Editing Tony MacAlpine

{{short description|American musician and composer (born 1960)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2014}}
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Musicians -->
| name = Tony MacAlpine
| image = 20121021-212108-770 Portnoy-Sheehan-Sherinian-MacAlpine Boerderij Zoetermeer.jpg
| caption = MacAlpine performing in [[Zoetermeer]], 2012
| image_size = 250
| landscape = yes
| background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
| birth_name = 
| alias = T-Mac
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1960|8|29}}
| birth_place = [[Springfield, Massachusetts]], U.S.
| instrument = Guitar, keyboard, piano
| genre = {{hlist|[[Instrumental rock]]|[[neoclassical metal]]|[[progressive metal]]|[[heavy metal music|heavy metal]]|[[hard rock]]|[[jazz fusion]]}}
| occupation = {{hlist|Musician|composer|producer}}
| years_active = 1984–present
| label = {{hlist|[[Shrapnel Records|Shrapnel]]|[[PolyGram]]|[[Favored Nations]]}}
| current_member_of = 
| past_member_of = {{hlist|[[Planet X (band)|Planet X]]|[[Ring of Fire (band)|Ring of Fire]]|[[CAB (band)|CAB]]|[[Seven the Hardway]]}}
| website = {{URL|http://www.tonymacalpine.com|tonymacalpine.com}}
}}

'''Tony MacAlpine''' (born August 29, 1960) is an American musician and composer. In a career spanning four decades, he has released twelve studio albums. MacAlpine is best known as an [[instrumental rock]] and [[heavy metal music|heavy metal]] solo guitarist, although he has worked with many different bands and musicians in guest appearances and collaborations.

==Biography==
Having started playing piano at the age of five<ref name=prokofiev>Prokofiev, Dane (2012-10-06). [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5MKLu1FYWg An Interview with Tony MacAlpine (6th October, 2012)"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307161514/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5MKLu1FYWg&feature=youtu.be |date=March 7, 2023 }}. YouTube. Retrieved 2012-10-19.</ref><ref name=progreport>[http://progreport.com/tony-macalpine-interview/ "Tony MacAlpine Interview"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307164517/https://progreport.com/tony-macalpine-interview/ |date=March 7, 2023 }}. The Prog Report. 2014-04-09. Retrieved 2014-04-10.</ref> and guitar at twelve, MacAlpine studied classical piano and violin for a number of years at the Springfield Conservatory of Music in [[Massachusetts]], as well as various music programs at the [[University of Hartford]] in [[Connecticut]].<ref name=official>[http://www.tonymacalpine.com/about/ "Tony MacAlpine Biography"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104140246/http://www.tonymacalpine.com/about/ |date=November 4, 2012 }}. tonymacalpine.com. Retrieved 2012-10-11.</ref><ref name=reffett>[[Dave Reffett|Reffett, Dave]] (2011-10-08). [http://www.guitarworld.com/interview-tony-macalpine-discusses-gear-and-tone-and-answers-readers-questions "Interview: Tony MacAlpine Discusses Gear and Tone and Answers Readers' Questions"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111211230616/http://www.guitarworld.com/interview-tony-macalpine-discusses-gear-and-tone-and-answers-readers-questions |date=December 11, 2011 }}. ''[[Guitar World]]''. [[NewBay Media]]. Retrieved 2012-10-11.</ref> One of his musical influences is [[Frédéric Chopin]], to whom he pays homage in his interpretations of the latter's [[études (Chopin)|étude]]s, which are featured on the majority of his studio albums.<ref name=prokofiev/>

Together with his first studio releases, ''[[Edge of Insanity]]'' (1986) and ''[[Maximum Security (Tony MacAlpine album)|Maximum Security]]'' (1987), he had a prominent role on other works during the popular [[shred guitar|shred]] era, including keyboard performances on the debut albums of fellow guitarists [[Vinnie Moore]] (''[[Mind's Eye (album)|Mind's Eye]]'', 1986) and [[Joey Tafolla]] (''[[Out of the Sun]]'', 1987). Soon after his own debut, he played guitar in a [[heavy metal music|heavy metal]] [[supergroup (music)|supergroup]] named M.A.R.S. (MacAlpine/[[Tommy Aldridge|Aldridge]]/[[Rob Rock|Rock]]/[[Rudy Sarzo|Sarzo]]), which resulted in the 1986 album ''[[Project Driver|Project: Driver]]''.

