News Latest News from Ultimate-Guitar.Com. en-US Copyright 1998-2026 Ultimate-Guitar.Com. All rights reserved. https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/modules/rss/news.xml.php?artist=9136 Mon, 01 Jun 2026 23:48:11 -0400 Mon, 10 Feb 2025 02:00:04 -0500 60 Ultimate-Guitar.Com https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/static/_img/logo_trans.png https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/modules/rss/news.xml.php?artist=9136 144 44 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/steve-vai-on-being-a-dutiful-soldier-playing-robert-fripps-parts-in-beat-the-king-crimson-fanbase-is-so-snobby-i-know-because-im-snobby-too https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/steve-vai-on-being-a-dutiful-soldier-playing-robert-fripps-parts-in-beat-the-king-crimson-fanbase-is-so-snobby-i-know-because-im-snobby-too Music News: The virtuoso doubted whether "a sixty-five-year-old Steve Vai taking on Robert Fripp at thirty-five and at the top of his game?"]]> Mon, 01 Jun 2026 23:48:11 -0400 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/yngwie-was-becoming-difficult-how-alcatrazz-secretly-auditioned-steve-vai-and-chris-impellitteri-to-replace-malmsteen https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/yngwie-was-becoming-difficult-how-alcatrazz-secretly-auditioned-steve-vai-and-chris-impellitteri-to-replace-malmsteen Music News: "Steve was a joy to work with musically and brought a whole new bag of tricks from the Zappa camp."]]> Wed, 06 May 2026 03:02:01 -0400 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/i-dont-have-to-play-just-a-strat-or-a-les-paul-how-frank-zappas-gear-philosophy-led-steve-vai-to-create-the-ibanez-jem https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/i-dont-have-to-play-just-a-strat-or-a-les-paul-how-frank-zappas-gear-philosophy-led-steve-vai-to-create-the-ibanez-jem Music News: "Frank was completely irreverent when it came to guitars."]]> Sun, 03 May 2026 04:02:02 -0400 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/i-know-another-steve-billy-sheehan-says-david-lee-roth-wanted-steve-stevens-steve-vais-past-with-frank-zappa-was-the-missing-ingredient https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/i-know-another-steve-billy-sheehan-says-david-lee-roth-wanted-steve-stevens-steve-vais-past-with-frank-zappa-was-the-missing-ingredient Music News: "Being into Zappa will do things to you — in a good way."]]> Sun, 26 Apr 2026 06:25:49 -0400 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/articles/features/a-riot-in-italy-made-frank-zappa-quit-touring-steve-vai-took-it-from-there-and-went-solo-186191 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/articles/features/a-riot-in-italy-made-frank-zappa-quit-touring-steve-vai-took-it-from-there-and-went-solo-186191 Features: Three kids were shot, tear gas filled the stage, and Zappa told everyone he was done. Vai, freshly sharpened by three years in the band, wasn't the type to sit around waiting.]]> Fri, 24 Apr 2026 18:16:41 -0400 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/steve-vai-says-he-cant-play-like-online-shredders-but-hes-not-fully-impressed-theyre-all-the-same https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/steve-vai-says-he-cant-play-like-online-shredders-but-hes-not-fully-impressed-theyre-all-the-same Music News: "The thing that is lacking for me, at least, is the evolution of harmony, and the melodic structures."]]> Tue, 21 Apr 2026 05:28:03 -0400 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/the-one-guitarist-whose-tone-steve-vai-struggled-to-replicate-i-discovered-that-it-would-be-harder-than-with-anybody-else https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/the-one-guitarist-whose-tone-steve-vai-struggled-to-replicate-i-discovered-that-it-would-be-harder-than-with-anybody-else Music News: "All the stars aligned for him. He really delivered, not only the writing and the construction of the parts, but the tone."]]> Tue, 24 Mar 2026 06:06:23 -0400 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/steve-vai-on-the-hardest-thing-he-ever-had-to-play-with-frank-zappa-to-this-day-i-feel-like-i-have-to-take-a-dump-when-i-hear-it https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/steve-vai-on-the-hardest-thing-he-ever-had-to-play-with-frank-zappa-to-this-day-i-feel-like-i-have-to-take-a-dump-when-i-hear-it Music News: "The first tour, for me, maybe 20 percent of the music was really difficult. The second and third tours, 80 percent of it was death-defying shit on the guitar."]]> Sat, 14 Mar 2026 04:04:13 -0400 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/steve-vai-on-playing-with-david-lee-roth-and-constant-comparisons-with-eddie-van-halen-you-dont-compete-with-mount-everest https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/steve-vai-on-playing-with-david-lee-roth-and-constant-comparisons-with-eddie-van-halen-you-dont-compete-with-mount-everest Music News: "I think fans realize you can't replace Edward; you can only bring your own voice."]]