MAILBAG ARCHIVES:

- September 20, 2000

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- May 18, 2000

- March 05, 2000

- January 11, 2000

- December 27, 1999

- November 02, 1999

- September 18, 1999

- August 27, 1999

- March 16, 1999

- January 30, 1999

- October 22, 1998

- April 26, 1998

- March 30, 1998

- March 17, 1998

May 18, 2000:

My name is Uwe Weinert from Germany. I would like to tell you today about a meeting I had with Steve after a concert here in Dusseldorf on 04/04/2000. After the show, I have waited 2.5 hours to get this German license plate signed. It is a German tractor license pate from the small town VAIHINGEN. This town has the prefix towncode VAI. I showed him this plate and he said to me: "It´s amazing". Then he signed it and gave it back to me. He reached into his jacket, took a camera out and made a photo of me with the license plate in my hand. Than, he gave the camera to his roadie, came beside me and the roadie made a photo of Steve and me. Then Steve told me that he will put this photo on his website! It was 2:30 am and very dark, so I think you can see from the license plate only the reflection of the flash. Out of this reason, I send you a scan of this plate and hope you can use it when you put this on his website.

Peace and love and good happiness stuff,
Uwe

Photos sent in by J.T. Davis (Oklahoma City 1999 show)

Hi Guys,

I was lucky enough to be in Sydney in February and was hoping to take my 16-year-old daughter Suzanne along to Selina`s at Coogee to see the band. We were extremely disappointed to find that it was an 18+ venue and that she would not be allowed in. However, Suzanne, knowing how much of a fan I am, insisted I go alone. What a night - I thought I would never see such a gig again, and to think you had done it all three years to the night earlier. I arrived back at our hotel that night full of it and having bought a tour programme discovered that you were playing in the UK six weeks after we got home. Needless to say as soon as we got home we booked for the Manchester Gig (no age restrictions). Wow. What a show!.How do you guys do such a massive tour playing almost every night and look so fresh? It was very apparent from both shows that you were all having a great time up there on stage. I know the audiences had a ball. It goes without saying that you have another dedicated fan in my daughter Suzanne. I was a great Zappa fan and could not foresee any band that might replace his ensembles for live shows. Although the style is different the quality is of an equally high standard. Come back soon,

Pete and Suzanne Swaysland
Weston-Super-Mare England

Dear Steve,

This summer it will be 10 years since I first purchased "Passion and Warfare" at the local Wal-Mart in Harrison, Arkansas. I was 13 or 14. I had seen the video for "The Audience is Listening" on MTV and thought it was an album I needed to own.

For the first time in my life, I was presented with music that my ears didn't fully understand. Nevertheless I kept listening and listening. The tape was glued to my Walkman as I walked the four miles to the local swimming hole on a daily basis. I often didn't know where one song ended and the next began; cassettes are nice that way, you can't always skip through to the hit single. Every time I listened I found something I hadn't heard before. This still happens occasionally when I listen to that album.

Later that summer, my dad asked me if I would be interested in guitar lessons. By this time, "Passion and Warfare" had instilled in me a real curiosity to find out how tones and sounds are put together, so I gleefully assented.

Now it's the year 2000, and despite having a 'real' job, I still teach guitar to about 16 students a week. Since radio and MTV don't present much in the way of instrumental inspiration, I make tapes for the kids, so they know what a guitar can really do. Track 1 is "Eruption". Track 2 is "For the Love of God".

The kids are ready again, by the way. They're ready to practice, and this time they're not constricted by the confines of heavy metal. Although "Bad Horsie" still wigs them out.

Thanks, Steve. Thanks for shaping my life and the lives of thousands. Thanks for being thoughtful, for being sincere, humble, dilligent, intelligent, eccentric, and creative. It is by following your example that I've become a guitarist, a musician, a teacher, and a generally quirky individual.

Your loyal student

Colter McCorkindale

P.S. Thanks also for designing the greatest guitars in the world. Exploring my Universe 7PWH makes me feel like this:

I just came home from Steve's gig in Munich and I wanted to thank him for one of the greatest shows I have ever attended in my life. I also wanted to thank him for bringing such great musicians like Mike Keneally and Eric Sardinas (until today I hadn't heard of him) to Europe!

Andreas Amoros-Koehler

Dear Steve,

It's 2 days since I saw you play (again) here in Dublin. I have one or two things to say. Firstly - my man did NOT drag me there. In fact - I am the one who spent three weeks on the phone to EVERYONE I knew trying to get some tickets as they has all sold out before we even heard you were coming. I have been a fan of yours since the first time I heard "For The Love Of God". God, what a piece of music. Secondly - THANK YOU. Thank you, thank you and thank you for the best night I've had in a long time. Thank your band for me too - they were great. I can't remember everyone's name but your Irish guitar player was AWESOME. Wow - he might look a bit like Jerry Springer (!!!) but we loved him. And the young guy you had playing with you - he was great. And that drummer - baby, next time DON'T wear the towel!!! And the bass player should switch to towels! Myself and my boyfriend saw you when you played here before - supporting Aerosmith - you signed his Ibanez RG770 for him. We were so excited to see you that when Aerosmith came on we had to leave! I never thought you'd be back here to play solo - it's excellent that you came.

