Tony MacAlpine
Encyclopedia
Tony Jeff MacAlpine is an American
guitarist
and keyboardist
. Having released ten studio album
s 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 collaborations.
trained pianist
and violin
ist. He is credited with playing all keyboards on his own albums as well as for other artists. One of his principal musical influences is Chopin
, to whom he pays homage in his interpretations of Chopin's étude
s featured on the majority of his solo albums. With the exception of Eyes of the World
(1990), there is at least one display of these piano/keyboard instrumentals on each of his solo albums up to and including Chromaticity (2001).
MacAlpine influenced and contributed much to the neo-classical metal
genre of the late-1980s, becoming known for his instrumental rock
-based style of playing that incorporated highly advanced shred
techniques and, in later albums, elements of jazz fusion
, as well. Together with his first two solo releases, Edge of Insanity
(1985) and Maximum Security (1987), he played a prominent role on other works of the 1980s shred era, including keyboard duties on Vinnie Moore
's Mind's Eye
(1986) and Joey Tafolla
's Out of the Sun
(1987). In 1990, the album Eyes of the World
(1990) was released as part of a band effort under the group name of 'MacAlpine' to produce a commercially-oriented
album. However, this project and its commercial aim was short-lived, and his subsequent album Freedom to Fly
(1992) signified a return to his prior instrumental-based work, which continued throughout the 1990s.
MacAlpine's dual ability on guitar and keyboard is further demonstrated in his contributions as a guitarist accompanying renowned keyboardists Vitalij Kuprij
and Derek Sherinian
(latterly with the band Planet X
), as well as providing vocals
for his 1999 release, Master of Paradise
. In recent years, he has played guitar and keyboards in Steve Vai
's touring band, The Breed (until 2006), and is featured on the band's Live at the Astoria London DVD (2003), along with two G3
DVDs: G3: Live in Denver
(2004) and G3: Live in Tokyo
(2005).
. His most oft-used model is a recently acquired Ibanez RG2228 Prestige
eight-string guitar, which is shown on the cover of his 2011 self-titled release
. For amplification
, he endorses Hughes & Kettner
, using mainly the Switchblade and the TriAmp models. In an August 2011 Guitar World
article, he described his setup:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
and keyboardist
Keyboardist
A keyboardist is a musician who plays keyboard instruments. Until the early 1960s musicians who played keyboards were generally classified as either pianists or organists. Since the mid-1960s, a plethora of new musical instruments with keyboards have come into common usage, requiring a more...
. Having released ten studio album
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
s over a career spanning more than two decades, he is best known as an instrumental
Instrumental
An instrumental is a musical composition or recording without lyrics or singing, although it might include some non-articulate vocal input; the music is primarily or exclusively produced by musical instruments....
solo guitarist, although he has worked with many different bands
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
and musicians in the form of guest appearances and collaborations.
Biography
Born and raised in the Pine Point section of Springfield, Massachusetts, prior to picking up the guitar, MacAlpine was a classicallyClassical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
trained pianist
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 violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist. He is credited with playing all keyboards on his own albums as well as for other artists. One of his principal musical influences is Chopin
Frédéric Chopin
Frédéric François Chopin was a Polish composer and virtuoso pianist. He is considered one of the great masters of Romantic music and has been called "the poet of the piano"....
, to whom he pays homage in his interpretations of Chopin's étude
Études (Chopin)
The Études by Frédéric Chopin are three sets of solo studies for the piano, There are twenty-seven overall, comprising two separate collections of twelve, numbered Opus 10 and 25, and a set of three without opus number.-Composition:...
s featured on the majority of his solo albums. With the exception of Eyes of the World
Eyes of the World
Eyes of the World is the third studio album by guitarist Tony MacAlpine, released in 1990 through PolyGram Records. In a departure from his previous albums, Eyes of the World is more band-oriented than his usual solo work, and was titled simply under the group name of "MacAlpine" in order to...
(1990), there is at least one display of these piano/keyboard instrumentals on each of his solo albums up to and including Chromaticity (2001).
