USA
Last update/review:
October 1, 2022
Impellitteri
Chris Impellitteri is one of those metal guitar heroes that one
might expect to find on the Shrapnel Records roster.
His style has often been favorably compared to
Yngwie Malmsteen ,
and with good reason, as both are neo-classical speed/shred
guitarists of the highest order.
Chris is a little less flashy (but only a little), though he's
arguably a better songwriter, as his tunes tend to be less
self-indulgent than Yngwie's.
Impellitteri the band plays uptempo, mainstream speed metal, the
kind of stuff that is quite popular in Europe these days, with
Chris' flashy licks and solos complemented by the forceful vocals
of Rob Rock (Graham Bonnet, another accomplished vocalist, has
sung with this band as well).
A fair comparison style-wise might be
Racer X , or (particularly the earlier work) a more speed-metal
version of
Rainbow .
The basic style has scarcely altered from day one, as the various
albums are pretty interchangeable (minus points for lack of
variety, plus points for consistent quality).
Impellitteri is hardly a contemporary/modern metal band in style
terms (this style was much more in vogue in the 80's), but Chris'
virtuoso playing and general professionalism keep the band fresh.
Recent album: War Machine ,
released on November 8, 2024.
Former Members/Guests
Graham Bonnet
vocals (ex-Alcatrazz , ex-Anthem , ex-Michael Schenker Group , ex-Rainbow )
Curtis Skelton
vocals (ex-Speak No Evil )
Chuck Wright
bass (Quiet Riot )
Phil Wolfe
keyboards
Edward Harris Roth
keyboards
Loni Silva
drums
Pat Torpey
drums (ex-Ted Nugent ) RIP: February 7, 2018, Parkinson's disease, age 64
Ken Mary
drums (ex-Alice Cooper , ex-Chastain , ex-Fifth Angel , Flotsam & Jetsam , ex-TKO )
Mark Bistany
drums (ex-Otep )
Glen Sobel
drums (Alice Cooper )
Jon Dette
drums (Killing Machine )
Discography
Studio
Compilation
Impellitteri
EP
1987
Relativity
Lost In The Rain
Play With Fire
Burning
I'll Be Searching
Rob Rock
Chris Impellitteri
Loni Silva
Stand In Line
1988
Stand In Line
Since You've Been Gone
Secret Lover
Tonight I Fly
White And Perfect
Leviathan
Goodnight And Goodbye
Playing With Fire
Graham Bonnet
Chris Impellitteri
Chuck Wright
Phil Wolfe
Pat Torpey
Grin And Bear It
1992
JVC
When The Well Runs Dry
Ball And Chain
Wake Up Sally
Power Of Love
Under The Gun
Endless Nights
City's On Fire
Grin And Bear It
Dance
Rob Rock
Chris Impellitteri
Chuck Wright
Ken Mary
Victim Of The System
EP
1993
JVC
Victim Of The System
Visual Prisoner
Glory
Cross To Bear
The Young And The Ruthless
Rob Rock
Chris Impellitteri
James Amelio Pulli
Ken Mary
Mark Bistany
Answer To The Master
1994
JVC
The Future Is Black
Fly Away
Warrior
I'll Wait
Hold The Line
Something's Wrong With The World Today
Answer To The Master
Hungry Days
The King Is Rising
Rob Rock
Chris Impellitteri
James Amelio Pulli
Ken Mary
Screaming Symphony
1996
JVC
Father Forgive Them
I'll Be With You
Walk Away
Kingdom Of Light
Countdown To The Revolution
17th Century Chicken Pickin'
Rat Race
For Your Love
You Are The Fire
Rob Rock
Chris Impellitteri
James Amelio Pulli
Edward Harris Roth
Ken Mary
Fuel For The Fire
EP
1997
JVC
Fuel For The Fire
Stand Or Fall
Tears In The Eyes Of The World
Paradise
Rob Rock
Chris Impellitteri
James Amelio Pulli
Edward Harris Roth
Ken Mary
