Alcatrazz Artistfacts

1983-1987, 2006-
Graham BonnetLead vocals
Gary SheaBass1983-1987
Jan UvenaDrums1983-1987
Yngwie MalmsteenGuitar1983-1984
Steve VaiGuitar1984-1986
Danny JohnsonGuitar1986-1987
Jimmy WaldoKeyboards1983-1987
Howie SimonGuitar2006-
Tim LuceBass2006-
Bobby RockDrums2011-
Prior to fronting Alcatrazz, Graham Bonnet appeared on one recording each by Rainbow (Down to Earth) and the Michael Schenker Group (Assault Attack), as well as issuing three solo albums (Graham Bonnet, No Bad Habits, and Line-Up).
As evidenced by his look circa the mid '80s, Graham Bonnet is a huge James Dean fan, which he admits during his spoken intro to the song "Will You Be Home Tonight" (a song about Dean), on the Japanese import video release, Power Live. In our interview with Bonnet, he described his look as "Jimmy Dean, with a bit of Miami Vice thrown in."
Former Iron Maiden drummer Clive Burr was briefly a member of Alcatrazz, but did not play any shows with the band or appear on any recordings.
Alcatrazz was willing to give their guitarists a solo showcase on their studio records, as evidenced by Yngwie Malmsteen's "Incubus" and Steve Vai's "Lighter Shade of Green."
Renowned producer Eddie Kramer (who previously worked with Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, and Kiss) oversaw the recording of Alcatrazz's sophomore studio effort, Disturbing the Peace.
The band's first guitarist, Yngwie Malmsteen, went on to renown as a solo star. Graham Bonnet told us that he was great to work with at first, but the adulation eventually went to his head. "He suddenly was engulfed by people telling him how wonderful he was," said Bonnet. "When a kid is 19 years old and everybody's telling you how marvelous you are and you could be better than this, how you could be the next Jimi Hendrix, it was very tempting for him, and his ego suddenly inflated. He became not a band member anymore - he wanted to go off on his own. And eventually, he did."
Steve Vai remains fond of his lone album with Alcatrazz, Disturbing the Peace. He explained on his website: "It's actually a terrific CD and if you compare it to the material that was being released by various bands at that time, this CD stands out as being accessible, slightly eclectic and different for its day."
Guitarist Danny Johnson had some big shoes to fill when he joined Alcatrazz in 1986 for the album Dangerous Games, but his resume was impressive, as he had previously appeared on recordings by Rick Derringer, Carmine Appice, Rod Stewart, and Alice Cooper.
When the No Parole from Rock n' Roll album was remastered and reissued via iTunes in 2007, it sported an entirely different cover image than the original.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

More Songfacts:

She Blinded Me With ScienceThomas Dolby

Thomas Dolby wrote "She Blinded Me With Science" so he could direct the video, which was inspired by silent films and set in a "home for deranged scientists."

Let's DanceDavid Bowie

David Bowie's "Let's Dance" is about more than just dancing. It's about dishonesty, particularly when we mask our true feelings.

Candy GirlNew Edition

In the UK, the first #1 hit with a rap was "Candy Girl" by the American boy band New Edition in 1983.

I Shot The SheriffBob Marley & the Wailers

Bob Marley's "I Shot The Sheriff" deals with police brutality in the Trenchtown section of Jamaica, where he grew up. He felt that police assumed young men in the area were all criminals.

Days Go ByDirty Vegas

The 2001 Dirty Vegas hit "Days Go By" was written by their lead singer when he was longing for his ex-girlfriend. The sad song gave him a happy ending though: They got back together after it was released and eventually got married.

Uptown FunkMark Ronson

The biggest hit of 2015 was "Uptown Funk," a collaboration between Bruno Mars and guitarist/producer Mark Ronson. Ronson says making it took "six or seven months of chasing Bruno around on tour."