Alcatrazz Trivia Quiz

Answer: 1983

After forming in 1983, the band established a powerful lineup comprised of skillful players from bands all over the world. The initial lineup consisted of Graham Bonnet as lead singer, Yngwee Malmsteen on guitar, Gary Shea as bass guitarist, Jimmy Waldo on keyboards, and Jan Uvena on drums.

Answer: Island In the Sun

"Island In the Sun" was one of Alcatrazz's most famous songs. It was released on the band's very first album entitled "No Parole From Rock N' Roll", in 1983. The band never reached widespread success seeing as their first album peaked at 128th on the Billboard Chart, and stayed for seven weeks.

The music video for the song took place on the island jail of Alcatraz where Graham Bonnet was a prisoner singing about being on an island filled with sun.

Answer: Steve Vai and Yngwee Malmsteen

Yngwee Malmsteen was the original guitarist for the band. He was in the band from its creation until disagreements with Graham Bonnet forced him to leave, in 1985. Malmsteen had previously played for a band, called Steeler, before joining Graham Bonnet in Alcatrazz.

His stint with Alcatrazz launched his solo career, which was very fruitful and successful for him. Steve Vai joined the band in 1985 to relieve Yngwee Malmsteen of his duties. Vai played for David Lee Roth's solo band prior to joining Alcatrazz.

His stint with the band also launched his solo career. Vai and Malmsteen played together for the first time in the 2003 G3 tour, where the greatest guitarists were put in one band for a tour.

Answer: God Bless Video

The song "God Bless Video" came off of the band's 1985 album, "Disturbing the Peace". The album peaked at 133 in the Billboard chart and stayed up for seven weeks, similar to their first effort. "God Bless Video" featured a very long video with sides from heaven and hell trying to show which was more hardcore by controlling Alcatrazz.

The song was also featured in the 2002 videogame "Grand Theft Auto: Vice City".

Answer: Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow

Graham Bonnet replaced Ronnie James Dio, in Blackmore's Rainbow, in 1979. Together with Ritchie, Bonnet recorded his only album with Rainbow, entitled "Down To Earth". The album spawned two mega-hits, entitled "Since You've Been Gone" and "All Night Long". Bonnet went solo for one album, and then joined the Michael Schenker group.

After some altercations with fans, on tour, Bonnet was fired from the Schenker group, and then opted to form his own band, Alcatrazz.

Answer: Hiroshima Mon Amour

"Hiroshima Mon Amour" was another effort by the band, from their 1983 debut album, "No Parole From Rock N' Roll". The song was entirely based on the World War II ending bombings of Nagasaki and Hiroshima. The music video for the song included archival footage of the incidents.

Answer: Rocshire

Rocshire Records was a small United States record label responsible for some of Yngwee Malmsteen's material as well as Alcatrazz's first two albums. The band switched to Capitol Records in 1985 for their third album and stayed with them until the band crumbled.

Answer: Jet To Jet

"Jet To Jet" was a song from Alcatrazz's first album. The particular song highlighted Graham Bonnet's voice talent, as well as Yngwee Malmsteen's exceptional guitar playing ability.

Answer: The thinking man's heavy metal

Graham Bonnet called Alcatrazz's sound as "The thinking man's heavy metal" for several reasons. One of them was because many of the band's songs were about real life events like the bombing of Hiroshima, and the effect of radio music on society. Another reason was that the band considered their sound unlike anything ever made before.

Answer: Mercy

"Mercy" was an ethnically fuelled song from Alcatrazz's 1985 album "Disturbing the Peace". It featured lyrics in both English, and Hindi. The song was about the plunders of Africa and India during the days of imperialism.