Origin: Los Angeles, California, USA  
Genres: Hard Rock
Official Site
Last update/review: January 26, 2024

Alcatrazz

Alcatrazz is notable as being one of two stepping stones for Yngwie Malmsteen on his way to a successful solo career, having previously served briefly in Steeler. In fact Malmsteen was one of two guitar virtuosos to spend time here (the other being Steve Vai), and neither guitarist really was the leader of the band. The band was founded in 1983 by bassist Gary Shea, keyboardist Jimmy Waldo, and noted vocalist Graham Bonnet, then newly removed from Rainbow and one who's had a history of problems staying with bands. After recruiting drummer Jan Uvena, Malmsteen was eventually added as the final piece to the puzzle, and probably the band's best-known work, the debut No Parole From Rock'n'Roll, was recorded. Vai soon replaced Malmsteen, but his tenure was short-lived as well, and finally the unheralded Danny Jackson was recruited in time for their third album, Dangerous Games, after which the band broke up for personal reasons. Musically Alcatrazz played light mainstream metal, with of course plenty of flashy guitarwork from Malmsteen and Vai. They had a sound made for radio play, and they should have been more popular than they were, but for whatever reason the band never truly took off. In 2006 Bonnet formed a new version of the band even while the others still claimed the name as theirs, though that version, which lasted several years, never recorded. Bonnet later made up with his bandmates and in 2020 the band released Born Innocent, but later that year Bonnet had once again worn out his welcome, being relieved of his duties. He has since formed a new version of Alcatrazz, officially titled "Graham Bonnet's Alcatrazz", while the remaining members, now with Doogie White at the mic, are carrying on, releasing albums in 2021 and 2023.

Current Members

Joe Stump

guitars (Holyhell, ex-Obsession)

Gary Shea

bass

Jimmy Waldo

keyboards (Warlord)

Lawrence Paterson

drums (ex-Rogue Male)

Former Members/Guests

Graham Bonnet

vocals (ex-Anthem, ex-Impellitteri, ex-Michael Schenker Group, ex-Rainbow)

Doogie White

vocals (ex-Yngwie Malmsteen, Michael Schenker Group, ex-Praying Mantis, ex-Rata Blanca, ex-Rainbow, ex-Tank (Tucker/Evans version))

Yngwie Malmsteen

guitars (Yngwie Malmsteen, ex-Steeler)

Steve Vai

guitars (ex-Whitesnake)

Danny Johnson

guitars (ex-Alice Cooper)

Jan Uvena

drums

Mark Benquechea

drums



Discography



No Parole From Rock'n'Roll  
1984 Grand Slamm
  1. Island in the Sun
  2. General Hospital
  3. Jet to Jet
  4. Hiroshima Mon Amour
  5. Kree Nakoorie
  6. Incubus
  7. Too Young to Die, Too Drunk to Live
  8. Big Foot
  9. Starcarr Lane
  10. Suffer Me
  • Graham Bonnet
  • Yngwie Malmsteen
  • Gary Shea
  • Jimmy Waldo
  • Jan Uvena



Live Sentence  LIVE
1984 Grand Slamm
  1. Too Young to Die, Too Drunk to Live
  2. Hiroshima Mon Amour
  3. Night Games
  4. Island in the Sun
  5. Kree Nakoorie
  6. Coming Bach
  7. Since You've Been Gone
  8. Evil Eye
  9. All Night Long
  • Graham Bonnet
  • Yngwie Malmsteen
  • Gary Shea
  • Jimmy Waldo
  • Jan Uvena



Disturbing The Peace  
1985 Capitol
  1. God Blessed Video
  2. Mercy
  3. Will You Be Home Tonight
  4. Wire and Wood
  5. Desert Diamond
  6. Stripper
  7. Painted Lover
  8. Lighter Shade of Green
  9. Sons and Lovers
  10. Skyfire
  11. Breaking the Heart of the City
  • Graham Bonnet
  • Steve Vai
  • Gary Shea
  • Jimmy Waldo
  • Jan Uvena



Dangerous Games  
1986 Capitol
  1. It's My Life
  2. Undercover
  3. That Ain't Nothin'
  4. No Imagination
  5. Ohayo Tokyo
  6. Dangerous Games (Johnson)
  7. Blue Boar
  8. Only One Woman
  9. Witchwood
  10. Double Man
  11. Night of the Shooting Star
  • Graham Bonnet
  • Danny Johnson
  • Gary Shea
  • Jimmy Waldo
  • Jan Uvena



The Best Of Alcatrazz  COMPILATION
1998 Dreamcatcher
  1. Island In The Sun
  2. General Hospital
  3. Hiroshima Mon Amour
  4. All Night Long (Live)
  5. Since You've Been Gone (Live)
  6. Night Games (Live)
  7. Stripper
  8. Painted Lover
  9. Sons And Lovers
  10. God Blessed Video
  11. Mercy
  12. It's My Life
  13. Dangerous Games
  14. Undercover
  15. No Imagination



Live '83  LIVE
2010
  1. Too Young to Die, Too Drunk to Live
  2. General Hospital
  3. Kree Nakoorie
  4. Island In the Sun
  5. Evil Eye
  6. Since You Been Gone
  7. Hiroshima Mon Amour
  8. Suffer Me
  9. Desert Song
  10. Jet to Jet
  11. All Night Long
  • Graham Bonnet
  • Yngwie Malmsteen
  • Gary Shea
  • Jimmy Waldo
  • Jan Uvena



Parole Denied - Tokyo 2017  LIVE
2018
  1. Night of fhe Shooting Star
  2. Ohayo Tokyo
  3. Too Young to Die...Too Drunk to Live
  4. Suffer Me
  5. God Blessed Video
  6. Will You Be Home Tonight
  7. Jet to Jet
  8. Witchwood
  9. Skyfire
  10. Hiroshima Mon Amour
  11. Island in the Sun
  12. Emotion
  13. No Imagination
  14. Losing You Is Winning
  15. Please Call Me
  16. Blue Boar
  17. Ohayo Tokyo
  18. Set Me Free
  19. Rider



Born Innocent  
2020 Silver Lining
  1. Born Innocent
  2. Polar Bear
  3. Finn McCool
  4. We Still Remember
  5. London 1666
  6. Dirty like the City
  7. I Am the King
  8. Something That I Am Missing
  9. Paper Flags
  10. The Wound Is Open
  11. Body Beautiful
  12. Warth Lane
  13. For Tony
  • Graham Bonnet
  • Joe Stump
  • Gary Shea
  • Jimmy Waldo
  • Mark Benquechea



V  
2021 Silver Lining
  1. Guardian Angel
  2. Nightwatch
  3. Sword of Deliverance
  4. Turn of the Wheel
  5. Blackheart
  6. Grace of God
  7. Return to Nevermore
  8. Target
  9. Maybe Tomorrow
  10. House of Lies
  11. Alice's Eyes
  12. Dark Day for My Soul
  • Doogie White
  • Joe Stump
  • Gary Shea
  • Jimmy Waldo
  • Mark Benquechea



Take No Prisoners  
2023 Silver Lining
  1. Little Viper
  2. Don't Get Mad ... Get Even
  3. Battlelines
  4. Strangers
  5. Gates of Destiny
  6. Alcatrazz
  7. Holy Roller (Love's Temple)
  8. Power in Numbers
  9. Salute the Colours
  10. Bring on the Rawk
  • Doogie White
  • Joe Stump
  • Gary Shea
  • Jimmy Waldo
  • Lawrence Paterson




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