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March 16,
1999 :
Here are
some pics of Steve on the '97 G3 tour. I'm not sure where this is, but
the guy's a moose! I saw G3 at Jones Beach in New York on June 20, 1997,
and it was by far the best show I have ever seen. I hope you enjoy these
pics as much as I enjoyed watching Vai perform!
Thanks, Scott
I would like to
share my most precious moment with Steve and the rest of all you fans.
On May 15 1998 at 2:35 am, my son Phoenix Vai Regan was born. Not only
was he named after Mr. Vai but he was born to the song "For The
Love Of God". My girlfriend and I ended up going to the hospital
that morning due to her blood pressure being so high and Phoenix's the
same, so they induced labor. Phoenix was not due till Mr. Vai's Birthday,
June 6 and we were so excited because Steve has been a big influence
in our lives. When Phoenix was born he had jaundice really bad and had
to be under heat lights for the first 3 weeks of his life, only to be
taken out to feed him. Listening to "Passion and Warfare"
helped Phoenix relax and helped my girlfriend and I relax and settle
down and worry less, all night and day we listened to Steve and his
music, without him I would have gone nuts.
I had just recently introduced Steve Vai to my girlfriend in October
and she loves him, I myself have been listening to him for 12 years
or so. He is why I became a guitarist and am doing very well with my
own record label. If I ever had the chance to meet Mr. Vai I would thank
him for making this world a better place, he may not think it, but his
music makes miracles happen. I can feel everything when he plays. My
girlfriend feels the same, and when I pop in one of Mr. Vai's cd's Phoenix
either gets all excited or it puts him to sleep, especially when "For
the Love of God" is playing. Phoenix is only 8 months old but he
already has the feel for the guitar, drums and keyboards. I only hope
someday he will be as great as Steve Vai. A father can only wish that
upon his most precious gift. Thank you Steve for all you have given
all of us, forever you will have friends.
C.C. Regan, October Larson & Phoenix Vai Regan
All begins
Nov.16-1995 at 17:40 (Curitiba - Brazil - at the AeroAnta ShowHouse).
Me (Rony), Luca and Mirian meeting with Sergio Buss (Lucas´s old
Friend since the Musician's Institute days). I've been a fan for a long
time ago, but after almost 5 hours before the concert with this guy,
man... Steve is really the best guitarist and composer flying through
the Universe. You can feel his energy and soul jumping under the stage
each time he plays....it was wonderfully amazing.... I just hope someday
Steve come back to Brazil to share his feelings with all of us again...God
keep walking beside him. The best ever song for me: "For the Love
of God". Here is a beautiful picture of us (Luca, Miriam, Steve,
Me).
One of the best moments in my life. Bye...
Hello All!
My name is David LoVecchio and as you might guess I love Steve Vai's
music. I'm from Concord, MA in case anyone wants to know and I thought
I might throw this Photoshop piece I did your way.
Enjoy and take care. Hugs and kisses,
David LoVecchio
 
 
These 5
photos (above) are from 24 November 1995 in THE OPERA THEATRE - ARGENTINE
and March 1997.
PABLO SEBASTIAN FREGEIRO GIL
Steve,
my name is Agustin R De La Gala and I hope you enjoy my artwork (2 pics
above).
Thanks Steve, your friend & fan forever.
Steve,
I just wanted to write a thank you letter of sorts. I will have to start
by telling you that when I was in high school I was a big fan of a lot
of 80's glam rock/pop bands. I thought they had the best musicans in
the world. One day a guy in my shop class and I had a debate about how
much talent they really had. He said "Gina, since you live on the
way to my house I will drop you off at your house and we will listen
to someone with some real talent”. I said "oh yeah and who
is that?" He said "Steve Vai!" I said "whoever".
He played ‘Passion and Warfare’ and by the time I got out
of his car (it was probably only 10 minutes later) I said “now
where is it that I could get a STEVE VAI tape?” He just laughed
and said "Gotcha hooked now" I said "yes you did”
and bought ‘Passion and Warfare’ that night.
I do want to thank you for not only gracing us with your talent but
also because of you I went on a search for more talented musicans and
discovered Joe Satch, Eric Johnson, Steve Morse, Alan Holdsworth, Stevie
Ray Vaughan, Dixie Dregs, Brent Mason, Mark O'Conner, etc etc.
I also wear a Steve Vai shirt to every concert I go to and or even when
I go to a night club with a band. I have been stopped many times by
bands and had long conversations with their guitar players mainly about
you and how great you are, we have actually became friends because they
noticed I was wearing your t-shirt.
You have opened my eyes to all sorts of music I would have never even
considered listening too if it hadn’t been for you. I have also
made quite a few friends who pass through town from time to time and
I just want to say thank you. It’s been a great experience being
a fan of yours.
Love ya,
Gina
Excuse
me, but stuff happens that causes other stuff to happen, and it makes
your day. At the risk of sounding like a starstruck groupie, I offer
this.
I was sitting at my computer earlier this evening when the phone rang.
