Steve Vai, born Steven Siro Vai, is an American guitarist and composer, born June 6th, 1960 in Long Island, New York (making him six years old on the sixth day of the sixth month in 1966, as he noted in the introduction to his guitar transcription book of Frank Zappa). Vai is best known for his self-composed, performed and produced guitar instrumental music, but he has also played on the recordings of several other rock acts.
Steve Vai made his name playing 'stunt guitar' with the legendary rock performer, composer, music producer, and publishing mogul Frank Zappa. In the early 80's he replaced Yngwie Malmsteen (a good friend) as lead guitarist in Graham Bonnett's Alcatrazz. Then he joined former Van Halen front man David Lee Roth's group to record the albums Eat 'em and Smile and Skyscraper. Vai also stepped into guitarist Adrian Vandenberg's shoes to record with British rock legends Whitesnake (after Adrian Vandenberg injured his wrist due to some exercises he found in a book and tried out) shortly before recording was due to begin for the album Slip of the Tongue.
Steve Vai continues to tour regularly, both with his own group and with his one time teacher and fellow Grammy award winning guitar instrumentalist friend Joe Satriani (on the G3 series of tours). Steve recently teamed up with former David Lee Roth band member Bassist Billy Sheehan for a world tour. G3 2003 features Steve, Joe Satriani and Yngwie Malmsteen.
Steve Vai's music has featured in a number of feature films, including Dudes, Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey and Ghosts of Mars. He appeared onscreen in the 1986 Ralph Macchio vehicle Crossroads, playing the demonically-inspired Jack Butler. At the film's climax, Vai engages in a guitar duel with Macchio (with Ry Cooder dubbing Macchio's part). The 32nd note quick tempo pseudo-classical-baroque track (entitled Eugene's Trick Bag) with which Macchio wins the competition was composed by Vai, heavily based on Paganini's Caprice Op. 1 # 5, and has become a favorite apprentice-piece among many guitar students. Vai received a Grammy Award in 1991.
Where Vai's contributions to others' material has been constrained by the largely rock or heavy-rock style of those bands, his own material is considerably more esoteric. Vai is an accomplished studio producer (he owns two: 'The mother ship' and 'The harmony hut') and his own recordings combine his signature guitar prowess with novel compositions and considerable use of studio and recording effects.
Steve Vai owns 'Favored Nations', a recording and publishing business which specialises in looking after both newly discovered and already high profile recording artists from around the world.
Vai is married with two children (Julian Angel & Fire) to Pia (former Bassist of All-Female Group 'Vixen', which can be seen in the movie 'Hardbodies'). He also enjoys keeping bees, which regularly produce a crop of honey that Steve sells for his chosen charity every year through his web site.
Vai also helped design his signature Ibanez JEM series of guitars. They feature a handgrip cut into the top of the body of the guitar. They also use a humbucker-single coil-humbucker pickup set-up and a locking tremolo bar.
Discography
- Flex-Able (1984)
- Flex-Able Leftovers (1984)
- Passion and Warfare (1990)
- Sex and Religion (1993)
- Alien Love Secrets (1995)
- Fire Garden (1996)
- The Ultra Zone (1999)
- The Seventh Song (2000)
- Alive In An Ultra World (2001)
- Elusive Light and Sound 1 (2002)
- The Infinite Steve Vai: An Anthology (2003)
- Real Illusions: Reflections (Release Date: February 22, 2005)
Steve Vai - Flex-Able (1984)
Steve’s first album was originally available on vinyl and cassette through mail order, but was later re-released on CD in 1988 with some bonus tracks* from Flex-Able Leftovers added. Three versions of artwork and four slightly different versions of the album exist worldwide.
