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
#02:
For which movie did Steve record the song "Amazing Grace"?
Any other singles on soundtracks? As a proud student of Vaiology, I thank
you for the years of inspiration and beg you for more!
- Cj
"Amazing Grace" appears on the "DUDES" original motion
picture soundtrack, which was released on MCA Records in the mid 80's
and is now out of print. The song also appears in the movie, albeit a
very edited version. Other songs that appeared only on soundtracks include
"The Reaper" and "The Reaper Rap" (Bill & Ted's
Bogus Journey), "Get The Hell Out Of Here" (Encino Man), and
"Now We Run" (PCU). Steve has compiled all his sondtrack music
together in one release: The Elusive Light and Sound, Vol. 1. This release
was previously only available in the Secret Jewel Box from Light Without
Heat, but is now available in Stores on the Favored
Nations label.
Will Steve be coming to Australia on the third G3 tour?
- Mann Family
As far as we know, there are no plans yet for an Australian G3 tour. The
most recent G3 Tour (2001) featured Steve, Jon Petrucci and Joe Satriani.
You can check out photos here.
I need to know if Steve won the Grammy Award for his performance of
"For The Love Of God" on the G3 CD....and the answer has got
to be yes, because any other is unacceptable to this die-hard fan of the
master...peace,
- Jan
The award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance was given to The Chemical
Brothers. Other nominees included Joe Satriani, Eric Johnson and Robben
Ford. Steve won the Best Rock Instrumental Performance in 1994 for "Sofa",
from Zappa's Universe. In Steve’s words, “Oh well. Better luck
next life”.
I would like more information about the Make A Noise Foundation. I
play guitar and wanted to go to MIT [school] but can't afford to move,
much less go to school. I'm teaching myself without much progress.
- Steven Stanford
Information about the Make A Noise Foundation can be found HERE.
The nonprofit charitable organization was started by Steve Vai & Richard
Pike, and while still in the very early developmental stages, should be
up and running very soon. Our goal is to help underprivileged young people
who want to play music, and to keep music programs in schools where budget
cuts threaten any kind of music education or there are not enough instruments,
etc. Our direction is very focused however, and we want to help those
who need the help most desperately. Many of the people we will help will
be located through schools, etc.
I know this is old news, but whatever happened to the novel that Steve
planned to write in conjunction with "Passion and Warfare"?
- Jason Middleton
Steve got about halfway done with it while on tour with Whitesnake in
1990, but we all know how insanely busy Steve keeps himself, so the book
eventually was put on the shelf while he toured with Whitesnake, produced
Bad4Good, and wrote & recorded 'Sex & Religion'. Much of the P&W
novel actually went on to become the basis for much of the Fire Coma script,
which was the inspiration for ‘Fire Garden’. Also, Steve has
written several stories based on songs from ‘Fire Garden’, click
here if you’d like to
check them out!
Does Steve ever pop into the chat room on his site?
- Jon Warden
Yes, both Steve & Rich visit the chat
room on vai.com from time to time. (Steve uses the name SSV, Rich
usually uses rpike)
Does anyone know how I can get the "Shankar/Caroline - The Epidemics"
in the USA? I have been looking for this CD for five years and would appreciate
any help in locating a copy.
- Surge
The record has been out of print for several years now. Copies can sometimes
be found in better rare records shops or collector magazines such as Discoveries,
and of course, there's always Ebay!
I heard that Steve used to give guitar lessons. Is that true? If it
is, does he still do so?
Ben J.
Steve did indeed give guitar lessons to students years ago. Steve gave
lessons while living in Long Island, in Boston, and after he moved to
Los Angeles. Soon after moving to Los Angeles, however, his career really
started taking off and he no longer had the time to dedicate to teaching.
He no longer gives guitar lessons.
I have a guitar question for anyone who can answer it. Is there such
thing as a seven string Ibanez Jem on the market? I’ve been wanting
to buy a new guitar and I’ve been looking for one like this for a
long time. Thanx for your time!
TomMor311
Ibanez makes and sells the Ibanez Universe series of guitars, which are
7-string electrics designed by Steve and based on the idea of a 7-string
Jem (the Jem guitars were also Vai-designed). Go to the Ibanez
web site for more info, or check our list of Fan
Sites for several sites devoted to the Universe guitars!
Why is it so hard to find American-made Jems, particularly the burnt
stained blue finish or the natural wood finish?
Andy, Sherman Oaks CA
The 7BSB, which is the stained blue Jem you mention, is available from
any authorized Ibanez dealer and is a regularly available Jem. There is
no Jem with a natural wood finish, but you’re probably thinking of
Steve’s ‘Bad Horsie’ guitar, which is a custom guitar built
specially for Steve. (If you’d like to check out the Ibanez site,
click here).
My husband is looking for the tablature of the song Steve played in
the movie ‘Crossroads’. Any idea where I could find it?
Gloria Martinez
The only magazine we know of that featured the complete transcription
is the April ‘89 issue of ‘Guitar School’. It's been out
of print almost since publication, but back issues can sometimes be found
at various online auctions like ebay,
or try posting on our message
board!
I really want to get the pickups Steve uses, but buying the whole guitar
is over my budget, so I'm wondering where I can find and order the DiMarzio
Evolution pickups to customize my own guitar. Can you order them separately,
and from where? Also, how much would they cost me?
Frank Pennington
Steve uses the Evolution pickups in some guitars (including Evo), DiMarzio’s
new BREED pickups in other guitars, and DiMarzio PAF Pros in some older
Jems (on which the PAF Pros came stock). For info on these and all other
DiMarzio pickups, go to their site at http://www.dimarzio.com.
What is Devin Townsend doing currently? Has he been releasing anything
lately? What is his band called? I've searched the whole web but didn't
find anything.
Frank Plein
Devin may be among the most prolific and most talented human beings stomping
around on our planet today. A website with info about his various bands
including Strapping Young Lad and Ocean Machine is located at www.hevydevy.com
