If ever there were a musician that deserved to have a "rock star" ego, it would be Steve Vai. Yet he just seems cooler and more humble with each day that passes.

@heyman6821

4 жыл бұрын

If he had an ego he would have plateaued looooong ago

@bhutchin1996

4 жыл бұрын

I met him and Joe Satriani at an autographing event in October 1997. Very nice guy, very appreciative of his fans.

@JohyeahM

4 жыл бұрын

By all accounts, his own included, he did have an ego. But, thankfully, he lost it over the years.

@incidentalist

4 жыл бұрын

@@JohyeahM Oh yea, you can tell he has a huge ego!! Just look at any vids of him playing on stage, brushing his hair while playing, making "cute" faces..... that's ok though, he should have an EGO!! NEARLY untouchable on the electric ax!!

@ovarianbarbarian4186

4 жыл бұрын

"Huge ego" not seeing it myself, Dude how does doing any of those examples u gave tell u what his ego is either way? That's just how he plays, he gets so into it and just groovin, cute faces it's more like hes singing along with the guitar mouthing the notes as he slays it, plus it's a show he doing a song with certain funk to it.

I like seeing Vai struggle to remember some of those old riffs...it proves he's human.

@mskatonic1

5 жыл бұрын

He's a class act.

@wwtastingroom75

5 жыл бұрын

mskatonic1 He really is. I met him once after a Zappa plays Zappa show in Portland, Or.. super nice guy

@MrMatthiasSchneider

3 жыл бұрын

And then 1 minute later he had the entire complex passage down despite not having played it in 25 years!

@koffieverslaafde627

3 жыл бұрын

@@MrMatthiasSchneider don’t stress the details

@EmreCanKorkmaz

3 жыл бұрын

He tries to fit in ;) layin' low. You know, human civilization is notorious for devouring its gods.

No one plays like Steve Vi. He has such a melodic gift and he is the real deal.

I met Steve back at 2004 NAMM. An absolute genuine person. Very nice guy. He talked to me like a normal human being. Paul Gilbert is a great guy too.

That smile Nikki had while Steve is shredding, I had that same smile, thank you Nikki for this interview, freakin Steve Vai is a guitar god.

@schmodedo

5 жыл бұрын

I'm a keyboard player and had that same smile !

@thephatalien

4 жыл бұрын

I was smiling right there too. What a great moment between both these guys. Steve’s got his super unique voice that must be so cool to see up close!

@kingeris1657

4 жыл бұрын

Dave Doucette Steve Vai is not a guitar god. He IS the guitar god.

@sowelldon

4 жыл бұрын

I was smiling and thinking " I wish I could make my bass talk like that."

@cmhardin37

4 жыл бұрын

He can't shred...😂

Steve playing Jimmy Page, I love him even more and Nikki's smile while Steve is shredding is priceless.

Why the heck would anybody thumbs down this? It's just two dudes having a friendly talk

@RedLP5000S

4 жыл бұрын

Most likely jealousy.

@kiekko673

4 жыл бұрын

nodaysback Maybe they don’t like Nikki Sixx...

@krleSteaLth

4 жыл бұрын

Yy

@Alex-sx8uz

3 жыл бұрын

Joe Satriani... again 🙄

This man has literally forgotten more riffs in the last 25 years, than I've LEARNED in the past 25 years

@RADOMIRATA

2 жыл бұрын

by far

@mumu5013

2 жыл бұрын

😊😊😊✌️

@smokingstoking7357

2 жыл бұрын

It's how he holds the guitar you don't see young guys hold it correctly

@scottskinner577

2 жыл бұрын

@@smokingstoking7357 I still don't think I do

@smokingstoking7357

2 жыл бұрын

@@scottskinner577 what do you mean? I remember when he was with David Lee Roth and white snake

Sixx really is the best interviewer out there, he's always sincere, interested and keeps the conversation going where you want it to go. Great.

@fredriksvard2603

2 жыл бұрын

Im not aware of anyone who's grown as much as a person either, really surprised in a positive way when i hear him in interviews etc

@ultragroove1

Жыл бұрын

Agree with both of you. I can’t understand why this channel didn’t explode. He’s an exceptional conversationalist. Enjoying listening to these interviews even 5 years later.

@dan-fr9dn

4 ай бұрын

HE'S A FRAUD

@dan-fr9dn

4 ай бұрын

HE DIDN'T EVEN PLAY IN STUDIO RECORDINGS,CAUSE HE ONLY KNOW 3 CORDS LOL LOL LOL

Steve is such an intelligent person he always blows my mind

Yankee Rose was a huge deal. That vid was the pinacle of 80`s LA rock. David`s new band with the hottest guitar and bass player in town. The impact of that debut should not be understimated!

