Steve Vai facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Steve Vai
Vai performing in Wrocław in 2023
Background information
Birth name	Steven Siro Vai
Also known as	Reckless Fable
Born	(1960-06-06) June 6, 1960 (age 65) Carle Place, New York, U.S.
Genres	Instrumental rock hard rock heavy metal progressive metal
Occupation(s)	Musician songwriter producer
Instruments	Guitar
Years active	1978–present
Labels	Favored Nations Relativity Epic Mascot

Steven Siro Vai (born June 6, 1960) is an American guitarist, songwriter, and music producer. He has won three Grammy Awards and been nominated fifteen times. Steve Vai started his music journey in 1978 at age eighteen. He worked for the famous musician Frank Zappa, and later played in Zappa's band from 1980 to 1983.

In 1983, Vai began his solo career and has released eight solo albums. He has also recorded and toured with well-known bands like Alcatrazz, David Lee Roth, and Whitesnake. He has even played with artists such as Mary J. Blige and Alice Cooper. Vai has also toured with special live shows like G3 and the Experience Hendrix Tour.

People describe Vai as a "highly individualistic player." He is known as one of the best "heavy rock and metal virtuosi" from the 1980s. His first solo album, Flex-Able, came out in 1984. His most popular album, Passion and Warfare (1990), was called "the richest and best hard rock guitar-virtuoso album of the '80s." Guitar World magazine readers voted him the "10th Greatest Guitarist." He has sold over 15 million records worldwide.

Biography

Early life and musical journey

Steve Vai was born in Carle Place, New York, on June 6, 1960. He is the fourth son of John and Theresa Vai. He grew up in a Roman Catholic family. Steve remembers his first music experience at age five. He touched a piano and instantly understood how music worked. He realized he could create music and make it whatever he wanted.

A year later, at age six, he saw a nine-year-old boy playing the guitar. This was another big moment for him. He knew right away that the guitar would be his instrument. He just felt it was the coolest thing he had ever seen.

As a child, Vai loved the music his parents listened to. The soundtrack to the 1961 film West Side Story was a huge inspiration. At age eleven, he discovered rock and progressive music. After hearing the guitar solo in Led Zeppelin's "Heartbreaker" at age twelve, he decided to start playing guitar.

In 1973, Vai began guitar lessons with Joe Satriani, another musician from New York. He played in local bands like The Ohio Express and Circus during high school. He was influenced by guitarists such as Jimmy Page, Brian May, Jeff Beck, and Jimi Hendrix.

In 1978, Vai went to Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. He wanted to learn more about music composition. While at Berklee, he started working for Frank Zappa. He transcribed Zappa's music, meaning he wrote down the notes. He later moved to California to work full-time for Zappa. In 2003, Berklee College of Music gave him an honorary doctorate degree in music.

Starting his career (1978–1986)

In 1978, Vai sent Frank Zappa a written version of Zappa's song "The Black Page." He also sent a recording of his college band. Zappa was impressed and hired Vai to write down his music. Vai left Berklee and moved to California. He then joined Zappa's band full-time and went on his first tour with Zappa in late 1980. Zappa often called Vai his "little Italian virtuoso." Vai was known for playing "stunt" or "impossible" guitar parts.

Vai was featured on the 1993 album Zappa's Universe. In 2006, he joined Dweezil Zappa's Zappa Plays Zappa tour as a special guest. Both of these projects helped Vai win a Grammy Award.

After leaving Zappa's band in 1983, Vai built his first professional studio in Sylmar, Los Angeles. He formed two bands, The Classified and 777. He also wrote and recorded a lot of music that he didn't plan to release at first. From this music, he created his first solo album, Flex-Able. He started his own record label, Akashic Records, to release it. Flex-Able came out in January 1984.

Vai became more famous in 1983. His song "The Attitude Song" was published in Guitar Player magazine. This song was unique because it used a complex rhythm and showcased many special guitar techniques. Later, his song "Blue Powder" also appeared in Guitar Player, showing off his amazing guitar skills.

In 1986, Vai acted in the film Crossroads. He played the Devil's guitar player, Jack Butler. In a famous guitar duel scene, Vai wrote and performed all the guitar parts, except for the slide guitar.

