I remeber staying up ALL NIGHT waiting for this part of the show when I was a kid!!! Amazing!!! Thanks so much for posting this!! Ahhh... the memories! Joey Lodes
All I can say is that this is the master at work. Mr Vai cannot put a foot worng. Brillaint work and the best was yet to come from him later on. Top marks.
This video is awesome. It has an incredible historical value. Plus, it's always good to see Steve playing an Universe. Wish he started playing an Universe again!
That album is so creative. Many folks just think of him as a shredding tool, but this man created some beautiful outside of the box sounds that were/are fun to listen to. P&W takes me thru a myriad of emotions in about 60 minutes. Genius, dramatic performer and nice dude.
I remember seeing this when it happened. That segment where Dave is "rifling" through random phone books was hilarious. He would get his assistant to bring in a phone book from somewhere in the middle of the United States in a rural area, and randomly call a number from the book and ask them "How's the weather?" and I remember the woman that answered that night was clueless and funny. I was standing up from the couch when Dave said "What the new guy is too good to play some rifling music?" and Steve responded with 'Whole Lotta Love' in a New York minute. Such a quick-witted and PERFECT response. And Dave's reaction was real and genuine and pretty much matched everyone's surprise.
Oh man! I wish I could've been in the audience that night. Hell, I had know idea it was even on. But the cassette was in the car stereo at the time. Believe ME, it was! TIMELESS GREAT!
Wow, he pretty much did all Henrix (Spanish Castle Magic, Wait until Tomorrow, Voodoo Child) I love how the band guitarist just stares at him at around 4:23. It's like an alien were there.
anything vai plays is freaking gold,that man could play mary had a little lamb and i record it and listen to it 100 times! VAI ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You can find original H3000 units on eBay. They were the newest thing in 1990. Eventide has the H8000, H7600, and eclipse units now. These rack units are not cheap, but are some of the best out there.
Simply awesome... I got this album the day it came out... I so over played this record over and over. So raw so Steve... so cool. Awesome to see this on Dave's program. Thank you for posting this video!!
this version of spanish castle magic is beautiful... in my opinion steve must do a complete concert with jimi's songs, a tribute .... sarebbe bellissimo
I suspect it was just a prop, which is even funnier. I *think* Vai was still rockin' the Carvin X100B as his main live amp. Still, surprised that wouldn't wheel in some kind of half-stack instead of making him look like a middle-school kid. (I don't mean that as criticism for the Marshall, but Vai is a tube amp purist.)
I was alive for this, but didn't know it was happening so I missed it! Wish the vid could be restored more, but I understand all too well what happens to magnetic tape over time. Steve is still the best, still innovating... new album here in 2022 Inviolate is the best since Passion & Warfare and Alien Love Secrets.
He's STILL Untouchable! His new album Inviolate has the Hydra guitar, a new bending style he taught himself, and now he's a guest star on Polyphia's single Ego Death and he just takes their awesome and elevates it even further! He may be over 60 now but he doesn't slow down, he's on tour right now!
I remember seeing this show live and video taping it. Awesome performance. That's a seven string guitar btw. That's how he gets those very unique and interesting notes. Vai is one of the best.
That gig on Letterman is harder than it looks. The band covers about 20 songs a show, and they are condensed versions mostly. If you've ever seen the show live in NYC, the band is also very, very tight as they have to be for television. Not a very fun musical venue, but it beats flippin' burgers at Wendy's I suppose.
It actually should be pointed out what amazing musicians Paul Shaeffer(sp?) and the CBS orchestra are. And if I ever start my own country, Vai's Liberty is going to be my national anthem.
Steve Vai .... REALLY the Best Guitarist of todays I Mean i am the BIGGEST Fan of Jimmy Page , Clapton , Van Halen and Hendrix for shure , They are the Kings , But Stevie here ...OMG He is UNBELIEVABLE good GREAT SHOW
There would be no Vai(as we know him) without Jimmy Page. He has said in many interviews that "Jimmy Page and the music of Led Zeppelin was really the thing that pushed me into an obsession". That is a direct quote.
He has the ability to be a total badass but almost never turns that switch on anymore. Steves really matured over the years and has became a self-fulfilled prophet. I just wish he was a bit conceded so his playing really gets through to ignorant listeners, because even today, at the age of 51 going on 52, not too many people can outplay him. Hes the rocky of guitar.
how young is david latterman.. OMG... he makes Vai look old.. hahaha.. love you Vai... you seriously rock... seen you at G3 in aus.... loved it... you be the best...
I remember sitting up late one night and seeing this 🤯 I live in Australia so I had no idea he was on Letterman that night😱 Anyway it was one of those nights as a teenage kid that I'll never forget ☺️
@MaggotIam this song used a popular device called an Eventide Harmonizer. Basically two delays pitched up and down and panned left and right. Cool huh.