As part of a band effort named 'MacAlpine', ''[[Eyes of the World (album)|Eyes of the World]]'' was released in 1990 as a more commercially oriented attempt to emulate other [[hard rock]] acts at the time.<ref>Sword, Brian (2014-07-27). [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLTZ2aPAH4M "Tony MacAlpine Interview - The Double Stop Podcast Episode 24"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151207015147/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLTZ2aPAH4M |date=December 7, 2015 }}. The Double Stop. Event occurs at time 15:54–18:51. Retrieved 2014-08-04</ref> The venture was short-lived, and his subsequent album ''[[Freedom to Fly]]'' (1992) was a return to his instrumental-based work. A further consecutive string of instrumental albums followed throughout the 1990s, most of them through the renowned [[Shrapnel Records]] label: ''[[Madness (Tony MacAlpine album)|Madness]]'' (1993), ''[[Premonition (Tony MacAlpine album)|Premonition]]'' (1994), ''[[Evolution (Tony MacAlpine album)|Evolution]]'' (1995) and ''[[Violent Machine]]'' (1996). For his last album of the decade, ''[[Master of Paradise]]'' (1999), MacAlpine briefly assumed singing duties in an effort to experiment with different styles.<ref name=reffett/> After the release of ''[[Chromaticity (album)|Chromaticity]]'' in August 2001, he took an extended hiatus from recording solo albums and worked with a variety of other musicians and bands, most notably with supergroups [[CAB (band)|CAB]] and [[Ring of Fire (band)|Ring of Fire]]. Nearly a decade later, in June 2011, he released his self-titled [[Tony MacAlpine (album)|eleventh studio album]] through guitarist [[Steve Vai]]'s [[Favored Nations]] label.

