The band's initial line-up consited of Graham Bonnet (vocals - ex-Rainbow / Michael Schenker Group), Yngwie Malmsteen (guitar - ex-Steeler), Gary Shea (bass - ex-New England), Jimmy Waldo (keyboards - also ex-New England) and Clive Burr of Iron Maiden fame. Burr was reportedly only in the band for a week, and left upon discovering the band was going to be based in the United States, as opposed to his native England. Burr was soon replaced byJan Uvena (drums - ex-Alice Cooper / Pointer Sisters). Shea dubbed the group "Alcatrazz". For the first album, the bulk of the material was written by Bonnet and Malmsteen, with Waldo contributing to several tracks.
The band's debut album, "No Parole from Rock 'n' Roll" was released in late 1983 on Rocshire Records. Decent support was given by MTV to the lead single, "Island in the Sun", which showed a heavy Rainbow influence. Despite the commercial nature of the song, it received little radio play. The album nonetheless spent 18 weeks on the Billboard charts and peaked at No. 128. A second video released in 1984 for "Hiroshima Mon Amour" became popular in Japan.
Rochsire then released '"Live Sentence" (1984), a concert recording with songs from both concerts of the recent tour of Japan at the Nakano Sun Plaza in Tokyo on January 28, 1984. Being discontent with the sonic qualities of the recording, Malmsteen tried to prevent the release of the album but failed. Some Rainbow covers were included, including "Since You Been Gone". The album peaked at No. 133 in the US. A live video concert was also produced. During this period, internal turmoil began surfacing within the band, between Malmsteen and Bonnet and Malmsteen left Alcatrazz.
Waldo replaced Malmsteen with former Frank Zappa guitarist Steve Vai, despite resistance from Bonnet, and the band signed with Capitol Records after Rocshire was shut down. With Steve Vai, the group worked on new material and then headlined another tour of Japan, which introduced Vai to the fans and allowed them to play new material from the upcoming album. A concert video was filmed from these dates. Vai left after recording the album '"Disturbing The Peace" to join David Lee Roth's solo band. The band released Disturbing the Peace in the spring of 1985. The album was produced by Eddie Kramer who had worked with Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, and Triumph, among others. "God Blessed Video" was the first single and video, yet MTV barely played it. The album peaked at No. 145 and charted for 16 weeks. Alcatrazz, however, could never break out of their small following, and had to cut a tour short due to financial problems. The band brought in Danny Johnson to replace Vai, and recorded the album '"Dangerous Games". The album had covers of the Animals' song "It's My Life" (one of the only rock-oriented tunes) and Marbles' song "Only One Woman". Bonnet had been a member of Marbles in the late 1960s when they had this hit in the UK. The Dangerous Games album failed to chart and shortly afterward, Johnson also quit to join the band Private Life. Disheartened by an ever-revolving door of guitarists, and dwindling album sales, they split up in 1987.
In 1998, the Renaissance Records label issued "The Best of Alcatrazz", a look back at the band's brief career. God Blessed Video appeared in the 2002 videogame soundtrack Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, playing on fictional rock station V-Rock.
Bonnet reformed his version of the band in 2006 as Alcatrazz featuring Graham Bonnet with guitarist Howie Simon ( Jeff Scott Soto Band , Talisman ), drummer Glen Sobel ( Impellitteri , Beautiful Creatures , Tony MacAlpine ), and bassist Tim Luce and toured Japan in May and June 2007—sharing the headline with another ex- Rainbow vocalist, Joe Lynn Turner . Alcatrazz continued to perform live occasionally until 2014 with the drum stool changing from Sobel, to Dave Dzialak to Jeff Bowders to Bobby Rock until the band disbanded in 2016.
In March 2017, three-fifths of the original lineup (Bonnet, Waldo and Shea) reunited for three shows in Japan, which also included Conrado Pesinato and Mark Benquechea on guitar and drums respectively. The performances were recorded for the live album/DVD "Parole Denied - Tokyo 2017 (Live)", which was released on December 7, 2018.
In February 2019, Bonnet confirmed that he had once again resurrected Alcatrazz, with a new lineup featuring himself, Waldo and Benquechea, as well as guitarist Joe Stump and bassist Beth-Ami Heavenstone from Bonnet's namesake band. Heavenstone was replaced on bass in January 2020 by a returning Gary Shea. Alcatrazz's first studio album in 34 years, "Born Innocent", was released on July 31, 2020.
On December 4, 2020, it was announced Alcatrazz had parted ways with vocalist Graham Bonnet and had recruited vocalist Doogie White. Bonnet announced that he would "still be recording and performing with Alcatrazz", with a new lineup to be announced. On June 4, 2021, the first single from the White-fronted Alcatrazz, "Turn of the Wheel" was released. A few days later, Jeff Loomis (Nevermore, Sanctuary) was announced as the guitarist for the Bonnet-led line-up, now referred to as Graham Bonnet's Alcatrazz.
On July 23, 2021, the White-fronted version of Alcatrazz released another single, "Sword of Deliverance", and announced that their fifth album, titled "V", would be released on October 15, 2021. Music video's were released for the singles "Turn of the Wheel" on June 4, 2021 and "Sword of Deliverance" on July 23, 2021.
The Alcatrazz line-up consisting of keyboardist Jimmy Waldo, bassist Gary Shea, lead vocalist Doogie White, guitarist Joe Stump and drummer Larry Paterson released their studio album "Take No Prisoners", on May 19, 2023.