Before I tell you who was on the other end of the line, let me skip
back in time and preface things by relating to you a few of my actions
that resulted in this particular phone call. A couple of days ago, Monday,
Jan. 18th, 1999, I decided that I needed to update my ever growing inventory
of everything VAI. So I headed out to the WWW site that also happens
to be everything VAI. Saw the new "Alien Love Secrets" DVD
was on sale... hmmmm. I have the CD already... I don't own a DVD player...
still gotta have it though, don't I? Of course I do. So I order the
DVD and a subscription to GKS as well, something else I've been meaning
to do for some time. I'm golden!
So I'm buying a DVD player just for this. Can you think of a better
reason? Me neither.
Now it's Wednesday, and I'm really impatient when it comes to stuff
like this, so I got to thinking about how long it would take for the
DVD to get here... my first issue of GKS... oh... I can't stand not
knowing! So I fire off an email asking about the shipping status of
orders cause I'm an impatient maroon. Just the thought of knowing I'd
asked the question seemed to ease the anxiety somewhat, but not totally.
There was still something else that needed to be done. So, I went back
to Steve's site and ordered the Vai Signature Licks Book/CD as an afterthought
to my first order. I got this brilliant idea that if I start now ordering
things every few days, I'll have a steady stream of incoming Vai goodies
for a little while... sweeet! And I scoped another item to order in
another couple of days to help bring my brilliant idea to fruition.
Anyhow, this really helped satisfy the inner demon crying for more Vai
stuff. I felt better. So, I went on about my business. Suffice it to
say, I wasn't thinking anything in particular at the time the phone
rang. I answered it. But as I always answer my phone I simultaneously
looked at the caller ID message on the phone.
A sudden rush of amazement came over me as I read the name. No it wasn't
Steve... but the name was of someone very close to him. RUTA SEPETYS.
Wooaahh! Being the Vai fan that I am, I instantly recognized the name.
If you don't know, you should. As I'm saying hello, I'm trying to figure
out why she or someone from Light Without Heat, as she didn't give her
name, was calling, and also at the same time realizing that whoever
this was, was probably someone that has some direct communication with
Steve. What would I like to say to Steve if I had the chance and it
might actually make it to him? Man, lots of possibilities on this one.
As it turns out she was calling to confirm my order information and
let me know that they would be going out tomorrow. I must admit I was
a bit disappointed that it wasn't a call to be his second guitarist
on the next tour. I guess that Keneally guy wins again! He deserves
it - we think you're cute too Mike!
I'm also thinking as this very brief conversation is taking place how
cool it is that someone from LWH was actually taking the time to call
me. In today's world, it just doesn't happen. I've ordered many things
from many places, and never received a confirmation phone call from
any individual/company/whatever, even when there was a problem. Now,
I can only guess as to whether the e-mail I sent off only a couple of
hours earlier had triggered this call. Regardless of that, I was just
totally impressed and it only furthers my belief that everything that
is VAI, is in fact VAI. Steve's obvious love and passion for what he
does, as well as that for his fans and fellow human beings, shows through
in everything he does. From the amazing music he releases to us, to
the actual machine behind the scenes that makes it all come together.
A total 100% class act. It just doesn't get any better than this, kids.
Steve, you should know that the people working for you are the best
on the planet I'm sure. Of course, how could they be anything less.
Anyhow, when all was confirmed and the conversation was about to end,
I quickly scanned my memory banks for that one quick message I could
politely ask her to relay to Steve... fearing I'd miss my chance I said
the only thing that made sense.
I said... Thank you.
Michael Timothy Biondolillo
Dear Steve,
I have a question as someone really into life and the universe etc.
Based on quantum mechanical theory, all universes are possible, so having
released an album called 'Alien Love Secrets' does it bother you that
some totally excellent musical alien has released an album called "Steve
Vai's Love Secrets"?
And keep playing as you are my greatest source of inspiration, and if
you can tour the UK it would be nice...
Yours widdlefully,
Dave Evans
To Steve,
I'm Yuko Kiriyama, a Japanese girl. I looked at your home page, &
am sending my photo. I bought your new CD "Flex-Able Leftovers".
I'm playing the guitar, and I respect you. I'm looking foward to your
next concert in Japan. Good luck your music life!!
Your fan,
Yuko
Hi!
I was trying to send to you a picture I took of Steve on a Music Messe in Frankfurt in 1996.
Take care!
Yuri
Dear Steve,
Do you have any plans for touring europe? Please, please, please try
to include a very nice little country called Denmark, the next time
you go on the road it would mean a lot to my friends and I.
Best regards,
Heino P. Gullichsen
P.S: Thank you very much for inspiring me to pick up my guitar.
Steve has been
a part of my musical life since 1987, the year I graduated. I went to
Street Beat in Chillicothe OH and on impulse got a copy of 'Flex-Able',
on cassette. That was it. I now have 11 or 12 hours of recorded material,
which I did using SoundEdit 16 (PMac 8500av), my guitar & amp (Westone/Crate),
and 'captured' drum beats out of my cd collection. I say Steve has been
1 of 2, of my MAJOR influences - his music is like a fast forward library,
as well as a collection of tasteful, psychadelic, passionate, deep,
and of course, off the wall MUSIC!!!!
