Malmsteen was born into a family of classical musicians and opera singers. He received his first guitar on his 5th birthday but started playing it seriously at the age of seven. Originally inspired by the blues, he soon became infatuated with the sound and mind-boggling technique of violin greats such as Nicolo Paganini and Antonio Vivaldi. In addition to adopting the virtuosity of classical violin into his guitar playing, he also incorporated the philosophical approach of J.S. Bach and other Baroque composers into his own compositions and orchestrations. This resulted in the creation of what is now known as Neo-Classical Hard Rock. Yngwie Malmsteen's career has spanned over 40 years with over twenty albums to his name. Drawing influence from classical composers such as Bach, Paganini, and Vivaldi, Yngwie is responsible for birthing the neo-classical genre to the world of rock. Coming to America as a teenager, he recorded various albums before signing a solo deal in 1984...