@guitarguru.3572

5 жыл бұрын

I always kind of thought he told himself, “Ed thinks he’s the best around, does he? Oh, and so does everyone else? Well, watch this...”.

@teapotpete

4 жыл бұрын

@@UR_Right24 By far! The guitar lines in 'Hina' are outstanding. Saw the 'lil ain't enough' tour at Wembley. Insane gig. Very good album too.

@maxjudge020

4 жыл бұрын

@@teapotpete sadly jason becker couldn't do more with Dave

@5664788

4 жыл бұрын

Man you got that fuckin right

@malsmith9385

3 жыл бұрын

It really was a standout song. I can remember seeing Steve with DLR at donnington and when they played 'jump', Steve played the guitar solo... behind his head.... 🤘

watching steve vai sit on a couch and stumble through a song is totally worth the watch. he's human after all!!

Vai seems like a good guy.

@JanneOksanen

6 жыл бұрын

He makes a lot more sense now. Back in the day when he used babble on about esoteric spiritual mumbo jumbo it was a little embarrassing to watch that stuff.

@bcancun123

6 жыл бұрын

reso1349 Steve Vai is cool as shit real easy going dude

@InTheLifeOfAnArtist

6 жыл бұрын

reso1349 he’s a gem

@elspookso8414

6 жыл бұрын

He still does. What's so weird, or embarrassing, about that?

@LuisLozano

6 жыл бұрын

u have no idea..i met him in Sydney, Australia back in 97...he was the nicest guy ive ever met...no big head..no bs..just down to earth lets chat bout guitar type guy..very gracious n autographed my guitar for me...real cool!

My favorite Steve Vai song is "Bad Horsie", it just does things to me on a visceral level, one of the nastiest licks EVER!

“It’s like I’m 16 again, staring at the mirror playing a tennis racket” lmao he’s one of us

Came for Vai, stayed for the Zappa stories. Steve blows me away when he does those "Slinky bends" only he does. "Once upon a time It was in Albuquerque, New Mexico. There were these girls that worked at the college. They were really cool. They thought so anyway. They would be delighted to tell you how suave they were at the drop of a hat..." Zappa: Jazz Discharge Party Hats.

OMG that arpeggio from the Zappa's days, it's sooo amazing!!!

@isaiahhenderson6814

4 жыл бұрын

any idea what song that was?

@MurnauNeko

4 жыл бұрын

@@isaiahhenderson6814 the song is "what's new in baltimore"

Steve is so smooth.... wish i had even half the smoothness he has between notes and phrases....

@snap-off5383

5 жыл бұрын

Play all day every day for 50+ years like he has. . . .

I met him once backstage, and yes he's that dude. Just as cordial and unpretentious as he appears same with Allan Holdsworth. When Yankee Rose came out we knew Dave was making a statement to Van Halen and the whole industry.

I regret that have but only one thumbs up to give for this completely totally awesome moment to hear Steve Vai!

Hard to believe steve is nearly 60yrs old. He looks good!

@JeanGillesTouraine

6 жыл бұрын

N W same with Satch. These guys are not from earth.

@sretePtraB

5 жыл бұрын

No drugs, no alcohol helped I guess

@deangullberry5148

5 жыл бұрын

@@sretePtraB Yeah, but I can't do the vegetarian thing....

@kelvinpanesar7606

5 жыл бұрын

Dude!!!!!!!!!!! It's not as difficult as you think

@trytongames7778

4 жыл бұрын

Kelvin Panesar he looks like a grandma tbh

To me it's so cool to see such a guitar legend be so nice and so open and it's also cool to see him make little mistakes that show you he really is an awesome down to earth human

@OptimusMaximus78

5 жыл бұрын

Yeah I was just thinking it's nice to see him fluff notes and be out of tune

@megalodon8473

5 жыл бұрын

It was also super cool to see him compliment Nikki on the Motley Crue riffs, shows how classy a guy he is!

@cyjazz

5 жыл бұрын

One of the most humble and down to earth people I had the chance to speak with. And extremely spiritual. With an extensive knowledge of things outside of music.

How is Steve so humble the man is literally a guitar god that deserves to act cocky and arrogant every once in a while but holy shit he's always so laid back and encouraging. A true God 🙏😅

@GimmeJimmy23

2 жыл бұрын

I think when you are a true to the craft, you realize that the only place that arrogance has is when you're onstage as an act. This man is a class act!

Steve's "shredding" is like painting with sound! And it's awesome!