In June 1984, Vai joined the band Alcatrazz as the lead guitarist, replacing Yngwie Malmsteen. He recorded the album Disturbing the Peace with them. Vai left Alcatrazz after the tour to join David Lee Roth's band.

Playing with David Lee Roth (1985–1989)

In 1985, Vai became the lead guitarist for David Lee Roth's band. Roth was the former singer of Van Halen. The band also included bassist Billy Sheehan and drummer Gregg Bissonette. Their first album, Eat 'Em and Smile, was released on July 7, 1986. It was very successful, selling over two million copies. Guitar World magazine said Steve Vai's guitar playing was "so profound that in earlier times he would have been burned as a witch." Many people still think Eat 'Em and Smile is one of the best rock albums of the 1980s. The band toured from August 1986 to February 1987.

Roth's next album, Skyscraper, came out in 1988. Both Roth and Vai produced it. This album was also a big success. In 1989, after a successful tour, Vai left the band.

In 1985, after joining Roth's band, Vai helped design the JEM guitar. This was a special guitar with new features that are now common in the guitar industry. Vai worked with Ibanez in 1986 to create the guitar. The first Ibanez JEM 777 guitars were released in 1987.

The 1990s: Solo success and new bands

From 1985 to 1990, Vai recorded his second solo album, Passion and Warfare, at his home studio. After leaving Roth's band in 1989, Vai signed with Relativity Records to release Passion and Warfare. He finished the album shortly after recording guitar parts for Whitesnake's Slip of the Tongue album. He joined Whitesnake to replace the injured Adrian Vandenberg.

Slip of the Tongue sold over three million copies worldwide when it came out in November 1989. Vai joined Whitesnake on their thirteen-month world tour.

In May 1990, Vai released Passion and Warfare. It became a huge hit, selling over 1.5 million copies. The album won Vai many awards, including "Best Album" and "Best Rock Guitarist" from Guitar World and Guitar Player magazines. Passion and Warfare is considered one of the most important instrumental albums ever released.

Also in 1990, the Ibanez Universe seven-string guitar was released. Vai helped design this guitar with Ibanez. Vai left Whitesnake in 1990 to focus on his own music. He formed a new band with Devin Townsend on vocals, T. M. Stevens on bass, and Terry Bozzio on drums. This group released ... & Religion on July 23, 1993. The band broke up after touring to support the album.

In 1994, Vai worked with Ozzy Osbourne and helped write the Ozzmosis album. However, due to disagreements, the album was later re-recorded with Zakk Wylde on guitar. In 1994, Vai won a Grammy award for his performance of "Sofa" from Zappa's Universe.

While recording his fourth solo album, Fire Garden, Vai also recorded the shorter album Alien Love Secrets. This album was different from his usual complex style. The seven-song album was recorded in just four weeks and released on March 21, 1995. Vai says this is one of his favorite records because he focused on making the music he truly wanted.

On September 17, 1996, Vai released Fire Garden, a double album with 19 songs. The first half was mostly instrumental, and the second half featured Vai singing. After Fire Garden, Vai joined his former teacher Joe Satriani and guitarist Eric Johnson for the second G3 concert tour. On G3 tours, three guitarists perform their own sets and then jam together at the end. A video of the 1996 tour, G3: Live in Concert, was released in 1997.

In 1998, Vai released a DVD of his Alien Love Secrets performance. Also in 1998, Vai started the Make a Noise Foundation with his manager. This foundation helps provide money for music education for those who can't afford it. Vai often sells his own items to raise money for the foundation.

At the end of the 1990s, Vai played guitar on Joe Jackson's Symphony No. 1. This album won a Grammy for Best Pop Instrumental Album in 2001.

The 2000s: Orchestral works and masterclasses

In December 2001, Vai recorded two shows in London with his band, The Breed. This live show was released as a DVD, Steve Vai: Live at the Astoria, London, in 2003. In 2004, Vai released twelve songs from the DVD online.

