List of Yngwie Malmsteen band members

Malmsteen released his debut solo album Rising Force in 1984, which featured vocalist Jeff Scott Soto, keyboardist Jens Johansson and drummer Barriemore Barlow.[1] Soto and Johansson remained for the next year's follow-up Marching Out, which was credited as a band effort under the name "Yngwie J. Malmsteen's Rising Force" and saw the addition of bassist Marcel Jacob and new drummer Anders Johansson (Jens's brother).[2] Jacob was replaced on tour by Wally Voss.[3] Soto left in 1985 and was replaced by Mark Boals,[4] who performed on the 1986 album Trilogy but was fired by Malmsteen before its release after an altercation.[5] Soto returned for the album's tour, after which it was reported in 1987 that Mark Weitz would perform on the next album.[6]

Weitz was soon replaced by Joe Lynn Turner,[7] who performed on 1988's Odyssey.[8] The subsequent tour spawned Malmsteen's first live album Trial by Fire: Live in Leningrad, which featured bassist Barry Dunaway.[9] The band's lineup changed dramatically in late 1989, as Jens Johansson joined Dio and Turner joined Deep Purple.[10] Anders Johansson also left "a few months" after his brother Jens, primarily due to frustration with the group's new management.[11] The Rising Force group was rebuilt as an all-Swedish lineup, with new vocalist Göran Edman, bassist Svante Henryson, drummer Michael Von Knorring and keyboardist Mats Olausson, all of whom contributed to 1990's Eclipse.[12] Von Korring left after the album's release and was replaced by Pete Barnacle on tour,[13] before Bo Werner joined to record 1992's Fire & Ice.[14]

During 1992 and 1993, Malmsteen took a break due to the death of his manager, being dropped by Elektra Records, and his wrongful arrest.[15] He subsequently enlisted vocalist Michael Vescera, drummer Mike Terrana and bassist Barry Sparks to join Olausson in the Rising Force band.[16][17] B.J. Zampa replaced Terrana during the tour for The Seventh Sign,[18] before Shane Gaalaas took over later in the year.[19] Following the promotion of Magnum Opus in 1995, Malmsteen went on a temporary hiatus.[20] He returned the following year to release Inspiration, an album of cover versions featuring several former bandmates, including vocalists Soto, Boals and Turner.[21] Boals returned for the album's tour – which also featured Dunaway and drummer Tommy Aldridge – before Mats Levén took over at the end of 1996.[22]

Malmsteen enlisted Cozy Powell to perform drums on Facing the Animal in 1997.[23] The drummer was also scheduled to play on the next tour, but was forced to pull out in March 1998 after suffering a foot injury in a "minor motorcycle accident".[24] Powell later died in a car crash on April 5.[25] He was replaced for the touring cycle by Jonas Östman.[26] By 1999, the band included returning vocalist Boals and new drummer John Macaluso,[27][28] with Alchemy released before the end of the year.[29] Randy Coven took over from Dunaway for the album's touring cycle,[30] although bass on 2000's War to End All Wars was performed by Malmsteen.[31] By the time the album was released, however, Boals had left Malmsteen's band again.[32] Jørn Lande took his place, on the recommendation of his Ark bandmate Macaluso.

Lande only remained with Malmsteen until April 8, 2001, when he was involved in a backstage altercation which led to his departure.[33] Out of "loyalty" to his Ark bandmate, Macaluso also left the band following the event.[33] After it was initially reported that Soto would return to take over on vocals,[34] the spot was later filled by Boals.[35] It was also initially reported that Metal Symphony of Darkness drummer Ed Rock would replace Macaluso,[36] although this was quickly altered to be Cherry Poppin' Daddies drummer Tim Donahue.[37] After the conclusion of the tour, Malmsteen introduced a brand new lineup of his band: vocalist Doogie White, keyboardist Derek Sherinian, drummer Patrick Johansson and touring bassist Mick Cervino.[38] Attack!! was recorded and released as this lineup's only album the following year.[39]

Touring for Attack!! began in December 2002 and featured Joakim Svalberg on keyboards.[40] Rudy Sarzo replaced Cervino in February 2004,[41] although by April he had left to join Dio's touring lineup.[42] Cervino returned to the band for the tour in promotion of 2005's Unleash the Fury.[43] Nick Z. Marino replaced Svalberg for a run of shows later in the year,[44] before Sherinian returned for US tour dates in 2006.[45] In February 2008, it was announced that White had parted ways with Malmsteen due to musical differences.[46] His replacement was quickly confirmed to be former Judas Priest and Iced Earth frontman Tim "Ripper" Owens.[47] Michael Troy and Bjorn Englen were subsequently announced as the replacements for Sherinian and Cervino, respectively.[48] Marino rejoined the band in 2009,[44] and in 2012 Englen was replaced by Ralph Ciavolino.[49] Leading up to the release of Spellbound, rumors began to circulate that Owens had left the band.[50] This was later confirmed by the singer, who was not featured on the album.[51]

Owens was not replaced – Malmsteen and Marino have handled lead vocal duties since his departure.[52] In 2015, Johansson left to join W.A.S.P.[53] Mark Ellis took his place and performed on Malmsteen's next studio album, World on Fire.[54] By 2018, Ellis had been replaced by Brian Wilson.[52]