Steve Vai

They also use a humbucker-single coil-humbucker pickup set-up and a locking tremolo bar. In 2003 Whitesnake regrouped for a 25-year celebration tour. They feature a handgrip cut into the top of the body of the guitar. Since then Whitesnake has only released an unplugged Japan show Starkers In Tokyo. Vai also helped design his signature Ibanez JEM series of guitars. In that year, an album called Restless Heart was released, though not in the United States. He also enjoys keeping bees, which regularly produce a crop of honey that Steve sells for his chosen charity every year through his web site. 1990 saw a Greatest Hits album, but other than that the band was dormant until 1997.

Vai is married with two children (Julian Angel & Fire) to Pia (former Bassist of All-Female Group "Vixen", which can be seen in the movie "Hardbodies"). The band was reformed again for Slip of the Tongue (1989), which featured Steve Vai; the record did not sell well in spite of that. Steve Vai owns 'Favored Nations', a recording and publishing business which specialises in looking after both newly discovered and already high profile recording artists from around the world. The following album, Whitesnake 1987, was another huge success, driven by the power ballad "Is This Love" and the hit single, "Here I Go Again". Vai is an accomplished studio producer (he owns two: "The mother ship" and "The harmony hut") and his own recordings combine his signature guitar prowess with novel compositions and considerable use of studio and recording effects. After a major personnel shift, Whitesnake released 1984's Slide It In, a platinum album. Where Vai's contributions to others' material has been constrained by the largely rock or heavy-rock style of those bands, his own material is considerably more esoteric. During the first years, their music was primarily blues-oriented hard rock. Members of the band include Jon Lord and Ian Paice of Deep Purple as well as Bernie Marsden and Micky Moody.

Vai received a Grammy Award in 1991. The band was formed by David Coverdale (of Deep Purple) and was originally popular only in Europe and Japan. The piece was heavily based on Paganini's Caprice # 5, and has become a favorite apprentice-piece among many guitar students. Whitesnake was a British heavy metal band, active primarily in the 1980s. The 32nd note fast-paced "neo-classical" track (entitled "Eugene's Trick Bag") with which Macchio wins the competition was composed by Vai. Into The Light (2001) (Coverdale Solo). At the film's climax, Vai engages in a guitar duel with Macchio (whose guitar parts were dubbed by Vai himself). Starkers In Tokyo (1997).

He appeared onscreen in the 1986 Ralph Macchio movie Crossroads, playing the demonically-inspired Jack Butler. Restless Heart (1997). Steve Vai's music has featured in a number of feature films, including Dudes, Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey and Ghosts of Mars. Coverdale/Page (1993) (Coverdale with Jimmy Page). G3 2003 features Steve, Joe Satriani and Yngwie Malmsteen. Slip Of The Tongue (1989). Steve recently teamed up with former David Lee Roth band member Bassist Billy Sheehan for a world tour. Whitesnake 1987 (1987).

Steve Vai continues to tour regularly, both with his own group and with his one time teacher and fellow Grammy award winning guitar instrumentalist friend Joe Satriani (on the G3 series of tours). Slide It In (1984). Vai also stepped into guitarist Adrian Vandenberg's shoes to record with British rock legends Whitesnake (after Adrian Vandenberg injured his wrist due to some exercises he found in a book and tried out) shortly before recording was due to begin for the album Slip of the Tongue. Saints n' Sinners (1983). Then he joined former Van Halen front man David Lee Roth's group to record the albums Eat 'em and Smile and Skyscraper. Come an Get It (1982). In the early 80's he replaced Yngwie Malmsteen (a good friend) as lead guitarist in Graham Bonnett's Alcatrazz. Live...In The Heart Of The City (1981).

Steve Vai made his name playing 'stunt guitar' with the legendary rock performer, composer, music producer, and publishing mogul Frank Zappa. Ready And Willing (1980). Vai is best known for his self-composed, performed and produced guitar instrumental music, but he has also played on the recordings of several other rock acts. Lovehunter (1979). Steve Vai, born Steven Siro Vai, is an American guitarist and composer, born June 6th, 1960 in Long Island, New York (making him six years old on the sixth day of the sixth month in 1966, as he noted in the introduction to his guitar transcription book of Frank Zappa). Trouble (1978).
. Snakebite (1978).

For help, see How to Edit a Page and the Style and How-to Directory. Northwinds (1977) (Coverdale Solo). After the article has been cleaned up, you may remove this message. David Coverdale's Whitesnake (1976) (Coverdale Solo). This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of article quality. Real Illusions: Reflections (2005).

The Infinite Steve Vai: An Anthology (2003). Elusive Light and Sound 1 (2002). Alive In An Ultra World (2001). The Seventh Song (2000).

The Ultra Zone (1999). Fire Garden (1996). Alien Love Secrets (1995). Sex and Religion (1993).

Passion and Warfare (1990). Flex-Able Leftovers (1984). Flex-Able (1984).