Vai began his musical career at the age of 13, forming his first rock band, Rayge, while still at school. At this time he was tutored by Joe Satriani, who was to have a profound effect on his style for years to come.

Steve Vai: Passion And Warfare Guitar Tablature Book

£16.99

He studied jazz and classical music at the Berklee College Of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, before relocating to Los Angeles, California, in 1979. He was recruited by Frank Zappa as the lead guitarist in his backing band, while he was still only 18 years old. By 1984 he had built his own recording studio and had begun experimenting with the fusion of jazz, rock and classical music. These pieces were released as Flex-Able and Flex-Able Leftovers, and were heavily influenced by Zappa's offbeat and unpredictable style.

In 1985, Vai replaced Yngwie Malmsteen in Alcatrazz, then moved on to even greater success with David Lee Roth and later Whitesnake. Passion And Warfare, released in 1990, was the album that brought Vai international recognition as a solo performer. It welded together jazz, rock, funk, classical, and metal nuances within a melodic instrumental framework

The Elusive Light and Sound Vol.1
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Where to Start. The album begins from track one with Vai doing what he does best. Unrivalled the guitar god himself reaches the impossible. The duel from crossroads was one of the real highlights for me. It begins with blues meets metal and as the duel progresses so the standard of vai's outstanding technique. It ends with a climax that cannot be explained by any words of mine. You must hear it to believe it. As the album progresses snippets of amazing guitar genius are added and the overall effect is unreal! Parting Steve Vai from his guitar would be like parting the sun from the earth!

Track Listings
1. Celluloid Heroes
2. Love Blood
3. Fried Chicken (Crossroads)
4. Butler's Bag (Crossroads)
5. Head-Cuttin' Duel (Crossroads)
6. Eugene's Trick Bag (Crossroads)
7. Amazing Grace (Dudes)
8. Louisiana Swamp Swank (Dudes)
9. Air Guitar Hell (Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey)
10. The Reaper (Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey)
11. Introducing The Wylde Stallions (Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey)
12. Girls Mature Faster Then Guys (Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey)
13. The Battle (Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey)
14. Meet The Reaper (Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey)
15. Final Guitar Solo (Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey)
16. The Reaper Rap (Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey)
17. Drive The Hell Out Of Here (Encino Man)
18. Get The Hell Out Of Here (Encino Man)
19. Welcome Pre-Fresh (PCU)
20. The Dark Hallway (PCU)
21. The Dead Band Ends (PCU)
22. The Cause Heads (PCU)
23. Find The Meat (PCU)
24. The Ax Will Fall (PCU)
25. No We Run (Cue) (PCU)
26. Hey Jack (PCU)
27. What ! (PCU)
28. Still Running (PCU)
29. Dead Heads (PCU)
30. Blow Me Where The Pampers Is (PCU)
31. Pins & Needles (PCU)
32. Plug My Ass In (PCU)
33. Loose Keg Sportings (PCU)
34. Don't Sweat It (PCU)
35. How Hidge (PCU)
36. Beer Beer (PCU)
37. We're Not Gonna Protest (PCU)
38. Initiation (PCU)
39. See Ya Next Year (PCU)
40. Now We Run (PCU)

G3 - Live in Concert - DVD
£12.99 - click here to buy now

Yes, it's a plank-spanker's dream. In October 1996, three legendary guitarists--Joe Satriani, Eric Johnson and Steve Vai--toured as G3, a kind of super-roadshow featuring their own bands and, as in the last section of this recording, finally coming together onstage for a few numbers. One of the reasons why the whole package works so well is that Satriani's dirtyish techno-blues style, Johnson's limpid near-jazziness and Vai's pyrotechnics manage to seem poles apart yet entirely compatible at the same time, both as individual elements and as a frontline trio (although Johnson inevitably gets sidelined occasionally during the latter set). There are plenty of good tunes, although Johnson's "Manhattan", in which he switches from plectrum lead to gentle thumb-strums seemingly in mid-bar is outstanding, as is the trio's tour-de-force rendering of Frank Zappa's "My Guitar Wants to Kill Your Mama", Vai of course being a Zappa band veteran.

On the DVD: Extra features are thin on the ground. There's a set of scrolling biographies (which don't understand the remote's "scan" command, so they go--by--very--slowly) but nothing else to speak of. In the end the playing is the thing on any outing like this, so just enjoy it.

Synopsis
Guitarists Joe Satriani, Eric Johnson and Steve Vai join forces as G3. Filmed live in concert in November 1996 at the Northrop Auditorium in Minneapolis. The tracklist includes 'Cool No. 9', 'Flying In A Blue Dream', 'Summer Song' and 'Answers'.

In Session With Steve Vai
£16.99 - click here to buy now

Become the featured session guitarist on six classic Steve Vai tracks, transcribed and arranged exclusively by Guitarists for Guitarists. Includes full song transcriptions and notes and analyses of the solos, and special practise tracks on the CD, with slowed down versions of the solos, in demonstration and play-along formats.

For The Love Of God
Hand On Heart
Juice
Sisters
The Attitude Song
The Crying Machine