Steve vai

Steven Siro Vai (Carle Place, June 6, 1960) is an American guitarist, songwriter, and music producer who has sold more than 15 million albums. After starting his career as a music transcriber for Frank Zappa, Vai recorded and toured in Zappa's band from 1980 to 1982. He began his solo career in 1983, has eight solo albums and has won three Grammy Awards. He has also recorded and toured with Public Image Ltd, Alcatrazz, David Lee Roth and Whitesnake. Vai has been a regular member of the G3 tour which began in 1995. In 1999, Vai started his own record label Favored Nations, intending to show as he describes, & #34;...to artists who have achieved the highest level of performance on their chosen instruments ". He is ranked #10 on the list of the greatest guitarists of all time, published by Guitar magazine World.

Biography

Beginnings

Steve Vai is a descendant of Italian immigrants living in Carle Place in Nassau County - New York. During his youth, Vai became interested in such rock greats as Jimmy Page, Brian May, Alice Cooper and Jimi Hendrix which furthered his interest in learning guitar. Before entering Berklee College of Music, Vai took lessons with rising guitarist Joe Satriani and played in many local bands. During this time he was influenced by guitarists such as Jeff Beck and fusion guitarist Allan Holdsworth.

Career

Born June 6, 1960 in Long Island, New York (he turned six on the sixth day of the sixth month, 1966, as he commented in the introduction to his book of Frank Zappa transcriptions).

At twelve years old, Steve is drawn to the instrument that would later become his profession: the guitar. This causes him to start taking classes, with Joe Satriani who was sixteen years old. This is where Vai's career as a guitarist begins.

Steve Vai gained mainstream recognition working for legendary musician, producer and songwriter Frank Zappa. At first Vai only did the transcriptions of his guitar parts. When he was twenty years old, Frank asked Vai to join the band. He tells an anecdote that Steve told him: "Frank, I want to be like you," to which Zappa replied: "Impossible, you're too young to be bald."

In the early 1980s he left Zappa's band and recorded his first solo album, "Flex-Able," and replaced Yngwie J. Malmsteen on lead guitar in Alcatrazz. A short time later he released his second solo album & # 34; Flex-Able Leftovers & # 34; with themes recorded during the preparation of his first album but ultimately not included. He then teamed up with former Van Halen front-man , David Lee Roth to record two albums, & # 34;Eat them and smile & # 34; and "Skyscraper", as well as a Spanish version of the former titled "Sonrisa salvaje". In 1986 he jumped to the big screen appearing in the legendary final duel of the film Crossroads ("Crossroads" or "Crossroads"), by director Walter Hill, where he played the role of the devil guitarist named Jack Butler facing off in a guitar duel against a young virtuoso guitarist from the Julliard school, played by Ralph Macchio (famous for his role in Karate Kid). In this film Vai interacts playing his part with Ry Cooder playing the part of Ralph Macchio and William Kanengiser playing the classical guitar parts including "Eugene's Trick Bag& #3. 4; composed by William Kanengiser the first half of the arpeggios and the second half by Vai himself, based on Paganini's Capricho No. 5. The crossroads duel was performed in live concerts alongside Mike Keneally.

Later he played for Whitesnake and legendary singer David Coverdale on the album Slip of the tongue (1989) and in 1990 he recorded his third album "Passion and Warfare" gaining worldwide attention in her solo career. At this time he won a Grammy for his participation in the tribute album to Zappa "Zappa's Universe", for his solo on "Sofa", being criticized by several musicians giving recognition to Mike Keneally, for his participation in that album.

In 1991 he participated together with Joe Satriani among others in the Legends of the Guitar concert organized for the celebration of the Universal Exposition of Seville 1992.

In 1993 the album titled Sex & Religion, with a new lineup, Devin Townsend (vocals), Terry Bozzio (drums) and T.M.Stevens (bass). Put aside the solo style with more of a band dynamic. It is a mostly vocal album, and partly controversial due to the content of its lyrics.

In 1995 Steve recorded an album entitled "Alien Love Secrets", of which he later presented a DVD version with the videos of the songs that make up this album. The album consists of seven instrumental tracks, and was recorded in six weeks.

