YNGWIE MALMSTEEN GIVES THUMBS UP TO GUITAR HERO

Yngwie Malmsteen, the real-life guitar hero champion, said that he gives the thumbs up to Guitar Hero and Rockband.

Yngwie Malmsteen is looked upon as being one of the fastest guitarists in rock, and when it comes to solos and using classical elements his talent cannot be denied. So now with the popularity of Guitar Hero, Rock Band and games like that, more kids are being exposed to the technically challenging music, which lends itself perfectly to a game scenario.

In fact, once players got to a certain level of proficiency, they were awarded with the Yngwie Malmsteen award in Guitar Hero 3. We asked the real-life guitar virtuoso if he’s heard about the milestone.

“I actually think it’s a good thing. I do. I think because it introduces kids to music. I was sitting in the airport in Miami, I don’t know, a couple of months ago? We were flying somewhere, and me and my drummer and my bass player or somebody, my singer too, we were sitting at this restaurant waiting and this little kid, he couldn’t have been more than eight or nine years old, and he looks up at us and goes, ‘Hey, are you guys in a band?, We go, ‘yeah.’ ‘I want to be in a band!’ And this was so cool because a few years ago that wouldn’t be happening. Plus, I see in the audience when I play now, every night there’s very, very young kids. This is a great thing.”

Yngwie Malmsteen actually just released his new album, Perpetual Flame, which features the vocal talents of former Judas Priest singer Tim “Ripper” Owens.