Need Some Good Pointers From Shredders

Originally posted by snimbkar
It seems that once again, image has taken precedence over musicality.

I'm totally with you on this point. But once again, would Steve VAI be that known if he didn't have the looks? There are talented players out there that did his stuff at the same period but that didn't get as much coverage as he did because he is such a smart and calculating guy... How many guys tried to check out the 'devil's guitarist' because he had the looks to be in the movie 'crossroads'? Would he have had the gig with whitesnake if he hadn't been such a hot dresser? What about the DLR band?

Don't get me wrong, he might be one of the top 10 guitarists of this century, but come on, is it all due to fate or talent?

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) ?

fate, talent and one more ingredient...luck! Steve Vai has said that he's the luckiest guy in the world. I believe he's right. But, before you go commenting on his image - check out not only what he's released as music, but also look at the way he went about learning his instrument. This guy played for 10 hours a day, every day, for years and years. This is a guy who can transcribe almost anything that can be written onto a sheet of paper. I'll admit - if you had John Popper playing lead guitar in a band, you'd probably get laughed at. But, then on the other hand, the public can only laugh for so long until they run out of breath. When they stop laughing they are forced to take note of the musicians abilities. This is where Steve Vai is head and sholders above mossty other guitarists on the planet. Sure he fit into the "glam" look back in the 80s, but that was just a phase that passed (thank God!). So, to wrap this up and put into perspective...lok at pictures of Handrix when he played live. Scarves all over the place, fringe hanging from his coat and a big hat with a feather...who thinks that this is what made Hendrix a star? He gained his legendary status by playing his guts out. Looks matter in today's market - musicianship and talent matter in historical relevance.

Well, actually, there were lots of guitarists that could kick Hendrix's ass in his time. VAI is talented, but lots of other guys had the ability to do what he did in his time, it's just the time and place that he was in that made hime the star he is.
What made Hendrix a star were how he treated his strat when he set it on fire in England, because he was unnoticed when he was in the states (this is history, not my opinion)... Does it have anything to do with music? He had musical abilities and great songs etc... But this story about the strat and his showmanship made him a legend.

and Vai is a VERY savvy business man. That whole Whitesnake fiasco had a dual purpose.

1. $$$$$$$ - He got a lot of money to play that gig (7 figures)
2. The Whitesnake tour was a perfect vehicle to promote Passion and Warfare.When I saw that tour, his "solo" spot was him playing "For the Love of God".

He is Very fortunate no doubt. The fact that he can essentially do what he wants musically and still maintain commercial Vai-ability (HA!). Every music wishes to be in that position.

yep, if businessmen played the guitar, he would play a 7 strings...hmm...err...