beautiful when people do this. That’s just not my way. I’m not saying it’s bad or good. It’s just people are different and that’s how I work.”
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