I loved this part where they duel. Steve was asked to come up with the duel for this movie. He wrote the whole thing. Then had to act like he couldn't play it. I've watched him on the Crossroads Duel with Eric Clapton. Just plain Awesome! His song ( For the Love of God ) Fantastic. He also played for David Lee Roth after Roth left Van Halen. He is truly 1 of the Best in the world. And also quite Humble.
Albums by David Lee Roth, such as "Eat 'em and smile", & also "Skyscraper", went Platinum, thanks in large part to Steve Vai's masterful guitar playing. Then, in 1989, he joined White snake for at least one album, which went at least Platinum.
Steve Vai is deliciously "evil" in this film. The guitar playing is beyond great - it is perfect for the scene and the journey Ralph Macchio's character takes in the story. He paid his dues to play the blues and boy does he play when it counts! Just brilliantly orchestrated, filmed & performed.
... and he didn't even have to sell his soul to the Devil, either! He played them Blues, like there was no tomorrow...and then followed it up, by defeating Jack Butler with, of all things, a Classical piece by Paganini!
I agree great movie if I had one wish it wish it would be that they used more classic blues rifts and guitars the Modern sound jumps out of the time and place of the movie..a small wish that doesn't change my like of the movie...what you think sir?
@@imaouima Kinda weird, ain't it? Paganini reportedly sold his soul to the Devil...and many, many years later, along comes a young man, that takes the very song that the Devil gave to Paganini, and defeats Jack Butler with it. I do believe that that's one way to beat the Devil at his own game! You notice that, when that young man begins playing that particular song, the Devil listens very intently. He's in shock to hear this young man playing that particular song! Then, Jack Butler tries to play it...and tries...and tries.. but to no avail. Right then, although Jack gave it a good try, he knew that he was going down in defeat. The Devil keeps his word, tears up the contract, and walks out. I love it!
One of the greatest gifts I’ve ever received was when my son learned to play the classical piece from this scene and did so on my birthday. He still plays it for me from time to time and I watch the entire movie every few years. Absolutely love this movie for so many reasons and never cared if all the actors were flawless or the writing was perfect. It moved me and got me to eventually discover Robert Johnson and others at a very young age. Lastly, Steve Vai would slay the Devil’s axeman in real life.
I heard that Vai is such a wonder on the guitar that he actually had to practice making the mistakes because he habitually plays to perfection! Good actor too - he conveyed an amazing presence without saying a single word!
@@chriscandelaria4971 I don't know... I never liked the way his part was "finished off" here at the end... Just seems over played on his part... or maybe I just don't want to believe he could be THAT bad...
@@mcscheck2000 no he is not bad at all no even in a movie, but the kid in me wants to believe it cause it was in the movie. but Steve Vai is so awesome and glad he could do the part so well to make us believe it. but yeah no way he would ever lose like that at all, he is el Maestro para la guitarra (the master of the guitar) I'm still trying to learn spanish when I can and thought it would be cool. but you are totally right though!
@@teethadore I hear ya. It must have been been hell for him to actually mess up his playing. Hell, I could have taught him how no problem. I'm a real pro at messing up on guitar. I don't even have to practice! lol
The thing I loved about this, when Ralph Machio's character was following, he never sweated, even while the other guy was approaching his limits. But when he blazed his retort, the other guy couldn't follow. Steve Vai has my respect for his acting of a failed follow. He should have gotten something for this performance. The Moral of the tale told, "Never assume you are the best, there is always someone better out there somewhere"
I am in the piano business and when people ask me who is the best pianist in the world, I say that it is probably someone nobody ever heard of because they weren't discovered
@@billcasey9672 I noticed that. It was like stepping into a "musical" version of Hell...and if ya lost that head-cuttin' contest, ya ain't leavin' there alive...ever!
@@bucksheppard8009 Actually Steve Vai did Macchio‘s part in the battle. Cooter was originally slated to play the part of Jack Butler (Vai), but eventually settled on Vai, but Cooder did play A lot of the guitar parts in the various blues joints they visited along the way
I’ve never been much of a Steve Vai fan (I don’t deny his immense talent, it just wasn’t my style), but he was perfect for this role - I mean perfect..
