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 via the contact page.
Grammy Awards
GRAMMY WINNER:
2008 Best Rock Instrumental Performance 2001 Best Pop Instrumental Album 1994 Best Rock Instrumental Performance |
GRAMMY NOMINATION:
2009 Best Rock Instrumental Performance 2007 Best Rock Instrumental Performance 2005 Best Rock Instrumental Performance 2004 Best Rock Instrumental Performance 2003 Best Rock Instrumental Performance 2001 Best Rock Instrumental Performance 1999 Best Rock Instrumental Performance 1997 Best Rock Instrumental Performance 1995 Best Rock Instrumental Performance 1990 Best Rock Instrumental Album |
2017: Los Pinos, Mexico – “Special Acknowledgment and Distinction for Brilliance in a Musical Career.”
2016: keys to the city of Vicopisano, Italy
2016: SENA European Guitar Award
2012: Key to the city of Dorno, Italy
2012: Les Paul Award at the 27th Annual Technical Excellence & Creativity Awards
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
RIP
# 1 Most Sexiest Guy (silly but revealing)
# 1 Best 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
Kerrang 1990 Readers Poll:
# 1 Best Guitarist
YOUNG GUITAR (JAPAN):
1997 Best Rock Guitarist
1991 Best Rock Guitarist
ROCK BRIGADE:
1996 Best Guitarist
1997 Best Guitarist
RAW:
1990 Best Album (No. 1)
1990 Best LP Sleeve (No. 1)
1990 Best Video
(No. 5, I Would Love To)
1990 Best Video
(No. 7, The Audience is Listening)
1990 Best Sex Object (No. 6)
1990 Best RAW Cover (No. 1)
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)