Vai.com Home > News and More > Latest News
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Vai.com Home > News and More > Latest News |
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Check here regularly for the latest news from Steve Vai - including new releases, performances, events, appearances, competitions, publications and site updates. For information on live shows, check out our Tour Dates page.
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January 12, 2009Steve Vai Winter NAMM 2009 AppearancesSteve Vai will be making two appearances at the NAMM show in Anaheim CA. Steve will be signing autographs at the Ibanez Booth at 1:00pm on Friday, January 16, and at the Carvin booth on Saturday, January 17th at 11:00am. Steve will also appear at the Carvin Press Conference on Saturday at 10:00am.
Alien Guitar Secrets Master Class SOLD OUTBoth Alien Guitar Secrets Master Classes are sold out. All attendees should have received an email detailing the location of the master classes. If you have not received an email from our ticketing store with the class location, please email us: talk2us [at] vai. com and attach your email confirmation of your ticket.
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December 10, 2008Alien Guitar Secrets - ON SALE NOWCLICK HERE TO GO TO THE VAI.COM TICKET STORE.
December 06, 2008Alien Guitar Secrets - A Steve Vai MasterclassALIEN GUITAR SECRETS is an unprecedented, masterclass opportunity offered by Steve Vai to all music students and guitar enthusiasts. After testing the masterclass in various international territories, we are now bringing ALIEN GUITAR SECRETS to the United States. This 3+ hour unique package gives the student a once in a lifetime opportunity to hear Steve discuss music theory, guitar techniques, the music business, and most importantly, techniques on how to discover and unlock your personal musical identity. It also includes a question and answer session, and a few attendees will be chosen to jam with Steve in this intimate environment. Availability is VERY limited for each masterclass - so please be aware that these classes will sell quickly. CLASS OUTLINE:
DATE • TIME • LOCATION: Friday, January 16th, 2009 Saturday, January 17, 2009 In order to ensure a unique experience for ALIEN GUITAR SECRETS, the exact location of the event will only be revealed once your ticket is purchased. Please note that these class dates coincide with the NAMM Convention in Anaheim, CA. For those of you who may be attending NAMM, the location of the masterclass is less than five miles away from the Convention Center. There is parking at the venue for the masterclass. TICKET SALES: ALIEN GUITAR SECRETS is only available through the Vai.com Online Store. Ticket sales begin Wednesday, December 10th at 12:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time. Tickets are $325.00 each and shall be limited to 50 per class. Ticket price includes:
The ticket and “Naked Tracks” Box Set will be given to you at check-in upon arrival at the venue. If you purchase the package, you will need to arrive at the venue no later than 30 minutes prior to the beginning of the class. Visit the special ALIEN GUITAR SECRETS page for more information and FAQ. You can also post questions about the masterclass on our special Message Board thread HERE.
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December 04, 2008A Letter From SteveGreetings folks. I have also been feverishly at work... well, taking it easy to a degree, on a new DVD that was shot on the last US tour in Minneapolis with the "String Theory" band. You remember? You were there right? I am mixing the audio soup right now and adding the hot chipotle sauce as we speak. It's so easy to lose sight of the point when you’re in the throws of the hurricane. Well, when I finished the final video edit and sat with Mikey and watched the DVD from the top to the bottom, it really hit me over the head how very wonderful and unique this band, the show and the music is. Yup, there it is, I said it. I really like it and think it's great. When I'm being demanding on the musicians sometimes I can't see how hard they are really trying and how well they are doing. It all came together when I watched the DVD. The faith, the mutual respect, admiration and love we shared, the personal time together and some of the life experiences (some wonderful and some tragic) that we went through together, and the remembrance of this family I have in them and in you overwhelmed me when I watched it. I didn't have to worry about any of the details because there weren't any more. I instantly felt all of you when I was watching this DVD. My heart was bursting with humility and gratitude for the sheer good karma of having all the past, the present and the future good fortune in this business with you. Am I gushing??? Well, it feels good so just let me go with it. I hope you like it. I don't know when it's going to come out, but I'm hoping April or May. A few other things in the works are a new Legacy II amp. Just did the photo shoot today. I don't want to blow any of the surprises so I'll make sure when it's announced you'll know about it. And yup, a new Jem. This is different than all the other Jems in that it’s a h--- t---. Now you don't want me to give it up, do you? Both of these exquisite little dynamos will be announced and shown at NAMM. I will be there on the 16th and 17th at the Carvin and Ibanez booths. Not sure which one on which day though. I had a very successful and fantastically enjoyable "Alien Guitar Secrets" Master class tour of Russia where I visited 9 cities, including the Ukraine and Siberia. Many of the cities I visited had never had an American, or any other foreign musician visit. I was stunned at how many people came out to the master class. Between 800-3,000! I do enjoy doing these Master Classes and have decided to do more. As a matter of fact I will be doing one on Jan 16th and one on Jan 17th in Anaheim CA. Stay tuned to Vai.com for details. In these "Alien Guitar Secrets" Master Classes I plan on focusing mostly on exploring how a musician can approach unlocking their own uniqueness on the instrument. But I talk about a lot of stuff. The classes are usually limited to 50-100 people, and you are welcome to bring your guitar. It’s very informal and intimate. If it works out I may even tour the USA with it. Following is the usual lay out, all though it needs to be road tested and tweaked, just like my guitar parts. 1. When I was a Little Boy 2. Building the Church 3. Essence 4. Under it All 5. Midway Creatures 6. K’m Pee-Du-Wee 7. Head Cuttin' Duel 8. Answers 9. Here I Am Total Time: 3 hours + A new record??? I was not ready to start up on Real Illusions Pt 2. That will be a real undertaking. For a while I was actually at a loss when thinking ahead to a new record. Then, poof!!! Like a shock to the system it all came to me. I see the whole project and tour. Now I just have to make it real and not just a rumor in my own room. Miss you and love you.