From 2001 to 2005, MacAlpine played both guitar and keyboards in Vai's touring band The Breed. He is featured on the band's DVD release ''[[Live at the Astoria, London|Live at the Astoria London]]'' (2003), along with two DVDs of the [[G3 (tour)|G3 tour]]: ''[[G3: Live in Denver]]'' (2004) and ''[[G3: Live in Tokyo]]'' (2005). During that time, he was also the guitarist for [[progressive metal]] supergroup [[Planet X (band)|Planet X]], alongside keyboardist [[Derek Sherinian]] and drummer [[Virgil Donati]]. He played with them for three albums in the first part of the decade—''[[Universe (Planet X album)|Universe]]'' (2000), ''[[Live from Oz]]'' (2002) and ''[[MoonBabies (album)|MoonBabies]]'' (2002)—and rejoined them in 2009 for a string of live performances, and at that time a possible new album.<ref name=pavlichko>Pavlichko, Matt (2011-07-07). [http://www.guitarworld.com/interview-tony-macalpine-his-new-self-titled-solo-album "Interview: Tony MacAlpine on His New Self-Titled Solo Album"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120104125444/http://www.guitarworld.com/interview-tony-macalpine-his-new-self-titled-solo-album |date=January 4, 2012 }}. ''[[Guitar World]]''. [[NewBay Media]]. Retrieved 2012-10-11.</ref> His most recent collaborations have included [[Seven the Hardway]], a progressive metal group with whom he released their self-titled album in 2010,<ref name=hodgson>Hodgson, Peter (2010-08-10). [http://iheartguitarblog.com/2010/08/tmac.html "Interview: Tony MacAlpine of Seven The Hardway"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200412143055/http://iheartguitarblog.com/2010/08/tmac.html |date=April 12, 2020 }}. I Heart Guitar. Retrieved 2012-10-11.</ref> and a guest appearance on Sherinian's seventh studio album ''[[Oceana (album)|Oceana]]'' (2011). In the second half of 2012, MacAlpine toured Europe and Asia as part of PSMS ([[Mike Portnoy|Portnoy]]/[[Billy Sheehan|Sheehan]]/MacAlpine/Sherinian), an instrumental supergroup.<ref name=prokofiev/><ref>[http://www.tonymacalpine.com/news/portnoy-sheehan-macalpine-sherinian-to-tour-europe-and-asia-fall-2012/ "Portnoy, Sheehan, MacAlpine, Sherinian To Tour Europe and Asia, Fall 2012"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200412143053/http://www.tonymacalpine.com/news/portnoy-sheehan-macalpine-sherinian-to-tour-europe-and-asia-fall-2012/ |date=April 12, 2020 }}. tonymacalpine.com. 2012-07-27. Retrieved 2012-10-11.</ref><ref name=guitarinternational2013>Cavuoto, Rob (December 2013). [http://guitarinternational.com/2013/11/30/tony-macalpine-interview-new-dvd-release-live-tokyo/ "Tony MacAlpine Interview: New DVD Release Live In Tokyo"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140329092338/http://guitarinternational.com/2013/11/30/tony-macalpine-interview-new-dvd-release-live-tokyo/ |date=March 29, 2014 }}. ''Guitar International''. Retrieved 2014-03-01.</ref> ''Instrumental Inspirations'', a DVD of their live material, was released October 21, 2012.<ref>[http://www.tonymacalpine.com/news/portnoy-sheehan-macalpine-sherinian-dvd-coming-oct-21/ "Portnoy, Sheehan, MacAlpine, Sherinian DVD – Coming Oct 21!"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200412143051/http://www.tonymacalpine.com/news/portnoy-sheehan-macalpine-sherinian-dvd-coming-oct-21/ |date=April 12, 2020 }} tonymacalpine.com. Retrieved 2013-02-19.</ref> Additionally, in an October 2012 interview, he stated that he was working on new studio material (one of them being a "strictly classical record" recorded solely on piano), as well as a new album with Ring of Fire.<ref name=prokofiev/> ''Battle of Leningrad'', Ring of Fire's fourth studio album, was released on January 28, 2014.<ref>[http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/virtuoso-supergroup-ring-of-fire-returns-with-a-brand-new-album/ "Virtuoso Supergroup Ring Of Fire Returns With Brand New Album"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140306132319/http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/virtuoso-supergroup-ring-of-fire-returns-with-a-brand-new-album/ |date=March 6, 2014 }}. [[Blabbermouth.net|Blabbermouth]]. 2013-11-12. Retrieved 2014-03-01.</ref>

MacAlpine's twelfth studio album, ''[[Concrete Gardens]]'', was released on April 21, 2015.<ref name=april21>[http://www.tonymacalpine.com/news/concrete-gardens-out-now/ ""Concrete Gardens" - Out Now!"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200412143103/http://www.tonymacalpine.com/news/concrete-gardens-out-now/ |date=April 12, 2020 }}. tonymacalpine.com. 2015-02-21. Retrieved 2015-04-25.</ref>

