A CirdecSongs Chat with Steve Vai

(Cover Photo by C. Flanigan/Film Magic)

What can you say about a guitar legend that hasn’t been said a thousand times already?

Steve Vai is one of those legends. Millions of words have been written or spoken about him. No doubt they were overwhelmingly positive, and I’m sure they’re completely true.

I’ve been a fan of Steve’s since I picked up a guitar in the mid- to late-90’s. Anyone who can start his career by transcribing the music of Frank Zappa is plenty cool with me. Writing out compositions like “The Black Page” is no small feat. As Zappa’s “stunt guitarist,” Steve made the impossible sound not just possible, but relatively easy. Until I tried to play it myself. Lesson learned.

Instrumental specialists are not always known for having the most outgoing personalities. They appear, they play, and they leave. Steve is the polar opposite. He’s as close to a rock star as musicians in the progressive realm get. Concerts and videos featuring outfit changes, uniquely designed guitars (check out the Hydra, his latest three-necked multi-purpose guitar monster), and more than a little swagger keep core fans riveted and newcomers curious to see what will happen next.

Given his unique instrumental voice, it’s hard to imagine Steve ever sounding like anyone but himself. That will change soon when Steve takes on the role of Robert Fripp as one quarter of Beat, a band created for and geared around the music of the eighties lineup of King Crimson.

Steve will join original band members Adrian Belew (guitar and vocals) and Tony Levin (bass, Stick, and backing vocals), along with Tool drummer Danny Carey (taking on the role of Bill Bruford). The project has been endorsed by Fripp himself, who has said that only Steve can handle his complex and innovative parts.

I have a tendency to worry that the best musicians will bring with them the biggest attitudes and sense of self-worth. Once again, I was happy to meet one of the kindest and low-key musicians out there, even as he battled through a bit of a cold in order to talk to me. As they say, the show must go on.

Thanks to Anthony Garone of Make Weird Music and — obviously — to Steve Vai himself for making this CirdecSongs chat possible.