Singer Göran Edman felt like a slave while recording nine songs at Vinnie Vincent’s home studio in late ’80s

Singer Göran Edman felt like a slave while recording nine songs at Vinnie Vincent’s home studio in late ’80s

Former Yngwie J. Malmsteen lead vocalist Göran Edman was recently interviewed by Metal Mike for the 80’s Glam Metalcast podcast. Edman handled the lead vocals on three songs from Europe guitarist John Norum‘s debut solo album Total Control (1987) and he was the singer on Yngwie J. Malmsteen‘s albums Eclipse (1990) and Fire And Ice (1992).

Edman was seemingly ex-KISS guitarist Vinnie Vincent‘s pick to replace Robert Fleischman in Vinnie Vincent Invasion back in 1986. On working with Vincent, Edman indicated (as transcribed by the 80’s Glam Metalcast podcast with slight edits):

“Vinnie wanted me to copy Robert Fleischman‘s voice. I recorded every song on the first album up to the solo. So my demo ended up on the internet. Someone put it there. I don’t know why Robert Fleischman wasn’t on board anymore, but Vinnie was looking for a new singer. He wanted me to record these as an audition. I sent the material back and he said he was onboard with me and he really loved what he heard.

It was time for to me pack my bags. A few weeks later he called me up and he sounded disappointed. He said the record company had the option on this album with the contract and they wanted an American singer and not me. He couldn’t do anything about it. Chrysalis had the last word. The label wanted Mark Slaughter and Vinnie wanted me. At least that’s the version that Vinnie told me. A few years later, like late ’88 or ’89, he called me again. He asked to come to L.A. because he had some new songs and he wanted me to audition again. Actually, I think he just wanted me to sing on a demo for free. I was stranded for 14 days in his home studio in Rosita, I never did get to see L.A. I was a slave in his home studio! We did like nine complete songs.

We went to Chrysalis to show them the new material, but he was fired from them. They signed the band but not him… Slaughter. They weren’t interested. They were like, “Don’t call us, we’ll call you”. Vinnie was really disappointed. He asked me to promise to wait for him to get a record deal. I waited for almost a year. Then I got a call from Yngwie‘s manager for an audition. So I ended up signing with Yngwie Malmsteen. Ironically, after that, Vinnie called me. He told me he got a record deal and wanted to get me back in the US. He picked up on that fact that I was being quiet. I told him I signed with Yngwie. He wasn’t mad. He wanted me to give it a second thought, but I decided to stick with my decision. I don’t think I ever could have sang all the material. It was too high. I would have ruined my voice. I would have had to squeeze my balls to get up there.”

Interview with Göran Edman by Metal Mike for the 80’s Glam Metalcast podcast:

Vinnie Vincent Invasion demo tapes with Göran Edman on lead vocals: