Tony MacAlpine
Updated: Aug 29
Here are some interesting facts about guitar virtuoso Tony MacAlpine:
(Photo: Masquerade Atlanta)
= Tony MacAlpine was born on August 29, 1960, in Springfield, Massachusetts, USA.
= He began playing piano at age 5 and guitar at 12. He studied classical piano and violin at the Springfield Conservatory of Music in Massachusetts.
= During the early 1980s MacAlpine attended the University of Hartford in Connecticut, where he focused on classical piano. His influences included Frédéric Chopin, whose études he frequently interpreted on his albums.
= In 1986 MacAlpine released his debut album, "Edge of Insanity", which showcased his virtuoso guitar skills, but also his keyboards and bass skills. Bassist Billy Sheehan played on all tracks of the album except three.
= In 1986, MacAlpine joined forces with drummer Tommy Aldridge, vocalist Rob Rock and bassist Rudy Sarzo in the project "M.A.R.S.", whose name was formed from the initials of MacAlpine, Aldridge, Rock and Sarzo. The supergroup released its only album, "Project: Driver", that same year, with MacAlpine handling both guitar and keyboard duties.
= Also in 1986, MacAlpine played keyboards on Vinnie Moore's debut album, "Mind's Eye".
= In 1987, MacAlpine released his second solo album, "Maximum Security". The album reached No. 146 on the Billboard 200 and remained on the chart for 11 weeks, making it his only solo album to enter the chart. It also featured guest appearances by George Lynch, who played guitar solos on "Tears of Sahara" and "The Vision", and "Night Ranger" guitarist Jeff Watson, who appeared on "The King's Cup".
= In 1987 he contributed keyboards to Joey Tafolla's debut album, "Out of the Sun".
= In 1990 he released "Eyes of the World" under the band name "MacAlpine," aiming for a more commercial hard rock sound.
= In 1992 MacAlpine returned to instrumental work with the album "Freedom to Fly".
= In the years 1993-1996 MacAlpine released a series of instrumental albums on Shrapnel Records: "Madness" (1993), "Premonition" (1994), "Evolution" (1995), and "Violent Machine" (1996).
= In 1997 he released "Live Insanity", his first solo live album.
= In 1999 MacAlpine experimented with vocals on "Master of Paradise", where he took on singing duties.
= The same year he played guitar on Vinnie Moore’s album "The Maze".
= In the years 2000-2006 MacAlpine was part of the progressive metal supergroup "Planet X" including keyboardist Derek Sherinian and drummer Virgil Donati, contributing to their albums "Universe" (2000), "Live from Oz" (2002), and "MoonBabies" (2002).
= In 2000, MacAlpine became a member of the jazz fusion supergroup "CAB", alongside bassist Bunny Brunel and drummer Dennis Chambers. He played guitar and keyboards on "CAB" (2000), "CAB 2" (2001), "CAB 4" (2003), "Theatre de Marionnettes" (2009) and "CAB Live at the Baked Potato" (2011). "CAB 2" earned a Grammy Award nomination for Best Contemporary Jazz Album in 2002, giving MacAlpine the first and only Grammy nomination of his career.
= In 2000 he was featured in Mark Boals' album "Ring of Fire". MacAlpine will continue to collaborate with Boals on his next solo album "Edge of the World".
= In 2001 MacAlpine released "Chromaticity", a blend of metal, classical, and jazz elements.
= In the early 2000s, MacAlpine joined Steve Vai's touring band, "The Breed", playing both guitar and keyboards alongside musicians including Billy Sheehan and Dave Weiner. During this period, he appeared on Vai's "Live at the Astoria London" DVD, as well as "G3: Live in Denver" and "G3: Live in Tokyo", demonstrating his remarkable ability to handle demanding guitar and keyboard parts within the same performance.
= In 2002 he joined the neoclassical/progressive/power metal supergroup "Ring of Fire" with Mark Boals, Virgil Donati and Philip Bynoe. He released two albums with them - "Dreamtower" from 2002 and Lapse of Reality from 2004 as well as a live album, "Burning Live In Tokyo" in 2002.
= After disbanding "Ring of Fire", Boals, MacAlpine, and Donati later formed The Progressive Metal act "Seven the Hardway". They released their self-titled album in 2010.
= And that's where the Israeli side comes in. In 2011, guitarist Nili Brosh (sister of guitarist Eitan Brosh) joined the band "Seven the Hardway" along with guitarist Tony MacAlpine. Nili then went on to join McAlpine on tour with his band in Europe and the United States, and again in 2014 for the "Maximum Security tour".
= In 2007 he Contributed to the album "Clinophobia" by "Devil's Slingshot", with Virgil Donati and Billy Sheehan.
= In 2009 MacAlpine rejoined "Planet X" for live performances.
= In 2010 MacAlpine contributed to Dave Weiner's album "On Revolute".
= In 2011 he released his self-titled eleventh studio album "Tony MacAlpine" through Steve Vai’s Favored Nations label. It was his first solo release in ten years, and the first to feature his extensive use of seven- and eight-string guitars, which began in the days he spent with "Planet X".
= The same year he guest appeared on Derek Sherinian's album "Oceana".
= In 2012 Tony MacAlpine Toured Europe and Asia with the instrumental supergroup "PSMS"(Portnoy/Sheehan/MacAlpine/Sherinian). Their live material was released as the DVD "Instrumental Inspirations".
= In 2013, MacAlpine joined Mike Portnoy, Billy Sheehan and Derek Sherinian for a tour by the instrumental supergroup commonly known as "PSMS". Their performance at Zepp Tokyo was recorded and released later that year as "Live in Tokyo", featuring material from the individual careers of all four musicians, including songs by "Dream Theater", "Mr. Big", "Planet X" and MacAlpine's solo catalog.
= In 2014 MacAlpine played on "Ring of Fire's" album "Battle of Leningrad".
= In 2015 he released his twelfth studio album, "Concrete Gardens", featuring guest appearances from guitarists like Jeff Loomis.
= In 2015, MacAlpine was diagnosed with colon cancer and was forced to cancel his scheduled tour dates while undergoing treatment. In December, a benefit concert was held for him at the Wiltern in Los Angeles, bringing together an extraordinary group of friends and fellow musicians including Steve Vai, Zakk Wylde, John 5, Mike Portnoy, Billy Sheehan and Derek Sherinian.
= In August 2016, MacAlpine announced that he was feeling back to normal and that his medical tests showed that everything was clear following his battle with colon cancer. He subsequently returned to touring and performing, including reuniting onstage with his longtime friend and former bandleader Steve Vai.
= In 2017 he Released "Death of Roses", the first part of a planned two-part album series.
= In 2018 he released "Twelve Twelve", the second part of the "Death of Roses" series.
= MacAlpine also developed a long-running collaboration with French music icon Michel Polnareff. He joined Polnareff's major comeback tour in 2007, returned to perform with him again in 2016, and later played guitar on Polnareff's 2018 studio album "Enfin!".
= In 2021, MacAlpine released "Equilibrium", his fifteenth solo studio album. The instrumental album once again showcased his combination of technically demanding guitar work, progressive rock and metal influences, and the keyboard skills that have remained an integral part of his musical identity throughout his career.
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