Check this page to see what's changed since your last visit...

May 22, 2003:

- Check out The Secret Jewel Box Mini-site and preview select cuts from the two new Archives Vol.3 and Vol. 4 discs.


May 21, 2003:

- Many things in the works here at the Vai camp - but the biggest news this week is that the next installments of The Secret Jewel Box - Archives Volume 3, and Archives Volume 4 are complete and will be released exclusively through Vai.com's Online Store on Steve's birthday - June 6, 2003. Keep your eyes on Vai.com for more information over the coming days - including a new Secret Jewel Box Mini-site. The updated tracklist for the two discs can be found on our News page.

- The Mothership Studio, Steve's recording studio in the Hollywood Hills is about to be unveiled with a new website. Take a tour of the studio's facilities and check out complete equipment lists and a whole lot more... stay tuned.

- Ever wanted to own a piece of Steve's gear? You chance is coming soon with Vai.com's Ebay Extravaganza. We've been spring cleaning and lots of gear will be made available in the near future - with proceeds going to the Make A Noise Foundation.

- More photos and new video from the studio will be arriving in a few days - so check back often!


April 25, 2003:

- Two guitars updated with new photos in the Guitar Galleries: A clear-finished Jem Prototype, and the "Sticker Strat" (also seen on the left).


April 22, 2003:

- On April 30, Steve will appear at Guitars in the Round - an educational workshop exploring different styles of guitar playing and techniques, presented by the Atlanta Chapter of the Recording Academy. For more information on time and location, check out our News page.

- The Vai.com Message Boards have returned! Check them out and sign up here! Please read our Message Board Rules and Guidelines before posting - and have fun.

- A new photo from the studio!


April 09, 2003:

- Two new guitars added to the Guitar Galleries: The "Ultra Zone" Guitar, and a prototype acoustic. More guitars are on their way, as well as updates to older guitars, including the white triple neck, Neville, and "Ike Turner" - Steve's (now repainted) pink Jackson from the DLR days. Know why it was called "Ike Turner?" Stay tuned to find out...


April 08, 2003:

- Last July, Steve's honey harvest was filmed by a crew from the Do It Yourself Network (http://www.diynetwork.com) here in the USA. Steve took them through the entire process - and some of them were scared to death!

Steve Vai's airdate for Celebrity Hobbies is: Friday, April 11 on DIY, the Do-It-Yourself Network, 8:30pm PST, 11:30pm EST. Check your local listings for channel in your area. We are unsure whether this show is available to cable subscribers outside the USA.


March 24, 2003:

- A bunch of new guitars added to the Guitar Gallery - including updated images and info on the Tom Anderson prototype, a strat-style Jem, a Jem7VWH 2003 and a brand new baritone Universe!

- Have you signed up for our Mailing List? Our first new-look Newsletter is just around the corner... don't miss out!


March 21, 2003:

- Make A Noise Foundation news has been updated! Four aspiring music students who were previously unable to pursue their goals are now one step closer to achieving their dreams. Joel Oglesby, Jennifer Smallwood, Reid Chamness Karle, and Michael Hughey have all been awarded scholarships by the Make a Noise Foundation to attend Full Sail, a state of the art Florida college offering degrees in recording engineering and entertainment media disciplines.

Click here to read more about how your donations and support are helping!


March 13, 2003:

- NEWS FLASH: STEVE TO JOIN YARDBIRDS ON STAGE TONIGHT!

This just in, Steve will be joining The Yardbirds tonight at the Austin Music Hall for their show during the South By SouthWest convention. The show begins at midnight.

Other guests joining The Yardbirds are Slash and Jeff "Skunk" Baxter.


March 12, 2003:

- New guitars have been added to the Guitar Gallery, and some old ones have been updated too. The Guitar Gallery will continue to be updated over the next few days and weeks.


March 05, 2003:

- Vai.com is now happily residing on a new server. Our apologies to those who may have experienced brief connection problems during the switch-over.

- We also have a brand-new mailing list at Vai.com. All the subscribers from our previous mailing list have been transferred across, and we'll begin sending our brand-new HTML-based newsletters in the next week or so.

Haven't subscribed yet? It's easy, and it's the best way to have Vai news delivered directly to your mailbox! Not sure if you've already subscribed? Just enter your email address and we'll tell you if you're already in our database.

Click here to go to the Vai.com Mailing List sign-up page.

- Keep an eye on the Guitar Galleries pages over the next few weeks as we begin adding new guitars in Steve's collection, as well as updating older entries with brand-new photos and info. The mirror-front Jem you can see to the left is one of the first new guitars we'll be adding!

- The Bulletin Boards are coming back! Stay tuned...

- Lots of other updates and improvements have been made throughout the site. Explore and find out more...


February 26, 2003:

Hey Folks,

As I write this I am on a plane from New York to LA. Last night was the Grammy show and your boy here actually was the host of the pre-tel. I was asked by the Academy to host the pre-tel and come out playing my guitar for about a minute or so.

The pre-tel is just that: the pre-telecast portion of the Grammy show. Besides the 14 or so Grammys that are given away on the air during the televised portion of the show, there are an additional 94 or so Grammys that are given away in various other categories before the aired portion of the show.

It was really quite a thrill and an honor for me to be asked to do this. I came out playing the Bad Horsie guitar (the black Jem with the mirror front that I'm hoping to make a production model), and it was tuned down a whole step with the low string tuned to C. I wanted to do something that contrasted with the performance style I did on the show the previous year with Nelly Furtado.

If I get some time I'll re-record what I played and put it up on the site for you all - you might get a kick out of it.