Vai is on the Mt Rushmore of all time rock guitarists. Fascinating and intelligent guy as well. Great interview

@mike5177

6 жыл бұрын

Jim Davignon He talks about those rare breed guitarists, yet doesn't realize he is one of them.

@wiseguy9202

5 жыл бұрын

I consider Shawn Lane to be in this same class of rare breeds.

@Tubes12AX7k

4 жыл бұрын

maybe he should BE on Mt. Rushmore...

@maxjudge020

3 жыл бұрын

@@wiseguy9202 sorry but hes boring af

@wiseguy9202

3 жыл бұрын

@@maxjudge020 completely understandable. His music is extremely complex and most people that favor algorithmic pop won't like the style. Hence why he wasn't as popular.

The Zappa riff he's playing is "What's New in Baltimore..." one of my favorite Zappa songs, ever (from "Frank Zappa Meets the Mothers of Prevention").

@Christian-xe9tr

4 жыл бұрын

krinkle442 thank you I’ve been searching

@spooge33

4 жыл бұрын

Great Tune

He says "I remember putting that record on" How many of you out there can appreciate that???? We just scroll through the phone now but once upon a time we had these great paper sleeves that contained a pristine record that we took great care of and would slide it out and gently give it a light wipe down before gently placing it on the turntable and then lay the needle down into place and the music started. The process was such a part of the whole thing. GOOD TIMES!!!!!

@jigamac71

4 жыл бұрын

I used to bring my records to a friend's and we would just sit and listen to music. Reveling in the majesty of sound!!

@RedLP5000S

4 жыл бұрын

Thank god vinyl is back on the rise! 🤘🏻

It was nice that you two talked about Zappa .......and kept his music and memory alive.

Love the Zappa stories :D

@dumblineman

6 жыл бұрын

What Zappa tunes is he playing there?

@woweezowee3777

6 жыл бұрын

Me too

@robrobitaille1260

6 жыл бұрын

Do you happen to know what Zappa composition ended up coming out of the guitar bit he was playing. The part about them coming back to it several times over a few months?

@robrobitaille1260

6 жыл бұрын

Sorry I just asked the same question to lilnetty2 anyone know?

@terrywho22

6 жыл бұрын

Bradley Doyle gave the title: "What's New In Baltimore?"

Nikki Sixx seems like such a nice guy, would love to meet him someday.

Guy is so talented yet so humble. He truly is a gift.

Such a genuine, humble, down to earth guy, a pleasure to watch.

Steve Vai has been my all round guitar icon for life...

Loved the zappa riff he did. Steve is always so fluid in his playing, great stuff.

@creeksquadnation2129

5 жыл бұрын

What riff was that?

@Joe71poke

5 жыл бұрын

@@creeksquadnation2129 What's New In Baltimore off of Frank Zappa Meets The Mothers Of Prevention. There's also a version of it on one of his 'You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore' volumes.

i met Steve Vai back in 1999 at the guitar center in Manchester CT he autographed my guitar and took pictures with me and signed album covers ,he was such a nice guy and did not rush me off he listened to me talk, such a awesome intelligent awesome guitar player.i promised steve i would not sell the guitar on ebay and i still have it and all the pictures framed still on display through out my house.i feel honored and great full for having met him

The first five notes in “For the love of god” still makes the hair on my arms stand straight up.

Steve is this regular, highly intelligent gifted musician that can communicate on a level anyone would understand. He's humble enough and gentle enough to approach comfortably and enjoys sharing his passion for music and guitar... as evidenced here with Nikki. Definitely a special musician and good human.

This man has played with whitesnake, Dave Lee Roth and has an incredible legacy as a guitarist. He is so humble. ❤️

@nickordich7469

Жыл бұрын

Frank Zappa tho

@justinkrann7406

Жыл бұрын

FRANK ZAPPA

Steve Vai is a fantastic guy! Hey, that rhymes! 👍🏻🎸

This is one of Steve's best solos ever ... nice guys, both of 'm ....

I enjoyed this so much. I've been a Steve Vai fan since I was eight years old.

@jburt779

4 жыл бұрын

mskatonic1 discovered him at 18. Never looked back

What a pair of nice, humble guys. You can really feel the mutual respect. Steve is a gem, also

I could listen to hours and hours of Vai talking about Zappa... such a big fan of zappa and Vai 10++

I love how excited sixx gets when vai starts shredding. Such a nerd for music, its awesome

love Steve Vai ❤❤..his playing is so flawless..he plays like he was born with a guitar in his hand 🤘

I'm still hoping that Mick makes an appearance on this show, really solid player, not the flashiest player around but to me Mick Mars has a lot of feel and heart behind his playing and besides, we hardly ever hear anything from him, I think he would be an excellent guest.