Please - please - please come back again - soon. You know how quickly the tickets sold out because I heard you say so - so you also know that there are thousands of people who couldn't be at the gig. In saying that - I'm glad you played where you played in Vicar Street and not at the Point Depot again because it was amazing to be so close to you. Your new stuff is amazing - I had only just got my copy of "The Ultra Zone" - your old stuff is amazing - sure you're amazing! I love watching you onstage - you're electrifying to watch - never mind the guitar playing! I have to let you in on a little secret. When Eric Sardinas came out on stage at first someone said that he looked a bit like you. Before long he had everybody half-conviced that Eric was you in a wig! We never believed him for a minute though - all you had to do was check out the chin. Thank you for playing "For The Love Of God" at the gig - I think I would have had to beat up the bouncers and climb up on stage if you hadn't (only to tell you that you HAD to play it!) Anyway - I just wanted to tell you thanks. Don't stop - ever. We adore you and you'll always be my hero. I hugely admire the amount of work you're doing for young musicians and the next time you lick your lips at me from the stage I'll do more than blow you a kiss! With HUGE admiration and respect,

Nikki Kavanagh.

I saw Steve Vai's performance when he came to Taipei months ago... and I am crazy about him. SO, I made some digital artworks for my guitar hero...

Sincerely yours,

Joe F from Taipei

Hi there,

I wanted to thank Steve Vai and his band, plus Mr. Sardinas and his band, for the best concert I have EVER seen. I think the crowd's roar was even louder now than it was 7 years ago when you last played in Copenhagen! I only hope your recording wasn't messed to bad up (I stood behind the mixer and watched it record, in hope that it will be released someday). This was truly a night to remember FOREVER.

Words cannot describe the feeling we all had, heading for the train afterwards!

Best regards,

Jan K. Larsen

Hi,

I had to write to let you know about Steve's brilliant show in Manchester on the UK tour in March.

It was totally brilliant. A few fans met Steve in the afternoon of the show and he kindly signed some CD's and stuff and posed for some photos. One of which I enclose here of the man himself and I, taken that afternoon. As you can see it was a bit cold and windy!

He also kindly invited a few fans into the soundcheck which was a dream come true! I got one of Steve's Ultra Zone picks off him as well. With the show to follow, it was a truly remarkable experience I think none of the fans that were fortunate enough to be there will ever forget.

THANK YOU STEVE AND PLEASE COME BACK TO THE UK AGAIN SOON!!

Best wishes,

Richard Booth
England

Thank you for finally caming to Portugal, it was the BEST concert I have ever seen, and I am very sad for not bringing my girlfriend to the concert. Mr Vai is the best...and he showed it! (He is a master of the stage). I hope he remembers his concert here in Portugal, because I certainly will never forget. Mr. Vai please never stop making that wonderful thing you do (and so very damn well), and maybe, if you ever get the chance... visit Portugal again.

Obrigado

A fan.
Daniel

Hey Steve,

Just wanted to let you know what a good & bad influence you've been on me. I bought a JEM7BW in '91 and I love it to pieces. As you can see, I've done some custom work on it with the ultimate in refinishing tools...MACTAC. I actually used this slightly green tinted marble stuff on my black and green universe which looked incredibly hot. That's a GOOD influence. Now, I also bought, 2 months previous, a used 540 Power (Satch's 'Not of This Earth' cover) and I loved it to pieces. Literally. I was showing off and threw it around my body, except when it got over my shoulder, the strap post gave, and the guitar went flying and landed on the cement of the parking lot where I was standing. That's a BAD influence. However, only the body itself sustained damage and I commissioned Sheldon Dingwall (VooDoo Bass) to build me a brand spanking new body. Complete with monkey-grip, JEM style output (angled to strap post), bridge dig-out, and additional pickup switch (full hum/individual switches). That's a GOOD influence. And SPECIAL thanks for your ongoing relentless pursuit of excellence and inspiring us all to head back to the woodshed for those 26-hour-per-day practice sessions. Way to keep the bar up. God Bless You,

Dean Dynna
Prince Albert, SK, Canada

Hi Steve,

Wow, I went to the concert on friday at the Manchester Apollo, England purely because my boyfriend wanted to go so it was a gift. And apart from the fact that my hearing was wasted for 3 days after as I was sat right next to the left speakers, it was amazing. I was truly impressed and next time it'll be me dragging him to the concert rather than the other way round.

Oh and I'm the blonde who got my Sardinas album signed , and I did make a complete fool of myself and am still embarrased about it !!!