@@jarrodheglar1666 aveces no solo es , de hacer solos" de guitarra que sean difíciles, también esta los acordes armónicos 🎸 Y puedes hacer arreglos maravillosos con ellos
The part that has always stuck with me after the duel is when Legba tears up the contract and walks away. Eugene makes his guitar sound like it's laughing at him lol. Love how the woman continued to dance like she was saying shit the show must go on.
I love the evil “handsome man” and “sexy bitch” characters! And how she dances in that sort of taunting, wild mocking way (just as the “handsome man” is mocking and cruel). I also like how she has no loyalty the Scratch’s “soldier.”
My grand dad loved Steve Vai, he would play this duel for me every day before school. What a time to be alive…still wish you were here GrandDad! This is for you ! RIP
Ele tocando Paganini no final, é sensacional. Justamente um violinista que dizem ter vendido a alma para o Devil. E esse duelo é justamente isso, quem perder o demo leva. Ele vai e toca uma das "Obras do demo" só que o mesmo não consegue reproduzir!!! Que simbologia da hora. Saudades de filmes bons!!!
Vai does a good job of playing his character. He's clearly embraced evil and seems to take a wicked delight in unleashing the final solo that he thinks will defeat Ralph Macchio. But when he can't match Macchio's response, you can see the damnation he knows is coming to him in his face. But he doesn't flinch from it. He just drops his guitar and walks out. That's some good acting!
Also, he is nothing like that character in real life. He is humble and kind, by all accounts. You can see it interviews. So, good acting, to be like someone you are not like, in real life.
He played "Fire on the Mountain" run boys, run The devil's in the House of the Rising Sun The chicken in a bread pan pickin' out dough Granny, will your dog bite? No child, no
@@johnmchugh8049 yes absolutely the first time I've read that in the comment section of this clip! Never ever seen a post mention that before. Really the first time I've seen someone sharing that information. Absolutely. The first time. For sure. Ever.
In '93, got an offer to drive a music equipment truck and replace the driver for a short band tour acrossthe states. Took the job (3 weeks) flew to Denver, (fm San Diego), notified the former driver I was taking his place (he was relieved) went back stage at the venue to see what I'd gotten myself into... Long story, short... It was Steve Vai on his Sex and Religion (initial) tour. Kinda hard, punkish music I was not familiar with. (I'm a 70s rocker...Zeppelin, Floyd etc) Had an 18 y/o wild child vocalist, jumping off speakers, rolling around on stage etc...moving along.... About the 2nd week, we were in Cleveland and I finally ran into Steve in the hotel lobby. We chatted about 10 minutes, in which I learned this: This scene in Crossroads was done twice, about 2 weeks apart. (due to some tech issue when filmed the 1st time) He admitted his salary for that scene was 100k and when they asked him back for the 2d take, he didn't get any xtra pay to do it again. He was so forthcoming, and had a gentle voice and way about him, but at his admission, he was "Not too happy about the 2d take" He gave in to this demand because he didn't want to let the other actors and movie set folks down. Was a nice intro to this gentleman. Oh, and as I've learned, one of the top guitarists ever. Although stressful, the last show of the remaining 3 week tour was downtown NYC. I last saw them at their hotel, as I was driving the truck back to Cali, and they were flying to Paris to open for Aerosmith. The band all signed a tour 'shirt' for me, and handed me the "cassette" Sex and Religion as a memoir. (Still have them, along with my backstage pass/ID.) And that ladies and gents is my "Almost Famous" story! Ha!
I saw him on that tour in Atlanta, GA. I wasn't a big fan of the vocalist. Vai is a great performer as well as a great guitarist. He really engaged the audience. It was an incredible show. Cool that you got to chat with him.
I bet the Devil was shitting rainbows when he realized he could expand his soul stealing when the internet, and later social media came about. He started giving everyone that wanted it 15+ minutes of fame, not just muscians and artists.
@@ReverendWin-id9gp Funny that you mention "lining up". I just finished episode 4 of the mini series drama on Hulu called DOPESICK. People were lined up outside "pain clinics" waiting to get their next OxyContin fix. Coincidentally, this leads to selling your soul to the Devil as well.
