Yngwie Malmsteen refused to work with David Lee Roth

In an interview with Guitar Player Magazine, the Swedish guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen He revealed why, in the mid -eighties, he declined the offer to join the band of David Lee Roth When the singer left the Van Halen.

This is the story of the guitar virtuoso of what happened at that time: “I was asked to join the David Lee Roth band. What happened is that he was leaving or had already left Van Halen and I was busy on a great American tour with the AC/DC. Immediately after I did my tour in America with a band called Talas, who was the band of Billy Sheehan, to open the concerts. “

It must be said that it is not that Yngwie did not understand the beautiful opportunity that promised to be in front of him, but still decided to refuse it. “It would have been a great thing, but … obviously, he also asked Billy Sheehan. Billy accepted. I want to say, he was not officially written on a sheet or something. But it was very obvious to what he was thinking of Dave. At the time I thought, ‘Oh no, I’m already going to the great'”.

Malmsteen’s decision to refuse the offer of David Lee Roth It was part of a strategy that the Scandinavian guitarist had adopted – and would have held over time – to maintain his artistic independence. Guitar World reports that Roth’s was not the only proposal received by Malmsteen, he had been made of other high -level offers. Among these, those of the UFO and of Ozzy Osbourne. But he always preferred to focus on the development of his solo career.

David Lee Rothin the end, after his abandonment from Van Halenput together a group really not bad as regards talent that included Billy Sheehan on bass, Steve Go on guitar e Gregg Bissonette On drums. Malmsteen chose to give priority to his projects.