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November 18, 2008"Live Music" - The Mass Animation ProjectIntel Corporation has announced the start of Mass Animation, the first collaborative, worldwide effort to produce a computer-generated animated short film for theatrical release, with Steve Vai and Ann Marie Calhoun providing the music! Starting today, artists around the world are invited to animate the shots of a 5-minute, CGI-animated short film titled “Live Music,” which is produced and directed by Yair Landau, former president of Sony Pictures Digital. The collaboration, through a unique application built on the Facebook Platform, will run through Jan. 30, 2008. Animators, regardless of experience, may begin work immediately, and community voting will open Nov. 24 at www.facebook.com/massanimation. “Live Music” is inspired by Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” and early CGI films. Set in a musical instrument store, the story follows Riff, a rock ‘n’ roll guitar, who, as Landau describes it, “falls in love to the wrong song but ends up with Vanessa, the classical violin of his dreams.” The story is conveyed through the universal language of music, allowing the expressions and actions of the characters to be instantly relatable globally. The instruments are brought to life through original compositions and familiar rock tunes played principally by legendary guitarist Steve Vai as Riff and acclaimed violinist Ann Marie Calhoun as Vanessa. To read the entire press release, click here.
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November 18, 2008Steve Vai on new Jason Becker AlbumGripping virtuoso guitar licks and a glimpse at history as it was being made accurately summarize Jason Becker's new album, Collection. Jason Becker began his career as a Shrapnel recording artist by joining forces with guitar virtuoso Marty Friedman to form seminal progressive metal pioneers CACOPHONY. Amassing worldwide acclaim as a guitar virtuoso, Becker came to the attention of David Lee Roth who was looking for a guitarist to replace Steve Vai and the rest is history. Jason Becker still has a strong desire to compose, despite paralysis from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gherig's disease), and Collection not only contains some of Jason's favorite moments from his Shrapnel and David Lee Roth recordings, it also features three new Becker compositions, each as impressive as anything he has recorded in the past. Jason has enlisted some of the largest names in instrumental guitar music and has as many as three guitarists per track trading off riveting performances - including Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Michael Lee Firkins, Marty Friedman and Greg Howe. Collection is exactly the kind of record that Becker fans have been waiting for. Click here to buy this album through Amazon.com
or download through iTunes.
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November 17, 2008Associated Artist News:Bryan Beller: Thanks In Advance - Out NowSteve Vai's String Theories bassist Bryan Beller has recently released his second solo album, Thanks In Advance, and an accompanying special-edition DVD To Nothing. As he describes it, "it's a 60-minute intense jazz/rock compositional statement about breaking through anger and finding gratitude. Special guests include Mike Keneally, Joe Travers and Scheila Gonzalez (Zappa Plays Zappa), drummer Marco Minnemann, and String Theories bandmate Ann Marie Calhoun, to name a few! You can order the CD through BryanBeller.com or download it through iTunes. Alex DePue: New Album and Toledo, OH Show!Steve Vai's String Theories violinist Alex DePue has recently teamed up with Mexican guitar master Miguel De Hoyos and released a new album Underground Whispers. The self-produced session features the two duetting on the varied repertoire. It ranges from originals including DePue's on "TJ" and De Hoyos' "Cortijo" with covers of rock, Latin and pop tunes including a medley from "Phantom of the Opera" to a the rock anthem "Stairway to Heaven." The album is available now through iTunes. Alex will be performing at the Stranahan Theatre in Toledo, Ohio on December 27, 2008 at 7:30pm. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster. For more info on what Alex is up to, visit his MySpace.
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November 16, 2008Vai.com Message Boards UpgradeWe have upgraded the Vai.com Message Boards with new software and a lot of new features. Many of these new features will prevent the influx of spammers we have seen in recent weeks. If you're a regular user, feel free to log into the new board and play with some of the features. If you're a user who hasn't posted or visited in a while, we'd love to see you back! We will be making other changes based on your feedback, and will be conducting a number of polls on things you'd like to see, likes and dislikes, etc. During the migration, occasionally some passwords don't transfer. If you attempt to log into the new message board and it won't accept your password, you can use the "Forgot My Password" function, and re-set your password. If you have further problems that can't be resolved this way, feel free to email us at: messageboards(at)vai.com The address for the new board will be: http://www.vai.com/messageboard Thanks, and see you on the message board!
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October 13, 2008Crazy - Opens in Nashville and Memphis on Oct 17!Crazy - the film depicting the life of guitar legend Hank Garland, will begin screening in theatres in Nashville and Memphis, TN this Friday, October 17! In Nashville, Crazy will be screening at Regal Cinemas including Real Opry Mills Stadium 20; Regal Hollywood Stadium 27; Regal Bellevue Cinema 12; Regal Green Hills Stadium 16; Carmike Thoroughbred 20 Franklin; and Carmike Wynnsong 16 Murfreesboro. Visit the Regal Cinemas website for more information and screening times. In Memphis, Crazy will be screening at Malco Theatres, including Malco Cordova; Malco Ridgeway Four; Malco Collierville Towne 16; and Malco Stage Cinema 12. Visit the Malco Cinemas website for more information. If you're in the Nashville or Memphis area, don't miss out on your chance to see Crazy on the big screen. The film was directed by Rick Bieber and co-produced by Steve Vai, and stars Waylon Payne (Walk The Line) and Ali Larter (Heroes). Steve makes a cameo appearance as Hank Williams, and Tony MacAlpine makes a cameo as Wes Montgomery. For a full list of upcoming screenings, visit the Screenings page on the official Crazy website for more information...
