Steve Vai

Steve Vai
Vai performing in Wrocław in 2023
Vai performing in Wrocław in 2023
Background information
Birth nameSteven Siro Vai
Also known asReckless Fable
Born (1960-06-06) June 6, 1960 (age 64)
Carle Place, New York, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Musician
  • songwriter
  • producer
InstrumentsGuitar
Years active1978–present
Labels
Formerly of
Websitevai.com

Steven Siro Vai[1][better source needed] (/ˈv/ VYE; born June 6, 1960) is an American guitarist, songwriter, and producer. A three-time Grammy Award winner and fifteen-time nominee,[2] Vai started his music career in 1978 at the age of eighteen as a transcriptionist for Frank Zappa,[3] and played in Zappa's band from 1980 to 1983.[2] He embarked on a solo career in 1983 and has released eight solo albums to date.[4] He has recorded and toured with Alcatrazz, David Lee Roth, and Whitesnake, as well as recording with artists such as Public Image Ltd, Mary J. Blige, Spinal Tap, Alice Cooper, Motörhead, and Polyphia. Additionally, Vai has toured with live-only acts G3, Zappa Plays Zappa, the Beat Tour (playing 1980s era King Crimson), and the Experience Hendrix Tour, as well as headlining international tours.[5]

Vai has been described as a "highly individualistic player" and part of a generation of "heavy rock and metal virtuosi who came to the fore in the 1980s".[6] He released his first solo album Flex-Able in 1984, while his most successful release, Passion and Warfare (1990), was described as "the richest and best hard rock guitar-virtuoso album of the '80s".[7] He was voted the "10th Greatest Guitarist" by Guitar World magazine’s readers,[8] and has sold over 15 million records.[2][9]

  1. ^ Steve Vai - His First 30 Years The Documentary. The Tapes Archive. September 7, 2022. Retrieved June 6, 2024 – via YouTube.
  2. ^ a b c "Les Paul/TEC Awards Information and Recipients". Archived from the original on October 8, 2015.
  3. ^ "Tempo Mental". The Official Steve Vai Website. Archived from the original on November 18, 2015. Retrieved November 23, 2015.
  4. ^ "Steve Vai (main discography)". Discogs. Archived from the original on March 10, 2016. Retrieved November 23, 2015.
  5. ^ "Bands - vai.com – The Official Steve Vai Website". Vai.com. Archived from the original on November 10, 2015. Retrieved November 23, 2015.
  6. ^ Dawe, Kevin (January 1, 2010). The New Guitarscape in Critical Theory, Cultural Practice and Musical Performance. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. p. 66. ISBN 9780754667759. Archived from the original on January 5, 2016.
  7. ^ "Passion and Warfare - Steve Vai | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Archived from the original on January 5, 2016. Retrieved December 28, 2015.
  8. ^ "Readers Poll Results: The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time". Guitar World. Archived from the original on October 25, 2012. Retrieved December 22, 2015.
  9. ^ "Steve Vai | Awards | AllMusic". AllMusic. Archived from the original on June 4, 2016. Retrieved December 22, 2015.