Yngwie Malmsteen Unleashes the Truth About Van Halen and His Musical Journey

In a recent interview with Eamon O'Neill of Eonmusic, the Swedish guitar virtuoso Yngwie Malmsteen laid bare the intriguing offers that have crossed his path over the years, including a tantalizing proposition from none other than David Lee Roth following his exit from VAN HALEN. Reflecting on his stellar solo career in 1985, Malmsteen recalled the nights spent on tour with TALAS, the opening act featuring the formidable Billy Sheehan on bass. Roth, hungry to find a fresh guitar hero, consistently attended their shows, envisioning a collaboration that could have set the rock world ablaze.

“He thought we could do a great thing together,” Malmsteen recounted. Although he acknowledged Roth's genius and his affinity for the classic VAN HALEN albums, he ultimately turned down the offer. “Thanks, but no thanks. I’m really on a roll now,” he quipped, reflecting on his burgeoning career. The friendship between the two remained intact, with Roth even providing him sage advice on handling the media circus that often accompanies rock stardom.

In a separate chat with Classic Rock magazine, Malmsteen shed light on his complicated relationship with the late Eddie Van Halen. “I never said a bad word about him. I never will,” he stated, underscoring the respect he holds for Van Halen's unparalleled talent. Yet, there was a curious dynamic at play; despite Roth's admiration for Malmsteen's prowess, Eddie was reportedly oblivious to the Swedish guitarist’s rising stardom. “Eddie would have his ghetto blaster, playing my shit on it all day long,” Roth had told Malmsteen, an ironic twist given that Eddie later seemed to shy away from acknowledging him.

The plot thickened when Malmsteen recounted a particularly awkward moment at the 1986 Grammy Awards. Dressed to the nines, he spotted Eddie and waved, only to have the guitar legend bolt in the opposite direction. “He literally ran away,” Malmsteen chuckled, hinting at an underlying tension that would culminate in an unforgettable twist of fate.

Yngwie revealed that during a concert festival in Holland, where VAN HALEN was set to headline, Eddie reportedly pulled the plug on their performance at the last minute, allegedly citing a broken finger of drummer Alex Van Halen. What raised eyebrows was Eddie's ultimatum to the promoters: “If Yngwie Malmsteen is playing, I’m not playing.” Malmsteen, bewildered, mused, “You’re fucking Eddie Van Halen. No one could threaten you!”

As he gears up for the release of his new studio album,