@@whipsmartchris Totally. It is everything that's wrong with rock, with the concept of the 'guitar hero' and America all in one skillful but meaningless, exhibitionist, juvenile, masturbatory noise fest. Anti-music music. Music as an olympic sport. Music for people that hate music. I suppose I could have just said I hate this shit !
This movie is a hidden gem and actually supernatural and spiritual. Saw this as a kid but took me years to understand that everyone in that room, beside Ralph and the old man, was dead and in hell. Let that sink in... also I didn't know that it was the devil who walked in that room and was smiling wickedly😱😲 Yes i was a kid and enjoy the movie but didn't know about the 'wishes', 'bargains', 'deals' and 'crossroads' lol Didn't understand why old Wiley was so eager to get to the Crossroads. Why he was so scared of death. I understand so much now.
Dead, yes but in hell? Like with Hitler and Manson hell? Mmmmm......so people decided to live for eternity in an inferno just so they can play the blues really well?
@@michaelbyrd7883 Hell is not the same for everyone. Who to say the other guitar guy haven't had his head chopped off many times? It's possible the devil only let's him play when he wants too. Maybe it's been many years since he touch a guitar? It's basically people selling their souls for whatever they want, then paying the ultimate price.
@@babytoshiro7014 Maybe. maybe. maybe....Maybe you believe in superstitions. You can't prove it or verify any of it! This is dumb, you're dumb if you believe this is real, it's make believe and you take hook, line and sinker.
The blues guitar in this movie when Eugene is lamenting over losing his girlfriend and Willie is doing his soliloquy is epic. That is how you play blues (Ry Cooder I'm guessing did that).
One of the things I liked about the scene (and film) a lot is the message that there are no shortcuts. Eugene wins because he's putting his life into his music. This isn't just a battle about the Blues, it's a battle about what it takes to truly succeed. Eugene is the player he is because of what we see in the film, but also because of the countless hours he learned classical style music and diligently practiced it. I love that it's this combination of skill and life experience that wins the duel; Willie didn't think much of it, but that's why Eugene wins and Willie took that shortcut earlier in life that derailed him for the long haul.
I think that despite his dream to be a great blues player, Eugene finally is true to himself when he unleashes the classical guitarist that he is meant to be. To thine own self be true.
@@andrewlayton9760 He now has a full understanding of Jamming. There can be no greater joy than prevailing in the house of Satin. He stood at the crossroads & didn't back down, what an amazing feat.
"Arlen Roth was Ralph Macchio's guitar tutor for the film and played many of his pieces. According to Roth on his website, the final duel was arranged from parts played by him, Steve Vai, Ry Cooder and Bill Kanengiser, who did the classical playing throughout the film." There's the real story behind the Crossroads guitar duel and all the players involved in Macchio's victorious battle over Vai. Steve's a great guitarist, but do you really think that he could play like Andrés Segovia or any other master of the classical guitar genre? No, that was Bill Kanengiser. So the winner of the guitar duel was really 4 players; Arlen Roth, Steve Vai, Ry Cooder, and Bill Kanengiser. Yes, Steve played all of Jack Butler's parts in the duel. Take care and Peace!
Ry Cooder and Steve Vai made the best guitar soundtrack to any movie ever made. I don't know how they can top that. Unless, in Ralph Macchio's latest series of Kobra Kai, Ralph walks into a music store, at the end of the series, like with all his other old opponents he faced up to, he meets up with Jack Butler at a Guitar Center while buying a guitar for his daughter. Most epic ending ever! A great cameo for Steve Vai!
Vai is really playing, Macchio is acting. Vai wrote the whole thing and if I remember right, he played all of it! Still awesome movie and hits perfectly on the typical Robert Johnson crossroads story and all rockers and others that came after him. Clapton is one who propagated that story successfully again...
Sigh...once again... You are wrong. Ry Cooder, Arlen Roth and William Kanengiser wrote/played all of Macchio's parts in the film. The classical piece that wins the duel was played by Kanengiser. It's from a violin concerto by Nicholas Pagnini, called Caprice No. 5. I'm sure Vai could play it all just fine. But it wasn't his work. Not even close.