@chiefwawawa

6 жыл бұрын

Mick Mars is one of my favorite guitarists, and I personally think hes one of the best. The only problem here is that he has really bad arthritis in his back, and almost purposely wants to live like a recluse.

@jbw9999

6 жыл бұрын

Mick Mars one of the best? Oh Lord.

@chiefwawawa

6 жыл бұрын

Yes, I personally think he is a very good guitarist, and when I said that, I didn't mean in a "best of all time" situation. Just because my opinions are different than yours, and because I don't immediately bow down and worship the same 10 guitarists, just because Rolling Stone magazine tells me to doesn't make my opinion invalid.

@matsaw

6 жыл бұрын

Jack White: Better than anything the White Stripes has ever done or will do.

@chiefwawawa

6 жыл бұрын

My favorite guitar work from Mick is on "Home Sweet Home".

Steve is so humble with his skills. What a cool dude...

Steve is a f'ing leyend, full of cool stories, watching him while he is triying to remember that frank zappa melody was like traveling in time.

Was hoping for this one! Thanks Nikki and Steve!

Always been a Vai fan, but the person who really comes off well in this for me is Nikki Sixx. Much respect to both of these guys and their shared love of music draws me right in...

That's a man whose first language is spoken with a piece of wood and some strings! Amazing! That Zappa rif is the most mesmerizing thing I think I've ever heard.

Steve not playing like he is in a talk show, he is playing passionately. That's just the ultimate sign of true artist, he just loves what he does. Rock on! \m/

I absolutely LOVE my Fernandez Sustainer!!!!

@bullpentherapy

3 жыл бұрын

Me to.. I got an old black Fernandez guitar I found used. Just the sustainer circuit alone is worth the 286 bucks I paid for it. Fantastic..

@syfman6

2 жыл бұрын

I have a Fernandez something pro, with a sustainer. I've had it for 20 years. Way before they were well known. So cool for playing at sound levels that won't decapitate the masses. Very cool invention. 💚🎸

Steve is genuine/humble guy, always acknowledge his mentor the late great FZ .

@deangullberry5148

5 жыл бұрын

I just think it's odd that he rarely addresses Satriani. You know, the guy that literally showed him how to string a guitar.... Don't get me wrong, Vai is in my top 4 favorites, and I think he has a great disposition, but it chaps me a bit that everyone gushes his acknowledgement of Zappa and almost ignores the guy that got him started.....

@RedLP5000S

4 жыл бұрын

First album I ever heard Steve on was Flex-able. I loved it the moment the first note started playing. I never knew that much of it was FZ inspired. 🤘🏻

@RedLP5000S

4 жыл бұрын

@@deangullberry5148 you can have a teacher, and you can have a mentor. Satch was his teacher.

I could listen to him for hours. Veterans have so much good stuff to share.

"Its not really shredding, it s got groove and melody in it" I like that! :)

One of my favorite little pieces of music is a one of Steves, David lee Roth, Good times, love that whole guitar phrase in drop d. The harmonics usage, it all dances so nicely out of the box and off the beaten path, it's like taking a walk and really diggin the landscape features on a lightly breezy sunny day

@RedLP5000S

4 жыл бұрын

Excellent, excellent song.

@pablosanchez6558

Жыл бұрын

And it was about his VH days

When Steve speaks I listen

The smile Nikki had while he was shredding was an exact copy of mine!

I could listen to Steve play all day.

I love Steve, his way, his music, his playing, one of my top 10 guitar players and influences.

I never knew he had the sustainer above the single-coil till this. An amazing style, unique to his soul! To him it is simple... to me its rocket science! Sixx bring these shows back!

The attitude song by Steve vai is a must listen if you haven't heard it. It's from the flexible album his very first solo project. Iconic man.

How wonderful to get to hear so much about his time with Frank Zappa. Fantastic. Many thanks.

Steve is just a next-level player.😉 Granted some of his stuff is off-the-wall, but he knows exactly the sound he wants to convey, and it's always memorable. Great interview! 😁👍🎵🎶

STEVE VAI THE KING!

LOVE this tone...YUMMY

I love hearing Vai play! He has a very unique style that can't be replicated and the notes 'speak to you'

Always recognized Vai's talent (like, for as long as I've known about him, which is pre-DLR), but always thought he was kind of full of himself. It's only in the last few years that I've come to realize the guy is just speaking on the level at which he know, feels and understands music. But again, always recognized his talent, and damn he's got a lot of that.

thanks Nikki, that was awesome...I'm not really into 'shreddy' playing, but Steve Vai is undeniably cool and an absolutely stunning player! it would be great to see Nuno Bettencourt, or one of my other favourites - your buddy Mick Mars if you can get them.

so glad Nikki asked him to "shred", his mastery of the whammy bar and slippery tasty melodies always have warmed my alien heart

Love both these guys. Vai seems so humble and down to earth

Great interview, I love every second.