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October 10, 2008UPDATE! Guitar Lesson Charity Auction!The auction to benefit Allen Schellenberger has ended. We are absolutely thrilled to report that the charity auction raised an amazing $12,600!! Congratulation and thanks to the winning bidder, and thanks also to everyone who bid on the auction.
September 29, 2008Bid On An Exclusive Private Guitar Lesson With Steve!Steve Vai is offering a 1 hour private guitar lesson for auction on Ebay to benefit Allen Shellenberger - the drummer for rock band Lit. One lucky winner will receive a one hour private guitar lesson with Steve Vai at a date, time, and location to be determined in Los Angeles, CA. The winner will be responsible for their own travel and accommodation costs. Winner will also receive a photo with Steve. If under 18, the winner must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. (Note: high bidder will be subject to standard security procedures prior to being accepted as official winner.) Allen Shellenberger, the drummer for Orange County rock back Lit, has been diagnosed with a grade 4 malignant brain tumor. Biopsy results have identified Allen's tumor as diffused glioblastoma multiforme, the most aggressive of primary brain tumors. It is the same type of cancer Senator Edward M. Kennedy is battling. Allen is 38 years old and Lit has been a band and a brotherhood for over 20 years. Despite the news, Allen and the band are committed to the fight. To help offset Allen's medical costs, The Make A Noise Foundation is sponsoring this auction through Ebay's Giving Works Program. All proceeds will benefit Allen Shellenberger and Cedars-Sinai's Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Institute in Los Angeles. Thank you so much for your support! There are also plenty of other great rock 'n' roll and entertainment-related memorabilia up for grabs in this benefit auction! CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE STEVE VAI PRIVATE LESSON AUCTION! CLICK HERE TO VISIT ALL OTHER AUCTION ITEMS.
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September 10, 2008Steve Vai: Naked Tracks - Available Now!Naked Tracks Vol. 1-5, is a series of recording packages that contain mixes of Steve’s songs without the lead guitars. They are offered as “play along tracks.” Included are select backing tracks from Passion and Warfare, Sex & Religion, Alien Love Secrets, Fire Garden, The Ultra Zone, Alive In An Ultra World, Real Illusions: Reflections and others. Steve comments on the package: Through the years, whenever I would mix my records I would usually do a mix of specific songs without the lead guitar. This allowed me to play along with the track or make loops to jam to, and because I figured perhaps someday maybe others would like to do the same. Voila! We have arrived at someday.” “Playing to these naked tracks, or creating loops of various sections to endlessly meander over, is a phenomenal way to discover unique musical ideas from within yourself.” “When we are playing an instrument and our mind enters that exclusive elusive mental real estate of our own personal muse, it can result in a form of musical meditation.” “This series of play-along CDs is designed to help create an atmosphere of focus so you can shred yourself into a personally-induced inspirational nirvana.” “For the most part, the tracks in this series are presented in their original form with the lead guitar removed. In some cases I looped the solo sections to give you an opportunity to stretch out. I suggest you import these files into a sequencer program of sorts (ProTools, Band, etc.) and create loops of various parts of the songs to jam over. It’s an excellent way to develop your inner musical ear.” “One way to play along with these tracks is to learn the original guitar parts that are on the album versions of the songs, but I would encourage you to take a more active role in using these tracks as a bed to lay your own creative interpretation over. There are really no rules. So sit back, flip on a naked track and dress it up with your own artistic musical apparel.” Naked Tracks Vol. 1 - 5 are available now for download through your favorite online music retailer. A physical 5 CD package of Naked Tracks will be available through Vai.com in October. 
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September 10, 2008VAIdeos - Vai Videos Now Available on iTunesWith the monumental leaps in digital technology we are now able to make available, to those who are interested, select videos from my catalog. The first batch consists of previously released videos including all the individual songs from Alien Love Secrets, select clips from the Live At The Astoria London DVD, all of the promotional videos from the 80’s and 90’s, and a few new videos that contain rare footage that’s never seen the light of day. Says Steve of the videos: “The video for ‘K’m-Pee-Du-Wee’ (which should be available through iTunes any day now) is a great example. While traveling from a gig in Vilnius, Lithuania to a gig in Zabrze, Poland on the Real Illusions tour, we ended up with a day off in Katowice, Poland. We decided to set up some gear across the street from the hotel, unannounced, and just start jammin’ and filming.” “In the past it didn’t make much sense to release any of these one-off performances because there was no outlet for them. It would take too much time to compile them into full length DVDs and even then the continuity would be unbalanced. It didn’t make sense to do them for promotional reasons because there were no stations that would play them, but now there is an outlet and once they go up online, they will be there indefinitely.” “I’m hoping to add to this video library with one-off performances culled throughout my 30 year career.” Visit the VAI-deos page for information on each of the videos, along with links to them on iTunes.
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September 3, 2008Guitar Player Magazine's "Guitar Superstar 2008"Guitar Player, the world’s preeminent guitar magazine for guitarists who yearn to sound better and play better, is pleased to announce its fourth annual Guitar Superstar competition at San Francisco’s legendary Great American Music Hall, September 13, at 8 pm. Across the globe, hundreds of string burners of all styles answered the call to post their best performances at sonicbids.com, where the staff of Guitar Player listened to the tracks and selected ten finalists to strut their stuff onstage in front of an esteemed panel of world-famous guitar stars: Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Elliot Easton (the Cars), George Lynch (Dokken, Lynch Mob), and Brendon Small (co-creator of Adult’s Swim’s Metalocalypse animated series). Host of this year’s big event is Andy Summers. Event date: Saturday, September 13, 2008
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August 24, 2008Introducing the Steve Vai Jemini Distortion PedalThe long awaited Ibanez Jemini Steve Vai Signature Distortion Pedal is now widely available at your local music retailer, and Steve has created a much-anticipated demonstration video showing how the pedal works and sounds! Says Steve of the pedal: Check out the demonstration video in high quality on our special Vai.com homepage. We encourage you to share this great video with your friends and post it to your blog or MySpace page through Steve's official YouTube channel.