It's My Life
Alcatrazz Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All the good things have been taken
But girl there are ways to make certain things pay
Though I'm dressed in these rags, I'll wear sable someday
Hear what I say
I'm gonna ride the serpent
No more time spent sweatin' rent
I'm breakin' loose, it ain't no use
Holdin' me down, stick around
But baby (baby)
Remember (remember)
It's my life and I'll do what I want
It's my mind and I'll think what I want
Show me I'm wrong, hurt me sometime
But some day I'll treat you real fine
There'll be women and their fortunes
Who just want to mother orphans
Are you gonna cry, when I'm squeezin' the rye
Takin' all I can get, no regrets
When I, openly lie
And leave only money
Believe me honey, that money
Can you believe, I ain't no saint
No complaints
So girl go out
Hand it out
And baby (baby)
Remember (remember)
It's my life and I'll do what I want
It's my mind and I'll think what I want
Show me I'm wrong, hurt me sometime
But some day I'll treat you real fine
(It's my life and I'll do what I want) don't push me
(It's my mind and I'll think what I want) it's my life
(It's my life and I'll do what I want) and I can do what I want
(It's my mind and I'll think what I want) you can't tell me
(It's my life and I'll do what I want)
The lyrics of Alcatrazz's song "It's My Life" speaks of a struggle to make it in life and find success amidst a world that seems to have taken up all the good things. The opening lines, "It's a hard world to get a break in, All the good things have been taken," set the stage for the overall theme of the song. The singer then states that despite his present state of raggedy clothes, he still hopes to wear sable someday, indicating his aspirations for success.
The chorus echoes the singer's determination to make it in life and his refusal to be held down by anyone, not even his partner, as he repeats the line, "It's my life, and I'll do what I want." The song's verses are permeated with a sense of rebellion, as the singer talks about riding the serpent and breaking loose from the things that hold him down. The lines, "Takin' all I can get, no regrets when I openly lie," paint a picture of a character who is willing to do anything it takes, including lying and deception, to attain his goals.
Overall, "It's My Life" is a song about ambition, chasing one's dreams, and fighting back against the odds. It speaks to the listener in a way that encourages them to keep pushing forward, no matter how tough the journey may be.
Line by Line Meaning
It's a hard world to get a break in
This world is challenging to make your mark in.
All the good things have been taken
Everything that's excellent has already been claimed.
But girl there are ways to make certain things pay
However, there are always methods to make certain things profitable.
Though I'm dressed in these rags, I'll wear sable some day
Even though I'm currently dressed poorly, I'll eventually be able to wear fancy clothes.
Hear what I say
Listen to me carefully.
I'm gonna ride the serpent
I'll take on this challenge boldly and with fierce determination.
No more time spent sweatin' rent
I won't focus on paying rent anymore.
Hear my command
Listen to and obey me.
I'm breakin' loose, it ain't no use
I'm freeing myself from restrictions, and there's no point in trying to stop me.
Holdin' me down, stick around
If you try to hold me back, stay and witness what happens next.
But baby (baby)
My dear (my dear)
Remember (remember)
Keep in mind (keep in mind)
It's my life and I'll do what I want
I have control over my life, and I'll do as I please.
It's my mind and I'll think what I want
My thoughts are also mine to control and do as I please.
Show me I'm wrong, hurt me sometime
If I'm wrong, show me with evidence, even if it hurts.
But some day I'll treat you real fine
One day I'll show you how well I can treat you.
There'll be women and their fortunes
Women with resources will be accessible.
Who just want to mother orphans
Some of these women will solely want to care for orphans.
Are you gonna cry, when I'm squeezin' the rye
Will you whine when I'm drinking heavily?
Takin' all I can get, no regrets
I'm going to take all that I can, with no remorse.
When I, openly lie
I can and will lie shamelessly.
And leave only money
My dishonesty will lead to my only gain being financial.
Believe me honey, that money
Trust me, that money is worth the risk.
Can you believe, I ain't no saint
I'm far from being a saint.
No complaints
I don't have any objections or grievances.
So girl go out
Go ahead, girl.
Hand it out
Distribute or provide it freely.
(It's my life and I'll do what I want) Don't push me
(I control my life, and I'll do what I want) Do not force me.
(It's my mind and I'll think what I want) It's my life
(I control my thoughts, and I'll think what I want) This is my life.
(It's my life and I'll do what I want) And I can do what I want
(I control my life, and I'll do what I want) And I am capable of doing as I please.
(It's my mind and I'll think what I want) You can't tell me
(I control my thoughts, and I'll think what I want) You are unable to influence my thoughts.
(It's my life and I'll do what I want)
(I control my life, and I'll do what I want)
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Carl D'Errico, Roger Atkins
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Bryan Hovey
Pretty cool cover. Always like Grahams vocals. Especially the stuff he did with Rainbow.
Jessica Faye Harrison
some guys who went to school with Gary Shea shot a grainy B&W video in the 1960s and set it to this song, cruising in the wilds of a mountainous park near their hometown .
Perfectly suited to the lyrics of the song and the metal tenor of Alcatrazz' interpretation
Millie!
Perfect way to transform rock into metal :^)
Zolleriux
Yeah, it's a good cover, however, Graham didn't like it himself: "One of the songs that we did was, "It's My Life," the Animals tune, and when it was suggested to us I remember going to myself, "Why do we want to do that?" It was awful! I just thought that it was an awful feeling to have to do cover songs even thought I have done cover songs and that the record company didn't understand what Alcatrazz was all about." -Graham Bonnet I have to disagree, I like the way they played this song.
Abraham Márquez
wow is awesome this cover of The Animals song's It My Life :D
art sky
my best song in 1987
Dulce Pineda
Un cover que a mí gusto, superó la versión original
D Fillinger
lol my sons kitten loves when i play muci, he just looked at the lap top and ran away..lol
David Thompson
This is awesome
UFO IS GOD
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