In 2001, Vai released The Secret Jewel Box, a special ten-CD box set. It contained unique music from different times in his career. Four smaller albums from this set were later released to the public. Also in 2001, Vai's record label, Favored Nations, released No Substitutions: Live in Osaka. Vai produced this album, and it won him his second Grammy award for Best Pop Instrumental Album in 2002.

While known for rock guitar, Vai also composes orchestral music. In May 2004, he performed "The Aching Hunger" with the Netherlands' Metropole Orchestra. This project led to the Visual Sound Theories DVD and the Sound Theories Vol. I & II album, released in 2007. Vai had been composing since high school. He says his high school music teacher taught him how to write and appreciate music, and was the biggest musical influence in his life.

In 2005, Vai released Real Illusions: Reflections. This was the first part of a three-album story. Each album has songs and stories that relate to the main plot, but they are not in order. Vai plans to release a fourth album with the full story when the trilogy is complete. He says it's a story about a man who goes insane after a traumatic experience. It also involves a shaman who helps people discover things about themselves. The second part, The Story of Light, was released in 2012.

In 2006, Vai joined the Zappa Plays Zappa tour as a special guest. In 2008, he won his third Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance for his performance of "Peaches en Regalia" from this tour.

Vai loves teaching and sharing his experiences. In 2006, he started "Alien Guitar Secrets" masterclasses. These are touring classes where Vai talks about the music industry, explains how to succeed, plays music, answers questions, and teaches guitar techniques. He also shares deeper ideas about how to overcome self-doubt and find inspiration.

To support his Sound Theories albums, Vai formed a new band called the String Theories band in 2007. This band included two violin players, which was unique. They rehearsed for a month, perfecting the performances. The tour lasted five months, covering the United States, Europe, South America, and Australia.

In 2007, during the String Theories tour, Vai recorded a show in Minneapolis. This led to the successful 2009 live DVD and Blu-ray, Where the Wild Things Are. This video showed the band's wide musical range.

2007 also marked 20 years since the Ibanez JEM guitar was first made. A special 20th anniversary JEM model was released. In 2008, Vai announced his signature Ibanez Jemini distortion pedal.

The 2010s: New music and guitar camps

2010 was the twentieth anniversary of the Ibanez Universe guitar. A special anniversary model was released.

In February 2010, Vai launched "VaiTunes" to release digital-only songs. In April, he performed "Stairway to Heaven" with Mary J. Blige and others on American Idol.

In October 2010, Vai's original symphonies were performed by the North Netherlands Orchestra. Soon after, Vai joined the Experience Hendrix tour across the United States.

In March 2011, Vai set a Guinness World Record for the world's largest online guitar lesson. This promoted Berklee's online "Steve Vai Guitar Techniques" course, which Vai helped create. In April 2011, Vai launched GuitarTV, a free online streaming website for guitar players.

Vai's eighth studio album, The Story of Light, came out in August 2012. It was the second part of his Real Illusions story. The tour for this album lasted 254 shows in 52 countries, ending in September 2014. This tour led to his fourth live DVD, Stillness in Motion, filmed in 2012. It was released in 2015 and included a bonus disc with a video timeline of the entire tour.

In 2014, Vai announced a new guitar camp called "Vai Academy." This was an advanced version of his Alien Guitar Secrets masterclass. Each year, Vai creates a theme and invites special guests to teach. During the day, they hold classes, and in the evenings, Vai and the guests jam with the campers.

Vai released a special album in 2016 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Passion and Warfare. It included remastered songs and new music written between Flex-Able and Passion and Warfare. After its release, Vai toured the world, playing the entire Passion and Warfare album.

In 2016, Vai played a guitar solo on the song "Go!" by the band M83. He also joined the Generation Axe tour with other famous guitarists.

Vai was featured on the song "Do You Feel Love" from Jacob Collier's 2019 album Djesse Vol. 2.

2020–present: Recent albums and collaborations

On December 1, 2021, Steve Vai announced his tenth studio album, Inviolate. It was released on January 28, 2022. This album reached No. 1 on the Current Hard Rock Albums chart, which was his first No. 1 album. To support it, Vai went on a 54-show tour in America. In 2021, Vai also played on a song called "Lost Children of the Universe" by Star One.

In 2022, Vai was featured on Polyphia's song "Ego Death."