MacAlpine influenced and contributed much to the neo-classical metal
Neo-classical metal
Neo-classical metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music that is heavily influenced by classical music. It refers to a very technical performanceExact quote from the french text: "L'arrivée du néoclassique remet au goût du jour la virtuosité et le travail de l'instrument", « Les secrets du metal-...
genre of the late-1980s, becoming known for his instrumental rock
Instrumental rock
Instrumental rock is a type of rock music which emphasizes musical instruments, and which features very little or no singing.Examples of instrumental rock can be found in practically every subgenre of rock, often from musicians who specialize in the style, most notably Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Link...
-based style of playing that incorporated highly advanced shred
Shred guitar
Shred guitar or shredding is lead electric guitar playing that relies heavily on fast guitar solos. While some critics argue that shred guitar is associated with "... sweep-picked arpeggios, diminished and harmonic minor scales, finger-tapping and ... whammy-bar abuse", several guitar...
techniques and, in later albums, elements of jazz fusion
Jazz fusion
Jazz fusion is a musical fusion genre that developed from mixing funk and R&B rhythms and the amplification and electronic effects of rock, complex time signatures derived from non-Western music and extended, typically instrumental compositions with a jazz approach to lengthy group improvisations,...
, as well. Together with his first two solo releases, Edge of Insanity
Edge Of Insanity
Edge of Insanity is the first studio album by guitarist Tony MacAlpine, released in 1986 through Shrapnel Records. An article in Guitar World magazine ranked the album as fourth in the all-time top ten list of shred albums.-Track listing:...
(1985) and Maximum Security (1987), he played a prominent role on other works of the 1980s shred era, including keyboard duties on Vinnie Moore
Vinnie Moore
Vinnie Moore is a guitarist and a member of the English hard rock band UFO. Along with Yngwie Malmsteen, Tony MacAlpine, and others, Moore is known as one of the most influential guitarists to emerge out of the shredder boom in the mid 1980s.-Biography:Moore was born in New Castle, Delaware...
's Mind's Eye
Mind's Eye (album)
Mind's Eye is the first studio album by guitarist Vinnie Moore, released in 1986 through Shrapnel Records. An article in Guitar World magazine ranked the album as third in the all-time top ten list of shred albums.-Track listing:-Personnel:...
(1986) and Joey Tafolla
Joey Tafolla
Joey Tafolla is an American guitarist. Initially a member of the heavy metal band Jag Panzer from 1984 to 1985, he joined Mike Varney's Shrapnel Records label soon after; releasing his debut album Out of the Sun in 1987, alongside the releases of other shred players such as Marty Friedman, Jason...
's Out of the Sun
Out Of The Sun
Out of the Sun is the first studio album by guitarist Joey Tafolla, released in 1987 through Shrapnel Records.-Track listing:-Personnel:*Joey Tafolla – electric guitar*Paul Gilbert – additional guitar solos...
(1987). In 1990, the album Eyes of the World
Eyes of the World
Eyes of the World is the third studio album by guitarist Tony MacAlpine, released in 1990 through PolyGram Records. In a departure from his previous albums, Eyes of the World is more band-oriented than his usual solo work, and was titled simply under the group name of "MacAlpine" in order to...
(1990) was released as part of a band effort under the group name of 'MacAlpine' to produce a commercially-oriented
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
album. However, this project and its commercial aim was short-lived, and his subsequent album Freedom to Fly
Freedom to Fly
Freedom to Fly is the fourth studio album by guitarist Tony MacAlpine, released in 1992 through Shrapnel Records.-Track listing:-Personnel:*Tony MacAlpine – guitar, keyboard, grand piano*Mike Terrana – drums*Larry Dennison – bass...
(1992) signified a return to his prior instrumental-based work, which continued throughout the 1990s.
MacAlpine's dual ability on guitar and keyboard is further demonstrated in his contributions as a guitarist accompanying renowned keyboardists 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:...
and Derek Sherinian
Derek Sherinian
Derek Sherinian is a rock keyboardist who has toured and recorded for Alice Cooper, Billy Idol, Yngwie Malmsteen, Kiss, and Alice In Chains. He was also a member of Dream Theater and is the founder of the instrumental metal-fusion band Planet X...
(latterly with the band Planet X
Planet X (band)
Planet X is an instrumental rock/progressive metal supergroup, founded by keyboardist Derek Sherinian and drummer Virgil Donati. Throughout a decade of activity, they have released three studio albums and one live album, each with a variety of guest musicians and oft-changing...