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August 23, 2008Steve Vai Russia/Ukraine Masterclass Tour UPDATESteve will be holding a series of masterclasses in Russia and The Ukraine in October. Dates are as follows: Oct. 14: Clinic and Autograph Session in Novosibirsk Oct. 16: Clinic and autograph session in Ekateriburg Oct. 18: Clinic and autograph session in St. Petersburg Oct. 20: Clinic and autograph session in Saktyvkar Oct. 22: Clinic and autograph session in Samara Oct. 24: Clinic and autograph session in Ryazan Oct. 25: Clinic and autograph session in Moscow Oct. 26: Clinic in Donetsk Oct. 28: Clinic and autograph session in Kiev We will announce venue information some time next week, so check back soon!
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August 13, 2008Vai.com Great Gear Giveaway Winners!Congratulations to the winners of our Vai.com Great Gear Giveaway contest! GRAND PRIZE WINNER: Jerry L. Nash wins an autographed Carvin Legacy Combo Amp (VL212 100W 2x12 COMBO)! 2ND PRIZE WINNER: Tara Torello-McClanahan wins an Ibanez Jemini Distortion Pedal; a Morley Bad Horsie Wah Pedal; and a Morley Little Alligator Volume Pedal! 3RD PRIZE WINNER: John Persinger wins a DiMarzio Evolution Bridge Humbucker Pickup; a DiMarzio Steve Vai Guitar Cable; a Box of Ernie Ball Strings; and an Ernie Ball Guitar Strap! Many thanks to everyone who entered!
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July 23, 2008Vai, Satch & Buckethead Come to Guitar Hero IIIWorld renowned for their amazing shredding abilities, three legendary guitar artists make their virtual debut in Activision’s Guitar Hero III: Legends Of Rock. The Guitar Virtuoso Track Pack continues the ultimate rock experience with three fresh master tracks set to storm living rooms across the globe on July 24. Get blown away with guitar slinger Steve Vai’s reflective “For the Love of God,” experience influential guitarist Joe Satriani’s soulful hit, “Surfing with the Alien,” and feel the avant-garde compositions of underground rock’s eccentric guitarist, Buckethead, as he shreds “Soothsayer,” at hyper-speed. The Guitar Virtuoso Track Pack will allow rockers to further expand and customize their Guitar Hero play lists and get a taste of this quintessential rock trio beginning July 24 when it’s available for download on Xbox LIVE® Marketplace for Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PLAYSTATION®Store for the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system.
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July 14, 2008K’m-Pee-Du-Wee - Live In PolandPerforming in countries through Eastern Europe is an adventure. We usually travel over night to the next city after the previous gig. In this situation we were coming from a gig in Vilnius, Lithuania and driving overnight for a day off in Katowice Poland. The day after that we had a show scheduled for Zabrze, Poland. The video goals on the Real Illusions tour (among some other colorful celluloid exploits) was to capture a unique kind of performance for each song on the Real Illusions CD. Since K’m-Pee-Du-Wee was already released on a G3 DVD from Japan, I wanted to offer a different type of performance video other than a live concert setting for that song. Never having been to Katowice Poland (oddly enough), I thought it would be a cool idea to just show up and set up a little trio combo somewhere outside of the hotel in the street, unannounced, and just jam on K’m-Pee. The band and crew were real sports about it. Mikey Mesker shot some entertaining footage and although the equipment we used to perform with looked a little anemic, it was mic’ed properly and heavily EQ-ed so the sound we captured is actually pretty good. We just jammed through the song a few times and I cut it together. I think it turned out charming with some striking moments. The citizens of downtown Katowice took very little interest in what we were doing. DIDN’T THEY KNOW WHO WE WERE???? Maybe not. The full 12 minute version of "K'm-Pee-Du-Wee - Live In Poland" will be available through the iTunes Music Store very soon. In the meantime, check out a teaser trailer on the official Steve Vai YouTube Channel! We will also be making all of Steve's official promo videos available through iTunes, along with select cuts from the Live At The Astoria London DVD, and all videos from the Alien Love Secrets DVD.
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June 5, 2008Steve's Birthday - June 6, 2008June 6 is Steve's birthday, and fans wishing to send him a birthday message can sign his digital birthday card here at Vai.com! Just visit our special birthday thread on the Vai.com Message Boards and add your message.
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May 31, 2008Steve Vai - Guitar Masterclass, ItalySteve will be holding a guitar masterclass in Montegranaro, Italy on Sunday July 27, 2008! This is an exclusive, one-off event and will be held at the Modern Music Institute. Spaces are limited. For more information, email: mmimontegranaro@libero.it or call 338/5386120.
Steve's Tour BlogDon't forget to check out Steve's Tour Blog. Steve recently added some photos from his recent trip to Japan for the Ibanez/Hoshino 100th Anniversary party.
Steve Interviewed in Upcoming Lemmy DocumentaryThe life and career of MOTÖRHEAD frontman Lemmy Kilmister is being celebrated in a new documentary, tentatively titled "Lemmy" and slated for release in 2009. The film promises fans more access than ever before to Kilmister's life, and includes interviews with past and present bandmates and such peers/admirers as Slash, Dave Grohl, THE CLASH's Mick Jones, Alice Cooper, and Steve Vai. Click here for a preview of the movie...
