Based in Los Angeles, California, ALCATRAZZ was formed by British born former RAINBOW vocalist GRAHAM BONNET following an almost farcical and short-lived stint with the MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP in 1983. Shrapnel Records' Mike Varney managed to place his Swedish protege YNGWIE MALMSTEEN in the ranks following a period ensconced in the ranks of Ron Keel's STEELER. Completing the original ALCATRAZZ incarnation came bassist Gary Shea and keyboard player Jimmy Waldo. Both were formerly with Boston based NEW ENGLAND and had been working with ex-TREASURE guitarist Vincent Cusano in a Metal band going under the handle of WARRIOR, before Cusano metamorphosed into Vinnie Vincent upon his entry into the KISS ranks in 1982. Completing the ALCATRAZZ team was ex-PIPEDREAM and ALICE COOPER drummer Jan Uvena. The ALCATRAZZ debut, 'No Parole From Rock n' Roll', emerged during 1983 and proved a strong seller, particularly in Europe and Japan.

The band recorded the 'Live Sentence' album in Japan on January 28, 1984 at the Nakano Sun Plaza in Tokyo. The album was co-produced by band manager Andrew Trueman and Lester Claypool. The latter would become better known as the frontman with PRIMUS.

Within a year Malmsteen had left, in hardly amicable circumstances, to pursue a solo career and in his place came STEVE VAI, who made his recording debut with the band on 'Disturbing The Piece' album. (original working title being 'From The Inside')

Vai, a graduate of the Berkeley College Of Music, joined ALCATRAZZ after five years with FRANK ZAPPA. Vai had previously applied for vacant guitarist positions with both OZZY OSBOURNE and KISS, but both acts were reported to have been put off by the link with ZAPPA!

The group had signed to Capitol following the collapse of the Polydor affiliated Rocshire label and released 'Disturbing The Peace' through new label Capitol in 1985.

When Vai quit to hook up with DAVID LEE ROTH the guitarist was briefly replaced by ex- BLACKFOOT / AXIS man DANNY JOHNSON, whose previous credits also included work on ALICE COOPER's 1981 album 'Special Forces', for the 'Dangerous Games' album. However, ALCATRAZZ called it a day in 1987 and Bonnet emigrated to Australia before being tempted back into the music world once more in BLACKTHORNE with Bob Kulick. Johnson journeyed through many acts and by the mid 90's was a member of STEPPENWOLF.

During the Summer of 1998 the newly established British label Dreamcatcher Records offered an ALCATRAZZ 'Best Of...' collection culled from each of the group's four albums.

Uvena and Shea would re-emerge as part of the JONAS HANSSON BAND led by, coincidentlly, another Swedish axe hero Jonas Hansson of SILVER MOUNTAIN.

During October 2006 Bonnet announced he was assembling an all new version of ALCATRAZZ, featuring guitarist Howie Simon, bassist Tim Luce and drummer Glenn Sobel. This new look outfit undertook Japanese gigs in May and June 2007 partnered with another ex-RAINBOW singer, JOE LYNN TURNER.

The group featured on the TESTAMENT headlined the 'Mezcal Metal' festival taking place 13th September 2009 at Vive Cuervo Salon in Mexico sharing the stage with DEATH ANGEL, DEICIDE, GRAVE DIGGER, BELLADONNA, MALIGNO, MISERY INDEX, MORTUARY, SACRED REICH, THE AGONIST, TRANSMETAL and VOIVOD.