), as well as providing vocals
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
for his 1999 release, Master of Paradise
Master Of Paradise
Master of Paradise is the ninth studio album by guitarist Tony MacAlpine, released on November 2, 1999 through Shrapnel Records. This marks the first time MacAlpine himself has provided vocals on any of his works, as all but two of the tracks contain singing; the final two being instrumental...
. In recent years, he has played guitar and keyboards in Steve Vai
Steve Vai
Steven Siro "Steve" Vai is a three time Grammy Award-winning American guitarist, songwriter and producer who has sold over 15 million albums. Steve Vai is widely known as a flamboyant guitar virtuoso....
's touring band, The Breed (until 2006), and is featured on the band's Live at the Astoria London DVD (2003), along with two G3
G3 (tour)
G3 is a concert tour organized by guitarist Joe Satriani featuring him alongside two other guitarists. Since its inception in 1996, G3 has toured most years and has featured many guitarists, including Steve Vai , Eric Johnson, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Yngwie Malmsteen, John Petrucci, Robert Fripp,...
DVDs: G3: Live in Denver
G3: Live in Denver
G3: Live in Denver is a live DVD of G3, the touring band in which Joe Satriani and Steve Vai invite another player to come tour with them. In 2003, Yngwie Malmsteen was the chosen one. Along with this DVD, a double-CD album was released, G3: Rockin' in the Free World. The DVD was recorded at the...
(2004) and G3: Live in Tokyo
G3: Live in Tokyo
G3: Live in Tokyo is another G3 live performance which featured John Petrucci along with Joe Satriani and Steve Vai in the 2005 G3 tour. It was released as double live album as well as DVD with extra material: G3 Soundcheck featuring commentary by Joe Satriani, Steve Vai and John Petrucci.In this...
(2005).
Equipment
After joining Planet X, MacAlpine became a prominent user of the seven string guitar. A long-time customer of Carvin guitars (notably the T-Mac and DC series), he has recently switched to IbanezIbanez
is a Japanese guitar brand owned by Hoshino Gakki. Based in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan, Hoshino Gakki were one of the first Japanese musical instrument companies to gain a significant foothold in import guitar sales in the United States and Europe, as well as the first brand of guitars to mass produce...
. His most oft-used model is a recently acquired Ibanez RG2228 Prestige
Ibanez RG Prestige
The Ibanez RG Prestige series are the highest quality guitars in the extremely popular RG series next to the J-Custom Series. They were introduced in 1987 and are well known for their characteristic thin necks and hard-edged tone, which is generated by high-output humbuckers...
eight-string guitar, which is shown on the cover of his 2011 self-titled release
Tony MacAlpine (album)
Tony MacAlpine is the self-titled eleventh studio album by guitarist Tony MacAlpine, released on June 21, 2011 through Favored Nations Entertainment and King Records...
. For amplification
Guitar amplifier
A guitar amplifier is an electronic amplifier designed to make the signal of an electric or acoustic guitar louder so that it will produce sound through a loudspeaker...
, he endorses Hughes & Kettner
Hughes & Kettner
Hughes & Kettner is a German brand of guitar and bass amplifiers, cabinets and effects processors. It was founded in Neunkirchen in 1984 and is based in St.Wendel since 1987....
, using mainly the Switchblade and the TriAmp models. In an August 2011 Guitar World
Guitar World
Guitar World is a monthly music magazine devoted to guitarists. It contains original interviews, album and gear reviews and guitar and bass tablature of approximately five songs each month. The magazine is published 13 times per year...
article, he described his setup:
- Ibanez RG 2228 with DiMarzioDiMarzioDiMarzio, Inc. is an United States manufacturer best known for its revolutionary direct-replacement guitar pickups. The company also produces miscellaneous guitar accessories, such as cables, straps and hardware.DiMarzio became known for its Super Distortion model, which was the first after...
D Sonic and Tone Zone pickupsPickup (music technology)A pickup device is a transducer that captures mechanical vibrations, usually from suitably equipped stringed instruments such as the electric guitar, electric bass guitar, Chapman Stick, or electric violin, and converts them to an electrical signal that is amplified, recorded, or broadcast.-... - Hughes & Kettner Coreblade 100WWattThe watt is a derived unit of power in the International System of Units , named after the Scottish engineer James Watt . The unit, defined as one joule per second, measures the rate of energy conversion.-Definition:...
head - Hughes & Kettner 4x12 cabinet
- Dunlop Cry BabyDunlop Cry BabyThe Dunlop Cry Baby is a popular wah-wah pedal, manufactured by Dunlop Manufacturing, Inc. It is the best selling guitar pedal of all time. The name Cry Baby was from the original pedal from which it was copied, the Thomas Organ/Vox Cry Baby wah-wah. Thomas Organ/Vox failed to register the name as...