Eye Of The Hurricane
1998
JVC
Eye Of The Hurricane
Shed Your Blood
Fuel For The Fire
Bleed In Silence
Master Of Disguise
On And On
Everything Is You
Kingdom Fighter
Paradise
Stand Or Fall
Tears In The Eyes Of The World
Rob Rock
Chris Impellitteri
James Amelio Pulli
Edward Harris Roth
Ken Mary
Crunch
2000
JVC
Beware Of The Devil
Turn Of The Century
Speed Demon
Wake Me Up
Spanish Fire
Slay The Dragon
Wasted Earth
Forever Yours
Texas Nuclear Boogie
Fear No Evil
Rob Rock
Chris Impellitteri
James Amelio Pulli
Edward Harris Roth
Glen Sobel
System X
2002
JVC
United We Stand
Perfect Crime
End of the World
She's a Nightime Lover
Slow Kill
Why Do They Do That
Rock and Roll Heroes
Gotta Get Home
What Kind of Sanity
Falling in Love With a Stranger
Graham Bonnet
Chris Impellitteri
James Amelio Pulli
Edward Harris Roth
Glen Sobel
Faster Than The Speed Of Light
COMPILATION
2003
JVC
Freak Show
Victim Of The System
Beware Of The Devil
Rock n' Roll Heroes
Perfect Crime
Spanish Fire
Rat Race
Warrior
Cross To Bear
Stand In Line
When The Well Runs Dry
Power Of Love
Shed Your Blood
17th Century Chicken Pickin'
Hungry Days
Lost In The Rain
Anti Social Disease
Texas Nuclear Boogie
Cyberflesh
Pedal To The Metal
2004
JVC
The Iceman Cometh
The Kingdom Of Titus (Tribute)
Dance With The Devil
Hurricane
Crushing Daze
Destruction
Judgement Day
Punk
Propaganda Mind
The Writings On The Wall
Curtis Skelton
Chris Impellitteri
James Amelio Pulli
Glen Sobel
Live! Fast! Loud!
2007
Overture
Visual Prison
I'll be With You
Victim Of The System
Walk Away
Stand In line
Countdown To The Revolution
Screaming Symphony
Burning
Lost In The Rain
For Your Love
Over The Rainbow
Warrior
Rat Race
Meet The Band
The King Is Rising
Wicked Maiden
2009
Victor
Wicked Maiden
Last Of A Dying Breed
Destruction
Garden Of Eden
The Vision
Eyes Of An Angel
No More School
Wonderful Life
Holy Man
Battle Rages
Rob Rock
Chris Impellitteri
James Amelio Pulli
Edward Harris Roth
Glen Sobel
Venom
2015
Victor
Venom
Empire of Lies
We Own the Night
Nightmare
Face the Enemy
Domino Theory
Jehovah
Rise
Time Machine
Holding On
Rob Rock
Chris Impellitteri
James Amelio Pulli
Jon Dette
The Nature Of The Beast
2018
Frontiers
Hypocrisy
Masquerade
Run for Your Life
Phantom of the Opera (Andrew Lloyd Webber cover)
Gates of Hell
Wonder World
Man of War
Symptom of the Universe (Black Sabbath cover)
Do You Think Im Mad
Fire It Up
Kill the Beast
Shine On
Rob Rock
Chris Impellitteri
James Amelio Pulli
Jon Dette
Wake The Beast - The Impellitteri Anthology
COMPILATION
2022
Global Rock
Victim Of The System
Perfect Crime
Power Of Love
When The Well Runs Dry
17th Century Chicken Pickin
Spanish Fire
Rat Race
Lost In The Rain
Father Forgive Them
Hungry Days
Eye of The Hurricane
Texas nuclear
Speed demon
On and on
Stand in line
Secret lover
Fly away
Warrior
Hold the line
The Young And The Ruthless
Ball And Chain
Wake Up Sally
Wake Me Up
Falling In Love With A Stranger
Rock & Roll Heroes
Anti-Social Disease
Burning
Freakshow
Wicked Maiden
Garden of eden
Progaganda mind
Stand or fall
I'll Be With You
War Machine
2024
Frontiers
War Machine
Out of My Mind (Heavy Metal)
Superkingdom
Wrathchild
What Lies Beneath
Hell on Earth
Power Grab
Bewar the Hunter
Light it up
Gone Insane
Just Another Day
Rob Rock
Chris Impellitteri
James Amelio Pulli
Paul Bostaph