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Pls have a look at [[Talk:Harghita/Vote]] before deleting the Hungarian name. Thx
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[[Image:Steve-Vai.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Steve Vai at G3 in Milan, Italy, June 2004]]
'''Steve Vai''', born ''Steven Siro Vai'', is an American [[guitar|guitarist]] and composer, born [[June 6th]], [[1960]] in [[Long Island]], [[New York]] (making him six years old on the sixth day of the sixth month in 1966, as he noted in the introduction to his guitar transcription book of Frank Zappa). Vai is best known for his self-composed, performed and produced guitar instrumental music, but he has also played on the recordings of several other rock acts.
Steve Vai made his name playing 'stunt guitar' with the legendary rock performer, composer, music producer, and publishing mogul [[Frank Zappa]]. In the early 80's he replaced [[Yngwie Malmsteen]] (a good friend) as lead guitarist in [[Graham Bonnett]]'s [[Alcatrazz]]. Then he joined former [[Van Halen]] front man [[David Lee Roth]]'s group to record the albums ''Eat 'em and Smile'' and ''Skyscraper''. Vai also stepped into guitarist [[Adrian Vandenberg]]'s shoes to record with British rock legends [[Whitesnake]] (after Adrian Vandenberg injured his wrist due to some exercises he found in a book and tried out) shortly before recording was due to begin for the album ''Slip of the Tongue''.
Steve Vai continues to tour regularly, both with his own group and with his one time teacher and fellow Grammy award winning guitar instrumentalist friend [[Joe Satriani]] (on the [[G3]] series of tours). Steve recently teamed up with former David Lee Roth band member Bassist [[Billy Sheehan]] for a world tour. G3 2003 features Steve, [[Joe Satriani]] and [[Yngwie Malmsteen]].
Steve Vai's music has featured in a number of feature films, including [[Dudes]], [[Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey]] and [[Ghosts of Mars]]. He appeared onscreen in the [[1986]] [[Ralph Macchio]] movie [[Crossroads (1986 movie)|Crossroads]], playing the demonically-inspired Jack Butler. At the film's climax, Vai engages in a guitar duel with Macchio (whose guitar parts were dubbed by Vai himself). The 32nd note fast-paced "neo-classical" track (entitled "Eugene's Trick Bag") with which Macchio wins the competition was composed by Vai. The piece was heavily based on [[Niccolò Paganini|Paganini]]'s Caprice # 5, and has become a favorite apprentice-piece among many guitar students.
Vai received a [[Grammy Award]] in [[1991]].
Where Vai's contributions to others' material has been constrained by the largely rock or heavy-rock style of those bands, his own material is considerably more esoteric. Vai is an accomplished studio producer (he owns two: "The mother ship" and "The harmony hut") and his own recordings combine his signature guitar prowess with novel compositions and considerable use of studio and recording effects, such as the Eventide H3000 ultra harmonizer and DigiDesign's Pro-Tools Hard Disc recording system and plug-in effect's architechture.
Steve Vai owns 'Favored Nations', a recording and publishing business which specialises in looking after both newly discovered and already high profile recording artists from around the world.
Vai is married with two children (Julian Angel & Fire) to Pia (former Bassist of All-Female Group "Vixen", which can be seen in the movie "Hardbodies"). He also enjoys [[Beekeeping|keeping bees]], which regularly produce a crop of honey that Steve sells for his chosen charity every year through his web site.
Vai also helped design his signature [[Ibanez]] JEM series of guitars. They feature a handgrip cut into the top of the body of the guitar. They also use a humbucker-[[single coil]]-[[humbucker]] [[pickup]] set-up and a locking tremolo bar.
== Discography ==
* ''[[Flex-Able]]'' ([[1984 in music|1984]])
* ''[[Flex-Able Leftovers]]'' ([[1984 in music|1984]])
* ''[[Passion and Warfare]]'' ([[1990 in music|1990]])
* ''[[Sex and Religion]]'' ([[1993 in music|1993]])
* ''[[Alien Love Secrets]]'' ([[1995 in music|1995]])
* ''[[Fire Garden]]'' ([[1996 in music|1996]])
* ''[[The Ultra Zone]]'' ([[1999 in music|1999]])
* ''[[The Seventh Song]]'' ([[2000 in music|2000]])
* ''[[Alive In An Ultra World]]'' ([[2001 in music|2001]])
* ''[[Elusive Light and Sound 1]]'' ([[2002 in music|2002]])
* ''[[The Infinite Steve Vai: An Anthology]]'' ([[2003 in music|2003]])
* ''[[Real Illusions: Reflections]]'' ([[2005 in music|2005]])
== External links ==
* [http://www.vai.com Steve Vai's homepage]
* [http://www.ibanez.com/guitars/series.asp?s=jem&l=e Ibanez JEM series]
[[Category:1960 births|Vai, Steve]]
[[Category:Guitarists|Vai, Steve]]
[[Category:People from New York|Vai, Steve]]
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