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April 14, 2008Steve on YouTube!Steve now has an official account on YouTube. In the near future, we'll be adding new video, interviews and other video nuggets that we're unearthing from the vault. Stop by and add Steve as a friend, and add his videos to your favorites!
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April 23, 2008Crazy Film Festival DatesCrazy, the independent feature film inspired by the tragic life and groundbreaking music of legendary 1950s-era guitarist Hank Garland, is an official selection at Newport Beach Film Festival (April 24 - May 01) in Newport Beach, CA. Crazy screens at 5:30PM on Friday, April 25 at the Edwards Island Cinemas (999 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, CA 92660). Immediately after the screening, cast member and recording artist Stacy Earl will sing, accompanied on guitar by Evans Forde, who appears in the film as Nashville music legend Chet Atkins. Their set will be followed by a Q&A with director Rick Bieber and Waylon Payne, who stars as Hank Garland. Click here to buy tickets! Crazy chronicles Hank Garland’s rise to fame in the Nashville music scene, from playing on hits for icons including Elvis Presley, Patsy Cline and Roy Orbison through his brief but influential solo career as a visionary jazz artist. Garland’s flame-out was as spectacular as his success. In 1961, a near-fatal car accident, his tempestuous marriage and personal life and repeated clashes with the “Nashville Mob,” who then controlled the country music establishment, led to a series of electro-shock treatments that tragically ended his playing career. Though he ceased performing, Garland lived until 2004, and was involved in Crazy’s development. Ray Scherr and guitar hero Steve Vai (who also performs a cameo as Hank Williams) are the film’s Executive Producers under the Favored Nations Films mantle. Crazy is also an official selection at upcoming 2008 festivals including: Charleston International Film Festival (May 1-4); Jacksonville Film Festival (May 15-18); Big Island Film Festival (May 15-18); New Jersey International Film Festival (May 31-June 15); Boston International Film Festival (June 6-14); Maui International Film Festival (June 11-15); Long Island International Film Expo (July 9-17) and the Napa Sonoma Wine Country Film Festival (July 16-28). For more information, and to see the film trailer, log on to www.crazy-themovie.com You can also visit Crazy on MySpace!
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April 14, 2008Steve Performing With Tom Morello in LAThis just in: Steve will be performing this Tuesday night - April 15 - with Tom Morello's “The Nightwatchman + Friends” show at the Troubadour in West Hollywood. Tickets are $10 (advance) and doors open at 8:00pm. Discuss...
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February 19, 2008New Vai track on Musicians For Minneapolis Benefit CDSteve has contributed a previously unreleased song to the new Musicians For Minneapolis - 57 Songs for the I-35W Bridge Disaster Relief Effort Benefit CD. This special 3-CD collection of tracks features contributions from a multitude of artists including Sparklehorse, Los Lobos, Calexico, Howe Gelb, Simple Kid, DJ Spooky, Les Claypool, Bobby Bare Jr., Lee Scratch Perry, George Clinton, Joe Bonamassa, and Steve Vai. The compilation is dedicated to the survivors and those who lost their lives on the I-35W Bridge, August 1st, 2007 - and to their families and friends, the rescue teams and volunteers. All proceeds from the sale of this compilation CD go to the Minnesota Helps - Bridge Disaster Fund. Electro-Voice (the producer of this CD) hopes to sell out of the first pressing of 5,000 copies and raise $100,000 - in time for the Aug. 1 anniversary of the collapse. Steve's track “Without Me” is a soaring ballad originally recorded during the Ultra Zone sessions, and features Philip Bynoe on bass, Mike Mangini on drums and Mike Keneally on keyboards. Says Steve of the track:
Musicians For Minneapolis is already on sale at a number of Twin Cities independent record stores, and everywhere through CDBaby.com. You can read more about the project at the EV Musicians For Minneapolis website. In tandem with the release of Musicians for Minneapolis: 57 Songs for the I-35W Bridge Disaster Relief Effort Electro-Voice will also be launching a celebrity memorabilia charity auction for the same cause, which includes an Ibanez guitar signed by Steve Vai, two signed Les Paul guitars from Ozzy Osbourne/Black Label Society guitar phenom Zakk Wylde, a Dean bass signed by all members of Megadeth, and a custom Minarik Dick Dale flame guitar, among other items to be listed in upcoming days at www.electrovoice.com/musicansforminneapolis.
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February 11, 2008Congratulations to Ann Marie Calhoun!Big congratulations to Ann Marie Calhoun for winning the MyGrammy Moment competition at last night's 50th Annual Grammy Awards! You can view Ann being announced the winner, along with her performace with the Foo Fighters here. Thanks to all the Vai fans who voted for Ann!
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February 4, 2008Real Illusions Transcription Book - Now AvailableThe long-awaited Real Illusions: Reflections guitar transcription book is now available from Hal Leonard. This 176 page book features authentic note-for-note transcriptions with tablature for all eleven tracks on the album including: "Building the Church" • "Firewall" • "Freak Show Excess" • "K'm-Pee-Du-Wee" • "Yai Yai" • and more. Also featured are photos by Larry DiMarzio from the Real Illusions period. We'll have this book available shortly in the Official Vai.com Store. In the meantime, it's also available now through Amazon.com.
Steve featured in DiMarzio's Feedback E-zineAn audio interview and beautiful photo gallery of Steve is featured in the latest DiMarzio Feedback e-zine. You can visit the magazine HERE.
