Steve is the real deal. He inspired me to keep recording after I became disabled...and met up with me 3 years later after I completed my song. He is genuinely a great human being: down to Earth, humble, gracious. Actually, my friend Vernon (Living Colour) told me Steve was the most humble guitarist on the Experience Hendrix tour they did together! Every Steve Vai piece of music contains a little piece of his heart and soul.
He 'learned Yngwie's whole show in one day'... to some that may sound like bragging, but he's just stating a fact. A true, natural talent, strongly grounded in his own spirituality. How he managed to not only keep things together and stay on track but improve at a time when most of the other quality L.A. musicians were falling apart is an inspiration to us all. His music is amazing, but he's far more than that...
Peter Marshall Vai was 30 years of age when he recorded this interview. I can't believe he's so 'self-aware' at that age...at 60 I could understand it, but kudos to him. He talks the talk, but he's also walked the walk without deviating too far from the path.
Loved that line And indeed if it would come from a lesser player it would be "arrogant" with Vai you just know he can do it with his eyes closed. What people often forget is that he transcribed for zappa and comparing that to normal rock it's like a marathon runner doing a 1 mile walk with kids ;) And yeah I love both styles of music. Vai is just a lot of levels above the rest
I was at that first show with Vai in Alcatrazz in Riverside California... they were literally booed off stage. Not that I didn't enjoy Steve Vai playing less than ten feet in front of me but as a band's first gig with a major guitarist in it it was a disaster
He stepped into Van Halen's shoes, then he eclipsed him. Vai is THE guitar/music fucking god. He is the reason I play the guitar, among other things, to this day. And he is so humble. He made the guitar player industry possible. I'll never forget the first time I heard Mr. Vai, aka Jack Butler, he changed music for the better and we all owe, big time!
Steve - you are a "class" guy - great interview with no ill words about anybody. Kinda like Tommy Emanuel... another "class" guy. You just do what you do - and you do it like nobody else. Nothing but absolute respect to you.
Vai, IMO, is technically the best player. His understanding of theory is unmatched. btw, I remember Zappa made a comment about some tune of his--the Black Page I think--that was not able to be transcribed, and Vai transcribed it at a really young age and that ultimately got him into the band. I remember seeing it a Guitar World mag but in the early 90s, it was the most intense notation I ever saw. Vai is a genius, I agree
I was taking lessons at the time from Scatterbrains guitarist Paul Neider and his band was on relativity that put out passion and warfare. Paul knew how much I liked Vai and the only thing he had released solo at the time was flexable. Before the cd was even released Paul gave me his personal copy that was just for people who were on Relativity. I listened to it with headphones on I was 16 it changed my life and his playing, composing has only gotten better. Thanks Steve for doing what u do!
I must admit, I never knew how smart he actually was until I saw this interview. I'm a HUGE Satriani fan, but I think I may buy a Vai CD to hear how good he actually sounds. To be honest, if it wasn't for Vai, I doubt if I would care what David Lee Roth sounded like as a solo artist.
Such a flash back here, I watched this the night it aired on Aussie MTV and I was IN LOVE........and I still am. Even have a VAI tatt on my back! Go little Stevie xx
wow.. he's pretty good lookin in this vid. lol. i love steve vai, just listening to him talk inspires me. i must say his music and just the way he plays makes me wanna go pick up my guitar and play my heart and soul out.
Wonderful and very inspiring interview. How many people actually work up the courage to follow their intuition? One in 1000? That commitment and courage is so rare, and it is that lesson that I take with me from this interview.
Wow, P&W is my first Vai album, I love it and I love Steve Vai! He's a major influence on my musicality. I always enjoy watching his interviews because he's so insightful and also so humble even though he's so amazing!!Oh and I just got me a JEM, baby :D
God I love that man,Steve Vai is the best and I'll take him over Malmsteen anytime.He is so inspiring and so is his music,I've never ever heard anything from him I didn't like.
wow, knew about Vai for a long time and occasionally listened to his material, been to a show few years back and thoroughly enjoyed it, but still I'm blown away by the reflectiveness and sincerity in this interview which seems deceptively simple but is subtly intelligent and touches upon profound questions in a spontaneous and unpretentious way. I believe every word he said.
Thank you for posting this! I remember the day Passion and Warfare came out...I RAN over to Tower Records and screamed "YES!!!" when I saw that Blue Powder was on the album! Intuition...the key that unlocks The Truth. It's so wonderfully obvious that you are playing from your intuition--your music is so purely true and beautiful. No note is arbitrary...it is all good! Jaya!
I want to read his novel if he ever made one. I know he made The Fire Coma stories (A.K.A Fire Garden), but id love to see his work. He's already a terrific musician and lyricist
nice to see this video, Vai was/is a huge inspiration to me, almost every song off P&W is a classic! I like what he said too, he tries to be original and not copy anyone, very nice Steve, hope to meet you one day and get a lesson. :)