==Style and influence==
MacAlpine was highly influential in the [[neoclassical metal]] genre, becoming known for his instrumental rock style of playing that displays highly advanced shred techniques;<ref>Ramirez, Carlos (2011-06-21). [http://www.noisecreep.com/2011/06/21/tony-macalpine-still-shredding-after-all-these-years/ "Tony MacAlpine: Still Shredding After All These Years"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110824171439/http://www.noisecreep.com/2011/06/21/tony-macalpine-still-shredding-after-all-these-years/ |date=August 24, 2011 }}. [[Noisecreep]]. Retrieved 2012-10-11.</ref> one of his most oft-used techniques being 'sweep [[tapping]]', a variation of [[sweep-picking|sweep picking]]. He has incorporated elements of classical, jazz, fusion, hard rock and heavy metal on both guitar and keyboard, and has been described as a [[virtuoso]] by Jason Ankeny at [[AllMusic]].<ref>Ankeny, Jason. [http://www.allmusic.com/artist/tony-macalpine-mn0000744391 "Tony MacAlpine"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120616032608/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/tony-macalpine-mn0000744391 |date=June 16, 2012 }}. ''[[AllMusic]]''. [[Rovi Corporation]]. Retrieved 2012-10-11.</ref>

==Equipment==
*''Edge of Insanity'': [[Kramer Guitars|Kramer guitars]], [[DiMarzio]] [[pickup (music technology)|pickups]], [[Peavey Electronics|Peavey]] [[guitar amplifier|amplification]]<ref>''Edge of Insanity'' (CD edition liner notes).</ref>
*''Project: Driver'': [[B.C. Rich]] guitars, DiMarzio pickups, [[GHS (strings)|GHS]] [[strings (music)|strings]], Peavey and [[Rockman (amplifier)|Rockman]] amplification<ref>''Project: Driver'' (CD edition liner notes).</ref>
*''Maximum Security'': B.C. Rich guitars, DiMarzio pickups, Peavey amplification, [[Ibanez]] [[effects unit|effects]]<ref>''Maximum Security'' (CD edition liner notes).</ref>
*''Eyes of the World'': Mason Bernard guitars, DiMarzio pickups, [[Dean Markley Strings|Dean Markley strings]], Peavey amplification, [[Baldwin Piano Company|Baldwin]] keyboards<ref>''Eyes of the World'' (CD edition liner notes).</ref>
*''Freedom to Fly'': Peavey guitars, [[Seymour Duncan]] pickups, GHS strings, Peavey amplification, Baldwin pianos<ref>''Freedom to Fly'' (CD edition liner notes).</ref>
*''Madness'': [[Washburn Guitars|Washburn]] Mercury series guitars, Seymour Duncan pickups, Dean Markley strings, [[Hughes & Kettner]] amplification<ref>''Madness'' (CD edition liner notes).</ref>
*''Premonition'': Washburn guitars, Seymour Duncan pickups, Dean Markley strings, Hughes & Kettner amplification<ref>''Premonition'' (CD edition liner notes).</ref>
*''Evolution'': B.C. Rich guitars, Seymour Duncan pickups, Hughes & Kettner amplification<ref>''Evolution'' (CD edition liner notes).</ref>
*''Chromaticity'': [[Carvin Corporation|Carvin]] guitars and amplification<ref>''Chromaticity'' (CD edition liner notes).</ref>
*''Tony MacAlpine'': Ibanez guitars, DiMarzio pickups, [[Ernie Ball]] strings, Hughes & Kettner amplification, [[Source Audio]] effects, Toontrack software<ref>''Tony MacAlpine'' (CD edition liner notes).</ref>