Playlist files:
02 - Viv Woman (3:09)
03 - Lovers Are Crazy (5:39)
04 - Salamanders In The Sun (2:25)
05 - The Boy-Girl Song (4:02)
06 - The Attitude Song (3:23)
07 - Call It Sleep (5:09)
08 - Junkie (7:23)
09 - Bill's Private Parts (0:16)
10 - Next Stop Earth (0:34)
11 - There's Something Dead In (3:46)
12 - So Happy (2:43)
13 - Bledsoe Bluvd (4:22)
14 - Burnin' Down The Mountain (4:22)
15 - Chronic Insomnia (2:05)
Download : Part II
Steve Vai - Flex-Able Leftovers (1998)
The creative concept for Flex-Able was to release it on Evatone Flexi-discs in a trilogy of a three disc package, hence the name Flex-Able. But then that idea was supplanted with the realization that it could actually be released as a full length, vinyl record. Heck, it could even end up in stores!
Playlist files:
02 - So Happy (2:43)
03 - Bledsoe Bluvd (4:22)
04 - Natural Born Boy (3:34)
05 - Details At 10 (5:57)
06 - Massacre (3:25)
07 - Burnin' Down The Mountain (4:19)
08 - Little Pieces Of Seaweed (5:11)
09 - San Sebastian (1:07)
10 - The Beast Of Love (3:30)
11 - You Didn't Break It (4:19)
12 - The X-Equalibrium Dance (5:09)
13 - Chronic Insomnia (2:02)
Download : Part II
Steve Vai - Passion And Warfare (1990)
This album was summed up pretty well in Guitar Player magazine as “the mother load.” It took many years to make, considering that I started before even joining David Lee Roth.
02 - Erotic Nightmares (4:15)
03 - The Animal (4:01)
04 - Answers (2:56)
05 - The Riddle (6:24)
06 - Ballerina 12 24 (1:43)
07 - For The Love Of God (6:03)
08 - The Audience Is Listening (5:30)
09 - I Would Love To (3:41)
10 - Blue Powder (4:44)
11 - Greasy Kid's Stuff (2:58)
12 - Alien Water Kiss (1:10)
13 - Sisters (4:07)
14 - Love Secrets (3:40)
Download : Part II
Steve Vai - Sex & Religion (1993)
After the success of Passion and Warfare, there was pressure to make a more mainstream record. But, instead of touring to support PAW and developing a concert audience for the future, then going in and making another record, I opted to take a bunch of pre-adolescent kids and spend 18 solid months of 15-hour days on making a record. The band broke up shortly after the record was released...
02 - Here & Now (4:47)
03 - In My Dreams With You (5:01)
04 - Still My Bleeding Heart (6:00)
05 - Sex & Religion (4:24)
06 - Dirty Black Hole (4:27)
07 - Touching Tongues (5:33)
08 - State Of Grace (1:41)
09 - Survive (4:46)
10 - Pig (3:36)
11 - The Road To Mt. Calvary (2:35)
12 - Down Deep Into The Pain (8:01)
13 - Rescue Me Or Bury Me (8:25)
Steve Vai - Alien Love Secrets (1995)
I was working on Fire Garden (then still tentaively titled Fire Coma) and knowing that it was going to be a very detailed and in-depth record, I stopped in the middle and wrote and recorded Alien Love Secrets in less than 6 weeks.
