Steve Vai’s contribution to the world of rock music and to the electric guitar is profound. Starting out under the tutelage of Joe Satriani, Steve is a three-time Grammy Award winner,fifteen-time nominee and a legendary performer across the world. 

He started out as a transcriptionist and guitar player with Frank Zappa in 1978, replaced Yngwie Mlalmsteen in Alcatrazz in 1984 and then went on to work with David Lee Roth playing guitar on his most seminal albums. Since parting ways with David Lee Roth in 1989, he has significantly expanded his horizons across a prolific solo career spanning 10 albums, countless live albums, soundtracks and media appearances including  playing the role of Jack Butler in the Walter hill film Crossroads. 

Despite being hailed as a trailblazer and a genius Steve continues to hone his chops and explore new techniques. 

The electric guitar has no boundaries for Steve Vai, as far back as 1985 he designed the Ibanez JEM guitar, a unique instrument that incorporated a series of groundbreaking designs that have since become staple features throughout the guitar industry.  In 1989 he designed the Ibanez Universe, the first production seven-string guitar.

Steve blew everyone away with his latest creation dubbed The Hydra an instrument that was aplty described as the intersection of modern technology collides with hammered brass. Inspired by a mad max film and his love for steampunk design the hydra is a triple-necked guitar and bass with sympathetic harp strings and a and dizzying array of in-built technology, all wrapped up in a gloriously steampunk finish.

His latest release, inviolate is an ambitious, fabulously produced album that combines his guitar approach, exploring new techniques with inspiration drawn from a wide array of genres and influences, including the worlds of Celtic and Indian music. 

On stage Steve is a commanding and show stealing presence. I had the good fortune to work with him for a couple of his shows in India and Singapore. I caught up with Steve early in the morning to talk about his latest release Inviolate, his role in the new Foo Figthers film Studio 666, his inspiration to create the hydra, working with David Lee Roth.Frank Zappa and all things creativity and technology. 

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For more tour dates, to check out Steve's latest work with the Hydra, and for tickets go this his website https://www.vai.com

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