MacAlpine became a prominent user of [[seven-string guitar]]s after joining Planet X<ref>[[Derek Sherinian|Sherinian, Derek]]. (2002-09-12). [http://www.xplanetx.com/the-band/articles/virgil-derek-aol-chat-september-21st-2002/ "Virgil & Derek AOL Chat"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016063003/http://www.xplanetx.com/the-band/articles/virgil-derek-aol-chat-september-21st-2002/ |date=October 16, 2012 }}. xplanetx.com. Retrieved 2012-10-11.</ref> and still plays them regularly, along with [[eight-string guitar]]s.<ref name=reffett/> A long-time endorsee of Carvin guitars (notably the T-Mac and DC series), he switched to Ibanez in 2010. Since 2011 he has played a customized [[Ibanez RG Prestige|RG Prestige]] eight-string model with [[EMG, Inc.|EMG]] pickups, while his seven- and six-string models use DiMarzios. For amplification, he uses the Hughes & Kettner TriAmp for studio recording and the Coreblade model for live touring. An Ernie Ball [[wah-wah pedal|wah]] and [[expression pedal|volume pedal]] completes his live setup.<ref name=reffett/><ref name=pavlichko/><ref name=hodgson/> A detailed diagram of his 2011 gear can be found at Guitar Geek.<ref>Cooper, Adam (2011-07-14). [http://www.guitargeek.com/tony-macalpine-2011-guitar-rig-and-gear-setup-diagram/ "Tony MacAlpine's 2011 Guitar Rig"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924024239/http://www.guitargeek.com/tony-macalpine-2011-guitar-rig-and-gear-setup-diagram/ |date=September 24, 2015 }}. Guitar Geek. Retrieved 2012-10-11.</ref>

==Personal life==
MacAlpine currently resides in [[Pasadena, California]].<ref name=official/> On August 25, 2015, he posted on his Facebook profile that he may have developed colon cancer, which forced cancellation of some dates on his tour to promote ''Concrete Gardens''.<ref>[http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/guitar_virtuoso_tony_macalpine_likely_battling_colon_cancer_forced_to_postpone_tour.html#5115651 "Guitar Virtuoso Tony MacAlpine Likely Battling Colon Cancer, Forced to Postpone Tour"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150826014009/http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/guitar_virtuoso_tony_macalpine_likely_battling_colon_cancer_forced_to_postpone_tour.html#5115651 |date=August 26, 2015 }}. [[Ultimate Guitar Archive|Ultimate Guitar]]. 2015-08-25. Retrieved 2015-08-25.</ref> In August 2016 he wrote on his personal website, "I have been feeling back to normal and tests indicate that all is well in medical land. Deep and sincere thanks to you all for your wonderful support through this very difficult last 12 months."<ref>MacAlpine, Tony (2016-08-17). [http://www.tonymacalpine.com/news/october-west-cost-tour-supporting-steve-vai/?doing_wp_cron=1475958807.3039019107818603515625 "West Coast Tour Supporting Steve Vai"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161010141927/http://www.tonymacalpine.com/news/october-west-cost-tour-supporting-steve-vai/?doing_wp_cron=1475958807.3039019107818603515625 |date=October 10, 2016 }}. tonymacalpine.com. Retrieved 2016-10-08.</ref>

MacAlpine also revealed in an interview with [[Herman Li]] that, among his traumatic experiences, his wife had died and the release of his new record was a way for him to get back into creativity.<ref>Li, Herman & Macalpine, Tony (17-03-2022). Herman Li x Tony Macalpine Shred Session. Dragonforce | Facebook </ref>

==Discography==
===Solo studio albums===
*1986: ''[[Edge of Insanity]]''
*1987: ''[[Maximum Security (Tony MacAlpine album)|Maximum Security]]''
*1992: ''[[Freedom to Fly]]''
*1993: ''[[Madness (Tony MacAlpine album)|Madness]]''
*1994: ''[[Premonition (Tony MacAlpine album)|Premonition]]''
*1995: ''[[Evolution (Tony MacAlpine album)|Evolution]]''
*1996: ''[[Violent Machine]]''
*1999: ''[[Master of Paradise]]''
*2001: ''[[Chromaticity (album)|Chromaticity]]''
*2011: ''[[Tony MacAlpine (album)|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 (Tony MacAlpine album)|Collection: The Shrapnel Years]]''

===MacAlpine===
*1990: ''[[Eyes of the World (album)|Eyes of the World]]''

