God Bless Video (Live 1985 / Wildcard Remaster)

The Zoo Crew is spinning the wild vibes of Alcatrazz's "God Blessed Video (Live 1985 / Wildcard Remaster)" from their 1985 album Disturbing the Peace, and the Zoo Freaks are loving it! This track, a satirical jab at the MTV era, was penned by lead singer Graham Bonnet and guitar virtuoso Steve Vai. Bonnet, in a 2013 Songfacts interview, shared that the song was inspired by watching a Duran Duran video, noting how a flashy video could outshine a mediocre song. He called it his take on "Video Killed the Radio Star," poking fun at the music industry's obsession with visuals over substance. The song’s video, directed by Michael Miner, kicks off with a skit featuring Vai as both an angel and a devil debating music videos, a quirky touch that fans on YouTube still rave about.

Despite its killer riffs and Bonnet’s soaring vocals, "God Blessed Video" faced hurdles. Norselandsrock.com recounts how MTV in the U.S. refused to air the video, stunting its reach. It got some play on MTV Europe’s metal programming, but the lack of U.S. airtime meant it wasn’t released as a single in America, only in the UK on June 22, 1985. Steve Vai, in 2001 liner notes for his Secret Jewel Box reissue, called Disturbing the Peace one of his favorite band experiences, praising its dense, idea-heavy sound. A 2025 X post from user @noriben1823 highlights Vai’s "insane technical skill" on this track, calling it a melodic hard rock gem that showcased his unique style after replacing Yngwie Malmsteen.

Alcatrazz was born in 1983 in Los Angeles, the brainchild of Graham Bonnet, a former Rainbow frontman, alongside bassist Gary Shea and keyboardist Jimmy Waldo, both ex-New England. The band’s name, coined by Shea, nodded to the infamous prison, setting the tone for their hard-hitting heavy metal sound. Their first lineup included a young Yngwie Malmsteen on guitar and briefly featured Iron Maiden’s Clive Burr on drums before Jan Uvena stepped in. Malmsteen’s tenure was short; he left in 1984 to form Rising Force, and Steve Vai, fresh from Frank Zappa’s band, joined despite Bonnet’s initial hesitation. This lineup crafted Disturbing the Peace, produced by Eddie Kramer, known for working with Led Zeppelin and Jimi Hendrix. The band’s debut album, No Parole from Rock 'n' Roll, had already made waves with singles like "Island in the Sun," but Vai’s arrival pushed their sound into new, experimental territory.

After Vai left for David Lee Roth’s band, Alcatrazz continued with various guitarists like Danny Johnson before splitting in 1987. Bonnet revived the band multiple times, touring as Alcatrazz featuring Graham Bonnet from 2006 to 2014, and a 2020 reformation with Waldo and Shea led to the album Born Innocent. A split that year created two Alcatrazz factions: one led by Bonnet and another with Waldo, Shea, and new singer Doogie White, releasing V in 2021. Fans can dive into the band’s legacy on their official website, follow updates on Facebook, Instagram, and X, or join discussions on fan communities like the Alcatrazz Fans Facebook group. For more fan-driven content, check out Alcatrazz Wiki, where Zoo Freaks can geek out over every riff and lyric.