Classic wahWah-wah pedalA wah-wah pedal is a type of guitar effects pedal that alters the tone of the signal to create a distinctive effect, mimicking the human voice...
Solo albums
- 1985: Edge of InsanityEdge Of InsanityEdge of Insanity is the first studio album by guitarist Tony MacAlpine, released in 1986 through Shrapnel Records. An article in Guitar World magazine ranked the album as fourth in the all-time top ten list of shred albums.-Track listing:...
- 1987: Maximum Security
- 1990: Eyes of the WorldEyes of the WorldEyes of the World is the third studio album by guitarist Tony MacAlpine, released in 1990 through PolyGram Records. In a departure from his previous albums, Eyes of the World is more band-oriented than his usual solo work, and was titled simply under the group name of "MacAlpine" in order to...
- 1992: Freedom to FlyFreedom to FlyFreedom to Fly is the fourth studio album by guitarist Tony MacAlpine, released in 1992 through Shrapnel Records.-Track listing:-Personnel:*Tony MacAlpine – guitar, keyboard, grand piano*Mike Terrana – drums*Larry Dennison – bass...
- 1993: MadnessMadness (Tony MacAlpine album)Madness is the fifth studio album by guitarist Tony MacAlpine, released in 1993 through Shrapnel Records.-Track listing:-Personnel:*Tony MacAlpine – guitar, keyboard, production*Gina Demos – electric guitar *Glen Sobel – drums, production...
- 1994: PremonitionPremonition (Tony MacAlpine album)Premonition is the sixth studio album by guitarist Tony MacAlpine, released in 1994 through Shrapnel Records.-Track listing:-Personnel:*Tony MacAlpine – guitar, keyboard , production*Jens Johansson – keyboard...
- 1995: EvolutionEvolution (Tony MacAlpine album)Evolution is the seventh studio album by guitarist Tony MacAlpine, released on October 10, 1995 through Shrapnel Records.-Track listing:-Personnel:*Tony MacAlpine – guitar, keyboard, mixing, production*Mike Terrana – drums*Tony Franklin – bass...
- 1996: Violent MachineViolent MachineViolent Machine is the eighth studio album by guitarist Tony MacAlpine, released in 1996 through Metropolis Records and reissued in 2002 through Lion Music; the latter featuring different cover art and having apparently been released without the authorization of MacAlpine or Metropolis.-Track...
- 1997: Live InsanityLive Insanity-Personnel:*Tony MacAlpine – electric guitar, keyboard, production*Mike Terrana – drums*Ricky Riccardo – bass guitar...
(live) - 1999: Master of ParadiseMaster Of ParadiseMaster of Paradise is the ninth studio album by guitarist Tony MacAlpine, released on November 2, 1999 through Shrapnel Records. This marks the first time MacAlpine himself has provided vocals on any of his works, as all but two of the tracks contain singing; the final two being instrumental...
- 2001: Chromaticity
- 2006: Collection: The Shrapnel YearsCollection: The Shrapnel Years (Tony MacAlpine album)Collection: The Shrapnel Years is a compilation album by guitarist Tony MacAlpine, released in 2006 through Shrapnel Records.-Track listing:-Personnel:*Tony MacAlpine – electric guitar, keyboard , co-production...
(compilation) - 2011: Tony MacAlpineTony MacAlpine (album)Tony MacAlpine is the self-titled eleventh studio album by guitarist Tony MacAlpine, released on June 21, 2011 through Favored Nations Entertainment and King Records...
Planet X
- 2000: UniverseUniverse (Planet X album)Universe is the first studio album by Planet X, released on June 6, 2000 through InsideOut Music. It is essentially a continuation of keyboardist Derek Sherinian's first solo album, Planet X , but this time as a full band effort.-Track listing:...
- 2002: Live from OzLive From Oz-Personnel:*Tony MacAlpine – electric guitar, production*Derek Sherinian – keyboard, production*Virgil Donati – drums, production*Dave LaRue – bass guitar*Albert Law – engineering*Simon Phillips – mixing*Brad Vance – mastering-Release history:...
