Steve Vai
Steven Siro Vai (; born June 6, 1960) is an American guitarist, songwriter, and producer. A three-time Grammy Award winner and fifteen-time nominee, Vai started his music career in 1978 at the age of eighteen as a transcriptionist for Frank Zappa, and played in Zappa's band from 1980 to 1983. He embarked on a solo career in 1983 and has released eight solo albums to date. He has recorded and toured with Alcatrazz, David Lee Roth, and Whitesnake, as well as recording with artists such as Public Image Ltd, Mary J. Blige, Spinal Tap, Alice Cooper, Motörhead, and Polyphia. Additionally, Vai has toured with live-only acts G3, Zappa Plays Zappa, the Beat Tour (playing 1980s era King Crimson), and the Experience Hendrix Tour, as well as headlining international tours.
Vai has been described as a "highly individualistic player" and part of a generation of "heavy rock and metal virtuosi who came to the fore in the 1980s". He released his first solo album Flex-Able in 1984, while his most successful release, Passion and Warfare (1990), was described as "the richest and best hard rock guitar-virtuoso album of the '80s". He was voted the "10th Greatest Guitarist" by Guitar World magazine’s readers, and has sold over 15 million records.
Acted in
Chicago & Friends in Concert
2024
as Self
Tribute to Jimi Hendrix
2023
as Self
Steve Vai - His First 30 Years: The Documentary
2022
as Self / Johnny Vai (voice) (as Reckless Fable)
Studio 666
2022
as Dave's Shredding Guitar Hands (uncredited)
The Pedal Movie
2021
Zappa
2020
as Self - Played with Zappa 1980-1982
Devin Townsend's Crappy Halloween Party
2020
as Himself
Devin Townsend - Empath - The Ultimate Edition (5.1 Surround Sound Mix)
2020
as Himself
#NoJoke
2019
as Self
In Your Face: The Neil Zlozower Story
2018
as Himself
Hired Gun
2017
as Self
STEVE VAI Front And Center 2016
2016
as self
Steve Vai: Rock In Rio 2015
2015
as Guitars
Sepultura: Rock in Rio USA 2015
2015
as Guitars
Steve Vai: Stillness in Motion - Vai Live in L.A.
2015
as Himself
Remaking the Legend: Halo 2 Anniversary
2014
Frank Zappa - Summer '82: When Zappa Came to Sicily
2014
as Himself
Steve Vai: The Making of The Story of Light
2012
as Himself
G3: Live in Moscow
2012
Jason Becker: Not Dead Yet
2012
as Self
Ozzy Osbourne: Thirty Years After The Blizzard
2011
as Self
Whitesnake: Live At Donington 1990
2011
as Himself
Lemmy
2010
as Self
Live Music
2009
as Riff
Steve Vai: Where The Wild Things Are
2009
as Himself
Rock Prophecies
2009
as Self
Frank Zappa: The Torture Never Stops
2008
as Self
Crazy
2008
as Hank Williams
Zappa Plays Zappa
2007
as Himself
Steve Vai: Visual Sound Theories
2007
as Himself
Classic Albums: Frank Zappa - Apostrophe (') Over-Nite Sensation
2007
as Self
G3: Live in Tokyo
2005
as Guitar
Hell's Kitchen
2005
as Self
Rockthology 2
2004
Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival 2004
2004
as Self
G3: Live in Denver
2004
as Himself
Steve Vai: Live at the Astoria London
2003
as Self
G3: Live In Concert
1997
Classic Albums
1997
as Self
Steve Vai - Alien Love Secrets
1995
as Himself
A Life of Extravaganza - The Genius Frank Zappa
1993
as Self
Joe Satriani: The Satch Tapes
1993
as Himself
Guitar Legends EXPO '92 at Sevilla - The Hard Rock Night
1991
as Self - Guitar
Zappa's Universe
1991
as Self
Guitar
1991
as Self
Hard 'N Heavy Volume 11
1990
as Self
Hard 'N Heavy Volume 2
1989
as Self
Video From Hell
1987
as Self
Crossroads
1986
as Jack Butler
Frank Zappa: The Dub Room Special!
1982
as Self