Bernd Steidl

German guitarist Bernd Steidl chooses the acoustic instrument for his interpretations of Niccolo Paganini's violin works, setting him apart from Swedish heavy metal virtuoso Yngwie Malmsteen, who first transferred those compositions to the guitar. After completing coursework at Los Angeles' Musician's Institute of Technology, he secured a deal with Shrapnel Records in the early 1990s and delivered his debut album, Psycho Acoustic Overture, in 1991. Ten years elapsed before the release of his next recording, Paganiniana. Beyond his own releases, Steidl creates original scores for German motion pictures.