With his mind blowing guitar playing skills and techniques Steve Vai has created a strong fan base and become the guitar maestro in the rock scenario since the 80’s.

Along with his one-time teacher Joe Satriani, six-string wizard Steve Vai set the standard for rock guitar virtuosity in the ‘80s. Born on June 6, 1960, and raised in Carle Place, NY, Vai became interested in the guitar via such legendary artistes as Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, and Alice Cooper as a teenager and, upon starting high school, took lessons with an older player from his high school, Joe Satriani. Playing in several local bands, Vai quickly picked up on the instrument, and by the age of 18 was attending the renowned Berklee School of Music in Boston. As a student there, Vai transcribed several of Frank Zappa’s most technically demanding compositions for guitar, and even sent a copy of one such transcription Black Page to Zappa himself. Zappa was so impressed with the young guitarist that upon meeting him, he invited Vai to join his band.

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 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 guitarist 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 Vai, 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 favourite apprentice-piece among many guitar

students.

Where Vai’s contributions to others’ material have 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 high profile recording artists from around the world.

Vai is married to Pia Maiocco (former Bassist of All-Female Group ‘Vixen’) and have two children, Julian Angel and Fire. 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.