In one of the Guitar magazines there is feature that interviews
Steve Vai and also he lists some of his favourite tracks.

He lists people like Tom Waits, Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck etc.
On the page, there is one picture only... it's a picture of Prince !
Prince is listed . The track listed is 'condition of the heart'. Stevie explains that in the 80s his wife brought home the Purple Rain album which she was into. He told her that it was junk and not to even bring it in the house or something. However, he says, that he became curious and listened to it and then was blown away by the next album. He couldn't believe how bold Prince was and was very impressed that he could sing in falsetto, dance and not miss one note on guitar. he called Prince a brilliant player.

That's nice to see.. I think Stevie has made other comments like that in the past.

After watching the Soundcheck in Toronto and watching Prince do 'Bambi' I am floored... not that it matters

Stevie's great on guitar technically, amazing finger work and all, just like Eddie VH but he doesn't evoke emotion to his music, where as Prince will play a certain note at any particular part of a song that will emphacise a lyric.

as a guitarist, Prince is very much under-rated!

Does anyone know if Mr. Vai's expertise stretches to other forms of stringed instrument? I have been developing methods of creating an electric banjo, by using a special polymer that converts movement into electric signals. This would replicate the drum 'skin'. It is not possible to truly amplify the sound of a banjo using only a simple pickup, you see.

Clive85 said:

Dude that's some funny shit

He was at the House of Blues aftershow in Hollywood this past April.

0rlando said:

Complete rubbish. Why does everyone keep saying this? Because they've heard others say it and think it sounds like an informed an intelligent opinion? It is possible to be technically proficient on an instrument AND be breathtakingly emotive in your playing too.

Prince is a brilliant guitarist, and Vai is a brilliant guitarist. Both have styles which cross many musical genres. Both are INCREDIBLY innovative also.

Enough with this "Vai's all technical and no emotion" crap - buy all his records and then prove it with solid argument.


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[This message was edited Thu Jul 11 15:55:19 PDT 2002 by BloodyMouth]

0rlando said:

- It´s turning into a Prince.org cliche...it´s always the same thing...´Steve Vai is only technique...he doesnt have soul. Prince has soul. Prince has more soul than Vai´, etc etc.
All I can say is that VAI HAS SOUL. Listen to ´For the love of God´ and ´Whispering a prayer´ and you will see it.
Second: if Vai was only technique, he wouldnt be where he is. Believe it or not, there are more technical players than him (Tony mac Alpine and Vinnie Moore are just two examples). Vai has style, and he is very musical and creative too, that´s why he has many fans.
Third, it´s so cool that Vai admires Prince. The opposite happens too. ´The Rainbow Children´ features lots of Vai influences, just like ´Rock and roll is alive´. And ´TRC´ is IMO the best guitar album Prince did.
Fourth, I´ve been discovering Frank Zappa lately, and he is amazing. Guitar lovers should check him out

BloodyMouth said:

- AMEN! Most people that say this kind of thing actually NEVER listened to a whole Vai album. I agree that some Vai songs are more technical than others, but he did lots of songs with soul. Í love ´Voodoo Acid´. I know people that say ´I dont like Prince´ but never listened to an entire album too. Both are good guitar players, in different fields.

GustavoRibas said:

As for Vai's funk side, you could also list 'Answers' and check out the bass line to "The Riddle" and the breakdown sections of "Blue Powder" (in fact, the whole song is an absolute masterpiece). I don't know if you've heard the promo track he did for Morley called "Bad Squad" Gustavo, but it's also a very funky track. (And Prince uses the Steve Vai model "Bad Horsie" wah-wah pedal, by the way...)

But I still don't understand what is wrong with technical proficiency? I wouldn't even agree that some of his songs are "more technical than others". Sure, he can get from one end of the neck to the other without fucking up a note - but that's not technical, that's just having complete mastery of your instrument.

I think if you took any doubters to see Vai play live, it would blow them away.

I would also recommend that people listen to the entire solo section of "Rescue Me or Bury Me" by Vai. That is some amazing playing, some of it fast, some of it slow, but all always brings a lump to my throat.

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[This message was edited Thu Jul 11 17:28:06 PDT 2002 by BloodyMouth]

BloodyMouth said:

- Yes, Vai can be funky too. These songs you mentioned show he does the ´chicken grease´ very well. I dont know ´Bad Squad´ but now that you mentioned, I will search for it... (thanks for the tip)


- Some people think that a person can´t be technical and emotional at the same time. Believe me, I played guitar in the 80s and I saw tons of guys who were ONLY technique. And I dont like them. I love guitar players that have STYLE. Look at Pearl Jam for example. The guitar player isnt bad technically, but he doesnt have STYLE. Guys like Vernon Reid, Randy Rhoads and Vai are good examples of rock guitar players full of soul, technique and style. Vai is loved by guitar players and appears several times on guitar magazines because he is one of the greatest guitar players of the last decades, period. Other guys who are very fast and technical arent so acclaimed as he is.


- I had the pleasure of seeing him live. He is a great musician AND a great entertainer. The concert was pure joy.

Not only has Steve Vai made these comments, but so has his teacher Joe Satriani !!! Joe has stated in the past that Prince is one of his heroes.

Eric Clapton has also said the Purple Rain is one of his favorite songs of all time...


'nuff said.

As I've said before "Recsue Me Or Bury Me" is my favorite Vai track.

Prince has covered Steve's Tender Surrender" live.

Their birthdays are a day apart and they are both great guitar players in fact great musicians period.

In fact if you check Steve's series of guitar lessons (articles fronm Guitar Player Magazine) 'Martian Love Secerts' he gives different examples of how to use your mind and experiences to create emotion while you are playing. www.vai.com

GustavoRibas said:

Did you guys ever think that it could possibly be because many people hold that opinion about Vai, not just because many say it? Having soul is a matter of opinion. His is just as valid as anyone else's.

Vai fans should check out Vai.com toward the end of this week - completely redesigned.

Peace.