On November 10, 2022, Vai announced his latest album, Vai/Gash, along with the song "In The Wind." Vai and singer Johnny "Gash" Sombrotto recorded this album in 1991. However, it was not released after Sombrotto's death in a motorcycle accident in 1998. Vai and Sombrotto shared a love for motorcycles. The album cover shows a photo of Sombrotto, including burn scars from a motorcycle crash in 1977. The album was released on January 27, 2023.

Vai had previously covered a song by Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin in 2012. In 2023, he worked with her again on the title track of her album, Seven Daughters of the Sea.

In early 2024, Vai, Satriani, and Eric Johnson went on a special "Reunion" tour of the original G3 lineup. After that, Vai and Satriani continued touring together. After more than 50 years of friendship, they released their first song together, "The Sea Of Emotion, Pt.1," on March 29, 2024.

In September 2024, Vai joined Adrian Belew, Tony Levin, and Tool drummer Danny Carey for a three-month tour called "Beat." They played new versions of songs from 1980s King Crimson albums like Discipline and Beat.

Media appearances

Documentary film

In 2022, a 77-minute documentary called Steve Vai – His First 30 Years: The Documentary was released. This film covers Vai's life from 1960 to 1990. It talks about his childhood, his time at Berklee College of Music, and playing with artists like Frank Zappa, Alcatrazz, David Lee Roth, and Whitesnake. It also covers the recording of his solo albums Flex-Able and Passion and Warfare, his role in the movie Crossroads, and how he helped create the Ibanez JEM guitar. Steve Vai helped write the documentary.

Video games

Vai's music has been featured in several video games. "Juice," from Alien Love Secrets, was in the 1996 game Formula One for the PlayStation. His guitar work also appeared in the 2002 game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. Songs by David Lee Roth and Alcatrazz, featuring Vai, were also on Vice City's soundtrack.

In 2004, Vai played on the soundtrack for the Xbox game Halo 2. He performed a heavy rock version of the "Halo theme" called "Halo Theme (MJOLNIR Mix)." He also played on the song "Never Surrender." He later re-recorded his Halo work for the Halo 2 Anniversary Original Soundtrack in 2014. Vai said his part in the "MJOLNIR Mix" was added at the last minute.

In 2008, Vai's songs "For the Love of God" and "Halo Theme (MJOLNIR Mix)" were available to download for the game Guitar Hero 3. A live version of "For the Love of God" and "Get the Hell Out of Here" were also available for the Rock Band Network service. "The Attitude Song" and a live version of "The Crying Machine" were added too. A re-recorded version of "Speeding" is in the 2010 game Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock.

Films

In 1986, Vai was in the film Crossroads. He played Jack Butler, the Devil's guitar player. In the famous guitar duel scene, Vai wrote and performed all the guitar parts, except for the slide guitar. The main part of the final song, "Eugene's Trick Bag," was based on a piece by Niccolò Paganini. This duel appeared on the 2002 album The Elusive Light and Sound Vol. 1.

In 1987, Vai performed "Amazing Grace" in the film Dudes. He also played on the films Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey (1991), Encino Man (1992), PCU (1994), and John Carpenter's Ghosts of Mars (2001).

In 2010, Vai's record label, Favored Nations, produced the film Crazy. This independent movie was inspired by the life and music of guitarist Hank Garland.

Style and influence

At age thirteen, after starting guitar lessons with Joe Satriani, Vai became very dedicated to practicing. His practice routine was strict, with ten to fifteen hours a day. This intense work ethic stayed with him throughout his career. When he worked for Frank Zappa, Vai played very complex music. He believed that if you started slowly and perfected it, you could play any piece of music.

Vai's first solo album, Flex-Able (1984), showed his unique and creative style. It had a "quirky" and "angular" feel, influenced by his time with Frank Zappa. His second solo album, Passion and Warfare, showed a more developed "signature" style. Vai says his inspiration comes in many forms, even from flowers. He uses a method called "musical meditation" to enter a state of mind he calls "The Ultra Zone." In this state, he finds musical ideas, like melodies or rhythms. He saves these ideas in his "Infinity Shelf," a collection of thousands of song snippets from his career. Vai teaches these ideas in his Alien Guitar Secrets masterclasses.

