But in my opinion, joining DLR was the catalyst that brought him into the mainstream, until then he was known as the prodigy who could play Zappa at twice the speed, and replaced Yngwie in Alcatrazz. I remember seeing all these articles about Vai in the guitar magazines circa 1983-1984. Calling him the next Hendrix etc.. And I kept thinking WHO is this guy? and why haven't I heard any of his stuff. He was the guitar "underground's" best kept secret at the time. And you're absolutely right, without his look, I don't think Roth would have selected him, he would have gone for a "lesser" talent with looks instead. Makes you wonder if Vai had never joined DLR, would he be another Steve Morse right now ( All the talent in the world but very little, if any, mainstream success) ?