Within four minutes, he's talking about Frank. Ha ha. Have to admit, whereas most people are Vai fans and only hear 'Vai' in Vai's music, I'm a Zappa fan and I most often hear 'Zappa' in Vai's music.He owes him so much. Fortunately he repays by raising Frank's profile for the youngsters, like here. Lightbulb moment: Vai says he "found it hard to come up with riffs" and his strength was more on the compositional side. Well...little wonder then that Zappa became his guru and life-long 'go-to'. Zappa was a composer who happened to play the guitar, that's all.

This was great. I love how humble Steve is - arguably one of the best ever.

Steve is one of the nicest guys in rock and is always very humble. It was really cool seeing Nikki being in awe of Steve's playing and was so down to earth as well. Great clip, thank you for making it!

these are so frigging cool

“I wanna see if I got a little bit of groove here...” and boom there he went!

I just love Steve!

Steve is a living legend, and what a genuine guy.

I'd love for Steve to do an album of covers, of rock and roll staples, with his twist on them. Man that would rock! Imagine hearing him play Double Vision or Back In Black, Smoke on the Water...I'd buy that quick

Great interview Nikki! Thanks to you and Steve for sharing. He's amazing to watch. The fact he makes mistakes is very refreshing to see. lol Keep up this great series!

what a fantastic interview with Steve Vai.Great stories he must have with Frank Zappa.

Amazing interview...Steve is the coolest guy to listen to about anything and everything. Big thanks out to Nikki too, you rock!

I love how it so often reverts to Jimmy Page/Led Zeppelin.

@StephenDanielAddeo

6 жыл бұрын

George which then reverts to some poor old blues guy

@Geotubest

6 жыл бұрын

Yes, that is indeed true. And probably reverts even further than that.

@HarpoSpoke

6 жыл бұрын

OH yeah...it all goes back to classical music eventually. The blues scale is a simple version of the minor scale and they were using the flatted 3rd centuries ago. So that Heartbreaker and Black Dog riff really aren't "blues". You won't hear a blues artist sound anything like that.

@StephenDanielAddeo

5 жыл бұрын

@Juan Pérez neither does this though so it's relevant.

@guitarguru.3572

5 жыл бұрын

When a lot of these guys were learning to play, or at least starting to want to play, there was no one above Page. In a lot of ways, there still isn’t.

Great interview Nikki..

Goes to show you and I always say this that Zeppelin was ahead of their time. My prize collection.

I just recently started watching Six Sense! And will be watching many more. Thanks Nikki for the awesome interview with Steve Vai.

Steve comes across as a really nice guy. He's played in some major bands were there are lots of myths abd legends. I bet he could tell some stories.

loving these!!! is nuno next?

***Applause*** at that shred! I had a huge smile on my face. Phenomenal talent ♥

Awesome show...love Steve and of course you Nikki. Geniuses. 😎👍👏🌹❤💋

Finally after several years i have seen Steve struggle with something

@treeduck3705

6 жыл бұрын

I think he knew it all along the way he played it at the end of the story.

@fl00d69

6 жыл бұрын

Everyone struggles with Frank Zappa ... xD Just look into what he programmed on fairlight and feel your brain melt.

@j.c.mhardcoremetalfan413

6 жыл бұрын

GS HYBR1D he's not struggling he's trying to remember how it went.not playing something for over 25yrs sometimes you have to think about it.

@GSHYBR1D

6 жыл бұрын

j.c.m hard core metal fan have you ever seen Steve Vai miss notes

@j.c.mhardcoremetalfan413

6 жыл бұрын

GS HYBR1D yeah everyone messes up once in awhile but in this case he was purely trying to remember how the song went.when he does miss a note which isn't often but does.most don't even notice do to smoothness.

"I've lost some of my ability to pick fast..." BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

what a beautiful conversation on the beauty of music

My favorite episode so far! Great stories, great conversation, and, of course, great guitarplaying...!

My favorite riff from Vai is in the film 'Crossroads' when he gets tired of toying with Ralph Macchio and just goes apeshit shredding that guitar.

@jamiemccabe6322

3 жыл бұрын

I know the exact part you mean it’s amazing

“Let me see if I got a little..” *MELTS FACE*

Two of the absolute coolest guys in Rock 'N Roll ever!!! Great stuff.

Love the way Vai plays.