I dare you to hum some.....
Scott Durflinger
Dear Stevie,
I first off wanna let you know that I am your biggest spiritual fan
there is aside from God. You have given strength in believing in myself
when times on the guitar were hard. When in my first couple years of
playing, I would sometimes sit and cry when I thought my playing would
get no better. Through all of your interviews, lessons in magazines,
videos, I have realized that the fault of all this was myself. You showed
my the way to Zen and guitar Utopia. I really appreciate all of what
you have done for me. Playing for 14 years now, I can say that I am
more in tune with myself and God and the relationship I have with my
music. I thank God for stopping and thinking while creating you, you
are my spiritual guide at times and I will never ever forget that. Some
people laugh at me because I still have this "idol/mentor"
thing with you. I am 28, I will always show my appreciation towards
you and your spiritual energy that is endeuced (my new word of the day,
not sure if it really means anything but sounds cool huh?) through your
music.
Thank you, I will meet you one day if God is willing.
My question is: When are you and Joe Satch going to do anything? I had
a DJ around 1989, 1990 ask you about that at the NAMM show and I told
him to ask you if it would be called "Sea Of Emotions"? Secondly,
I saw Niacin play in New York a few weeks back at the Bottom Line, and
talking with Billy Sheehan I asked when you and him are gonna play again?
Since, in my opinion - you work the best within regards to the best
guitar and bass duo. You both have that same mentality of just being
nuts! Thank you for your time. My web site is: http://members.aol.com/stevievai1/index1.html
Dave Lovallo
Hey, just checkin'
how Vai is coming along with his new project, hope good... because all
the rest turned out great... I know you've got a creative mind... but
sometimes you take it to the limit... Vai you are great..so keep in
mind you have fans like me to back you up... I always looked up to you...
so keep going to the edge with your Jem... and keep rockin...
LOL
your friend, Ryan
Special
thanks to Steve Vai, my inspiration, without whom this guitar would
just be just another mass of wood and tangled wires. This one's for
you, Steve. If you behave yourself, someday I'll let you play it. ;)
Kirk A Slossar, Jemfest '99 Organizer
Here are
two photos of Steve during a seminar in Rome, in June 1991.
Giuseppe Centi
Steve,
There's something about the word "Individual." That word is
one that everyone wishes for but many just cannot attain. You are one
of the few 'persons', let alone 'musicians' that have clearly defined
yourself in such a way. To be quite honest, I love ya more as a person
that a guitarist because you're such a humble guy, much like myself.
Your guitar playing is awe-inspiring. I remember the first time I saw
you--it was on "Crossroads." Jack Butler was a role made totally
for Steve Vai. You hold a charisma and entertaining aspect about yourself
when you're playing that I wish I had. I've only been playing guitar
for a year and a half, but listening to certain players tend to "influence"
us all. I guess you could say that my style, which tends to coincide
with the very likes of yourself, Jimmy Page, Satriani, Eddie Van Halen
and Jimi Hendrix, consists of a feeling and aspiration for perfection.
Which is how I feel about each one of you guys as musicians. Those individuals
we look at and say, "Man, I'll never be that good." It's not
that we 'hold ourselves back', but we feel that it is something so sacred
and dear to our souls that we leave it for what it is and just don't
touch it, like a signed guitar by your favorite player.
Needless to say, I'm a total fan of yours. As I said earlier, "I
love ya for the person you are." You do it for the love of the
music and you are one of the few people that haven't been influenced
by 'them.' Them, I guess you can say, is pressure, commercialism and
egotistical jackasses. I enjoy that you're being your own musician and
a total disciple of yourself. That's what we all as musicians, especially
the young bloomers like myself, say about each other--"I care more
about challenging myself than dueling with others."
I recently saw you on the G3 video and you were awesome! "For The
Love Of God" is a creation that is 'divine and grandiose'. When
I play with others in a jam session, I watch everything; their hands,
body language and most importantly, their face. Steve, let say this
for myself -- in "For the Love of God", you were there, man.
I saw it in your eyes -- the total drive of feeling and freedom. Like
an eagle almost, soaring and being proud of what you're doing for yourself,
your loved ones and your fans. That look is one that I'll never forget.
I was almost as if you were thanking God for giving you what you had
and there are so many others that want that same feeling -- to be loved
and doing what you do best.
I'll close this letter by saying that I play guitar because I love the
instrument. I play because it's fun and I express myself. I guess you
could say that guitar is my "Stairway To Heaven" or moreover,
my "Liberty." Continue to lavish us fans with music that takes
our pain away, that soothe our souls and captivates our imagination
to live life a little better each day. Songs to me that you've made
that I hold dear are: "Hand On Heart," "Die To Live,"
"Brother," "Liberty," "For the Love of God,"
"Sisters," "Bad Horsie," "Tender Surrender,"
and "Fire Garden Suite." Steve, thank you so much for your
time, your guitar playing, your incredible sense of feeling with music,
your creativity and your desire -- desire to be the best (not to mention
you're succeeding with that!)
Keep this great website and thank you so much!!!
The Hitman
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