It was interesting to see the look on people's faces when I was done. I remember looking out into the audience and seeing such diverse artists as Erykah Badu, Sheryl Crow, B. B. King, Pat Metheny, The Dixie Chicks, Herbie Hancock, Diana Krall, Floetry, Vanessa Carlton, N*SYNC, Norah Jones and so so many more. After I brutally wagged the whammy bar to the point where the guitar was actually begging me to let go, and then raised it to my face and slithered harmonics out with my tongue, I was sure they all thought I was from Venus but hey, what am I here for, right? I get a kick out of trying to shock the musical elite. Actually, they were all very supportive and respectful, but they still thought I was from Venus.

I then went on to give a little intro speech and present in several categories. Basically my job was to introduce various presenters and present some categories myself along with attempting to keep the proceedings running at a good clip.

After that, Pia and I sat in the 7th row and enjoyed what I believe to be the finest Grammy show in the history of the show itself. We were sitting literally 4 feet from Simon and Garfunkel when they performed "The Sound of Silence." It moved us to tears.

The entire show was a tremendously entertaining experience. Norah Jones, God bless her, it was her night. It was sweet to see her be overwhelmed by the whole thing.

Besides aggressive guitar playing the other thing that I enjoy listening to is thick, well-performed vocal harmonies. This was the 3rd time I have seen N*SYNC perform at the Grammys and I'm convinced that they are one of the better vocal ensembles ever assembled. They were perfectly on pitch, singing dense and very difficult chord voicings and clusters. It may not be your type of music but I certainly appreciate how talented they are. They did a tribute to the Bee Gees.

The one thing that I was a little disappointed at was that there was no metal band performing on the show. I would have loved to see Korn or System of a Down perform but maybe next time. Unfortunately there is such little time for all the great genres represented in the various categories.

I think the highlight of the evening for me, was when Faith Hill walked
through the back stage area and graced my guitar. The whammy bar stood straight up and started violently wangling, and then all the strings popped.

Poor thing, now I can't keep it in tune.

After the show we attended the Grammy party. Nile Rodgers and his band Chic were performing and man, they were the bomb. This party was free to Academy members and hosted some of the finest foods that the elite restaurants of New York had to offer.

Although the Grammy show is the most popular aspect of what the Academy does, there are so many other programs that help and educate people in need that the academy supports. I urge you to visit grammy.com and check it out. YOU can even become a member of the academy if you are a musician. To be a voting member, you need to have been credited on contributing to at least 6 songs that were released through conventional means on any CD or CD's. Otherwise you can be an Associate Member if you are in the music business. If you go to the site you can get details on how to join. You can even put me down on the form as a sponsor.

Hey, I might even see you at the next Grammy party. It's certainly a wingding.

In other news, the new record is shaping up nicely. Slowly but nicely. Sorry it's taking so long, and if I can get it out by the end of this year I'll be thrilled. Stay tuned for the new Archives CD's that go in the box.

Later ,

s.


February 25, 2003:

- Steve appears on Saurang Orchestra - the much awaited new record from sarangi player and composer, Surinder Sandhu. For more information, check out the Latest News page. The album has also been added to the Discography section.

- Steve is confirmed as one of the judges for the 3rd Independent Music Awards. More info can also be found on the Latest News page.


February 12, 2003:

- Steve's JEM 7VWH used during his performance with Nelly Furtado at last year's Grammy Awards is up for auction on Ebay, as part of the GRAMMY® Awards Online Charity Auction to benefit MusiCares. Check out the NEWS page for more details.


February 10, 2003:

VAI.COM UPDATE EXTRAVAGANZA:

- Tons of new magazines (and some new old ones too) added to the All About Steve > In The Press section. Got a magazine cover featuring Steve that we've yet to include? Don't be shy email us at and let us know!

- Some recent entries for 2001/2002 in the constantly expanding All About Steve > Journals section. This area of the site constantly grows and evolves, and we won't usually announce additions to this section here on the Updates page - so check them out once in a while.

- The All About Steve > Bands page has been updated and some photos have been added.

- The Vinyl and Rarities Discography is back - with quite a few new additions.

- Sights and Sounds > Guitar Pick Collectors Album has been updated and includes detailed images of the Ultra Zone pick and the VAI Hieroglyph/Ibanez pick. Also added is a new Morley pick, and the very rare GKS 10th issue Commemorative pick. There are a few picks we're looking for: One of them is the blue pick that was given away in Japanese copies of "Alive In An Ultra World." If you have it and a scanner, we'd love to hear from you.

- Both the Sights and Sounds > Virtual Vai and Video Vault sections have been given the treatment. We're working on new versions of all the videos plus some brand new ones too - in both Quicktime and Windows Media format. Until then, the old videos are working and can be downloaded for your enjoyment.

- A couple of new items added to the Sights and Sounds > Aural Fixation page, including links to the Korg demo track "Feathers" and the Roland VG-88 demo tracks "Cliff of Insanity" and "Misfits".

- There's a new lesson from Steve on Guitar.com - part three of a series they are running. If you've missed lessons 1 and 2, they can be found here and here.

- For those that might have missed the recent news update that we didn't mention on this page, check it out.


COMING SOON:

- Vai.com is moving to a new server in the next 2 weeks. We don't expect much of a disruption to services, but we will announce the time of the switch here.

- The discussion boards are returning!

- A new competition!

Stay tuned... ;)


Click here for previous Updates November 2002 - January 2003.


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Updates are written by the Vai.com site manager Michael Mesker, though Steve Vai may post from time to time too. Steve's posts on this page will be in green and clearly identified to avoid confusion.