Genre : Instrumental rock
02 - Juice (3:44)
03 - Die To Live (3:53)
04 - The Boy From Seattle (5:03)
05 - Ya-Yo Gakk (2:52)
06 - Kill The Guy With The Bal (7:02)
07 - Tender Surrender (5:01)
Download :
Playlist files:
02 - The Crying Machine (4:50)
03 - Dyin' Day (4:29)
04 - Whookam (0:36)
05 - Blowfish (4:03)
06 - The Mysterious Murder Of (1:02)
07 - Hand On Heart (5:25)
08 - Bangkok (2:46)
09 - Fire Garden Suite a) Bull (9:56)
10 - Deepness (0:47)
11 - Little Alligator (6:12)
12 - All About Eve (4:38)
13 - Aching Hunger (4:45)
14 - Brother (5:04)
15 - Damn You (4:31)
16 - When I Was A Little Boy (1:18)
17 - Genocide (4:11)
18 - Warm Regards (4:06)
Download : Part II
Steve Vai - The Ultra Zone (1999)
Playlist files:
02 - The Ultra Zone (4:52)
03 - Oooo (5:12)
04 - Frank (5:09)
05 - Jibboom (3:46)
06 - Voodoo Acid (6:25)
07 - Windows To The Soul (6:25)
08 - The Silent Within (5:00)
09 - I'll Be Around (4:57)
10 - Lucky Charms (6:44)
11 - Fever Dream (6:03)
12 - Here I Am (4:12)
13 - Asian Sky (5:34)
Download : Part II
Steve Vai - The 7th Song (2000)
Playlist files:
02 - Touching Tongues (5:32)
03 - Windows To The Soul (6:25)
04 - Burnin' Down The Mountain (4:19)
05 - Tender Surrender (5:10)
06 - Hand On Heart (5:26)
07 - Melissa's Garden (7:54)
08 - Call It Sleep (5:04)
09 - Christmas Time Is Here (4:13)
10 - The Wall Of Light (2:38)
11 - Boston Rain Melody (4:34)
Download : Part II
Alive In An Ultra World (2001)
This is an indulgent compilation of music with many little guitar notes! Sitting in the Sebel Hotel bar Wednesday, February 6th, 1997 in Perth, Australia, that’s when it happened. The concept was to compose music for a live album that would be recorded at the concerts in various countries. The songs would reflect elements of the traditional music of the culture of the country they were recorded in. Unfortunately, the Fire Garden tour I was on at the time was nearly over and it was not going to be for another 2 years that another world tour would be launched. It was a cool idea but a logistical nightmare. First we had to build a mobile studio that would retain state of the art quality of the recordings and have the flexibility to be set up every night, and work without fail. Then there was the research involved in studying the music of these cultures and extracting the basic gist to create an original composition, then orchestrating the arrangements for a 5-piece rock band.
02 - Burning Rain (4:50)
03 - The Black Forest (6:38)
04 - Alive In An Ultra World (3:53)
05 - Devil's Food (10:09)
06 - Blood And Glory (4:53)
07 - Whispering A Prayer (8:45)
08 - Iberian Jewel (4:38)
09 - The Power Of Bombos (5:04)
10 - Incantation (8:53)
11 - Light Of The Moon (5:47)
12 - Babushka (6:42)
13 - Being With You (In Paris) (6:24)
14 - Principessa (5:51)
15 - Brandos Costumes (Gentle (6:04)
Download : Part II
Steve Vai - The Elusive Light And Sound Vol. 1 (2002)
This disc collects Vai’s many contributions to film music, including the much-sought after duel scene from the movie Crossroads (including a guitar duel with Shuggie Otis, which never made it to the film). The album opens with an apropos version of The Kinks’ “Celluloid Heroes,” and “Love Blood,” a track Vai intended for the Tom Cruise/Brad Pitt film version of Anne Rice’s novel Interview With A Vampire that never made it to the film. Also includes tracks recorded for Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey, Encino Man, Dudes and various other contributions to soundtracks and films. Some pieces are long, others merely 15 seconds in length.
02 - Love Blood (4:48)
03 - Fried Chicken (2:29)
04 - Butler's Bag (1:07)
05 - Head-Cuttin' Duel (4:43)
06 - Eugene's Trick Bag (2:27)
07 - Amazing Grace (1:52)
08 - Louisiana Swamp Swank (3:15)
09 - Air Guitar Hell (0:40)
10 - The Reaper (3:25)
11 - Introducing The Wylde Sta (0:45)
12 - Girls Mature Faster Than (0:14)
13 - The Battle (2:24)
14 - Meet The Reaper (0:40)
15 - Final Guitar Solo (1:35)
16 - The Reaper Rap (5:46)
17 - Drive The Hell Out Of Her (1:28)
18 - Get The Hell Out Of Here (3:53)
19 - Welcome Pre-Frosh (0:48)
20 - The Dark Hallway (1:07)
21 - The Dead Band Ends (0:56)
22 - The Cause Heads (1:18)
23 - Find The Meat (0:26)
24 - The Ax Will Fall (0:39)
25 - Now We Run (Cue) (0:44)
26 - Hey Jack (0:21)
27 - What! (0:08)
28 - Still Running (0:28)
29 - Dead Heads (3:12)
30 - Blow Me Where The Pampers Is.mp3
31 - Pins & Needles.mp3
32 - Plug My Ass In.mp3
33 - Loose Keg Sightings.mp3
34 - Don't Sweat It.mp3
35 - How Hidge.mp3
36 - Beer Beer.mp3
37 - We're Not Gonna Protest.mp3
38 - Initiation.mp3
39 - See Ya Next Year.mp3
40 - Now We Run.mp3
Steve Vai - The Infinite Steve Vai: An Anthology (2003)
A career-spanning collection of 32 digitally remastered tracks over 2CDs - including work with other artists such as Alcatrazz and Whitesnake. Sony/Epic released this CD as part of their “Legacy” series.