A testament to the guitar godhood of Steve Vai. When I saw this in a theater I was just blown away. It was gutsy of Vai to agree to play the loser and deliberately screw up. Just shows you what a boss he is.
So you were blown away by a guy miming his part, take after take, while being filmed and then being edited together by a professional to give YOU the best play-acting effect possible? Really? I could understand if you were watching someone actually improvising LIVE and pulling all that off while actually competing but think about what you’re saying, mate! I mean go watch some revered documentary showing a true musical god (not a shredder - a true player and composer - blowing you away with his/her talent) then I’ll back you up!
@@whipsmartchris uh, So you're upset about someone being impressed/blown away by a scripted musical part that sounds, like this did? Is this really worth being this upset and it speaks more about you than the op's comment, don't you think? NOBODY said there weren't better or more impressive musical numbers but this is impressive. Irregardless, maybe you're just a little tired cuz it's late and you didn't mean to come across the way you did, eh? Now I know this wasn't directed to me but like you, I can "step in" and say something. God Bless, peace
@@pendragonshall Might be relevant if I was, in fact, upset. People misuse language so much so that it’s meaningless. Blown-away doesn’t mean impressed. I was trying to provide framework for how/why it wasn’t worthy. We’ve created a world where everything is either horrific or amazing; nothing in-between. Not cool.
@@whipsmartchris Um. You most certainly used the English language to convey you were upset. Very upset in fact. That is why I commented how I did. On your comment on this however "We’ve created a world where everything is either horrific or amazing; nothing in-between." Absolutely correct.
Actually Steve Vai beat himself He played both parts A performance so incredible Steve Val will always be remembered as one of the greatest guitarists in American music history Bravo Steve well done
Couldn't agree more. I had the pleasure of watching Vai play live on the G3 tour. I'm not much for comparing guitarists because so many have their own signature style and greatness. That said, Steve excels in so many genres, has a virtual endless array of riffs, total mastery of the fretboard, and displays an astounding discipline in duplicating every crazy lick, riff and weird funky sound from his studio tracks to the live stage with insane accuracy. At the start of the show, we chatted with a group sitting nearby and they were expounding on how Satriani was the greatest axe-man ever - and he certainly is great. They weren't too familiar with Vai, so I said pay close attention and you'll notice he never plays the same lick twice. By shows end, they turned and joyfully gave the 'we are not worthy' bow. They were instant Vai fans. Oh yea - and an old GF of mine went to LA a few years ago to visit a friend, and ran into Vai at a Starbucks of all places. He graciously did a selfie with her and my jaw dropped when she sent it to me. Peace!
However, Steve Vai put out an album called Elusive Light And Sound which includes the whole Head cuttin duel as it was heard in the movie including the previous head cuttin duel in which he won, that was subsequently cut out of the movie. (for time restrictions or something)
The dancing lady is exactly my wife in her younger days. Dress, figure, dance. When she danced the rest stood still to look at her. Love this video for good memories.
I like when Steve is playing a phrase on the neck with his left hand , he will point to it with his right hand. He is the only person I have seen do it, it is a simple thing to do, but looks so freaking cool.
When I was boy and the movie had just come out, I thought that woman was the most gorgeous thing I'd ever seen. With that dress and that huge flower in her hair, and of course the way she moved around the stage. I was twelve years-old, and yeah... exactly.
Vai's greatestt moments were always with Zappa in the early '80s. He got a chance to really work out on songs like Drowning Witch. Top of his game then and honestly made Frank a better axeman in the process. The dude is legendary.
I remember when I was first starting out, my friend that was is an excellent player turned me on to this & taught me lots about soloing. Really helped when we starting writing our music
I can't get enough of his tone, even after all these years. Every time I watch this and hear him play I hear Eat Em and Smile, that guitar tone is legendary to me.
Yo a ella tengo mucho que agradecer eso no lo niego aprendí muchas cosas gracias a ella pero no toda amistad cambio y le boy a gradeser pero cambiaron las cosas
Best tone. There are some guys named uh, let me think ,ok . Clapton, Page, Frampton, need I go on, that Vai would kiss their ass to be able to be a roadie for.
