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Three-time Grammy Award-winning guitarist, producer, songwriter, and composer Steve Vai has spent decades playing solo and in some of the most influential rock groups of the 20th and 21st Centuries. Ranked among the 20 best guitarists of the decade by Guitar World magazine in 2019, Vai has played with rock legends like Frank Zappa, David Lee Roth, Whitesnake and more, and sold more than 15 million records. He has also recorded with a wide range of artists such as Public Image Ltd, Mary J. Blige, Spinal Tap, and Alice Cooper, and toured with live-only acts like G3, Zappa Plays Zappa and the Experience Hendrix tour.
Born in Carle Place, New York, in 1960, Vai began playing guitar as a child and spent his high school years playing in local bands. He attended Berklee College Of Music and worked for Frank Zappa as a transcriptionist. Relocating to Los Angeles, Vai toured with Zappa, who nicknamed Vai "Stunt Guitarist" and "Little Italian Virtuoso," and played on Zappa albums such as 1981's Tinsel Town Rebellion and You Are What You Is, 1982's Ship Arriving Too Late to Save a Drowning Witch, 1983's The Man From Utopia, and 1984's Them or Us and Thing-Fish.
In the mid-'80s, Vai set out on his own, recording two solo albums: 1984's Flex-Able and Flex-Able Leftovers. Also in the 1980s, Vai joined the Van Halen-inspired rock outfit Alcatrazz and made a cameo appearance in the movie Crossroads, where he played the Devil's guitarist. Soon, he landed a gig as the guitarist in David Lee Roth's newly formed solo band and played on the group's 1986 debut album Eat 'Em And Smile. Vai also played on the group's follow-up album, Skyscraper (1988). In 1988, Vai released his own line of guitars via Ibanez: the Jam 777 series.
After Skyscraper, Vai left Roth's band to work on another solo album (Passion And Warfare) and joined Whitesnake, with whom he recorded 1989's Slip Of The Tongue. He also released a seven-string guitar that eventually caught on with late-'90s nu-metal acts like Korn and Limp Bizkit.
In the early '90s, Vai formed a new band, VAI, and hired Devin Townsend on vocals, T.M. Stevens on bass, and Terry Bozzio on drums. The group released one album in 1993 called Sex & Religion. Two years later, he released an all-instrumental EP, Alien Love Secrets. Additional '90s solo projects included 1996's Fire Garden, 1998's Flex-Able Leftovers (a re-release of his out-of-print sophomore solo album with added tracks), and 1999's The Ultra Zone.
In the early 2000s, Vai released the compilation instrumental album The 7th Song: Enchanting Guitar Melodies - Archives Vol. 1 and a live record, Alive In An Ultra World. In 2001, Vai also released his career-spanning box set: the 10-disc The Secret Jewel Box. In 2002, Vai compiled a series of compositions he'd done for films such as Crossroads and the theme to Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey and put them together on a 40-track collection dubbed The Elusive Light and Sound, Vol. 1.
In 2005, Vai returned after a hiatus with Real Illusions: Reflections and toured with the Metropole Orchestra, releasing a double live album, Sound Theories, Vols. 1 & 2 (2007). In 2010, Vai teamed with the North Netherlands Orchestra, marrying rock compositions with orchestral arrangements. He called the partnership his "Evo Era."
Also in 2010, Vai did a number of televised performances with contemporary artists like Mary J. Blige, Orianthi, Travis Barker, Ron Fair, and Randy Jackson. Two years later, he dropped his eighth studio album, The Story Of Light, which notably featured a duet with Aimee Mann.
In 2015, Vai released a recording of an October 2012 show, Stillness In Motion: Vai Live In L.A. He later released 2016's Modern Primitive, which featured updated material from the 1980s. In 2022, Vai released his 10th studio album, Inviolate, which debuted at No. 1 on the Current Hard Rock Albums chart.
Catch legendary guitar Steve Vai on tour when he comes to a city near you.
Amazing!!!! Didn't want to move from watching the stage. He is an incredible guitarist, definately my favorite! I would go see him again and again. Gave me chills from start to finish. He is so animated while he is playing, truly enjoying his craft. Can't say enough about his show, the sound, lights and other musicians were perfect!
This review is for Steve Vai live at the Center Stage Theater in Atlanta, GA. on 8-23-12. First of all, if Steve Vai isn't your guitar hero, you must be confused and/or uninformed. This guy is absolutely astonishing. After hearing all of his recorded work and seeing many of his videos where he performed live I knew I was in for a treat - but FOR THE LOVE OF GOD this show transcended all expectations! He is in the best form of his career and if you are a living breathing human being you should not deprive yourself of seeing this wizard live. It was without any doubt the best live performance of any kind I have ever seen and I do not expect to ever see a performance live up to this for the remainder of my years on Earth. Yes it sounds inflated but this review may yet be an understatement! And the Venue is great with good sound and lighting.
Unbelievable show from start to finish! Steve Vai is unparalleled.
As usual, Vai performed an absolutely incredible show. The inclusion of a harpist was a nice surprise, as a couple of tunes on Story of Light feature the harp. What was most surprising was that he did some tunes that either he hasn't done for a while, or that I've NEVER heard him do, e.g., Rescue Me or Bury Me, pieces of Angel Food, The Audience is Listening, and For the Love of God. I know that FTLOG is a Vai staple, but I had never heard it live. He also made this more of a "show" than I was used to from him, as I typically see him on G3 or some other "package" tour. Seeing Whispering a Prayer again live was definitely a highlight for me, and Vai's fretwork just defies the laws of physics and human limitations. My only gripes (albeit slight) about the show would be that a) there was no Sheehan (although Philip Bynoe is no slouch), and b) Colson's drum solo was nothing to get excited about. He's a killer drummer, so I just expected a bit more from him. But overall, this was an amazing show, and even a bit more entertaining than the usual Vai show. I HIGHLY recommend!!!
