Impellitteri

Chris Impelliteri, the high-speed neo-classical guitarist whose playing recalls Yngwie Malmsteen, assembled the group after issuing a self-financed collection of instrumentals in 1986. The 1987 lineup featured vocalist Graham Bonnet, previously of MSG and Rainbow, alongside keyboardist Phil Wolfe, bassist Chuck Wright formerly of Quiet Riot, and drummer Pat Torpey, late of Ted Nugent. Their sole release mirrored Rainbow’s sound so closely that devotees of that band charged Impelliteri with plagiarism. The unit soon collapsed, after which Wright entered House of Lords and Torpey joined Mr. Big. In 1990 Impelliteri collaborated with Claude Schnell, onetime Dio keyboardist, and vocalist Mark Weisz.