Tony MacAlpine facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tony MacAlpine
|
|
|---|---|
MacAlpine performing in Zoetermeer, 2012
|
|
| Background information | |
| Also known as | T-Mac |
| Born | August 29, 1960 Springfield, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Genres |
|
| Occupation(s) |
|
| Instruments | Guitar, keyboard, piano |
| Years active | 1984–present |
| Labels |
|
Tony MacAlpine (born August 29, 1960) is an American musician and composer. He is known for playing instrumental rock and heavy metal music on his guitar. Tony has released twelve studio albums over his career. He has also worked with many different bands and musicians.
Contents
Biography
Early Life and Musical Start
Tony MacAlpine started playing piano when he was five years old. He picked up the guitar at age twelve. He studied classical piano and violin at the Springfield Conservatory of Music in Massachusetts. He also attended music programs at the University of Hartford in Connecticut. One of his favorite composers is Frédéric Chopin. Tony often plays his own versions of Chopin's piano pieces on his albums.
Solo Albums and Band Projects
Tony released his first two solo albums, Edge of Insanity (1986) and Maximum Security (1987). These albums were part of a popular time for "shred guitar" music. Shred guitar means playing very fast and technically difficult guitar solos. Tony also played keyboards on albums for other guitarists like Vinnie Moore and Joey Tafolla.
In 1986, Tony joined a heavy metal supergroup called M.A.R.S. This band included famous musicians like Tommy Aldridge and Rudy Sarzo. They released an album called Project: Driver.
In 1990, Tony released Eyes of the World with a band named 'MacAlpine'. This album had a more commercial hard rock sound. After this, he went back to making instrumental albums. He released several more instrumental albums in the 1990s, including Freedom to Fly (1992), Madness (1993), and Evolution (1995). For his 1999 album, Master of Paradise, Tony even tried singing on some songs.
After his 2001 album Chromaticity, Tony took a break from making solo albums. He spent time working with other musicians and bands. He joined supergroups like CAB and Ring of Fire.
Working with Other Musicians
From 2001 to 2005, Tony played guitar and keyboards in Steve Vai's touring band, The Breed. He appeared on their live DVD Live at the Astoria London. He also played on two DVDs from the G3 tour, which features three famous guitarists playing together.
Tony was also the guitarist for the progressive metal supergroup Planet X. He played on three of their albums: Universe (2000), Live from Oz (2002), and MoonBabies (2002). He later rejoined them for live shows.
More recently, Tony has worked with Seven the Hardway, a progressive metal group. He also made a guest appearance on Derek Sherinian's album Oceana in 2011. In 2012, Tony toured Europe and Asia with PSMS. This was another instrumental supergroup with Mike Portnoy, Billy Sheehan, and Derek Sherinian. They released a live DVD called Instrumental Inspirations.
Tony released his eleventh solo album, Tony MacAlpine, in 2011. His twelfth album, Concrete Gardens, came out in 2015. He has continued to release new music, including Death of Roses in 2017 and Equilibrium in 2021.
Musical Style
Tony MacAlpine is very important in the neoclassical metal style of music. This style mixes heavy metal with classical music ideas. He is known for his instrumental rock playing, which uses advanced "shred" techniques. One of his special techniques is called 'sweep tapping'. Tony combines elements of classical music, jazz, fusion, hard rock, and heavy metal in his playing. He is considered a virtuoso, which means he is extremely skilled at his instruments.
His Instruments and Gear
Tony has used many different guitars and equipment throughout his career. Here are some examples:
- For Edge of Insanity, he used Kramer guitars and Peavey amplifiers.
- On Project: Driver, he played B.C. Rich guitars.
- For Eyes of the World, he used Mason Bernard guitars and Baldwin keyboards.
- On Freedom to Fly, he used Peavey guitars and Baldwin pianos.
- For Chromaticity, he played Carvin guitars and amplifiers.
- For his self-titled album Tony MacAlpine, he used Ibanez guitars and Hughes & Kettner amplifiers.
Tony started using seven-string guitars after joining Planet X and still plays them often. He also plays eight-string guitars. He used to be a big fan of Carvin guitars, but he switched to Ibanez in 2010. Since 2011, he has played a special RG Prestige eight-string guitar. For his sound, he uses the Hughes & Kettner TriAmp for recording and the Coreblade model for live shows. He also uses an Ernie Ball wah pedal and a volume pedal when he performs live.
Personal Updates
Tony MacAlpine lives in Pasadena, California. In 2015, he shared that he was dealing with some health challenges. He had to cancel some tour dates for his album Concrete Gardens. However, in 2016, he shared good news, saying that he was feeling much better and that tests showed he was healthy. He thanked his fans for their support during that time.
Music Albums
Solo Studio Albums
- 1986: Edge of Insanity
- 1987: Maximum Security
- 1992: Freedom to Fly
- 1993: Madness
- 1994: Premonition
- 1995: Evolution
- 1996: Violent Machine
- 1999: Master of Paradise
- 2001: Chromaticity
- 2011: Tony MacAlpine
- 2015: Concrete Gardens
- 2017: Death of Roses
- 2021: Equilibrium
Solo Live Albums
- 1997: Live Insanity
Solo Compilation Albums
- 2006: Collection: The Shrapnel Years
Albums with Bands
- 1990: Eyes of the World (with MacAlpine)
- 1986: Mind's Eye (with Vinnie Moore)
- 2000: Universe (with Planet X)
- 2000: CAB (with CAB)
- 2000: Ring of Fire (with Mark Boals)
- 2003: Live at the Astoria London (with Steve Vai)
- 2003: Dreamtower (with Ring of Fire)
- 1986: Project: Driver (with M.A.R.S.)
- 2010: Seven the Hardway (with Seven the Hardway)
- 2011: Oceana (with Derek Sherinian)
- 2012: Instrumental Inspirations (with PSMS)
See also
In Spanish: Tony MacAlpine para niños