As a 16 year old testosterone fuelled 80s kid, i was all about jack butler and the flashy (but uninspired) tapping licks. As a 50 year old I can now hear the mammoth tone, nuance and sheer muscicality of Ry Cooders playing. It is a lesson in humilty and understanding that only time can mete out.
Totally agree! I'll be 45 in a couple of weeks. I've been playing guitar for 32 years now and this movie was a significant source of inspiration for me.
All of a sudden I'm 9 years old and seeing my father's apartment and watching this on his crappy VCR. Wow! I always thought this movie was rather underrated. Seeing it again after 36 years, has only reinforced that opinion.
Vai was fucking awesome in this. He looked so cool the way he was dressed and his hair and of course his great playing. That would have been awesome to be a 26 year old guitar virtuoso in 1986 and wind up in a film with the karate kid and get to play your interpretation of Paganini's 5th Caprice like Vai did. That was good publicity for a musician in the 80s. Of course today Vai is a certified rock legend.
I think he got this part just as he left Alcatrazz, & was about to record with David Lee Roth. Perfect timing! The stars were about to align for Steve. 😂
I bought this movie on VHS a long time ago and actually broke the type watching this part over and over again so many times. To me, this scene could have lasted 20 or 30 minutes. Can't find it on dvd though!
Stevie Vai was Taught by Joe Satriani, So was Kirk Hammett. Joe Satriani said "I Quit Football the day Jimi Hendrix Died, I told my Parents, I wanted to be a Guitar Player, My Sister was a School Teacher, She Bought me my First Guitar." When Dave Lee Roth Quit Van Halen, He hired Stevie Vai, Their Lp was Titled "Eat Em and Smile." David and Edward were Arguing in Guitar Player Magazine, Edward was asked his thoughts on Stevie Vai, Eddie Replied, "Man, I got no Beef with Davids Guitar Player, He's Good." That's a very High Compliment for Stevie Vai, Coming from Edward Van Halen. Stevie returned the Compliment and mentioned Edwards Tone, Intonation, Technique and said "Eddie Raised the Bar for Guitarists." Peace.
Amidst all the obvious attention to the guitar performances, can we just focus for a second on how terrifying Old Scratch is in this movie? No special effects, no CGI, just a black suit, a hat, and a grin. Nightmare-class scary. In a scene full of performances, he steals the whole thing.
@KalvinCoon I have been playing since 1989 and you do not get to that level in 6 months even if you practice 8 hours a day. Ry Cooder played the Ralph Macchio parts, Steve Vai played his own. The piece he played to win the duel is Paganini's Caprice #5.
Love the guitar and harmonica celebration after Vai's character accepts defeat. The spontaneous joyful reaction of the crowd and how the dancer switches loyalties is unexpected and enhances the moment. A great moment in cinematic history. Wonderful climax to the film.
Watched this scene way back,wow, but you knew who was the real deal and who was the actor.Vai wasn't too well known then but full credit to him for a degree of modesty and generosity you don't see often in a young guys with extraordinary talent. I dont think age has changed him.
Making the guitar laugh at the end was unwise. He was dealing with Legba after all 😁 Macchio played great pretend guitar but hearing two of the best fight it out was awesome.
What is interesting you don't often see Steve Vai's name on the Greatest Guitar Players list. As well as the Blues greats, Otis Rush, Buddy Guy, Albert Collins, Albert King, Lightnin' Hopkins and Robert Johnson to name a few. Those men were and are guitar masters. Instead many of the so called greats are not that but just a nobody that plays with a well known band.
I remember seeing the Trailer for this movie, Lightening was coming from Eugene's fingers, must have cut that from the movie, but he did keep the name.
Got a challenge for all here. Check out TEXAS FLOOD by Stevie Ray; and tell me SRV wasn"t the G.O.A.T. It's the live version of the song to watch him play.
That movie was very good. It was a sleeper. The guitar cutting heads challenge is similar a dual or a swordfight. The movie really was a sleeper. Pick up your axe and fight like a farmer.
