On February 27, 2002, legendary musicians Steve Lukather & Larry Carlton won the Grammy Award for BEST POP INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM, for No Substitutions – Live in Osaka. As fate would have it, the award was presented by Steve Vai, who produced and engineered No Substitutions, and whose record label Favored Nations released the CD in 2001!

Steve received a Grammy Award for No Substitutions as well. Congratulations to everybody! Pictured are (L to R) Steve Lukather, Steve Vai, Larry Carlton.

 

 

 

And the award goes to…

Steve Vai has received many awards and honors over the years, but a few have slipped out of radar and this listing is not complete. If you happen to know of any we’ve missed, please e-mail us at .

GRAMMY WINNER:

2008 Best Rock Instrumental Performance
“Peaches En Regalia” – Zappa PLays Zappa
[Featuring Steve Vai and Napoleon Murphy Brock]

2001 Best Pop Instrumental Album
Larry Carlton & Steve Lukather – No Substitutions
[Steve Vai Producer/Engineer]

1994 Best Rock Instrumental Performance
“Sofa” – from Zappa’s Universe

GRAMMY NOMINATION:

2007 Best Rock Instrumental Performance
“The Attitude Song” – from Sound Theories Vol I & II

2005 Best Rock Instrumental Performance
“Lotus Feet” – from Real Illusions: Reflections

2004 Best Rock Instrumental Performance
“Whispering a Prayer” – from G3 Live: Rockin’ In The Free World

2003 Best Rock Instrumental Performance
“Essence” – from Mystery Tracks Archive Vol. 3

2001 Best Rock Instrumental Performance
“Whispering a Prayer” – from Alive in an Ultra World

1999 Best Rock Instrumental Performance
“Windows to the Soul” – from The Ultra Zone

1997 Best Rock Instrumental Performance
“For the Love of God” – from G3 Live in Concert

1995 Best Rock Instrumental Performance
“Tender Surrender” – from Alien Love Secrets

1990 Best Rock Instrumental Album
Passion & Warfare

GUITAR PLAYER MAGAZINE:

1995 Gallery of Greats

1995 Best Rock Guitarist
(Tie with Jimmy Page)

1995 Best Overall Guitarist
3rd Place

1995 Best Experimental Guitarist
(Tie with Buckethead)

1995 Best Metal Recording
3rd Place

1995 Best Overall Guitar Recording
2nd Place

1995 Best Metal Guitarist
3rd Place

1990 Best Rock Guitarist

1990 Best Overall Guitarist

1990 Best Guitar Album

1990 Best Metal Guitarist

1989 Best Rock Guitarist

1988 Best Rock Guitarist

1987 Best Rock Guitarist

1987 Best Overall Guitarist

1986 Best Rock Guitarist

GUITAR WORLD:

1990 Most Valued Player
(tie with Stevie Ray Vaughan)

1990 Best Album

1990 Best Rock Guitarist

1990 Best Guitar Solo
(For the Love of God)

1989 Best Rock Guitarist

INTERNATIONAL MUSIC AWARDS NOMINATION:

1990 Best Guitarist

SELECT MAGAZINE (UK):

1990 Best Album
(Passion and Warfare)

1990 Best Musician

1990 Sexiest Male

GUITAR FOR THE PRACTICING MUSICIAN:

1993 Editor’s Choice Award

1990 Reader’s Choice – Guitar Album of the Year

1990 Best Instrumental Guitarist of the Year

1988 Rock Guitarist of the Year

1987 Hall of Fame

1986 Guitar in the 90’s Award

KERRANG (UK):

1993 Best Hard Rock Performance

1990 Guitarist of the Year

1989 Best Rock Guitarist

YOUNG GUITAR (JAPAN):

1997 Best Rock Guitarist

1991 Best Rock Guitarist

ROCK BRIGADE:

1996 Best Guitarist

1997 Best Guitarist

RAW:

1990 Best Selling Album (No. 10)

1990 Best Selling LP Sleeve (No. 1)

1990 Best Selling Promo Video
(No. 5, I Would Love To)

1990 Best Selling Promo Video
(No. 7, The Audience is Listening)

1990 Best Sex Object (No. 6)

1990 Best RAW Cover (No. 3)

PLAYER:

1995 Best Hard Rock Guitarist – 2nd Place

MAKING MUSIC:

1990 Best Album

1990 Best Guitarist

1990 Best Musician

METAL HAMMER:

1990 Best Guitarist (Reader’s Poll)

CALIFORNIA MUSIC AWARDS:

2001 Outstanding Guitarist (nominee)