Steve Vai - His First 30 Years | The Documentary

This is the first documentary covering Steve Vai's life from 1960 to 1990. (Co-written by Steve Vai.)
The documentary has hundreds of Vai-centric facts and stories that even the most ardent fan will not have known. Complete with a Vai’esque quirky sense of humor, the video covers Vai’s life growing up, attending Berklee College, playing with several artists like Frank Zappa, Alcatrazz, the David Lee Roth band, and Whitesnake, the recording of both his solo albums Flex-Able and Passion and Warfare, plus Vai’s role in the movie Crossroads, and how he helped create the JEM guitar.

Soundtrack playlist https://bit.ly/3xaIHms

Other information, photos, etc. can be found here: https://bit.ly/3B9P0ZH

Link to Arlen Roth's SoundCloud https://bit.ly/3cLQHTL
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00:00:00 - Intro to Steve Vai documentary
00:00:36 - Steve Vai growing up in Carle Place, and his family
00:01:20 - His first musical revelation
00:01:53 - His love for the musical Westside Story
00:02:35 - His first musical instrument
00:03:11 - His first records
00:04:09 - His first band is formed
00:04:57 - His second band
00:05:11 - He is introduced to Led Zeppelin
00:05:52 - Steve Vai’s first guitar
00:06:23 - Vai tells his Dad he wants to play the guitar
00:06:54 - Taking lessons from Joe Satriani
00:08:29 - Vai meets Bill Westcott
00:09:08 - Vai plays the Tuba
00:11:51 - Vai has one last blow-out before college
00:12:19 - Vai almost gets busted by the cops
00:13:04 - Vai’s ritual of the tuna melt
00:13:46 - The worm had turned
00:15:45 - One last drive around Carle Place
00:16:27 - Steve Vai heads off to Berklee College of Music
00:17:40 - Via meets his future wife, Pia
00:18:16 - The first time he tried to connect with Frank Zappa
00:18:51 - He talks to Zappa
00:20:04 - Vai’s first mention in a music magazine
00:20:29 - Vai considers leaving Berklee
00:21:01 - Moving out to California
00:21:47 - Transcribing Zappa’s music
00:22:18 - Trying out for Frank Zappa’s band
00:23:00 - Frank Zappa’s thoughts on Vai’s guitar playing
00:23:37 - Vai goes on his first Zappa tour
00:23:51 - Vai asks Zappa for an honest appraisal of his playing
00:24:34 - Onset of Vai’s depression
00:25:41 - Vai finds some help
00:26:53 - Vai reclaims his mojo
00:28:11 - The Palermo, Italy riot
00:29:44 - What Vai learned from Zappa
00:30:10 - The ethic he learned from Zappa
00:31:43 - SYVA studio and FlexAble
00:32:21 - Trying out for Alice Cooper
00:33:12 - Building Stucco Blue Studio
00:34:34 - Why the name FlexAble is the name of his first album
00:35:44 - Why he said no to a record deal
00:36:33 - The birth of Akashic and Urantia Records
00:37:55 - FlexAble is released
00:39:08 - Joining Alcatrazz
00:40:14 - Alcatrazz works on their album
00:40:54 - Alcatrazz’s God Bless Video
00:41:58 - The movie Crossroads
00:42:20 - Arlen Roth
00:42:38 - The original duel
00:43:29 - Ry Cooder calls Guitar Player magazine looking for talent
00:43:52 - Vai is hired for the movie Crossroads
00:44:20 - Vai did not want to be in the movie Crossroads
00:44:51 - Shuggie Otis plays in the duel
00:45:04 - Another Frank Zappa connection
00:45:27 - Vai’s recycle riffs for Bad Horsie
00:46:04 - Eugene’s Trick Bag and who played what
00:46:26 - Niccolo Paganini’s connection to Crossroads
00:47:09 - Steve Vai’s other acting gigs
00:47:50 - Vai gets a call from David Lee Roth
00:48:28 - David Lee Roth’s acting career and movie
00:49:12 - Billy Sheehan steps in
00:49:24 - Roth’s first choice of guitarist
00:51:19 - Eat ‘Em and Smile
00:52:04 - Guitar makers want Steve Vai
00:52:42 - The creation of the Flame guitar and the Monkey Grip
00:52:58 - Vai’s guitar is stolen
00:53:09 - Vai goes to Performance Guitar
00:53:23 - The prototype JEMs before Ibanez
00:53:44 - Ibanez needs their own Eddie Van Halen
00:54:39 - Vai’s request to all guitar companies
00:55:35 - Steve Vai signs with Ibanez
00:55:46 - Unveiling the Ibanez JEM
00:55:56 - Why Vai named it the JEM guitar
00:56:33 - David Lee Roth’s Skyscraper album
00:57:58 - Billy Sheehan leaves the band
00:58:32 - Just like Paradise and the show 90210
00:59:06 - Vai turns in his resignation to Roth
00:59:30 - Whitesnake comes along
01:01:58 - The influence the Ibanez 7-string had over music
01:02:42 - Vai turns his attention to Passion and Warfare
01:03:59 - What was Passion and Warfare written around?
01:05:47 - Sound effects on Passion and Warfare
01:08:42 - The melody Vai has reused several times
01:09:32 - Vai’s mastery in the studio
01:10:55 - For the Love of God backstory
01:13:22 - Finding a record deal for Passion and Warfare
01:14:46 - Releasing Passion and Warfare
01:15:16 - Critic response to Passion and Warfare
01:15:44 - Why did he not tour for Passion and Warfare

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