Steve Vai Talks About Zappa Audition

"I hear Linda Ronstadt is looking for a guitar player" lol.

I think there is a huge misconception of Vai's personality. Most think he's arrogant as hell. Arrogance is simply needed at times....kind of like Patton saying "lead, follow, or get out of the way!".

But, Vai is much more complex than that. I had the pleasure of meeting and talking with Steve twice, over all these years now. He's a very humble and "down to Earth" guy, taking nothing for granted. He's very unlike other "guitar gods" like Yngwie, EVH, Vivian Campbell, Ritchie Blackmore...the list goes on and on. Satriani is very similar to Vai...easy to approach and willing to discuss music (or anything really) with a light-hearted view on life.

I simply didn't care for much of Zappa's work. But it's amazing how under-rated he truly was/is as a guitarist and musician. Like many others that have gone before and after you...rest in peace. 

The music industry NEEDS the voice and ideals of Frank Zappa right now. Can you imagine Frank talking about NAPSTER???

When I feel down I listen to Steve's rendition of Sofa. Never misses.

"I'm gonna go home now" "You're in the band" I have some of those early tapes where Steve had to duplicate Frank's vocals not for note - with the same inflections and phrasings. Absolutely insane.

Steve vai is legit. He has paid his dues.

Great line : 'By the time we got to Texas I was Yellow'!!

"I hear Linda Ronstadt is looking for a guitarist" Now that's the best! I'm pretty sure Vai was already hired at that point. Frank just had to have some fun with him.

Frank Zappa was a cool dude..Wasn't a fan of the music but certainly a fan of the Man..Big Loss that no once since has come close to his Honesty.. Miss you Frank..

Zappa helped discover Adrian Belew and Alice Cooper.

That was lovely. Thank you. He was a taskmaster, hey, why not, most composers/conductors do just the same thing.

Zappa - always great.

"OK, now play it in 7/8 raegee" :D

Funny!

Steve Vai is so cool...

great story.  life can be hard, zappa was testing steve's mettle and i'm guessing he got a valuable lesson in what it takes to succeed.

never knew steve played for and with zappa.

Absolutely a great story...  I was a huge Zappa fan, and remember when Steve Vai came to the band.
Also remember when drummer great Terry Bozzio (name -? spelling?) came to Zappa too!
Zappa was a true musical Genius.
 

this guy tries so hard...always did...

Why hasn't anyone liked this?

Wonder what he asked him to do that was physically impossible..

Great story.  Vai strikes the perfect blend of annoyance, wonder, and self-deprecation here.  He obviously has good memories of this time in his life and career.  This is a pleasure to watch.

I bet Vai was sweating bullets during this Audition, funny story, Zappa was a one of a kind man

I really want to know how that unpossible lick Vai had to play sounded like

Love how he mentions "Ask Vinnie".

from the story I heard from Tommy Mars, Zappa was very hard on Vai when he first joined.

"by the time i got to texas i turned yellow" -steve vai

Great clip props to Columbus Ohio!

Funny ! got to love Frank .
Thanks Steve Vai.

Good for Steve for not shitting himself at that audition.

Zappa called Vai "My little Italian virtuoso"

Frank Zappa, the musician's musician. Died way too young.

I wonder what the impossible note was.

Pretty funny story.  Thanks for posting.

u're in da band

just an awesome story, Frank loved to goof on people

incredible

Great story.

this is one of the sweetest interviews I've ever watched .. wow, sweet guy, Steve .. and sweet Zappa .. oh my <3

If you think he was a fool(Zappa) just listen to this interview...

What would reggae 7/8 time amount to? Doesn't reggae have to be in 4/4 or something even like that?

".......he was always cool, he was always great!" nothin left to say.

Thanks so much for posting this. New respect for Vai.

Vai is amazing! Great artist!

Thanks for putting this up :) Love it !

Vai is a really good dude...you can see it. Clearly Frank saw it too...

Great!

incredible!!

Frank... hehe, what an ass. Miss ya, you fuxx. lol! (Linda Ronstadt?) LOL!