I Just Discovered Steve Vai

how did I miss him?

[lawman]

I thought I was up on shredders but I stumbled across him on youtube and was blown away by Bad Horsey. Am I the last person on the planet to hear about him?

[Samizdata]

Am I the last person on the planet to hear about him?

Possibly. He was in Frank Zappa's touring band in 1980. Perhaps you were too young.

...

[lawman]

Haha, it's because of my age that I'm surprised I hadn't heard of him.

I never was into the Mother's of Invention - not for lack of trying - I guess I just wasn't into songs about raising dental floss.

[callivert]

Don't feel bad. A couple of years ago I discovered Led Zeppelin, right after I discovered Janis Joplin and Credence Clearwater Revival.
Why didn't anyone tell me about these awesome musicians? They are so under-rated! ;-)

[edit_g]

You've not missed Joe Satriani as well, have you? (http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=I6wri5XQQbU) Just making sure.

[youfoundjake]

If you wanna see some great action of Vai, check out the movie Crossroads with ralph macchio, the karate kid kid.
Yeah, i dig vai, yngwie malmsteen, satch, but my world opened when I heard led zep...

[lawman]

You've not missed Joe Satriani as well

Know him, know Eric Johnson, now I know Steve Vai. :)

[thecoalman]

Led Zeppelin, right after I discovered Janis Joplin and Credence Clearwater Revival.

LOL... if you just discovered them recently you may also want to check out James Taylor, Allman Brothers, Eagles, Joe Cocker, Pink Floyd, The Who, Harry Chapin, Van Morrison(his rendition of "Please don't go" is awesome), Steve Miller Band, (Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young), Neil Young, Jim Croce, Lynard Skynard just to name a few. :)

They aren't underated, just getting old.

As far as Led Zeppelin goes look for the disc set called "How the West was Won". It's only set you need. :)
[en.wikipedia.org...]

These original performances are from the band's 1972 concert tour of the United States, recorded at the L.A. Forum on June 25, 1972 and Long Beach Arena on June 27, 1972. Guitarist Jimmy Page considers Led Zeppelin at this point to have been at their artistic peak, as is mentioned in the album's liner notes.

[phranque]

satriani was vai's guitar instructor pre-zappa.
if you don't like the dental floss-lyrics, you should check out some of the "shut up and play yer guitar" series...

[rocker]

If you wanna see some great action of Vai, check out the movie Crossroads with ralph macchio, the karate kid kid.

That is a good movie. Would you give your soul to the devil to be a guitar master?

I wonder how much Steve Vai was paid to lose a guitar battle against the karate kid :)

[Samizdata]

I wonder how much Steve Vai was paid to lose a guitar battle against the karate kid

His name is Stevie Vai - and he's a crazy guy.

But he wasn't taught by Mr Miaggi.

...

[rocker]

But he wasn't taught by Mr Miaggi.

In my best Mr Miaggi voice.

Stevie-san you must pratice more. Guitar wax on, guitar wax off.

[youfoundjake]

I probably have to say that his passion and warfare disk is the best one.
Steve also took lessons from satch, and its rumored that they way he get the gig with zappa is that he transcribed one of zappa's song, and the result was literally a black page of notes and tempo's..... not much white showing on it....

[edit_g]

Blimey - thought I'd stop by here with something I discovered this weekend. It's a differenct pace than Vai, but rocking nonetheless - Jim Campilongo:

[au.youtube.com...]

[au.youtube.com...]

(warning Telecaster p0rn ahead)