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December 06, 2007Steve Receives GRAMMY Nomination!Steve Vai has received a GRAMMY Nomination for Best Rock Instrumental Performance for the track "The Attitude Song" from Sound Theories Vol. I and II. Steve's fellow nominees for Best Rock Instrumental Performance are: Metallica - The Ecstasy of Gold (Track from: We All Love Ennio Morricone)
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November 30, 2007Steve Vai/Music Cares Charity AuctionSteve Vai and MusicCares are giving you the chance to bid on a one hour private guitar lesson with Steve, with all procees being donated to the MusicCares Foundation. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn from world-renowned, GRAMMY® Award-winning guitarist, Steve Vai. From his early days with the legendary Frank Zappa to his 1985 appearance in the film Crossroads to his current and longstanding success as a solo artist, Vai has made his mark in music history. Whether you are a guitarist or your loved one is a guitarist, there is no denying the perfection of this experience as a holiday gift. So place your bids now! Visit the EBAY AUCTION for more details and bidding requirements. This auction ends on December 6, so don't miss out on the ultimate holiday gift for yourself or a loved one! CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE AUCTION!
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Noveber 21, 2007Musician's Friend Steve Vai VIP SweepstakesThe only thing anyone knows about the enigmatic Steve Vai for sure is his towering technique on the guitar. But now, Musician's Friend is offering one very lucky Grand Prize winner an all-expense-paid VIP trip to meet the Sultan of Shred for a personal Q&A—at a time and place of Steve's choosing—so be ready to call in sick and hop a flight to anywhere! Now that’s rock 'n' roll! But that’s not all! You’ll also take home an Ibanez Steve Vai Signature JEM77V electric guitar valued at $2,199.99! Will Steve autograph the guitar for you? Maybe he will … and maybe he won’t … we don’t know. But it won’t hurt to ask. (Bring your own felt-tip pen.) You will be automatically entered every time you place an order with Musician’s Friend from November 01, 2007 through January 31, 2008. No purchase is necessary to enter, see the official rules for details.
Musician's Friend 2007 Rock n' Roll Santa Revealed!Steve Vai has been revealed as Musician's Friend's 2007 Rock 'n' Roll Santa, and will appear on the cover of their December catalog. Check out Musician's Friend's Special video intervew between Steve and Larry DiMarzio, and check out the making of the cover!
Guitar Hero III - Halo Theme Featuring Steve VaiActivision, Neversoft and Bungie have announced that tomorrow (Thanksgiving), Guitar Hero III players will be to download the Halo theme (MJOLNIR Mix) through Xbox Live Marketplace for free. This special version of the Halo theme was created for Halo 2 and featured the guitars of Steve Vai.
Zappa Plays Zappa DVD - Out Now!Steve guests on the amazing new Zappa Plays Zappa DVD - which is available now through the Zappa.com Barfko-Swill Online Store. Steve appears on the tracks: "The Black Page #2", "Regyptian Strut", "Peaches En Regalia", "Montana", "Villiage of the Sun", "Echidna's Arf (Of You)", "Zomby Woof", "Trouble Every Day" and "Sofa". The DVD features over 3 hours of performances from two shows - at the Roseland Theatre in Portland on December 21, 2006 (Frank's Birthday!), and the Paramount Theatre in Seattle on Dec 22 2006. Also guesting on the DVD along with Dweezil Zappa and the Zappa Plays Zappa band are Napoleon Murphy Brock and Terry Bozzio. Click here to purchase the Zappa Plays Zappa DVD.
Free Vai Download through iTunes and TuneCoreTuneCore is offering a free Various Artists album download through iTunes - including Steve's song "Juice" from Alien Love Secrets. To download the album, visit TuneCore's special page here: http://www.tunecore.com/freealbum
Give the Gift of Vai this Holiday SeasonIt's a great time to be a Vai fan, with many tasty new releases and goodies available for you or your favorite guitar freak. VISUAL SOUND THEORIES: SOUND THEORIES VOL I & II OFFICIAL CONCERT PHOTOS: Also available in our Vai.com Online Store are $25, $50 and $100 gift cards.
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November 07, 2007EVO Start Times for Chile and ArgentinaHello folks! For those of you who have purchased EVO Premium Experience and EVO UPGRADES in CHILE and ARGENTINA, please be advised that the start time has changed. Please arrive at the venue for EVO at 5:00pm (1700h). We still have a number of EVO Experience and EVO Upgrade tickets available for all shows. Don't miss out! We close EVO sales 24 hours before each show. Click here to purchase EVO Premium Experience and EVO UPGRADE tickets.
Vai.com Tour DiaryDon't forget to check out the Vai.com Tour Diary where we'll be updating you regularly with photos and comments from the road! Click here to visit the tour diary!
November 01, 2007More About EVO South AmericaWe have received a lot of questions from fans in South America about the EVO Premium Experience and EVO UPGRADE tickets. We have information pages with FAQs in both English, Portuguese and Spanish, and we urge people who buy EVO Premium and EVO UPGRADE to READ these information pages to understand what they are getting for their money. Here is some further information based on questions we have received:
These tickets are in limited supply and will sell out quickly. Don't miss out! Click here to purchase EVO Premium Experience and EVO UPGRADE tickets.
October 31, 2007EVO Premium Experience - ChileA reminder to fans in Chile who are considering purchasing EVO Premium Experience tickets: the ticket that comes with EVO Premum Experience (not EVO UPGRADE) is a FRONT ROW seat. These tickets are in limited supply and will sell out quickly. Don't miss out! Click here to purchase EVO Premium Experience and EVO UPGRADE tickets.
Aftershow Passes - South American TourPlease be advised that due to security issues and our tour schedule, we are unable to hold aftershows at any of the South America shows. Sound Theories aftershow passes are not valid for the South American tour. Steve will be doing a number of instore/public appearances during the tour. Stay tuned to Vai.com for more details in the coming days. Though selling fast, there are still EVO Premium Experience and EVO UPGRADE tickets available for all shows (except on Nov. 5th).
