Mark Boals
Encyclopedia
Mark Boals is an American rock
singer, noted most for his work with Yngwie J. Malmsteen
. He was born on December 5, 1958 (or 1959), in Youngstown, Ohio
, United States. As a young child he learned to play the piano
and bass guitar
, but he is best known for his singing abilities: Boals is a master of the A above high C (A5) note, which he hits in many songs, but has additionally spanned high range up to the C♯ above soprano C (C♯6) and low range down to the D above low C (D2). Although Boals has never had any vocal lessons or training, as a teenager he gained a lot of experience as a vocalist in local groups (for example in Jasmine at 14 years old). Boals is the founder and vocalist for the band Ring of Fire
and serves as the vocalist of Danish neoclassical/progressive metal act Royal Hunt
and the US progressive band Seven the Hardway
.
and in 1982-83, they were touring around Canada and the U.S. Together they had written several songs but they never recorded an album (had problems with concluding a contract with a recording company). Also during these years Boals performed in his band "Lazer".
Boals joined Ted Nugent's band as a bass guitarist in 1984 and toured throughout the U.S. In 1985 he joined Yngwie Malmsteen's Rising Force and performed on Trilogy. After leaving Yngwie in 1986, Boals has been working for 10 years out of the music eye. He gave up music at first time, trying to find himself in cinematography and working for Warner Brothers company, but later returned to it and recorded with Mike Slamer
a soundtrack to "White Water Summer" movie at 1987. Also he appeared at Maestro Alex Gregory's "Paganini's Last Stand" (1992) and Billionaires Boys Club's album "Something Wicked Comes" (1993).
Then in 1996 Yngwie Malmsteen called Boals and asked if he want to perform on several songs in the cover album, "Inspiration". Boals accepted his suggestion and also, he resumed his role as vocalist with Yngwie Malmsteen for the album "Alchemy" showing amazing vocals on songs such as "Leonardo". The band subsequently went on tour.
In March 2000, Boals won the No.1 Vocalist Prize in the Japanese music magazines Burrn!
and Young Guitar. At the end of that year, on the same day, his second solo CD, entitled Ring Of Fire
and Yngwie Malmsteen's War To End All Wars
, with Boals on vocals, were released. However, after many years of musical magic and friendship, the team of Malmsteen and Boals had decided to move in different directions, and Boals formed a new band, Ring of Fire, named after his solo album. At the beginning of this year, Ring of Fire recorded their subsequent debut The Oracle album at the George Bellas Studios in Chicago. Alongside Boals were George Bellas, Vitalij Kuprij
, Virgil Donati
and Philip Bynoe
.
In addition Boals has participated in two exciting projects of Lion Music
in Finland. He appears on the Jason Becker
tribute "Warmth in the Wilderness", singing a version of David Lee Roth's "Hammerhead Shark" with Lars Eric Mattsson
. Speaking about Mattsson, in 2005 he also recorded an album War with Boals lead singing on track "Deep In The Shadows". As Malmsteen urgently needed a singer for his current tour, Boals has toured again with him in Europe, but only as guest vocalist.
Also Boals is featured on vocals on two songs, "Into The Light" and "I Will Always Be There", for the Empire CD Hypnotica (2001). Another cool project where Boals took part in, was "Genius Rock Opera" Trilogy by Daniele Liverani. There he was recording as the main character (Genius) on Episode 1: A human into dreams' world (2002) and Episode 2: In search of the little prince (2004). But he refused to sing on the last Episode because of personal reasons and was replaced by D. C. Cooper
.
In 2004 Boals recorded two songs for young Japanese guitarist named Takayoshi Ohmura
. Ohmura's debut album, entitled "Nowhere To Go", features additional guest appearances by Doogie White
(Yngwie Malmsteen, Cornerstone, ex-Rainbow
) and Richie Kotzen
(ex-Mr. Big
, Poison
). Commented Boals:
Boals has also performed with Lana Lane
, Indigo Dying, Empire and Chris Brooks
.
In recent years Boals recorded 3 solo albums as well as 3 studio albums and one live DVD with his own band, Ring Of Fire. The latest project album is entitled The Codex, which Boals recorded with Magnus Karlsson in 2007. The album project marks the return to recording after a 3 years hiatus for Boals. In 2007 Boals started looking for a serious, permanent band situation and Royal Hunt
became a perfect opportunity for a singer to exploit and expand his vocal abilities.