Heidi Flockton

Dear Steve,

Yesterday can be best described as "V(ai)-Day" to me! Being a serious admirer of you for many years, last night, finally, a dream came true... I was able to experience your "Ultra Zone" show in Nijmegen! (Netherlands)

Let me tell you, I have seen many guitar heroes performing live, but during last night's show YOU blew the lid right off my skull! It is simply UNBELIEVABLE what you can make a guitar do! You kept me (and the approx. 5000 other visitors!) in a complete trance from start to finish during your (almost 3 hour) performance! This must have been an emotional explosion for you (as well as for the rest of the band!) and, believe me, I still enjoy the fallout!

And what a surprise it was, when you told us that this show will be broadcasted on 4FM-radio very soon, I can't wait to hear it (again)! Time for the rest of the Netherlands to acknowledge the true master of guitar, right?

Well, I guess I could fill another gigabyte of data about how energetic your performance was, how visible the enthusiasm is while you're playing your music, etcetera, etcetera, but I guess by know this letter sounds like all the other ones you receive! I consider it to be a great privilege having seen you performing live, Steve!

Last night's show changed my definition of music forever...

Mark VandenBerg, Netherlands

Hello,

I would just like to post a photo I did with Steve at his Seminar in Orvieto, Italy. I must say that the seminar was obviously a great experience. Last night Steve played live in Milan, and it
was, as usual, a great show.

Now i have no more seminars or live concerts to go to.... I'll wait till the next time.

Enjoy this relaxed and very kind Steve!

Demy Mortelliti, from Milan, Italy

LITTLE GREEN MEN stand in a row,
alongside VIV WOMAN who stands way too low.
For LOVERS ARE CRAZY so that's what they say,
like SALAMANDERS IN THE SUN who drift away.
They listen to THE BOY/GIRL SONG, and the hum and they scream.
They dance to THE ATTITUDE SONG, yet they CALL IT SLEEP,
they call me a JUNKIE cause of BILL'S PRIVATE PARTS,
they yell NEXT STOP EARTH, and not we start?
THERE'S SOMETHING DEAD IN HERE, the old lady said,
They've taken our LIBERTY and left us for dead.
In my EROTIC NIGHTMARES, THE ANIMAL is me,
I search for ANSWERS for THE RIDDLE will be.
BALLERINA 12/24 a complex girl
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD we destroy our world.
Now THE AUDIENCE IS LISTENING they'll hear what you say,
I WOULD LOVE TO teach you all the right ways,
covered is BLUE POWDER in GREASY KID'S STUFF,
so you lay in your pool of ALIEN WATER KISSES,
yet you do not know all you are missing,
with SISTERS in heart you fly to the moon,
you take your LOVE SECRETS along with you.
And now the trees burn for AN EARTH DWELLER'S RETURN
and in the HERE AND NOW you sing a new tune
for I will see IN MY DREAMSWITH YOU.
STILL MY BLEEDING HEART burns for SEX AND RELIGION
in your DIRTY BLACK HOLE while TOUCHING TONGUES
in a STATS OF GRACE you yearn to SURVIVE like a slaughterd PIG
You take THE ROAD TO MT. CALVARY, DOWN DEEP IN THE PAIN.
RESCUE OR BURY ME is all you can say.
Ride that BAD HORSIE, and drink your JUICE,
you better DIE TO LIVE cause I am telling you.
you know THE BOY FROM SEATTLE, and his YA-YO GAKK
will KILL THE GUY WITH THE BALL and thats a fact
and you know [THE GOD EATERS] will take away,
in TENDER SURRENDER forever to stay.
THERE'S A FIRE IN THE HOUSE, by THE CRYING MACHINE,
and it will stay there until my DYIN' DAY
WHOOKAM in the mourning for his dead BLOWFISH
and the next one's a long one so you'd better sit back.
THE MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF CHRISTIAN TIERA'S LOVER,
need i say more
HAND ON MY HEART and out of the door.
BANGKOK she took me to the FIRE GARDEN SUITE,
DEEPNES I fell
LITTLE ALIGATORs I grew.
ALL ABOUT EVE i saw on the tube
with an ACHING HUNGER for Japanese food.
so I called up my BROTHER he said to me DAMN YOU.
WHEN I WAS A LITTLE BOY you stole all my shoes!
GENOCIDE I tempted but sent WARM REGARDS.
FUCK YOURSELF he told me then set me on fire.
SO HAPPY I was when I went to the store
on BLEDSOE BLUVD by the NATURAL BORN
BOY. so i turned on the box and heard DETAILS AT TEN
for there had been a MASSACRE when
the was BURNIN' DOWN THE MOUTAIN.
with LIITTLE PIECES OF SEAWEED on SAN SABASTIAN.
THE BEAST OF LOVE said YOU DIDN'T BREAK IT
with THE X-EQUALIBRIUM DANCE and CHRONIC INSOMNIA i went to bed...

the end

[no name given]