Vai's playing uses special guitar techniques. These include tapping with two hands, fast picking, smooth playing, and using the whammy bar for cool sounds. He also uses many different recording techniques.

Notable contributions

Working with Frank Zappa

As a transcriptionist for Frank Zappa, Vai wrote down some of Zappa's most rhythmically complex music. He created new ways to write down rhythms that he had never seen before. These ideas can be found in the "Frank Zappa Guitar Book," which includes Vai's guitar and drum transcriptions. Vai toured with Zappa from 1980 to 1983, playing this challenging music.

JEM, PIA, and Universe guitars

Vai designed the Ibanez JEM guitar in 1985. This guitar had many new features that are now common in the guitar industry. Vai wanted a guitar that combined the best parts of other guitars. He wanted a whammy bar that stayed in tune, powerful humbucker pickups, 24 frets, and a comfortable shape. He also added a unique "handle" to the guitar so he could swing it around during shows.

Vai had custom versions of these guitars made by his friend Joe "Jem" Despagni. Many guitar companies wanted Vai to endorse their guitars. Vai sent them the specifications for his JEM guitar. He chose Ibanez because they made the best guitar that followed his instructions. The first Ibanez JEM 777 guitars were shown in 1987. Since then, the JEM has become one of the most successful signature guitars ever. Its sister guitar, the Ibanez RG, is the second best-selling guitar after the Fender Stratocaster.

Vai also designed the Ibanez Universe, the first mass-produced seven-string guitar, released in 1989. The Universe had many features of the JEM, but with an added low 'B' string. This allowed for new low-range sounds. Vai used the Universe on his album Passion and Warfare and Whitesnake's Slip of the Tongue. This guitar was very important for the Nu-metal music style, with bands like Korn and Meshuggah using it.

On April 4, 2020, the Ibanez PIA was introduced. Vai says this is a modern and more mature version of his original JEM. The PIA (named after his wife Pia Maiocco) has softer body curves and a "Petal Grip" handle instead of the "Monkey Grip." It also has special DiMarzio UtoPIA pickups.

Alien Guitar Secrets masterclasses

Vai loves teaching and sharing his experiences in music and life. In 2006, he started "Alien Guitar Secrets" masterclasses. In these classes, Vai talks about his experiences in the music industry. He explains how to be successful, plays music, answers questions, and teaches guitar techniques. More importantly, he shares deeper ideas about how to overcome self-doubt and find inspiration. Vai travels to Europe, South America, and Russia to teach these classes. He believes these classes are one of his most important contributions.

Eventide H3000 Ultra-Harmonizer

In the mid-1980s, the guitar effects company Eventide asked Vai for ideas for their H3000 effects unit. Vai suggested many concepts, like changing pitch and creating multi-voice harmonies. These ideas were used in the unit and are now common in guitar effects processors.

DiMarzio pickups

In 1993, DiMarzio released Vai's signature "Evolution" humbucker pickups. These pickups use a special "Dual-Resonance" design. A lower output model, the "EVO 2" humbucker, was released in 2004.

Carvin Legacy amplifier

In 1997, Vai started working with Carvin Corporation to design his signature Legacy amplifiers. He used these amps on his 1999 album The Ultra Zone. The original Legacy I model came out in 1999, and the most recent Legacy III was released in 2012.

Touring around the world

In the 1990s, Vai started touring in European and Asian countries like Russia and China, as well as South America. He was often one of the first American rock acts to perform in these areas. In 2014, Vai performed on a Chinese television show called Spring Festival Global Gala. This show was broadcast to over two billion viewers. On January 26, 2014, Vai became the first rock artist ever shown on a Chinese television program.

Equipment

Vai's personal studio, The Harmony Hut, is a large building in his backyard. Built in 2011, it has a full control room and performance room. This is where Vai produces, records, and mixes his new music.

Vai has two main signature Ibanez JEM six-string guitars he uses live and in the studio. They are called "EVO" and "FLO III." "EVO" is a prototype Ibanez JEM 7VWH, received in 1993. "FLO III" is an Ibanez JEM 7VWH with a Fernandes Sustainer system. Since 2022, Vai has also used "ONYX," a prototype Onyx Black Ibanez PIA. "ONYX" has a Sustaniac system and a special neck.

