Jeff Scott Soto has said he remains hopeful of repairing his friendship with guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen, citing Ritchie Blackmore’s recent reunion with Deep Purple as evidence that long-running divisions can be resolved. Soto stressed that his priority is personal reconciliation rather than a commercially motivated musical reunion, saying he does not want to leave unresolved animosity with former friends.

The singer said more recent disagreements are harder to overcome than issues from their early years together, because those wounds remain fresh. He said he has no hidden agenda in reaching out to Malmsteen, would accept the guitarist’s personality to restore peace, and would “100%” join him on stage for a single song if invited, even without a tour, record deal or publicity campaign.