(live) - 2002: MoonBabiesMoonBabies- Personnel :* Tony MacAlpine – electric guitar* Derek Sherinian – keyboard* Virgil Donati – drums* Tom Kennedy – bass guitar * Billy Sheehan – bass guitar * Jimmy Johnson – bass guitar...
Steve Vai
- 2003: Live at the Astoria London
- 2004: G3: Live in DenverG3: Live in DenverG3: Live in Denver is a live DVD of G3, the touring band in which Joe Satriani and Steve Vai invite another player to come tour with them. In 2003, Yngwie Malmsteen was the chosen one. Along with this DVD, a double-CD album was released, G3: Rockin' in the Free World. The DVD was recorded at the...
- 2005: G3: Live in TokyoG3: Live in TokyoG3: Live in Tokyo is another G3 live performance which featured John Petrucci along with Joe Satriani and Steve Vai in the 2005 G3 tour. It was released as double live album as well as DVD with extra material: G3 Soundcheck featuring commentary by Joe Satriani, Steve Vai and John Petrucci.In this...
Ring of Fire
- 2003: Dreamtower
- 2004: Burning Live in Tokyo (live)
- 2004: Lapse of Reality
Other album appearances
- 1986: Mind's EyeMind's Eye (album)Mind's Eye is the first studio album by guitarist Vinnie Moore, released in 1986 through Shrapnel Records. An article in Guitar World magazine ranked the album as third in the all-time top ten list of shred albums.-Track listing:-Personnel:...
– Vinnie MooreVinnie MooreVinnie Moore is a guitarist and a member of the English hard rock band UFO. Along with Yngwie Malmsteen, Tony MacAlpine, and others, Moore is known as one of the most influential guitarists to emerge out of the shredder boom in the mid 1980s.-Biography:Moore was born in New Castle, Delaware... - 1987: Out of the SunOut Of The SunOut of the Sun is the first studio album by guitarist Joey Tafolla, released in 1987 through Shrapnel Records.-Track listing:-Personnel:*Joey Tafolla – electric guitar*Paul Gilbert – additional guitar solos...
– Joey TafollaJoey TafollaJoey Tafolla is an American guitarist. Initially a member of the heavy metal band Jag Panzer from 1984 to 1985, he joined Mike Varney's Shrapnel Records label soon after; releasing his debut album Out of the Sun in 1987, alongside the releases of other shred players such as Marty Friedman, Jason... - 1998: The Quest – Damir Simic Shime
- 1999: The MazeThe Maze (album)The Maze is the fifth studio album by guitarist Vinnie Moore, released in 1999 through Shrapnel Records.-Track listing:-Personnel:*Vinnie Moore – electric guitar, acoustic guitar, mixing, production*Tony MacAlpine – keyboard*Shane Gaalaas – drums...
– Vinnie Moore - 1999: VK3 – Vitalij KuprijVitalij KuprijVitalij 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:...
- 2000: Ring of Fire – Mark BoalsMark BoalsMark Boals is an American rock singer, noted most for his work with Yngwie J. Malmsteen. He was born on December 5, 1958 , in Youngstown, Ohio, United States...
- 2002: Edge of the World – Mark Boals
- 2006: Collection: The Shrapnel YearsCollection: The Shrapnel Years (Vinnie Moore album)Collection: The Shrapnel Years is a compilation album by guitarist Vinnie Moore, released in 2006 through Shrapnel Records.-Track listing:-Personnel:*Vinnie Moore – electric guitar, mixing, production...
– Vinnie Moore (compilation) - 2010: On Revolute – Dave WeinerDave WeinerDave Weiner is an American guitarist, most widely known for being one of Steve Vai's touring guitarists. He also posts instructional videos, called the "Riff of the Week", every Wednesday on YouTube, iTunes and his own website, he also gives online lessons.- Joining Steve Vai :Weiner first joined...
- 2011: Oceana – Derek SherinianDerek SherinianDerek Sherinian is a rock keyboardist who has toured and recorded for Alice Cooper, Billy Idol, Yngwie Malmsteen, Kiss, and Alice In Chains. He was also a member of Dream Theater and is the founder of the instrumental metal-fusion band Planet X...