Best concert I've been to in a while:) It brought me back to my youth......I miss the days of good ole rock and roll. Steve Vai is one of the most talented artists that I know and put on an incredible show! That's what I'm talking about:)
Everything I thought it was going to be and more. It was truly a surreal experience to say the least.
I was really looking forward to seeing Vai, it was my first time and was very excited about it. As it turns out the opening act this night cancelled (frankly I was thrilled about that b/c the girl he's got doesn't impress me, yes she can sing but just not my cup o tea) so many speculated Steve might come out early, he didn't and at first I felt a little annoyed but as soon as he came out all that went poof! Hands down the BEST performance of any musician or band I have ever seen. Steve delivered such a spectacular show, he was funny, entertaining even brought someone up on stage with him at one point. Bottom line if you can see Steve you must. You will NOT be disappointed. Last but not least watching Steve play live is way over and above seeing video footage of the man... what he does with the guitar is nothing short of supernatural I'm pretty sure he's not really human. Go see the show!
Had not seen Steve on solo tour since Passion and Warfare 15+ years ago. Wow. He rocked the house.. passionate.. sincere.. intimate with the audience.. he looked like he was genuinely enjoying himself. Band was solid.. especially the drummer and 2nd guitarist. Steve is an ace and no one plays the "liquid rock guitar" like he does.. If you love rock and roll virtuoso guitar.. then you cannot miss this tour.
Awesome performance. The venue was perfect and the show was unforgettable. I would recommend that you see this concert. If you like guitars you'll love Steve Vai
Amazing! I have been a Vai fan for 20 years and have been waiting since the Whitesnake days to see a live solo show. Despite having great expectations, it blew me away.
Opening acoustic act was very boring. Intimate but not exactly warming up the crowd for Vai. Vai begins with a few songs off his new album. This, to me, never makes sense. His first solo tour in 5 years and you fire up your audience with songs most don't know? I also hate when any artist takes 3 songs to thank and first address a crowd. Say hello for a second, thank the buying public, then begin. But as far as Vai classics, the 2.5 hour show had a few and seemed to work forward to back. Honestly it seems Satriani gets a crowd more into it. With Vai it's about virtuosity and that's about it. Satch gives you melodies and more pop appeal with catchy and memorable tunes. Vai still has it though and I don't think he made a single mistake all night. Overall, he's still got the chops and "sold out" the 1,500-3,000 seat auditorium.
Steve and his band put on a great show at the Florida Theater in Jacksonville Florida Saturday night. The new album The Story of Light is great and he played stuff off the and classics like Tender Surrender and For The Love Of God. Thanks Steve for coming to Jacksonville. We don't get too many performers like you to come to our city. I hope you make return visit.
Steve Vai was a showman and a top Knotch Virtuosuo in his own right . not only was his guitar playing flawless . But i enjoyed everything from the costumes , lights to the set list
Beverly McClellan of The Voice opened the show promptly at 8:00 with a 30-minute set of her brand of bluesy folk music. The crowd really loved Bev, and she came back later in the show to join Vai for a song. The intermission between acts was really short. Steve's band charged the stage about 10 minutes after Bev finished, and they played for 2 hours and forty-one minutes! Steve engages the crowd like no other guitar instrumentalist touring today. At one point during his show he brought a teenager on stage and literally wrote a song around noises that the boy hummed. At one point Steve says, "Do you mind if I add something? I am Steve Vai." The band began jamming on this new creation when Steve welcomes the legendary Steve Morse to the stage to jam with him. The place went nuts! Including Bev's set, the show lasted almost 3 1/2 hours. The crowd gave Steve a standing ovation as the show came to a end but clearly nobody in the house was ready to leave. Don't sleep on Bev either; she is completely different than Steve musically, but she offered a nice pallet of sonic morsels to warm up the audience.
Listened to Vai for years.. 1st time I was able to see him live.. Just phenomenal... I've seen satriani 7 times and Vai live blew him away!!
Vai and his band put on an excellent show. The band played for 2.5 hours and every memeber of the band was a virtuoso. The audience loved it and the band enjoyed playing. This is a show well worth seeing.
Steve's guitar work is still amazing and the muscians he has with him this tour are up to the task. Great show, new songs, old songs and as usuall allowed each member of the band to have a moment to showcase there ability. It didn,t hurt that Steve Morris joined them for a jam. The opening act for this tour is Beverly McClellan and she was great. Don't miss this one, you won't be dissappointed.
Excellent show as usual however some sound equipment trouble was annoying. If you're a fan of real rock then Vai always delivers
I loved it. And I will be going next time he is near!!
Steve Vai played excellent as always. Steve Morse showed up and jammed out with Steve and his band. The acoustics in the theater are some of the best in the state. Only thing negative I can say is the crowd actually sat through most of the show standing up only at the end of each song to clap. I just don't understand how the people of Jacksonville can sit there and listen to one of the greatest rock guitarists of our time and not GET UP AND ROCK OUT!
