Got a question for Steve?
We can't guarantee Steve will answer every email - but we'll certainly
attempt to address all your Frequently Asked Questions here!
Answers
#07: January 2003
Hi Steve,
I bought your last opus recorded during the live sessions and i was really
happy to find ones you made with us on the 23rd of march 2000 in Bordeaux
(it was not at the "Theatre Barbey" but at the "Krakatoa").
In the song "Being With You (in Paris)", who composed the few
lines in French? (really nice accent!). I hope you will have time to answer
to me.
A french fan.
Charlier Fabien
Steve writes: "Ooops, I don't know how we put the
wrong venue name but thanks for pointing it out. I will ask Mike to post
it on the site. I composed the letter that was then read in French at
the show. It was translated by John Pusztai who was also the one that
recited it. It's sticky sweet."
John Pusztai (pictured here with Steve) tells the story of how
it all came about:
"Here's what happened on what was probably the most incredible day
of my life so far: I'm a Vai fan. Actually that's a bit of an understatement,
but you get the picture. I also live in Paris, and after attending the
local gig of the Ultra Zone Tour here on March 15th (2000), I thought
there was no way I wasn't gonna see that show again, so I went to Strasbourg.
I got to the venue around 4pm that day (April 1st), and the doors were
open. Talk about blind luck!
The band was doing the soundcheck. I sat down in the back, where some
other people were hanging. Obviously it was amazing! At one point, they
started to play that song Steve had just written, which sounded like a
Parisian ballad. Then I heard Steve saying he needed a translator. I was
sitting next to his tour manager, so I told him I could do it. And it
worked!
So there I was up on stage! I thought Steve just wanted to talk with some
french person, but actually, the song they were rehearsing was written
for France: they were going to perform it that night, and record it in
order to put it on a live album. Steve asked me to translate a poem he
had written from English to French, and to recite it in the song. It was
about a particular day he had spent in Paris with Pia, and what the feelings
it had evoked in him. Too bad Phil (Bynoe) doesn't speak French though,
it would have made it sound like Barry White! (j/k ). I went to the dressing
room to do the translation, and then we rehearsed it a couple times. Then
the soundcheck came to an end. It was time for the band to relax before
the show and to have dinner. I went to a nearby chinese restaurant with
my friends but I couldn't eat!
Eventually the show started. I spent most of it running around backstage
almost shitting my pants, I was beyond nervous! Right after Voodoo Acid,
it was time for me to hit the stage. Pure adrenaline! It went pretty well,
although I think I was shaking a bit. It was very magical. God what a
memory! Everyone in the crew was really cool to me. My deepest gratitude
to you guys, especially to Steve for making this happen, for being my
greatest inspiration (not only musical), and many other things!
Warm Regards - John Pusztai"
I notice on a lot of your album you mention using Eventide Harmonizers.
Do you know where I can buy one and how much they cost? Also, is there
any way I can buy a left-handed version of any of Ibanez's Signature Steve
Vai series guitars?
- Sherri Durham
Check out www.eventide.com
for more info on the Eventide Harmonizers.
There (was) a lefthanded version of the Jem produced: the JEM555LWH. This
is still available in some music stores – or check on ebay,
and jemsite.com.
Is there going to be another Merry Axemas CD? The first two were
simply too
damn stuning.
-Pedro Henrique
S - "Maybe sometime in the future but there are no plans at this
time."
Hi, I watched a program on TV the other day about one of the seven
wonders of the world, which got me thinking, because they said something
about an eye in a triangle/pyramid being on a note. I wasn't really listening
untill they talked about the triangle thing. I started listening because
I saw the same triangle thing on Steve's album 'Passion and Warfare'.
I didn't realise 'til I came to find the email address - it's also on
the website. Unfortunately I didn't catch what they said about it on the
TV - but it's something to do with 'new order' and alexandria. Could you
tell me what this triangle symbol thing means? and why steve uses it?
thank you,
charlie .. big fan of steve
S - "If you research metaphysics you will find mystical meanings
for pyramids and triangles, and the power of numerology and the number
7 being a prime focus. I had made many discoveries whilst I was seeking
spiritual balance in my life. I believe there is cause and effect based
in metaphysics, and the study of which can bring one closer to the roots
of the human being. But l have also found that more than not they can
be a big deterrent in the progress of spiritual evolution, and at times
very dangerous. Numerology, mystics, fortune telling, etc., all have their
place and their reality but at the core of the matter, is where the essence
of it all really is, and everything else is just an obstacle in getting
there. What I'm saying is, I wouldn't worry about the pyramid and the
numbers."
Hi Steve,
On your fantastic album The 7th Song, (my lovely wife bought it for my
Xmas), at the end of the 11th and final track, the track number does not
change but the CD continues, and to my amazement 'Warm Regards' from Fire
Garden starts (which is definitely not the 7th track from Fire Garden,
its track 18). The track is played in full. Was this an intentional addition?
Or was it a pleasant mistake? If it is a mistake, is it limited to a certain
CD batch or are they all the same? Could my copy be rare? I truly hope
so. Please reply - I would love to hear your response.
Thank you for the music.