His other favorite guitars include "BO," a JEM77BRMR prototype that was stolen but later found. There's also the original "FLO" guitar, and "Bruno" (also called "For the Love of God"), an Ibanez Universe UV77MC seven-string guitar with a burnt finish. "NILE" is the first Onyx Black PIA prototype, used a lot on the Inviolate album. "XAVIA" is a customized JEM 7VWH used as a backup.

Vai uses his signature Carvin Legacy amplifier. He also uses Morley Pedals, including his signature Bad Horsie and Bad Horsie II wah pedals, and the Little Alligator volume pedal. He uses the Ibanez Jemini distortion pedal, which has separate overdrive and distortion sections.

Before working with Ibanez, Vai used Charvel guitars. He has also used guitars from Jackson, Fender, and Gavtone.

Guitar rig and signal flow

Vai's live guitar setup in 2016 uses his signature Carvin Legacy amplifier and a Fractal Audio Axe-Fx II XL effects unit.

He uses either his Legacy I or Legacy III amp heads and Carvin Legacy 4x12 speaker cabinets. Vai uses the Fractal Audio Axe-Fx II XL for effects like delay, chorus, and phase. He has different settings for each song. The Axe-Fx MFC-101 foot controller lets him turn effects on and off.

Vai's pedalboard includes a wah-wah pedal (Morley Bad Horsie or Dunlop Cry Baby), an Ibanez Jemini twin distortion pedal, and a DigiTech Whammy DT pitch shifting pedal. The Axe-Fx MFC-101 foot controller is the main part of his pedalboard. He uses two expression pedals for the Axe-Fx: one for volume and one for the harmonizer.

The guitar signal goes into the wah pedal, then the Jemini distortion pedal, and then the Digitech Whammy DT. From there, it goes into the Carvin Legacy amplifier head. The signal then goes into the Axe-Fx II XL, where it is split into stereo and effects are added. One signal goes back to the Legacy head, and another goes to a second Carvin Legacy head, acting as a slave power amp. Vai uses this stereo setup for effects like delay, where he sets two different delay times. The signal then goes from the amp to the Carvin Legacy speaker cabinets. Vai uses AKG microphones to record his amps. He also uses a separate Carvin power amp for a direct guitar monitor.

Personal life

Since the late 1990s, Vai has lived in Encino, Los Angeles with his family. Vai is married to Pia Maiocco, who was the bassist for the band Vixen. They have two children, Julian and Fire Vai. Vai is also a vegetarian and a beekeeper. He takes care of beehives on his property in Encino.

Band history

This list does not include guest appearances.

Early bands

• The Ohio Express (1971–1972)
• Circus (around 1973 to 1976)
• Rayge (around 1973 to 1976)
• Bold As Love (1977)

Berklee bands

• Axis (1978–1979)
• Morning Thunder (1979)

Professional bands

• Frank Zappa (1980–1982)
• The Out Band (around 1983)
• The Classified (1984)
• 777 (1984)
• Alcatrazz (1984–1985)
• David Lee Roth (1985–1989)
• Whitesnake (1989–1990)
• Beat (2024–present)

Solo band (1992–94) ... & Religion album

• Vocals: Devin Townsend
• Guitar: Steve Vai
• Bass: TM Stevens
• Drums: Terry Bozzio

"... & Religion" tour

• Vocals, Guitar: Devin Townsend
• Guitar, Vocals: Steve Vai
• Bass: Scott Thunes
• Keys: Will Riley
• Drums: Abe Laboriel, Jr., then Toss Panos

1995

• Guitar: Steve Vai
• Bass: Tony Pimental, then Scott Thunes
• Keys: Will Riley
• Drums: Chris Frazier

This band toured Russia twice, South America and the US (opening for Bon Jovi).

