In a recent interview with Hear 2 Zen, Tim ‘Ripper’ Owens opened up about his time working with guitar virtuoso Yngwie Malmsteen, offering a candid take on the infamous guitarist’s reputation. While Owens confirmed that Malmsteen’s behavior is often as bad as people say, he clarified that his own experience was much more positive.

“Well, [Yngwie] does treat people really bad—I mean, overall. But… he’s never treated me badly,” Owens admitted. “I got along with him very well. He was one of the easiest guys I’ve ever worked with in the studio. We would joke around, and I had a great time with him.”

Owens did acknowledge some of Malmsteen’s notorious quirks. “He has his moments. He doesn’t like it when… Please don’t ever put a white light on during a show, or he’ll stop the entire performance and yell at the lighting guy. He might even go after the keyboard player if something goes wrong during the night. But in my experience, I got along with him great,” Owens recalled.

The former Judas Priest frontman also addressed the broader public perception of Malmsteen. “I don’t think there are any misconceptions about him. What people think about him is probably the truth,” Owens noted. “But that doesn’t mean he’s like that with everyone. I had a great time working with him. He was sober during the time I was in the band, which definitely helped.”

However, Owens also shared some of the more unusual dynamics within Malmsteen’s band. “Sometimes, we weren’t even allowed in the dressing room; we’d have to sit in a closet while Yngwie did his thing,” Owens said, revealing the somewhat isolating nature of life on tour with the guitar legend.

Despite these eccentricities, Owens painted a picture of a productive and even enjoyable professional relationship with Malmsteen, offering a different perspective on the guitarist’s infamous persona.