In 2008 Boals appeared on his first Royal Hunt album Collision Course... Paradox 2. Boals also appeared on Uli Jon Roth's album titled Under A Dark Sky on which he shared vocal duties with Liz Vandall. The band with Boals toured the world from July - December 2008. In 2009 he also worked with such bands like Vindictiv and Wolf
, and completed work on the latest Royal Hunt album X which was released in January 2010. Mark is also currently handling vocal duties in the band Seven The Hardway featuring guitarist Tony MacAlpine
which released a self-titled album in August 2010.
A press release dated June 19, 2011 announced that Mark would be recording vocals for the Wagnerian opera metal project Lyraka. http://www.bravewords.com/news/164045
Yngwie J. Malmsteen
Royal Hunt
Seven The Hardway
Jayce Landberg
Tribute album
Soundtrack
Soundtrack recorded with Mike Slamer.
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
singer, noted most for his work with Yngwie J. Malmsteen
Yngwie J. Malmsteen
Yngwie Johann Malmsteen is a Swedish guitarist, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and bandleader. Malmsteen became known for his neo-classical playing approach in heavy metal music which became a new musical style in the early 1980s.- Early life :...
. He was born on December 5, 1958 (or 1959), in Youngstown, Ohio
Youngstown, Ohio
Youngstown is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Mahoning County; it also extends into Trumbull County. The municipality is situated on the Mahoning River, approximately southeast of Cleveland and northwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
, United States. As a young child he learned to play the piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
and bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, but he is best known for his singing abilities: Boals is a master of the A above high C (A5) note, which he hits in many songs, but has additionally spanned high range up to the C♯ above soprano C (C♯6) and low range down to the D above low C (D2). Although Boals has never had any vocal lessons or training, as a teenager he gained a lot of experience as a vocalist in local groups (for example in Jasmine at 14 years old). Boals is the founder and vocalist for the band Ring of Fire
Ring of Fire (band)
Ring of Fire is an American neoclassical/progressive/power metal band from Chula Vista, California formed in 2000. Fronted by former Yngwie J. Malmsteen collaborator Mark Boals after the release of his solo album Ring of Fire, the band also included guitarist Tony MacAlpine, Planet X drummer Virgil...
and serves as the vocalist of Danish neoclassical/progressive metal act Royal Hunt
Royal Hunt
Royal Hunt is a progressive metal band based in Denmark, founded in 1989 by keyboardist Andre Andersen. The band is known for creating melodic music with a progressive and symphonic flair. They made a huge success during mid-90s with their classic albums Moving Target and Paradox mainly in Japan...
and the US progressive band Seven the Hardway
Seven the Hardway
Seven the Hardway is a US progressive rock band formed in 2009 consisting of Tony MacAlpine, Virgil Donati, Mark Boals, Doug Shreeve and Stefanía Daniel....
.
Boals career to present
In 1982 Boals joined Savoy BrownSavoy Brown
Savoy Brown, originally known as the Savoy Brown Blues Band, are a British blues rock band, formed in 1965, in Battersea, South West London...
and in 1982-83, they were touring around Canada and the U.S. Together they had written several songs but they never recorded an album (had problems with concluding a contract with a recording company). Also during these years Boals performed in his band "Lazer".
Boals joined Ted Nugent's band as a bass guitarist in 1984 and toured throughout the U.S. In 1985 he joined Yngwie Malmsteen's Rising Force and performed on Trilogy. After leaving Yngwie in 1986, Boals has been working for 10 years out of the music eye. He gave up music at first time, trying to find himself in cinematography and working for Warner Brothers company, but later returned to it and recorded with Mike Slamer
Mike Slamer
Mike Slamer is a British guitarist who started his career playing in the UK prog-rock band City Boy. Since then, he has worked as a staff composer for various movies and TV series, has been a session guitarist for numerous recording artists, and played in several bands:He at different times...
a soundtrack to "White Water Summer" movie at 1987. Also he appeared at Maestro Alex Gregory's "Paganini's Last Stand" (1992) and Billionaires Boys Club's album "Something Wicked Comes" (1993).
Then in 1996 Yngwie Malmsteen called Boals and asked if he want to perform on several songs in the cover album, "Inspiration". Boals accepted his suggestion and also, he resumed his role as vocalist with Yngwie Malmsteen for the album "Alchemy" showing amazing vocals on songs such as "Leonardo". The band subsequently went on tour.
In March 2000, Boals won the No.1 Vocalist Prize in the Japanese music magazines Burrn!
Burrn!