1996–99

• Guitar, Vocals: Steve Vai
• Guitar, Vocals and Keys: Mike Keneally
• Fretted & Fretless Bass, Vocals: Philip Bynoe
• Drums: Mike Mangini

2000

• Guitar, Vocals: Steve Vai
• Guitar, Vocals and Keys: Mike Keneally
• Guitar: Dave Weiner
• Fretted & Fretless Bass, Vocals: Philip Bynoe
• Drums: Mike Mangini
• Keyboards (South American Tour): Eric Goldberg
• Drums (South American Tour): Chris Frazier

2001–02 – "The Breed"

• Guitar, Vocals: Steve Vai
• Bass, Vocals: Billy Sheehan
• Guitar, Vocals and Keys: Mike Keneally, then Tony MacAlpine
• Acoustic & Electric Guitars, Sitar: Dave Weiner
• Drums: Virgil Donati

2003–05 – "The Breed"

• Guitar, Vocals: Steve Vai
• Bass, Vocals: Billy Sheehan
• Guitar, Vocals and Keys: Tony MacAlpine
• Acoustic & Electric Guitars, Sitar: Dave Weiner
• Acoustic & Electronic Drums & Percussion: Jeremy Colson

2007 – "String Theories"

• Guitar, Vocals: Steve Vai
• Fretted & Fretless Bass: Bryan Beller (Philip Bynoe on the South American leg)
• Violin and Keys: Ann Marie Calhoun
• Violin and Keys: Alex DePue
• Acoustic & Electric Guitars, Sitar: Dave Weiner
• Acoustic & Electronic Drums & Percussion: Jeremy Colson

2012 – "The Story of Light Band"

• Guitar, Vocals: Steve Vai
• Fretted & Fretless Bass, Vocals: Philip Bynoe
• Acoustic & Electric Harp: Deborah Henson-Conant
• Acoustic & Electric Guitars, Sitar: Dave Weiner
• Acoustic & Electronic Drums & Percussion: Jeremy Colson

2013 – "The Story of Light Band, Australia, New Zealand and Asian Leg"

• Guitar, Vocals: Steve Vai
• Fretted & Fretless Bass, Vocals: Philip Bynoe
• Acoustic & Electric Guitars: Dave Weiner
• Acoustic & Electronic Drums & Percussion: Jeremy Colson
• Keyboards: Michael Arrom

2015 – "Stillness in Motion: Live DVD Band"

• Guitar, Vocals: Steve Vai
• Fretted & Fretless Bass, Vocals: Philip Bynoe
• Acoustic & Electric Guitars: Dave Weiner
• Acoustic & Electronic Drums & Percussion: Jeremy Colson
• Sitar: Fire Vai

2016 - “Passion & Warefare 25th Anniversary Tour”

• Guitar, Vocal: Steve Vai
• Fretted & Fretless Bass, Vocals: Philip Bynoe
• Acoustic & Electric Guitars, Keyboards: Dave Weiner
• Acoustic & Electronic Drums & Percussion: Jeremy Colson

Discography

Steve Vai started recording music in 1980 with Frank Zappa. Since then, he has recorded with many different artists and bands. In 1983, Vai began his solo career with Flex-Able. He became known as a guitar master with his popular 1990 album Passion and Warfare. His music includes nine studio albums, two shorter albums (EPs), two special albums, eight live albums, twelve soundtracks, twenty compilation albums, and six DVD releases.

Studio albums:

• Flex-Able (1984)
• Passion and Warfare (1990)
• ... & Religion (1993)
• Alien Love Secrets (1995)
• Fire Garden (1996)
• Flex-Able Leftovers (1998)
• The Ultra Zone (1999)
• Real Illusions: Reflections (2005)
• The Story of Light (2012)
• Modern Primitive (2016)
• Inviolate (2022)
• Vai/Gash (2023)

Grammy Awards

Steve Vai has been nominated for 15 Grammy Awards and won three:

• 1993: Steve Vai - Best Rock Instrumental Performance for "Sofa" from Zappa's Universe
• 2002: Steve Vai and others - Best Pop Instrumental Album for No Substitutions: Live in Osaka
• 2008: Steve Vai and others - Best Rock Instrumental Performance for "Peaches en Regalia" from a Zappa Plays Zappa tour

See also

In Spanish: Steve Vai para niños

• List of rock instrumentals
• Steve Vai songs