Graham Bonnet (vocals), Jimmy Waldo (keyboards), and Gary Shea (bass) founded Alcatrazz in 1983. That same year they released their first album, No Parole From Rock 'N' Roll, with a then unknown guitarist, Yngwie Malsteen. In 1985 Alcatrazz released their second album, Disturbing The Peace, with then unknown guitarist Steve Vai replacing Malmsteen. The band released one more album, Dangerous Game, in 1986 before calling it quits. Members moved onto various other projects in the decades that followed.

After 34 years apart, Bonnet, Waldo, and Shea have reunited for Alcatrazz’s fourth full length album, Born Innocent, released on July 31st. This time they recruited well-know guitar legend Joe Stump and Mark Benquecha on drums. A number of artists from Graham Bonnet’s past also come along for the ride including Steve Vai, Chris Impelliteri, Nozomu Wakai, Dario Mollo, and the late Bob Kulick. Metal Express Radio interviewed keyboardist and co-founder Jimmy Waldo.

Highlights include discussion of Born Again, how Joe Stump got the guitarist position in the band, what prevented the band from getting to the next level, Alcatrazz’s legacy, Waldo’s work on Quiet Riot’s album with Paul Shortino, and more.

On the band reunion for Born Again

Waldo: "Graham and I kinda wanted to do the Alcatrazz thing again. It made sense because everywhere we went (as the Graham Bonnet Band) everybody wanted more Alcatrazz stuff. We talked about it. We didn't feel the Graham Bonnet thing was exactly on point for what people wanted. The audience had a lot to do with it. I wanted to go that way and Graham was into it."

Alcatrazz have released their brand new full-length, Born Innocent, via Silver Lining Music. Order here, and watch a video for the title track below.

The hard-hitting, melodic heavy metal band Alcatrazz unleash Born Innocent, their first studio venture since 1986’s Dangerous Games. Alongside the unique vocal prowess and range of star frontman and founding member Graham Bonnet, Born Innocent also features fellow founding members Jimmy Waldo and Gary Shea. Debuting on Born Innocent is the latest of the illustrious Alcatrazz guitarists to bring their extreme six-string talents to the band, with Boston-based Berklee College of Music Assistant Professor of Guitar, and one-man metal impresario Joe Stump.

Mixed and mastered by Andy Haller, Born Innocent also sees former stars from Bonnet's long career making guest appearances, from Chris Impellitteri, who wrote the music and played all guitars on the arpeggio-powered "Born Innocent" with Bonnet's vocals soaring to old-school heights, and Bob Kulick who wrote and laid down guitar for "I Am The King". Virtuoso Japanese guitar maestro Nozomu Wakai - a new invitee to the party- similarly wrote and played guitars on the double-kick steel-plated Irish warrior ode "Finn McCool", while Steve Vai wrote "Dirty Like The City". Meanwhile, "Something That I Am Missing" and "Warth Lane" were written by - and feature the guitar work of- Italian six-string hero Dario Mollo, with Riot bassist Don Van Stavern playing bass on the title track, "Polar Bear", "Finn McCool", "London 1666", "Dirty Like The City" and "Paper Flags". Add D. Kendall Jones’ writing and guitar work on "We Still Remember" and even a quick solo by another new invitee to the Alcatrazz mega-sound, Annihilator's Jeff Waters on "Paper Flags" (the second one to be precise), and it’s clear that studio Alcatrazz 2020 is one giant piece of rock for sure.

Tracklisting:

"Born Innocent"
"Polar Bear"
"Finn McCool"
"We Still Remember"
"London 1666"
"Dirty Like The City"
"I Am The King"
"Something That I Am Missing"
"Paper Flags"
"The Wound Is Open"
"Body Beautiful"<
"Warth Lane"
"For Tony"

"Dirty Like The City" video:

"London 1666" video:

"Polar Bear" lyric video:

- Produced by Giles Lavery and Jimmy Waldo
- Mixed, mastered and edited by Andy Haller

Alcatrazz is:

Graham Bonnet - Vocals
Joe Stump - Guitars
Jimmy Waldo - Keyboards
Gary Shea - Bass
Mark Benquechea - Drums