Warmest Regards,
Robert Termer
S- "It was an intentionally hidden track, surprise!"
Hey Steve, I'm big fan of yours. What was your rig in Flexable?
Did u use a Carvin amp like those seen in the 'crossroads'? When did u
start using the JEM's?
- Martin Philip Bengson
S - "For Crossroads I was using a Carvin X-100B amp along with a
Charvel guitar
that turned into my Green meanie guitar. I was using an MXR distortion,
Cry
Baby Wha Wha and a Roland SDE 3000 for delay."
Steve designed and began using the Jem in 1987.
Dear
Steve,
If I am not mistaken you recorded with Dweezil many years ago on a cut
called 'Crunchy Water'. If I am correct, is that cut available anywhere?
Thanks-
Jeff Cole
S - "Crunchy water was the flip side of a track called "My Mother
is a Space Cadet." I wrote My Mother... with Dweezil but I did not
play on it. That was Edward Van Halen that produced and played on it.
I have no idea where you can find a copy. I don't even have one."
I just heard a killer version of Steve doing "Somewhere Over
the Rainbow"...what can you tell me about it?
We often get asked about this track, as well as a few others floating
around on filesharing services out there called:
Steve Vai – "Beethoven's 5th"
Yngwie Malmsteen/Steve Vai "Duet"
Satriani/Vai – "Formula 1"
S - "I don't ever recall playing 'Somewhere over the Rainbow', or
'Beethoven's 5th.' I don't ever recall jamming with Yngwie, and I have
never heard of a track that Joe and I properly recorded called 'Formula
1.' I think it's all rumors, mistakes or misnamed things."
VAI.COM UPDATE: Thanks to the many fans who wrote in
helping clear up this confusion. We have heard that "Somewhere Over
The Rainbow" is actually performed by Chris Impellitteri, and that
"Beethoven's 5th" is performed by Nuno Bettenbourt (we've been
unable to confirm this).
The track "Formula 1" is apparently a mis-titled version of
"Juice" that appeared in the video game "Formula 1".
A Satriani track also appeared in the game soundtrack - hence the confusion.
As far as Steve's attitude toward filesharing, read his thoughts below...
I was wondering what Steve's opinion is on all this stuff going
on about [peer-to-peer filesharing], mp3's, and free music over the internet.
- Mike Ricci
S - "I think that ripping tracks from the Internet is a blatant disregard
for the intellectual property rights of the artists that create the art,
most of whom live hand to mouth. Believe it or not, "file sharing"
is bringing the music industry to an all time low and at the end of this
we will see at least a 25% decline is sales. That will put a lot of Indies
out of business, make the majors smaller and less effective in marketing,
and discourage many musicians from making music as it will seem more and
more hopeless to make a living in the business. So, buyer beware of what
your doing when you rip from the net. I have never even once in my life
downloaded a track from the net for free because I know how it effects
the artists."
Hello from Finland!
I would like to know if Steve´s hearing has suffered after so many
years in loud bands? I have many friends who have hearing loss and tinnitus.
Does he use anything on stage to protect his hearing?
Yours sincerely
Aki Järvelä
S - "I have always protected my ears with ear plugs or cotton whenever
I play
on stage or in rehearsal. As a result they are still good. I get periodic
check ups too. The only other thing I ever stick in my ear is my elbow."
Hi Steve I am 14 years old and have been playing the guitar for
two years now. I was wondering what kind of things you were playing when
you were around the age of 14?
One of your biggest fans,
Adam "axman" Wallace
S- "Hi Adam. When I was your age I played a whole lot everyday but I would
break it up into different categories. Exercises, scales, chords, jamming
to tapes, reading music and just sitting and improvising. All in all I
would spend about 9-15 hours a day. I highly recommend playing to a drum
machine or loops as this will help you get your groove together, play
with as many different people you can as musical communication is tremendously
important, and just love music all the time. Be supportive of other peoples
musical contributions and struggles."
Will Fire Strings ever be released on CD or video?
- Jay
S- "Eventually everything I ever recorded will be released in one
way or another."
Hi there Vai!
My name is Magnus Rubach Wendt, I'm a 17 years old guitar player from
Norway... I play guitar all day long... but lately I've been getting a
real pain in the wrist (fretting hand)... everybody tells me to rest from
the guitar!!! Its horrible... I love playing... I want to play all the
time!! Help me, please...
How can I play all day, without getting injurie in my wrists!!!
An answer would be more than great!
-Magnus
S - "Just playing is not necessarily going to make you a great musician.
There are many things you can do to improve yourself while you let your
hand rest. It's difficult to rest when you want to play, I know, but you
must because you can damage yourself.
Develop your ears. Get some books on solfeggio and sight singing. Learn
to hear music in your head while looking at it on paper. Sit and write
melodies that you hear in your head. Practice much slower, hitting only
one note every 30 seconds and make it sound great and listen to it ring
out.
Create tapes of chords that you can listen back to and name when you hear
them, this is great ear training. Listen to inspirational music that you
like. Study theory and imagine how you can apply it to the instrument.
These are few things.
s
John Pusztai (pictured here with Steve) tells the story of how
it all came about:
Dear
Steve,