Burrn! is a monthly Japanese magazine, published since 1984, for fans of heavy metal music. It is published by Shinko Music in Tokyo. The magazine's content is in Japanese, but the covers are predominantly in English.-References:* Japanavision...
and Young Guitar. At the end of that year, on the same day, his second solo CD, entitled Ring Of Fire
Ring of Fire
-Music:* Ring of Fire, a Johnny Cash song, written by his wife, June** Ring of Fire: The Best of Johnny Cash, an album by Johnny Cash** Ring of Fire , a musical theater production on the life of Johnny Cash...
and Yngwie Malmsteen's War To End All Wars
War to End All Wars (album)
War to End All Wars is an album by Yngwie J. Malmsteen, released in 2000 by Spitfire Records in North America simultaneously with Pony Canyon's release in Japan and Dream Catcher's in Europe. While on tour for this album, singer Mark Boals left the band, and was replaced for a brief period by Jorn...
, with Boals on vocals, were released. However, after many years of musical magic and friendship, the team of Malmsteen and Boals had decided to move in different directions, and Boals formed a new band, Ring of Fire, named after his solo album. At the beginning of this year, Ring of Fire recorded their subsequent debut The Oracle album at the George Bellas Studios in Chicago. Alongside Boals were George Bellas, Vitalij Kuprij
Vitalij Kuprij
Vitalij Kuprij is a Ukrainian pianist, composer, music teacher, and keyboardist of the defunct neo-classical progressive metal band Artension. He resides in Reading, Pennsylvania when he is not touring.-Music career:...
, Virgil Donati
Virgil Donati
Virgil Donati is an Australian drummer, frequent drum clinician and a producer. He is currently playing with the band Planet X and Seven the Hardway among other projects. Virgil is perhaps most well known for his fast, highly technical drumming skills...
and Philip Bynoe
Philip Bynoe
Three-time Grammy nominee and Emmy Award-winning bassist Philip Earl Bynoe is a prolific recording and touring musician. Though best known for his work with virtuoso guitarist Steve Vai, Philip has played everything from heavy metal to R&B to classical, and has worked with the likes of Kevin...
.
In addition Boals has participated in two exciting projects of Lion Music
Lion Music
Lion Music is a production company and record label founded in 1989 by composer and artist Lars Eric Mattsson.-History:Lion Music was founded in 1989 by Lars Eric Mattsson as a production company to handle production and licensing for his records in Europe, the United States, and Asia, where a...
in Finland. He appears on the Jason Becker
Jason Becker
Jason Eli Becker is an American virtuoso neo-classical metal guitarist and composer. At the age of 16, he became part of the Mike Varney-produced duo Cacophony with his friend Marty Friedman. They released Speed Metal Symphony in 1987 and Go Off! in 1988...
tribute "Warmth in the Wilderness", singing a version of David Lee Roth's "Hammerhead Shark" with Lars Eric Mattsson
Lars Eric Mattsson
Lars-Eric Mattsson is a guitarist, song writer and producer living on the Åland Islands, Finland.-General information:A guitarist of the classic metal/hard rock school Lars was first discovered by Mike Varney in 1985...
. Speaking about Mattsson, in 2005 he also recorded an album War with Boals lead singing on track "Deep In The Shadows". As Malmsteen urgently needed a singer for his current tour, Boals has toured again with him in Europe, but only as guest vocalist.
Also Boals is featured on vocals on two songs, "Into The Light" and "I Will Always Be There", for the Empire CD Hypnotica (2001). Another cool project where Boals took part in, was "Genius Rock Opera" Trilogy by Daniele Liverani. There he was recording as the main character (Genius) on Episode 1: A human into dreams' world (2002) and Episode 2: In search of the little prince (2004). But he refused to sing on the last Episode because of personal reasons and was replaced by D. C. Cooper
D. C. Cooper
Donald Christopher "D.C." Cooper is an American singer and musician.-Biography:He started out playing in several area bands and touring the local club circuit in Pittsburgh while he studied singing under renowned opera coach Charlotte Coleman...
.
In 2004 Boals recorded two songs for young Japanese guitarist named Takayoshi Ohmura
Takayoshi Ohmura
' is a Japanese musician popular as a rock guitarist. He was born on December 26, 1983 in Osaka. He started learning piano at the age of three. By the age of 11 he had started to play acoustic guitar moving to electric guitar at the age of 14...
. Ohmura's debut album, entitled "Nowhere To Go", features additional guest appearances by Doogie White
Doogie White
Doogie White , is a Scottish rock vocalist, who has sung for Midnight Blue, Rainbow, Cornerstone, Yngwie Malmsteen's Rising Force, Praying Mantis and Rata Blanca...
(Yngwie Malmsteen, Cornerstone, ex-Rainbow
Rainbow (band)
Rainbow were an English rock band, controlled by guitarist Ritchie Blackmore from 1975 to 1984 and 1994 to 1997. It was originally established with American rock band Elf's members, though over the years Rainbow went through many line-up changes with no two studio albums featuring the same line-up...
