Like I've said in another thread, Yngwie is to neo classical music what Van Halen has been to tapping.
Meaning that he did not really invent or discover it, but made it stand as a style on its own, and made it a breakthrough.

The first time I heard him, I nearly fainted because of the speed he achieved. It's too bad he is such an asshole (as you can hear in interviews) because he would have worked with great people and he would now be a legend, instead of a "former king of shred"...
Lots of players nowadays owe him so much!! As someone put (I think it was John PETRUCCI) "he sounds like Al di Meola, but playing metal"... He has turned heads enough to make lots of classical music hip, and to broaden influences...