Since T-Mac was brought up in another thread...

[khabibissell]

...Spectacular playing... The solo section leaves me in awe. Can you possibly be a better player than this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UIgE4uG-OM

[Top Jimmy B]

One of the greatest ever, in my opinion. It floors me that he is able to play so melodically while ripping up and down the neck. He goes to notes that I wouldn't have a clue how to find on my guitar. Huge amounts of respect for this guy...one of my all time faves.

[LastInLine]

Can you possibly be a better player than this?

Me? No.

[Snoogans]

I was the biggest Yngwie fan back in those days. I got a copy of Edge Of Insanity, and was a little pissed-off at having to admit that Tony was probably better.

[Robert Burns]

And then add him into Vai's band as seen on the "Astoria London DVD"..
He's even better on keyboards!

[Snoogans]

I think that T-mac's at least as good as Stevie Vai, that's why it bothers me that he's always seems to be the "sideman". I guess he just never had that "Gunslinger" personality.
Do you reckon that if he'd had an Ibanez endorsement back in the day, he could have been another Satch/Vai/PG?

[Shawn Lutz]

Tony MacAlpine is awesome! A very tastey player. thats a great track and they do it great live too. I like him much better that Vai

[NextInLine]

I like him a lot also, but I don't think he's one of the greatest He's an incredible player but for being one of the greatest I think his phrasing is a little bit weak.

In that track you wait for the song to go to another dimension but it never does. Kind of variations of the same phrase. I'm not saying it's not good but it's not one of the greatest imho

[imaguy2]

I think that T-mac's at least as good as Stevie Vai, that's why it bothers me that he's always seems to be the "sideman". I guess he just never had that "Gunslinger" personality.

+1

Tony MacAlpine is a much better player (and composer) then Vai in my book. It sucks to see him supporting Vai and not with his own band, but on a positive note you can see Tony owning Vai in a guitar jam that someone posted on youtube.

[Endrik]

I've seen T-Mac with Vai, he was great and he is a cool guy but Steve is clearly more advanced on a guitar and Tony seemed to be just a shadow... but what's worth mentioning is that Tony is a lot better pianist as he is as a guitarists... I mean he is really really amazing on the keys, a lot better than many acclaimed virtuosos.
I've also heard that he is a world class violinist.

[Super_shredder]

anyone who doubts him just watch this ! it like a version of black star played with taste and a huge more amount of talent

[sonicsamurai]

tears of sahara is one of my favest instrumentals ever. and has george lynch too for a double whammy of WIN. king's cup and autumn lords off the maximum security album are also fantastic. i also really like his first album, but have yet to really listen to anything past ms...probably should do

[sonicsamurai]

tony may be ahsaow of vai playing vais stuff, but thats notreally his style, frankly most ovf vai's back catalogue bores the hell outta me - tmac always keeps u intersted, and his sweep tapping gives me the chills at times

[missionguitars1]

It sucks to see him supporting Vai and not with his own band, but on a positive note you can see Tony owning Vai in a guitar jam that someone posted on youtube.

Probably the Carvin 60th Anniversary gig? Yeah...I was there...

I haven't seen it yet, but the new free DVD at Carvin.com supposedly has a lot of footage from the show...if there were 500 people there, I would be shocked...

[khabibissell]

tony may be ahsaow of vai playing vais stuff, but thats notreally his style, frankly most ovf vai's back catalogue bores the hell outta me - tmac always keeps u intersted, and his sweep tapping gives me the chills at times

Yep... The second part of the solo when he comes in with that fast alternate picking run followed by the sweep tapping sequence gives me chills.

Kings Cup:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rmn5cJLmcZ4&feature=related

Carolina Blue (Tony on piano):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Xc0KDbbYfY&feature=related

Vai is just too eccentric for me I guess. There's no doubt that he can play anything he wants on the guitar. I'm just more of a Macalpine fan.