Considering that he often parades around stage in full-length multicolored jackets, used to play a triple-necked guitar that had a body in the shape of heart, and generally executes otherworldy compositions, licking as if he actually had a third arm—the words "understated" and "Steve Vai" seldom occupy adjacent spaces.
At one point during a recent interview with the six-string virtuoso, however, your friendly neighborhood Crawler couldn't help but wonder if the man who has recorded and toured with Frank Zappa and David Lee Roth and produced some of the most influential solo guitar works in history may have inadvertently coined the understatement of the year.
"You know, I have attained some levels of success in the industry and proficiency at my craft over the last 30 years. I just thought maybe some of it could be of use to someone," Vai said of the origins of his upcoming four-day Alien Guitar Secrets Master Class, touching down at the Kripalu Center For Yoga and Health (kripalu.org) from Oct. 18-21.
He went on to explain that, despite being a West Coaster, his son is a certified massage therapist and attended the Stockbridge Kripalu facility. And that father and son were both blown away at what they were doing out at said facility, not to mention where they were doing it.
"It's very cutting-edge, and of course, the place, the Berkshires… just beautiful," Vai continued. "So they basically gave me an open invitation to do whatever I wanted, and I love teaching. So I came up with this curriculum for the master class, and told them to book it for when the foliage there would be at its peak."
With the class particulars out of the way, Prof. Vai graciously opened the floor to a general, career-spanning Q and A with the Crawler. The following are some of my favorite exchanges.
Nightcrawler: You, Eddie Van Halen, all the classic shredders/Guitar World cover regulars inspired a generation to push their craft to its limits. So considering that, and the general state of music, what inspires you?
Steve Vai: Well, I was a teenager in the '70s, so I got a good earful of Zeppelin and all the tremendous playing that was going on. But at the same time, my folks had me listening to West Side Story, and I just loved the melodies and theatrics. So that—and anything real, sincere, for that matter—inspires me.
Speaking of theater, I was pissed when Britney Spears released a movie called Crossroads. I called it a "saccharine scar on a six-string classic."
I know (laughs). How dare she? And you can sell millions of records, but make one hit movie, and that's how people you remember you.
Yes, but why just one hit movie? Weren't there more offers?
There were… and I even took some acting lessons and considered it, but decided the movies weren't for me.
But you have that theatrical side, like you said. And it's certainly evident even in your new DVD, Where The Wild Things Are—the staging, costumes, movements.
True, true. And I love to move different ways to the music. But that's all real& and honest experience. Movies are pretend, and there's just something funny [about] pretending to me.
I'm also curious as, since there are so few of you on the planet, I don't often get to speak to someone with your levels of proficiency. How often and what do you practice? Is it a "use it or lose it" thing or like a riding a bike?
Well, it is like riding a bike, but you may have to throw the training wheels back on sometimes. Like, for me to play right now what I did in Crossroads? That would take work, those kind of gymnastics. So that said, I never let things get too far out of my grasp, and make a conscientious effort to hit up on things I know I am rusty on from time to time.
Send correspondence to Nightcrawler, P.O. Box 427, Somers, CT 06071; fax to (860) 698-9373 or e-mail: Garycarra@aol.com.
