I wouldn't say that Steve Vai "sucks". I would say that he has no soul.

His recordings are too "mechanical" sounding. There is no human element to his playing.

I'll say this: he is technically proficient. There is no sound or note that he can't play. But I'll take Prince's playing (with it's flaws and simplicity) to Vai's any day.

i dug vai's work when he was with zappa in the very early 80s, but i haven't liked anything he's done since.

How can you judge someone putting all of themselves into the music? Brother you should save that for the alicia keyes and sampling rappers of the world. Steve Vai is an original and an extreme talent some get it, some dont. You have no right to judge him.

micorison said:

Ok, here's where you need to be set straight. If another person uses the word "wanking" just to discredit somebody because they are jealous of their technique, I'll scream.

If Steve Vai sucks so much. Why is he famous and you are posting on Prince message boards. Why is he nominated for grammy's? Why is he always regarded by 'real' players as a great musician?

Here's my point for you: I don't like Miles Davis. In fact I hate listening to him. If I have to hear that repetetive theme in "All Blues" once more I'll go crazy. In fact, I don't like Jazz at all. I think Jazz is boring and sounds cheesy and is adorned by thousands of arrogant players who think they are so smart and play the only good style of music because they utilize diminished scales over Bb7b9 chords and whole tone scales over D7+ chords or something ridiculous like that. THAT IS WHAT I CALL WANKING! That's just as noodley as playing what Vai does.

Now do I think Miles or Coltrane sucks...HELL NO! They put out some amazing things and did amazing things for Jazz. Do I like listening to either of them, not Particularly, it's just not my taste. Jazz hurts my ears. Unresolved and unprepared sus chords annoy me, so I don't dig listening to Herbie Hancock, but I can understand why other people like him. There is no 'right' style of music, It's what you prefer.

You talk about Coltrane's use of melody and harmony. Well, I am both Jazz and Classically trained and I can tell you now that Jazz isn't shit cmpared to harmonic and melodic development of Baroque and Vieniesse music (or Classic, for those of you who don't know). Mozart or Haydn smokes Coltrane, Miles, Evans, or whoever Jazz musician you want to say if you ask me. But if you don't like Classical music then that means nothing to you. That is my point.

Vai is a good musician and a good writer. Comparing him to John Coltrane or Miles Davis is ridiculous and stupid. They are horn players and Vai is a guitar player. Guitar doesn't even sound good in jazz, except for comping, and I think it doesn't belong in there with the horns. Bass does belong however but guitar just sounds stupid when Jazz Guitarist take solos over "Beautiful Love" or something like that.

Don't go acting like you have everything figured out just you think you listen to a type of music that you believe is smarter than all the others.

Steve doesn't suck. Even if you don't like his music, you have to admit that he is amazing! He played with Zappa for crying out loud! If you play with Zappa you can't suck. Then he also did the Roth solo record, remember "Eat 'em and Smile" ? Hell yeah! Steve is cool.

Vashti said:

Too bad Clapton had to kill him.

Cornerman said:

Anyone thinking Vai sucks and has no soul & other B.S. should take a listen at "Eat'em and smile" and realize how the guy can make you groove.

I saw the "Eat'em and Smile" tour from the front row and saw this cat beat that Ibanez into submission. Prince digs Vai and Vai digs Prince. He was @ the House Of Blues aftershow a few weeks ago. Listen to "For The Love Of God".