In September 1996, "Fire Garden" was released. Embodying a new band and style. An extensive album of 18 songs, dealing with the first half of instrumental songs and the second incorporating sung songs, and Steve consolidating his facet as a singer.

Also in 1996 he participated in the tour called G3 together with Joe Satriani (the organizer) and Eric Johnson, where he was accompanied by Mike Keneally on keyboards and guitar. A live album of the same name is recorded.

Steve Vai.

Arriving in the middle of 1999, the album The Ultra Zone appears, largely instrumental, with five songs sung. It is an album made up of thirteen fairly varied songs.

In the year 2000 Steve Vai records his first live album, Alive in an ultra World, featuring songs that characterize the countries he visited on The Ultra Zone tour. i>.

A second G3 album with guitar virtuoso Yngwie J. Malmsteen is recorded in 2003.

Later, in 2004, Steve Vai released his second live album, "Live In Astoria: London", where he selected recordings of his performances at the Astoria in London, compiling them on this album. He once again performed with Joe Satriani on a G3 tour, this time featuring the legendary Robert Fripp.

His album released in 2005 is titled Real Illusions: Reflections and to present it he went on a world tour with top-class musicians, such as Tony Macalpine (guitar and keyboards), Billy Sheehan (bass), Jeremy Colson (drums and percussion) and Dave Weiner (electric and acoustic guitar), that same year he participated in a new G3 alongside Satriani and John Petrucci.

In 2006 he participated in a tribute tour to Frank Zappa, organized by the latter's son, Dweezil.

In 2007 he recorded the double album "Sound Theories Vol. I & II".

Vai, together with the guitar brand Ibanez, created the JEM series in 1986, also designing the first seven-string guitar for the brand, called the Ibanez Universe UV77MC. He also, together with Ibanez, developed the first and only three-neck guitars, called JEM Tripleneck . The live use of this type of guitar (in the G3 of 2003) sets the standard for the level that Steve has reached. In 2000 together with Carvin he created according to his specifications his own series of amplifiers called Legacy .

Today, Steve is one of the main representatives of Ibanez worldwide, and has managed to make said factory one of the largest and most important worldwide, thanks to his promotion of it using his Signature models. On October 24, 1997, he played live at the Ibanez 90th Anniversary Celebration Party, an event held at the Nissin Power Station in Japan, with the collaboration of the prestigious Tama battery brand. This event included two important guitar stars: the legendary Paul Gilbert and Andy Timmons, who was part of the lineup of the band that would play at the event. Both Gilbert and Timmons are two of the most renowned guitarists today and both are Ibanez guitar users, owning their own Signature models just like Vai.

Musical style

Although Vai's contributions to other material have been largely constrained by the rock or heavy-rock style, his own material is somewhat more eclectic. Vai's style has been characterized as bouncy and angular, due to her deep knowledge of music theory, her ease and superb technique on the instrument.

Team

I'm in a performance with your Ibanez.

Vai is an accomplished studio producer, (he owns two: "The Mothership" [1] and "The Harmony Hut" [2]) on his recordings he combines the power of his signature guitar with heavy studio use and recording effects, such as the Eventide H3000 ultra harmonizer and Digidesign's Pro Tools HD.

As for his guitar, he helped design his signature series of guitars, the Ibanez JEM. These have a grip (commonly called a 'monkey grip') on the top of the body of the guitar. It has three pickups: a humbucker in the bridge, a single coil in the middle, and another humbucker in the neck. They are all different models (Evolution, Breed and EVO 2) of the DiMarzio brand. He also uses what is called 'Ibanez's Edge locking tremolo system'. Steve also outfits many of his guitars with an Ibanez stop and a tremolo stabilizer. A 7-string guitar model was designed by him under the name Ibanez Universe. He also owns an Ibanez signature model acoustic guitar, the Euphoria. Before using Ibanez Steve had tried Jackson guitars but the contract only lasted two years.

Steve Vai also worked with Carvin Guitars and Pro Audio to develop a line of guitar amplifiers. Vai wanted to create an amp that had a unique, balanced sound, versatile, and adaptable to any guitar, something he hadn't been able to achieve with other amps.

