Ever since he stormed the music world in the mid-'80s with his intense "neo-classical" guitar style that combined the likes of violion virtuoso Paganini and Deep Purple's Ritchie Blackmore, Yngwie Malmsteen has continually upped the ante for guitar heroics. On his newest release, Perpetual Burn, the Swedish guitar monster teams with singer Ripper Owens for an overwhelming bonanza of operatic-tinged rock 'n' roll. In an exclusive MusicRadar interview, Malmsteen talks about his unorthodox playing style, why he'll never appear on a hip-hop album, and why Stratocasters are the best guitars in the world. For more Yngwie Malmsteen and the best music news, reviews and tuition, head to www.musicradar.com.