October 29, 2007EVO Premium Experience South America
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| DATE | CITY/COUNTRY | VENUE | ON SALE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 05 | Belo Horizonte, BRAZIL | Freegellsmusic | NO EVO | |
| Nov 06 | Sao Paulo, BRAZIL | Bourbon Street | BUY EVO TICKETS | |
| Nov 07 | Curitiba, BRAZIL | Hellooch | BUY EVO TICKETS | |
| Nov 09 | Viña del Mar, CHILE | Sausalito Stadium | BUY EVO TICKETS | |
| Nov 10 | Santiago, CHILE | Court Central (outdoor) | BUY EVO TICKETS | |
| Nov 12 | Buenos Aires, ARGENTINA | Gran Rex Theatre | BUY EVO TICKETS | |
| Nov 13 | Buenos Aires, ARGENTINA | Gran Rex Theatre | BUY EVO TICKETS | |
| Check the Vai.com Tour Dates page for more information... | ||||
Prices for EVO tickets in South America are:
$200 USD (plus a $12 USD booking fee) for EVO PREMIUM EXPERIENCE packages
$167 USD (plus a $10 USD booking fee) for EVO UPGRADE packages (you MUST buy your own ticket to the show.)
For shows in Brazil: there are 10 EVO Premium Experience (including ticket) and 30 EVO UPGRADES available (without ticket) available on November 6th and 7th. We will not be holding EVO Experience on November 5th.
For shows in Chile: there are 25 EVO Premium Experience (including ticket) and 15 EVO UPGRADES available (without ticket) available for each show.
For shows in Argentina: there are 20 EVO Premium Experience (including ticket) and 20 EVO UPGRADES available (without ticket) available for each show.
For information about the EVO PREMIUM EXPERIENCE package visit the following pages:
- EVO EXPERIENCE information in English
- EVO EXPERIENCE information in Spanish
- EVO EXPERIENCE information in Portuguese
Please note that the information on the pages above applies to EVO PREMIUM EXPERIENCE packages. EVO UPGRADE packages receive the same items and benefits but MUST buy their own ticket to the show. If you buy an EVO UPGRADE package without having a ticket, you will not be let into the show. AGAIN, YOU MUST BY A TICKET SEPARATELY IF YOU PURCHASE EVO UPGRADE TICKETS.
If you have friends who do not visit Vai.com regularly, but would also like to buy EVO PREMIUM EXPERIENCE tickets, please tell your friends!
CLICK HERE TO BUY EVO TICKETS FOR SOUTH AMERICA!
For a limited-time only, Steve Vai is allowing his fans to purchase professional photos shot during the band's North American tour for a 15% discount -- only at www.frcphotos.com.
Front Row Center also has a very limited quantity of photo mats autographed by Steve Vai for 11"X14" horizontal prints, available at checkout. Customers who purchase a photo mat or three or more Steve Vai photos (any size) will receive an authentic Steve Vai guitar pick exactly like the ones he's using on his current North American tour. Limit one per purchase.
Prints are available in 11"X14" and 8"X10" sizes, along with photo mats autographed by Steve Vai for 11"X14" horizontal prints. (Please note: Photos are not autographed.) To get your 15% discount off photos, you'll need this promotion code: GUITARHERO.
Prints from all North American shows that were photographed are now available. Check out all the galleries here!
If you have an AOL email account, you may not have received Vai.com Email Newsletters from us recently, or experienced problems registering on the Vai.com Message Board.
This is because AOL recently blocked Vai.com from sending emails to its users. Although this block has occurred in error, AOL are proving difficult to deal with on this issue, and so far have not been cooperative in having this email block lifted.
As a result, we are no longer able to cater to AOL users. If you would like to sign up for our message board or E-Newsletter, you will have to do so with a non-AOL account. If you are an AOL user, please contact them and ask that the block be lifted.
We apologize for this inconvenience.
Steve Vai and his amazing band String Theories will be touring South America this November! One date has been added to the tour, along with a change in venue/city for one of the shows in Brazil. The confirmed tour dates are now:
November 5, 2007: Belo Horizonte, BRAZIL - Freegellsmusic
November 6, 2007: Sao Paulo, BRAZIL - Bourbon Street
November 7, 2007: Curitiba, BRAZIL - Hellooch
November 9, 2007: Viña del Mar, CHILE - Sausalito Stadium
November 10, 2007: Santiago, CHILE - Court Central (outdoor)
November 12, 2007: Buenos Aires, ARGENTINA - Gran Rex Theatre
November 13, 2007: Buenos Aires, ARGENTINA - Gran Rex Theatre
Bryan Beller is out touring with Dethklok in November. Philip Bynoe will be handling bass duties on the South American run. Visit the Tour Dates page for more information.
Expect an announcement regarding the EVO PREMIUM EXPERIENCE in South America in the coming days...
An important announcement for fans attending Steve's New York City show on September 25: The venue has changed from the Hammerstein Ballroom to The Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza.
We're excited to announce that we will be filming the Sound Theories Tour show in Minneapolis on September 19th for a future DVD release. If you are thinking of coming to the Minneapolis show and don't yet have a ticket, don't miss out on this show!
We're excited to announce a great new service from Vai.com and our friends at Front Row Center!
Starting after our first show in Las Vegas NV, you'll be able to purchase artist-authorized professional photos from the Steve Vai concert YOU attended. These high-quality photos can be purchased online from the Front Row Center store and will be shipped to you within 2-3 weeks. We will also have limited edition photo mats hand-signed by Steve Vai and ready for framing. These are true photographic prints (not inkjet or dye-sublimation prints) and are available in two sizes: 8"x10" and 11"x14". Photos are printed on high-quality Fuji Crystal Archive photographic paper with longevity of up to 200 years.
