Alcatrazz

The Profile

Alcatrazz is an American hard rock/heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles in 1983 by vocalist Graham Bonnet. The debut featured Yngwie Malmsteen (No Parole From Rock 'N' Roll), followed by Steve Vai on Disturbing the Peace and Danny Johnson on Dangerous Games. The group is known for Bonnet’s powerhouse vocals, high-caliber guitar work, and a blend of hard rock with neoclassical flair.

Formed in 1983 in Los Angeles by Graham Bonnet with Jimmy Waldo, Gary Shea, Jan Uvena, and Yngwie Malmsteen. Studio albums include No Parole From Rock 'N' Roll (1983), Disturbing the Peace (1985, with Steve Vai), Dangerous Games (1986). The band disbanded in the late 1980s, later reformed, and has issued modern releases including Born Innocent (2020), V (2021), and Take No Prisoners (2023).

Two reviews dive into Alcatrazz’s classic eras: the Steve Vai-powered Disturbing the Peace (1985), praised as a balanced hard rock record where keys and guitars share space, and the Yngwie-era Live Sentence (1984), lauded for tastefully virtuosic playing that serves the songs. Highlights include God Blessed Video, Wire and Wood, and live standouts like Night Games and Kree Nakoorie, plus respectful Rainbow covers.