Throughout his long musical career, he has used and designed an arsenal of guitars. He even had his DNA put into the paintwork of one of his signature guitars, the JEM2KDNA ^{[citation needed ]} . Only 300 of these guitars were made. Currently he mostly uses his white JEM7V, which has the letters "Evo" written on it on a piece of tape, mainly to differentiate it from its twin guitar "Flo", although "Flo& #3. 4; He wears a Fernandes sustainer.

Among his army of guitars he includes "Mojo", an acrylic guitar that has built-in internal lights; a three-necked guitar, which has the same features as their JEM7V guitars. Its upper neck has twelve strings, the middle one is a typical six-string guitar and the lower neck is fretless and features a Fernandes Susteiner. This last guitar was used during the G3 tour on the 2003 tour, for the performance of I Know You're Here. Vai's pedals include a modified Boss DS-1, an Ibanez Tube Screamer, a Morley Bad Horsie, a Korg Pandora PRX4, a Morley Little Alligator Volume pedal, a Digitech Whammy, and an MXR Phase 90.

Movies

• Steve Vai's music has had room in several movies like Dudes and Ghosts of Mars.
• It appeared on screen in 1986 in the movie Crossroads, starring Ralph Macchio, playing the demonized guitarist Jack Butler. In the climax of the film, Vai faces in a guitar duel with Macchio, whose parts of the duel were made by Vai and Ry Cooder, who plays the initial part with slide at the beginning of the duel and the other performances of Macchio at the beginning of the film. The piece with which Macchio wins the competition is a neoclassical piece called Eugene's Trick Bag also composed by Vai. The theme is based on the Capricho No. 5 of Niccolò Paganini. Steve Vai used the riff opening of the theme Head Cuttin' Duel for the theme called Bad Horsie of its 1995 EP Alien Love Secrets. Later the work done by Vai in Crossroads and other films would reappear in 2002, forming part of the album The Elusive Light and Sound, volume 1.
• In the movie Bill Ted's Bogus Journey Introductory riff Kiss' God Gave Rock 'N Roll To You II as the theme played in the battle of bands was written and played by Vai.
• He also composed the soundtrack PCU (1994), and made contributions in 2001 for John Carpenter's films, Ghosts of Mars, touching the themes Ghosts of Mars and Ghost Poppin. Her theme I'm the Hell Outta Here can be heard during the film Encino Man When Brendan Fraser is taking his driving lessons.

Philanthropy

In 2005, Vai was listed as an official supporter of Little Kids Rock, a non-profit organization that provides free music instruments and classes to public school youth in the United States. His name is on the directors' list as an honorary member.

He is also the founder of the Make A Noise foundation that provides instruments and musical training to children without access to it.

Favored Nations

Vai owns Favored Nations, a music recording and publishing company that specializes in recruiting and retaining musicians internationally. Favored nations is divided into three sections, 'Favored Nations', 'Favored Nations Acoustic' and 'Favored Nations Cool (Jazz style)'

Current artists in Favored Nations include Yngwie Malmsteen, Eric Johnson, Tommy Emmanuel, Vernon Reid, Andy Timmons, The Yardbirds, Larry Coryell, Mimi Fox, Eric Sardinas, Dweezil Zappa, Dave Weiner and Johnny A.

Personal life

Vai is married to Pia Maiocco, former bassist of Vixen (member from 1984 to 1986, before the band's heyday from their first album released in 1988). Steve and Pia have two children, Julian Angel and Fire. In his spare time, Vai enjoys caring for bees, whose honey is sold for his Make a Noise foundation.

Discography

Solo Albums

• Flex-Able (1984)
• Flex-Able Leftovers (1984)
• Passion and Warfare (1990)
• Sex Religion (1993)
• Alien Love Secrets (1995)
• Fire Garden (1996)
• The Ultra Zone (1999)
• The Seventh Song (2000)
• Alive in an Ultra World (2001)
• The Elusive Light and Sound, Vol. 1 (2002)
• The Infinite Steve Vai: An An Anthology (2003)
• Real Illusions: Reflections (2005)
• Sound Theories (2007)
• Where The Wild Things Are (2009)
• The Story of Light (2012)
• Modern Primitive (2016)
• Inviolate (2022)

Zappa album appearances

With other artists

Soundtracks

Compilations