Axel Rudi Pell is a German guitar player, playing melodic heavy metal. He started off with the band Steeler (1984–1988) beforeleaving to start his solo career in 1989 with the eponymous band Axel Rudi Pell. During this time, he has played with suchdrummers as Jörg Michael, Mike Terrana and singers Jeff Scott Soto and Rob Rock. He plays a classic traditional melodic heavymetal, predictably guitar-heavy but less flashy than Yngwie Malmsteen, with an emphasis on softer ballads as evidenced bythree separate ballad compilations over the years.