Playlist files:
Disc one
01 - Liberty" – 2:04
02 - Die to Live" – 3:53
03 - The Attitude Song" – 3:22
04 - Salamanders in the Sun" – 2:25
05 - The Animal" – 4:02
07 - The Riddle" – 6:26
08 - For the Love of God"– 6:03
09 - Bangkok" (Björn Ulvaeus, Tim Rice) – 2:46
10 - Fire Garden Suite: Bull Whip/Pusa Road/Angel Food/Taurus Bulba" – 9:56
11 - Ya-Yo Gakk" – 2:54
12 - Blue Powder" – 4:44
13 - Bad Horsie" – 5:52
14 - Tender Surrender" – 5:05
15 - All About Eve" – 4:38
16 - Dyin' Day" – 4:29
17 - The Blood & Tears" – 4:25
18 - The Silent Within" – 5:00
Disc Two
20 - Feathers" – 5:1121 - Frank" – 5:08
22 - Boston Rain Melody" – 4:39
23 - Kittens Got Claws" (David Coverdale, Adrian Vandenberg) – 4:59
24 - Lighter Shade of Green" – 0:47
25 - Giant Balls of Gold" – 4:45
26 - Whispering a Prayer" – 8:47
27 - Jibboom" – 3:45
28 - Windows to the Soul" – 6:26
29 - Brandos Costumes (Gentle Ways)" – 6:05
30 - The Reaper" – 3:26 (From Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey)
31 - Christmas Time Is Here" (Vince Guaraldi, Lee Mendelson) – 4:21
32 - Essence" – 5:51
33 - Rescue Me or Bury Me" – 8:26
34 - Burnin' Down the Mountain" – 4:21
Steve Vai - Real Illusions_ Reflections (2005)
Steve’s first true studio album in five years, Real illusions: Reflections is a “rock fable” described as “the first part of a multilayered menagerie of vignettes based on the amplified mental exaggerations of a truth-seeking madman who sees the world.. Oh, never mind.”
02 - Dying For Your Love (4:50)
03 - Glorious (4:35)
04 - K'm-Pee-Du-Wee (4:00)
05 - Firewall (4:19)
06 - Freak Show Excess (6:51)
07 - Lotus Feet (6:45)
08 - Yai Yai (2:37)
09 - Midway Creatures (3:42)
10 - I'm Your Secrets (4:27)
11 - Under It All (8:07)
Steve Vai - Sound Theories Vol. 1-2(2007)
Sound Theories Vol. I & II is in stores now! A limited edition deluxe digipak is also available exclusively through Vai.com. The deluxe digipak features extra photos and a full-color booklet and 2,500 random copies will contain a satin pass that will admit the purchaser into any one (1) meet & greet aftershow on Steve's upcoming Sound Theories tour.
02 - The God Eaters (2:09)
03 - The Murder Prologue (1:10)
04 - The Murder (7:56)
05 - Gentle Ways (5:48)
06 - Answers (5:44)
07 - I'm Becoming (2:20)
08 - Salamanders In The Sun (5:06)
09 - Liberty (2:06)
10 - The Attitude Song (4:37)
11 - For The Love Of God (9:35)
12 - Shadows And... (8:42)
13 - Sparks (9:27)
14 - Frangelica, Pt.1 (3:04)
15 - Frangelica, Pt.2 (10:30)
16 - Helios And Vesta (8:19)
17 - Bledsoe Bluvd (10:08)
1 comments:
nice..
it's so cool
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