> Mon, 02 Mar 2026 04:02:04 -0500 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/gear/he-saved-my-bacon-steve-vai-was-embarrassingly-inexperienced-with-one-crucial-aspect-of-playing-with-david-lee-roth-but-this-guitar-legend-came-to-his-rescue https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/gear/he-saved-my-bacon-steve-vai-was-embarrassingly-inexperienced-with-one-crucial-aspect-of-playing-with-david-lee-roth-but-this-guitar-legend-came-to-his-rescue Gear: "I ended up using his rig for most of the album."]]> Thu, 29 Jan 2026 05:02:02 -0500 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/holding-it-was-seismic-steve-vai-got-a-unique-green-version-of-the-red-special-from-brian-may https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/holding-it-was-seismic-steve-vai-got-a-unique-green-version-of-the-red-special-from-brian-may Music News: "His Red Special was not just a guitar to me, it was a mythical object."]]> Fri, 09 Jan 2026 18:38:02 -0500 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/he-wanted-things-to-be-precisely-in-unison-with-him-the-one-important-difference-between-working-with-frank-zappa-and-steve-vai-according-to-mike-keneally https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/he-wanted-things-to-be-precisely-in-unison-with-him-the-one-important-difference-between-working-with-frank-zappa-and-steve-vai-according-to-mike-keneally Music News: "If you're doing a dive bomb, you've got to dive bomb only this far and only this fast, and then start coming up at exactly this rate."]]> Mon, 29 Dec 2025 00:40:07 -0500 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/i-know-ill-get-in-trouble-for-this-but-why-steve-vai-chose-ibanez-over-strats-and-les-pauls-even-though-no-company-delivered-even-remotely-what-he-wanted-originally https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/i-know-ill-get-in-trouble-for-this-but-why-steve-vai-chose-ibanez-over-strats-and-les-pauls-even-though-no-company-delivered-even-remotely-what-he-wanted-originally Music News: "I said, 'Whoever makes me the best one, that's who I'll work with.' And nobody delivered even remotely close to what I wanted. Not even Ibanez."]]> Thu, 04 Dec 2025 03:02:02 -0500 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/all-of-a-sudden-youre-in-this-rock-star-type-stuff-the-key-thing-steve-vai-learned-from-playing-with-david-lee-roth-and-why-it-was-dramatically-different-from-his-time-with-zappa https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/all-of-a-sudden-youre-in-this-rock-star-type-stuff-the-key-thing-steve-vai-learned-from-playing-with-david-lee-roth-and-why-it-was-dramatically-different-from-his-time-with-zappa Music News: "When I heard that he was looking for a guitar player, something just said, 'That's your gig.'"]]> Tue, 02 Dec 2025 02:43:42 -0500 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/when-he-hit-the-scene-everybody-freaked-out-all-the-guitar-players-input-jacks-closed-up-steve-vai-on-the-one-misconception-people-have-about-yngwie-malmsteen https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/when-he-hit-the-scene-everybody-freaked-out-all-the-guitar-players-input-jacks-closed-up-steve-vai-on-the-one-misconception-people-have-about-yngwie-malmsteen Music News: "If you know Yngwie, you love him. You really do. If you don't know him, [laughs], you might think he's something different."]]> Sat, 29 Nov 2025 04:02:02 -0500 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/shredding-was-becoming-popular-and-i-was-one-of-those-guys-who-just-practiced-a-lot-steve-vai-on-over-the-top-rock-indulgence-of-his-time-with-dlr-and-his-links-to-metal https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/shredding-was-becoming-popular-and-i-was-one-of-those-guys-who-just-practiced-a-lot-steve-vai-on-over-the-top-rock-indulgence-of-his-time-with-dlr-and-his-links-to-metal Music News: "I loved playing slow, but I loved shredding."]]> Fri, 14 Nov 2025 05:35:22 -0500 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/oh-i-was-slammed-steve-vai-on-how-metal-fans-reacted-to-him-replacing-yngwie-malmsteen-in-alcatrazz https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/oh-i-was-slammed-steve-vai-on-how-metal-fans-reacted-to-him-replacing-yngwie-malmsteen-in-alcatrazz Music News: "It was the only time I ever actually auditioned for something. And none of them wanted me, except one guy."]]> Tue, 02 Sep 2025 09:02:01 -0400 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/ive-never-done-anything-like-this-before-steve-vai-on-why-working-with-joe-satriani-is-such-an-unique-experience https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/ive-never-done-anything-like-this-before-steve-vai-on-why-working-with-joe-satriani-is-such-an-unique-experience Music News: "It's like being a teenager again."]]> Mon, 01 Sep 2025 03:02:02 -0400 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/steve-vai-names-one-thing-that-was-a-major-source-of-frustration-for-frank-zappa-thats-why-he-was-so-extraordinary https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/steve-vai-names-one-thing-that-was-a-major-source-of-frustration-for-frank-zappa-thats-why-he-was-so-extraordinary Music News: "Frank wasn't a conventional type of composer. He composed for conventional orchestras."]]