These photos are taken by official Vai Photographer and Art Director Michael Mesker, who shoots the whole show and has access to all areas of the stage and dressing rooms, allowing him to capture unique shots that press and freelance photographers can not. Check the Vai.com homepage for examples of the kinds of shots that will be available as the US tour progresses.
You can subscribe to Front Row Center's e-reminder email service for regular updates on show galleries and photos as they become available by clicking here.
For more information on how the Front Row Center service works, visit their website at FRCphotos.com.
Visit the brand-new Vai.com Tour Diary regularly while we're on the road for photos, videos, mobile/iPhone posts and blog entries from Steve, Mikey and the band.
We're planning a multi-media extravaganza, giving you a behind-the-scenes look at the Vai Tour as it unfolds.
You can visit the Tour Diary HERE.
Steve's long-awaited and much anticipated DVD, Visual Sound Theories will be released through Sony/Epic on September 18, 2007. This DVD features the live performances from the Aching Hunger concerts with the Holland Metropole Orchestra in July 2005.
With a total running time of over 2 hours, the DVD includes 14 tracks in both stereo and 5.1 surround sound:
Kill The Guy With The Ball
The God Eaters
The Murder Prologue
The Murder
Answers
Lotus Feet
I'm Becoming
Salamanders In The Sun
The Attitude Song
Gentle Ways
Liberty
For The Love Of God
Shadows And Sparks
Frangelica Pt. I & II
Bonus features include:
- An Orchestra-only performance of "Bledsoe Bluvd."
- A behind the scenes featurette
- An interview at De Oosterpoort with Steve Vai
- "Steve Speaks"
- Feature length commentary with Steve Vai, Michael Mesker and Jason Feinberg
The DVD will be available in all major record stores, Amazon.com and through our Vai.com Online Store. Fans in the USA can also pick up the DVD at the merch booth on Steve's upcoming Sound Theories USA Tour. Check back in the coming days for a sneak-peek DVD trailer.
Steve is coming to Australia as a special guest on the Zappa Plays Zappa tour in late November/early December.
Zappa plays Zappa features Dweezil Zappa on lead guitar, and a phenomenal backing band including Joe Travers (drums), Billy Hulting (percussion), Scheila Gonzalez (keyboards, saxophone, vocals), Aaron Arntz (keyboards/trumpet), Pete Griffin (bass) and Jamie Kime (rythm guitar). Special guests on this tour of Australia include original Zappa band members: guitar virtuoso Steve Vai and vocalist Ray White who performed on countless Zappa albums and tours.
The dates are:
November 27: Brisbane, QLD - Lyric Theatre
November 29: Melbourne, VIC - Hamer Hall
December 02: Adelaide, SA - Thebarton Theatre
December 03: Sydney, NSW - Enmore Theatre
Tickets go on sale through ticketmaster.com.au on September 6. Check the Vai.com Tour Dates page for updated info and ticketing links.
Please note that Steve Vai is a guest performer on this tour and does not appear on stage for the entire show. This is not a solo Vai show and will not include EVO tickets. Sound Theories aftershow passes are NOT valid on this tour.
Due to popular demand, we are making another 10 extra EVO UPGRADE tickets for every show on the Sound Theories USA Tour (not including Chicago, IL). These UPGRADE tickets are extremely limited, and will sell quickly, so if you missed out on EVO before, don't miss out on your last chance!
EVO UPGRADE tickets include everything you get with a normal EVO Premium Experience ticket, EXCEPT that they DO NOT include a ticket to the show. You must purchase your own ticket to the show separately. You will need to display this ticket when checking in for EVO at 3:30pm on the day of the show. You will not be able to attend EVO without a ticket to the show.
Purchasing an EVO UPGRADE ticket will not give you preferred seating in seated venues. In general admission venues (standing room only) you will have early entry into the venue to find the best place to watch the show before the doors open for the general public.
You can purchase EVO UPGRADE tickets in our Vai.com Online Ticket Store. As we have only added an extra 10 tickets per EVO Experience, these will sell out very quickly.
For more information on the EVO Premium Experience (including EVO UPGRADE tickets) visit the EVO Premium Experience FAQ page.
We have received many questions regarding the aftershow pass included inside one in four copes of the Sound Theories Vol. I & II limited edition digipak. We hope that the following information will answer some of our more frequently asked questions.
By using your Sound Theories aftershow pass to gain entry to the aftershow, you accept and are bound by these terms and conditions.
Check out the October 2007 issue of Guitar World Magazine (on news stands now) for an interview with Steve Vai and Joe Satriani, along with a bonus diagram and tour of Steve's live rig, a re-print of the much sought-after 10 Hour Workout (with accompanying video); and an exclusive video tour of Steve's setup with Steve himself - shot during rehearsals in Los Angeles in late June 2007.
For more info visit Guitar World.com or visit your local news stand.
Thanks to all the fans who contributed reviews to the various shows in Europe. If you went to one of the shows on Steve's European tour and want to add your thoughts about the show you saw, you can visit the Vai.com Concert Reviews forum on our Message Board. If you're heading to a show in the USA - check out the reviews for a preview of what you're in for!
Sound Theories Vol. I & II is in stores now! A limited edition deluxe digipak is also available exclusively through Vai.com. The deluxe digipak features extra photos and a full-color booklet and 2,500 random copies will contain a satin pass that will admit the purchaser into any one (1) meet & greet aftershow on Steve's upcoming Sound Theories tour.
We have created a special reviews thread on our Vai.com Message Board to hear your thoughts and feedback on the new album. Click here to visit the special thread.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW VAI.COM NEWS ARCHIVES...
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