YNGWIE MALMSTEEN: If I Suddenly Went Deaf, 'I Would Spend My Time Driving Around Ferraris'

Cosmo Lee of Invisible Oranges recently conducted an interview with legendary Swedish guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Invisible Oranges: You've been a recording artist for over 25 years. What are your goals now?

Yngwie: Well, I try to make the best music I possibly can, all the time. I never want to make something half-assed. It has to be the best I can possibly make. Of course, sometimes [that] is better than [at] other times. But I'm very focused right now. I'm healthy, and everything is very good, so my mind is very clear, [so] I can make the best music I can.

Invisible Oranges: What's your practice regimen like?

Yngwie: I don't practice. I just play. I play every day. I always have a guitar by the TV. I keep at a certain level all the time. Of course, when I have to record or go on tour, [I play] even more. But I don't ever practice, so to speak.

Invisible Oranges: What do you think of video games like Guitar Hero and Rock Band?

Yngwie: Well, I was originally very skeptical. But it actually turned out to be a great thing because it introduced kids to rock and guitar. Guitar was kind of dead in the '90s. It's not a bad thing. It actually turned out to be a really good thing. I have my songs on both of them, Rock Band and Guitar Hero.

Invisible Oranges: Now that you've been doing this for over a quarter century, what's the biggest change you've seen in music and the industry?

Yngwie: Music always changes. Whatever is in and out — I never bothered with that. I do what I do, and I don't follow trends. But as far as the industry [goes], that's been transformed completely, because of all the downloading and all that stuff. The labels, the distributors, the record stores, the radio — all that is different. But if you stay true to yourself, that really is the best thing, the most honest thing you can do with music, and it will work out fine for you.

Invisible Oranges: What do you look for in a singer?

Yngwie: Range. Power. Personality-wise, it has to be somebody who understands his function. I am the creator of this stuff, and he has to deliver my creation, so to speak. Sometimes singers don't understand that, and it doesn't work out. But a lot of times they do. And Tim ['Ripper' Owens, Yngwie's current singer] is awesome. He's a lovely guy. He's great.

Invisible Oranges: If one day you suddenly went deaf, what would you do?

Yngwie: Well, that would be a terrible thing. I would spend my time driving around Ferraris, I guess.

Read the entire interview from Invisible Oranges.