> Thu, 28 Aug 2025 08:31:05 -0400 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/im-reluctant-to-mention-it-steve-vai-reveals-what-frank-zappa-really-thought-of-him-names-best-advice-he-received-from-late-icon https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/im-reluctant-to-mention-it-steve-vai-reveals-what-frank-zappa-really-thought-of-him-names-best-advice-he-received-from-late-icon Music News: "There was only one time he ever commented on my future, and I'm reluctant to mention it..."]]> Tue, 26 Aug 2025 02:02:01 -0400 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/gear/i-ended-up-with-three-of-them-steve-vai-opens-up-on-how-this-digital-modeling-amp-won-him-over https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/gear/i-ended-up-with-three-of-them-steve-vai-opens-up-on-how-this-digital-modeling-amp-won-him-over Gear: "I got one of those. I ended up getting three of them, because I just fell in love with them."]]> Sun, 24 Aug 2025 03:02:01 -0400 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/i-cant-i-dont-do-that-steve-vai-opens-up-on-getting-out-shredded-by-yngwie-malmsteen-shares-opinion-on-yngwies-playing https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/i-cant-i-dont-do-that-steve-vai-opens-up-on-getting-out-shredded-by-yngwie-malmsteen-shares-opinion-on-yngwies-playing Music News: "His inner ear was hearing that kind of thing, which is, in a sense, not as guitaristic as somebody listening to Jimmy Page or that kind of thing."]]> Fri, 22 Aug 2025 01:02:02 -0400 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/its-only-for-those-who-have-a-pull-to-do-it-steve-vai-reveals-gruelling-practicing-regimen-from-his-youth--and-its-not-for-the-faint-of-heart https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/its-only-for-those-who-have-a-pull-to-do-it-steve-vai-reveals-gruelling-practicing-regimen-from-his-youth--and-its-not-for-the-faint-of-heart Music News: "You can try to force it, but if it doesn't feel natural to you, [it won't happen]."]]> Wed, 20 Aug 2025 02:02:01 -0400 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/ive-always-been-the-lone-soldier-steve-vai-explains-why-working-with-joe-satriani-is-very-different-reveals-link-between-their-childhood-and-their-new-music https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/ive-always-been-the-lone-soldier-steve-vai-explains-why-working-with-joe-satriani-is-very-different-reveals-link-between-their-childhood-and-their-new-music Music News: "In my career as a solo artist, I've always been the lone soldier, as Joe has also, with his work."]]> Tue, 19 Aug 2025 01:02:03 -0400 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/thats-the-secret-sauce-you-cant-replace-that-steve-vai-explains-why-david-lee-roths-band-wasnt-as-successful-as-van-halen https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/thats-the-secret-sauce-you-cant-replace-that-steve-vai-explains-why-david-lee-roths-band-wasnt-as-successful-as-van-halen Music News: "I just knew that I could make it work, because I had a rock and roll fire that I loved in me."]]> Fri, 15 Aug 2025 02:02:02 -0400 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/steve-vai-opens-up-on-what-working-with-ozzy-osbourne-was-really-like-absolutely-the-funniest-person-i-ever-met https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/steve-vai-opens-up-on-what-working-with-ozzy-osbourne-was-really-like-absolutely-the-funniest-person-i-ever-met Music News: "My deep condolences to the family."]]> Wed, 23 Jul 2025 15:38:13 -0400 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/guitar-players-looking-to-improve-their-tone-should-do-this-first-steve-vai-suggests-tone-has-so-many-moving-parts https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/guitar-players-looking-to-improve-their-tone-should-do-this-first-steve-vai-suggests-tone-has-so-many-moving-parts Music News: "I just was getting tired of not having a great tone. I went through all these amplifiers. I was searching for something that sounded like some of the things I was hearing at the time."]]> Wed, 12 Mar 2025 00:02:01 -0400 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/with-him-youre-always-reaching-for-the-absurd-steve-vai-explains-how-he-came-up-with-his-iconic-david-lee-roth-guitar-part https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/with-him-youre-always-reaching-for-the-absurd-steve-vai-explains-how-he-came-up-with-his-iconic-david-lee-roth-guitar-part Music News: "Whenever you hear Dave's voice, you immediately hear Edward's guitar playing."]]> Fri, 07 Mar 2025 00:06:42 -0500 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/steve-vai-names-main-challenge-of-playing-robert-fripps-guitar-parts-shares-opinion-on-danny-carey https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/steve-vai-names-main-challenge-of-playing-robert-fripps-guitar-parts-shares-opinion-on-danny-carey Music News: "Robert wrote beautiful parts, but the techniques didn't come naturally [to me]."]]> Tue, 18 Feb 2025 22:56:47 -0500 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/its-hard-to-find-big-rock-guitarist-playing-in-tune-steve-vai-names-underrated-guitar-player-he-admires https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/its-hard-to-find-big-rock-guitarist-playing-in-tune-steve-vai-names-underrated-guitar-player-he-admires Music News: "I've admired him for quite a while. He's like a soldier, you know?"]]> Mon, 10 Feb 2025 02:00:04 -0500