Happy birthday, Steve Vai

Posted on June 6 2015 by Candy Rock

Categories: #Instrumental Rock, #Hard Rock, #Heavy Metal, #Progressive Rock, #Progressive Metal, #Experimental Rock, #Speed Metal, #1960, #June

Steve Vai (2014)

Happy birthday, Steve Vai...
Born Steven Siro Vai on June 6 1960 in Carle Place, New York, U.S., Steve Vai is a guitarist, singer, songwriter and producer.
Steve began to learn to play guitar when he was 13. He was influenced by Jimmy Page, Ritchie Blackmore, Brian May, Jeff Beck, Jimi Hendrix...
He took guitar lessons with Joe Satriani in 1974. At the same time, he started to play in local bands.
In 1979, Steve mailed a tape of his guitar playing and a transcription of The Black Page of Frank Zappa to Frank Zappa. Impressed by what he had received, Frank Zappa decided to hire Steve to transcribe his guitar solos.
One year later, Steve became guitarist for Frank Zappa.
In 1982, his transcriptions of Frank Zappa's guitar solos were published in the book The Frank Zappa Guitar Book.
The same year, Steve moved to California. Soon after he started recording his first album, Flex-Able, released in 1984.
In 1984, he joined Alcatrazz to replace Yngwie Malmsteen (lineup in 1985: Graham Bonnet (vocals), Steve Vai (guitar, backing vocals), Gary Shea (bass), Jan Uvena (drums, backing vocals), Jimmy Waldo (keyboards, backing vocals)).
Steve recorded only one album with Alcatrazz, Disturbing the Peace which was released in 1985.
He also played on the album Album (1985) by John Lydon's band, Public Image Ltd.
Later the same year, Steve joined David Lee Roth's solo band. The band released its debut album, Eat 'Em and Smile, in 1986 (lineup: David Lee Roth (vocals, backing vocals), Steve Vai (guitars), Billy Sheehan (bass), Gregg Bissonette (drums)).
The last album he recorded with David Lee Roth was Skyscraper, released in 1988.
The following year, Steve left David Lee Roth's band to replace Vivian Campbell in Whitesnake. With Whitesnake, he recorded the album Slip of the Tongue (lineup: David Coverdale (vocals), Steve Vai (guitar), Rudy Sarzo (bass), Tommy Aldridge (drums)). Steve left Whitesnake a couple of years later.
In 1991, he played with his former guitar teacher Joe Satriani on the Alice Cooper song Feed my Frankenstein.
In the 90s, Steve released five solo albums: Passion and Warfare (1990), Sex & Religion (1993), Fire Garden (1997), Flex-Able Leftovers (1998), The Ultra Zone (1999).
Since 1996, he has regulary played on Joe Satriani's G3 concert tour alongside guitarists such as Steve Morse, Yngwie Malmsteen, John Petruci, Marty Friedman...
In 2006, he joined Dweezil Zappa as a special guest for his Zappa Plays Zappa tour.
In 2012, Steve played on the European leg of the G3 tour along with Joe Satriani and Steve Morse.
The same year, he released his eighth album, The Story of Light.
To conclude, we wish a happy birthday and years of rock to Steve Vai!

Steve Vai, Berlin (2014)

Steve Vai (2012)

[french version :
Joyeux anniversaire, Steve Vai ...
Né Steven Siro Vai le 6 juin 1960 à Carle Place, New York, U.S., Steve Vai est un guitariste, chanteur, auteur-compositeur et producteur.
Steve commence à apprendre à jouer de la guitare à 13 ans. Il est influencé par Jimmy Page, Ritchie Blackmore, Brian May, Jeff Beck, Jimi Hendrix...
Il prend des cours de guitare avec Joe Satriani en 1974. Au même moment, il commence à jouer dans des groupes locaux.
En 1979, Steve envoie à Frank Zappa une cassette de lui jouant de la guitare ainsi qu'une transcription de The Black Page de Frank Zappa. Impressioné par ce qu'il a reçu, Frank Zappa décide d'engager Steve afin qu'il transcrive ses solos de guitare.
Un an après, Steve devient guitariste pour Frank Zappa.
En 1982, ses transcriptions de solos de guitare de Frank zappa sont publiés dans le livre The Frank Zappa Guitar Book.
La même année, Steve déménage en Californie. Peu après, il commence à enregistrer son premier album, Flex-Able, sorti en 1984.
En 1984, il rejoint Alcatrazz pour y remplacer Yngwie Malmsteen (lineup en 1985 : Graham Bonnet (chant), Steve Vai (guitare, choeur), Gary Shea (basse), Jan Uvena (batterie, choeur), Jimmy Waldo (clavier, choeur)).
Steve n'enregistre qu'un seul album avec Alcatrazz, Disturbing the Peace qui sort en 1985.
Il joue aussi sur l'album Album du groupe de John Lydon Public Image Ltd.
Plus tard la même année, Steve rejoint le groupe solo de David Lee Roth. Le groupe sort son premier album, Eat 'Em and Smile, en 1986 (lineup : David Lee Roth (chant, choeur), Steve Vai (guitares), Billy Sheehan (basse), Gregg Bissonette (batterie)).
Le dernier album qu'il enregistre avec David Lee Roth est Skyscraper, sorti en 1988.
L'année suivante, Steve quitte le groupe de David Lee Roth pour remplacer Vivian Campbell dans Whitesnake. Avec Whitesnake, il enregistre l'album Slip of the Tongue (lineup: David Coverdale (chant), Steve Vai (guitare), Rudy Sarzo (basse), Tommy Aldridge (batterie)). Steve quitte Whitesnake deux ans après.
En 1991, il joue avec son ancien professeur de guitare Joe Satriani sur la chanson d'Alice Cooper Feed my Frankenstein.
Dans les années 90, Steve sort cinq album solo : Passion and Warfare (1990), Sex & Religion (1993), Fire Garden (1997), Flex-Able Leftovers (1998), The Ultra Zone (1999).
Depuis 1996, il joue régulièrement sur la tournée G3 de Joe Satriani aux côtés de guitaristes tels que Steve Morse, Yngwie Malmsteen, John Petruci, Marty Friedman...
En 2006, il se joint à Dweezil Zappa en tant qu'invité spécial sur sa tournée Zappa Plays Zappa.
En 2012, il joue sur la partie européenne de la tournée G3 aux côtés de Joe Satriani et Steve Morse.
La même année, il sort son huitième album, The Story of Light.
Pour conclure, nous souhaitons un heureux anniversaire et des années de rock à Steve Vai !]