) and Richie Kotzen
Richie Kotzen
Richie Kotzen is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter.At a young age, Richie Kotzen was taken by music and first began playing piano at the age of five. At the age of seven he was inspired by the band KISS to learn the electric guitar...
(ex-Mr. Big
Mr. Big (band)
Mr. Big is an American rock supergroup, formed in Los Angeles, California in 1988. The band is a quartet composed of Eric Martin , Paul Gilbert , Billy Sheehan , and Pat Torpey ; Mr. Big also included Richie Kotzen, a reputable blues-based guitarist who replaced Gilbert in 1999...
, Poison
Poison (band)
Poison is an American glam metal band that achieved great success in the mid-1980s to mid-1990s. To date, Poison has sold over 30 million records worldwide and have sold 15 million records in the United States alone. The band has also charted ten singles to the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100,...
). Commented Boals:
After I was asked by the representatives of Ohmura, I listened to his demo. I thought his music was good and he has a talent to play guitar, and I thought it'd be great to support this young Japanese musician. I also thought it would be great to share the vocals with the other singers, Richie Kotzen and Doogie White, so I recorded two songs here in L.A. and sent them to Japan.
Boals has also performed with Lana Lane
Lana Lane
Lana Lane is a North American rock singer. She sings lead in her eponymous band, and has sung backing vocals for the band Rocket Scientists and guest sung on Ayreon and Erik Norlander albums....
, Indigo Dying, Empire and Chris Brooks
Chris Brooks (guitarist)
Chris Brooks is an Australian rock, metal and fusion guitarist most noted for his debut instrumental album The Master Plan and his subsequent work with members of Yngwie Malmsteen, Black Sabbath, Lana Lane, and fellow Australians LORD.-Early life:...
.
In recent years Boals recorded 3 solo albums as well as 3 studio albums and one live DVD with his own band, Ring Of Fire. The latest project album is entitled The Codex, which Boals recorded with Magnus Karlsson in 2007. The album project marks the return to recording after a 3 years hiatus for Boals. In 2007 Boals started looking for a serious, permanent band situation and Royal Hunt
Royal Hunt
Royal Hunt is a progressive metal band based in Denmark, founded in 1989 by keyboardist Andre Andersen. The band is known for creating melodic music with a progressive and symphonic flair. They made a huge success during mid-90s with their classic albums Moving Target and Paradox mainly in Japan...
became a perfect opportunity for a singer to exploit and expand his vocal abilities.
In 2008 Boals appeared on his first Royal Hunt album Collision Course... Paradox 2. Boals also appeared on Uli Jon Roth's album titled Under A Dark Sky on which he shared vocal duties with Liz Vandall. The band with Boals toured the world from July - December 2008. In 2009 he also worked with such bands like Vindictiv and Wolf
Wolf (band)
Wolf is a heavy metal band from Örebro, Sweden. Formed in 1995, the band has since released five albums and toured with Saxon, Tankard and more recently, Trivium.-Members:*Niklas Stålvind - vocals, guitar *Anders G Modd - bass guitar...
, and completed work on the latest Royal Hunt album X which was released in January 2010. Mark is also currently handling vocal duties in the band Seven The Hardway featuring guitarist Tony MacAlpine
Tony MacAlpine
Tony Jeff MacAlpine is an American guitarist and keyboardist. Having released ten studio albums over a career spanning more than two decades, he is best known as an instrumental solo guitarist, although he has worked with many different bands and musicians in the form of guest appearances and...
which released a self-titled album in August 2010.
A press release dated June 19, 2011 announced that Mark would be recording vocals for the Wagnerian opera metal project Lyraka. http://www.bravewords.com/news/164045
Solo albums
- IgnitionIgnition (Mark Boals album)Ignition is the first studio album released by Mark Boals in 1998. It came out only in Japan.-Track listing:All songs written by Mark Boals.# "Jane" – 4:15# "Don't Dance with the Devil" – 3:44# "Find Our Way" – 5:30# "My Turn" – 5:08...
(1998) - Ring of FireRing of Fire (Mark Boals album)Ring of Fire is the second studio album released by Mark Boals. After the album, Mark and others who worked on the album formed the band Ring of Fire, in its name.-Track listing:All songs written by Mark Boals/Tony MacAlpine except where noted....
(2000) - Edge of the WorldEdge of the World (Mark Boals album)Edge of the World is the third studio album released by Mark Boals.-Track listing:All songs written by Mark Boals except where noted.# "Fly" – 6:29 # "World On Fire" – 5:32# "Lady Babylon" – 6:15...