===Vinnie Moore===
*1986: ''[[Mind's Eye (album)|Mind's Eye]]''
*1999: ''[[The Maze (album)|The Maze]]''
*2006: ''[[Collection: The Shrapnel Years (Vinnie Moore album)|Collection: The Shrapnel Years]]'' (compilation)

===Planet X===
*2000: ''[[Universe (Planet X album)|Universe]]''
*2002: ''[[Live from Oz]]'' (live)
*2002: ''[[MoonBabies (album)|MoonBabies]]''

===CAB===
*2000: ''[[CAB (album)|CAB]]''
*2001: ''[[CAB 2]]''
*2002: ''CAB Live at The Baked Potato''
*2003: ''[[CAB 4]]''
*2008: ''[[Theatre de Marionnettes]]''
*2010: ''Live on Sunset''
*2001: ''CAB Live at the Baked Potato: First and Second Set'' (DVD)
*2002: ''CAB Live at The Musician Institute'' (DVD)

===Mark Boals===
*2000: ''[[Ring of Fire (Mark Boals album)|Ring of Fire]]''
*2002: ''Edge of the World''

===Steve Vai===
*2003: ''[[Live at the Astoria, London|Live at the Astoria London]]''
*2004: ''[[G3: Live in Denver]]''
*2005: ''[[G3: Live in Tokyo]]''

===Ring of Fire===
*2003: ''Dreamtower''
*2004: ''Burning Live in Tokyo'' (live)
*2004: ''Lapse of Reality''
*2014: ''Battle of Leningrad''

===Other appearances===
*1986: ''[[Project Driver|Project: Driver]]'' – M.A.R.S. (with [[Tommy Aldridge]], [[Rob Rock]] and [[Rudy Sarzo]])
*1987: ''[[Out of the Sun]]'' – [[Joey Tafolla]]
*1999: ''VK3'' – [[Vitalij Kuprij]]
*2004: Eric Clapton's Guitar Festival - "I'm the Hell Out of Here" (with [[Steve Vai]])
*2007: ''Clinophobia'' – Devil's Slingshot (with [[Virgil Donati]] and [[Billy Sheehan]])
*2007: ''Ze re Tour 2007'' – [[Michel Polnareff]]
*2010: ''On Revolute'' – [[Dave Weiner]]
*2010: ''[[Seven the Hardway]]'' – Seven the Hardway (with Virgil Donati and [[Mark Boals]])
*2011: ''[[Oceana (album)|Oceana]]'' – [[Derek Sherinian]]
*2012: ''Plains of Oblivion'' – [[Jeff Loomis]]
*2012: ''Instrumental Inspirations'' – PSMS (with [[Mike Portnoy]], Billy Sheehan and Derek Sherinian) (DVD)
*2013: ''Live in Tokyo'' – PSMS (with Mike Portnoy, Billy Sheehan and Derek Sherinian)
*2018: ''Enfin!'' – [[Michel Polnareff]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Tony MacAlpine}}
*{{Official website|http://www.tonymacalpine.com}}

{{Tony MacAlpine}}
{{Planet X}}
{{CAB (band)}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Macalpine, Tony}}
[[Category:1960 births]]
[[Category:American heavy metal guitarists]]
[[Category:African-American guitarists]]
[[Category:African-American rock musicians]]
[[Category:American heavy metal keyboardists]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Musicians from Springfield, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:American lead guitarists]]
[[Category:American seven-string guitarists]]
[[Category:Eight-string guitarists]]
[[Category:Progressive metal guitarists]]
[[Category:Guitarists from Massachusetts]]
[[Category:20th-century American guitarists]]
[[Category:21st-century American guitarists]]
[[Category:21st-century American keyboardists]]
[[Category:Planet X (band) members]]
[[Category:CAB (band) members]]
[[Category:20th-century American keyboardists]]
[[Category:Shrapnel Records artists]]
[[Category:PolyGram artists]]
[[Category:Favored Nations artists]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American musicians]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American musicians]]
[[Category:Jazz fusion guitarists]]