(2002)
Yngwie J. MalmsteenYngwie J. MalmsteenYngwie Johann Malmsteen is a Swedish guitarist, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and bandleader. Malmsteen became known for his neo-classical playing approach in heavy metal music which became a new musical style in the early 1980s.- Early life :...
- TrilogyTrilogy (Yngwie J. Malmsteen album)Trilogy is the third studio album by guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen, released in 1986 through Polydor Records.-Track listing:-Personnel:*Yngwie Malmsteen – electric guitar, acoustic guitar, Moog Taurus, bass guitar, mixing, production...
(1986) - CollectionThe Yngwie Malmsteen Collection- References :...
(1991) - InspirationInspiration (Yngwie J. Malmsteen album)Inspiration is a tribute album by guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen, released in 1996 through Music for Nations and Pony Canyon, Inc. , and reissued in 2000 through Spitfire Records; a remastered edition was reissued in 2003 through SPV GmbH...
(1996) - AlchemyAlchemy (Yngwie J. Malmsteen album)Alchemy is an album released by guitarist Yngwie J. Malmsteen in 1999.Single "Hangar 18, Area 51"-Track listing:-Bonus track :-Personnel:*Yngwie J...
(1999) - War to End All WarsWar to End All Wars (album)War to End All Wars is an album by Yngwie J. Malmsteen, released in 2000 by Spitfire Records in North America simultaneously with Pony Canyon's release in Japan and Dream Catcher's in Europe. While on tour for this album, singer Mark Boals left the band, and was replaced for a brief period by Jorn...
(2000) - Anthology 1994-1999 (2000)
Ring of Fire
- The Oracle (2001)
- Burning Live in Tokyo - live album (2002)
- Dreamtower (2003)
- Lapse of Reality (2004)
Genius: A Rock Opera
- Part 1: A Human into Dreams' World (2002)
- Part 2: In Search of the Little Prince (2004)
Royal HuntRoyal HuntRoyal Hunt is a progressive metal band based in Denmark, founded in 1989 by keyboardist Andre Andersen. The band is known for creating melodic music with a progressive and symphonic flair. They made a huge success during mid-90s with their classic albums Moving Target and Paradox mainly in Japan...
- Collision Course... Paradox 2 (2008)
- XX (Royal Hunt album)X is the tenth studio album released by the band Royal Hunt on January, 20th, 2010 on Scarlet Records in Europe and on Marquee/Avalon Records in Japan.-Track listing:All songs written by André Andersen.# "Episode X " - 1:59...
(2010)
Seven The HardwaySeven the HardwaySeven the Hardway is a US progressive rock band formed in 2009 consisting of Tony MacAlpine, Virgil Donati, Mark Boals, Doug Shreeve and Stefanía Daniel....
- Seven The Hardway (2010)
Jayce LandbergJayce LandbergErik Jayce Landberg is a Swedish guitar virtuoso, composer, record producer, multi-instrumentalist, lyricist and novelist.- Early life :Landberg grew up between Stockholm, Sweden, the Swedish countryside as well as Switzerland....
- Good Sleepless Night (2010)
Tribute albumTribute albumA tribute album is a recorded collection of cover versions of songs or instrumental compositions. Its concept may be either various artists making a tribute to a single artist, a single artist making a tribute to various artists, or a single artist making a tribute to another single artist.There...
s
- Dragon Attack: A Tribute to QueenDragon Attack: A Tribute to QueenDragon Attack: Tribute to Queen is a Queen tribute album produced in 1997. Like most tribute albums, it features cover versions of many Queen songs by various artists, but uniquely the songs are not performed by established groups...
(1997) - We Will Rock You: A Tribute to QueenQueen (band)Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
(2000) - Warmth In The Wilderness: A Tribute To Jason BeckerJason BeckerJason Eli Becker is an American virtuoso neo-classical metal guitarist and composer. At the age of 16, he became part of the Mike Varney-produced duo Cacophony with his friend Marty Friedman. They released Speed Metal Symphony in 1987 and Go Off! in 1988...
(2001) - 24/7/365: A Tribute To Led ZeppelinLed ZeppelinLed Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
(2007)
SoundtrackSoundtrackA soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
s
- "Restless heart" from the film "White Water SummerWhite Water SummerWhite Water Summer is a 1987 American drama film directed by Jeff Bleckner.-Plot:School is out for the summer, and a group of young teenagers go on a hike with Vic, an experienced guide. One teen, Alan, butts head with Vic during the film as Vic's attempts to teach life lessons annoy Alan. The more...
" (1987)
Soundtrack recorded with Mike Slamer.