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77-614: Material for Ocean Machine: Biomech had been around since the time Devin Townsend was touring with Steve Vai in support of Sex & Religion , with some tracks, such as "Funeral", "Regulator" and "The Death of Music", stretching back to Townsend's days with Noisescapes. The album's basic tracks of guitar, bass and drums were recorded in The Factory Studios in Vancouver during the same time Rob Halford recorded there

154-495: A "little project" that he considered a "parody" and not the intended focus of his music, but lamented that Ocean Machine , which he described as "the music that was really close to me," was largely dismissed upon its release. The album opens with a reciting of a poem from 19th century English poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson . Track 7, "Voices in the Fan," ends with an excerpt of the madrigal "Giovane donna il suo bel volto in specchio" from

231-466: A band that included Devin Townsend on vocals, T. M. Stevens on bass, and Terry Bozzio on drums. The group released Sex & Religion on July 23, 1993, that was described as visceral in nature, combining a compositional and progressive metal rhythm section with Devin Townsend's vocal arrangements. After the following tour in support of the album, the group disbanded. Vai began working with Ozzy Osbourne in 1994, with whom he wrote and recorded

308-541: A featured artist on the track "Do You Feel Love" from Jacob Collier's 2019 album Djesse Vol. 2 . On December 1, 2021, Steve Vai announced the release of his tenth studio album, entitled Inviolate , alongside its lead single "Little Pretty". The album was released on January 28, 2022. Upon release, it debuted at No. 1 on the Current Hard Rock Albums chart (his first No. 1 album), No. 8 on Top Hard Rock Albums, and No. 40 on Top Album Sales. To support

385-429: A fourth album of material, which will then be released with the previous three installments and completed storyline in order. In speaking of the storyline, Vai says "It's a human interest story, about the human condition. ... It's a story about this man who has a traumatic experience in his life, and it drives him insane. We see the story through his eyes. It also involves the town he lives in and this stranger that enters

462-464: A large amount of music that was not originally intended for release. Out of this material, Vai compiled his first studio album Flex-Able . He created his own record label, Akashic Records (later Light Without Heat Records), which he used to take Flex-Able directly to distribution channels. Flex-Able was released in January 1984. Vai began his rise to public acclaim in 1983 when, shortly before

539-880: A live version of "The Crying Machine" were both also added to the Rock Band Network. A re-recording of "Speeding" is featured in the 2010 video game Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock for Xbox 360 , Wii and PlayStation 3 . Metal Hammer Metal Hammer is a heavy metal music magazine and website founded in 1983, published in the United Kingdom by Future , with other language editions published by different companies available in numerous other countries. Metal Hammer features news, reviews and long-form articles covering both major and underground bands in heavy metal, as well as covering rock, punk , grunge and other alternative music genres. Wilfried F. Rimensberger conceived Metal Hammer in 1983, taking

616-622: A musical composer fluent in the composition and arranging of orchestral music. In May 2004, Vai premiered "The Aching Hunger", a project commissioned by the Netherlands Programme Service and performed with the Netherlands' Metropole Orchestra . "The Aching Hunger" performances consisted of two parts: the first showcasing Vai's original contemporary orchestral compositions, and the second consisting of Vai (on guitar) playing newly arranged material from his catalog with

693-492: A nationwide tour of the United States. In March 2011, Vai (in conjunction with the online education division of Berklee College of Music) set a Guinness World Record for the world's largest online guitar lesson. The lesson was held as a promotion for Berklee's online "Steve Vai Guitar Techniques" course, which Vai helped to construct. In April 2011, Vai (along with music and technology entrepreneur Andy Alt) announced

770-411: A note, and noticed that to the right the notes go higher and to the left the notes go lower. In that very moment, I had a full-on epiphany. I was flooded with the instinctual realization of how music was created and how it worked from a theoretical standpoint—the whole language of music was very obvious. I also understood immediately, instinctually, and unequivocally something that has only deepened through

847-539: A recording of his college band, Morning Thunder, to Zappa. Impressed by this, Zappa responded by putting Vai on salary to transcribe his work, which included pieces from the Joe's Garage and Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar albums. After leaving Berklee College of Music and moving to California, Vai auditioned for and became a full-time member of Zappa's band, going on his first tour with Zappa in late 1980. Zappa often referred to Vai as his "little Italian virtuoso", and Vai

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924-893: A rendition of the Led Zeppelin classic " Stairway to Heaven ", on the hit television show American Idol . October 2010 saw more movement from Vai as a composer, with the premiere of two original symphonies at the Steve Vai Festival in Groningen , the Netherlands, and performed by the North Netherlands Orchestra . Shortly after the festival, Vai embarked on the Experience Hendrix tour (along with Eric Johnson, Kenny Wayne Shepherd , Susan Tedeschi , Billy Cox , Vernon Reid , Robert Randolph , Jonny Lang , Brad Whitford , and others) for

1001-470: A solo career in 1983 and has released eight solo albums to date. He has recorded and toured with Alcatrazz , David Lee Roth , and Whitesnake , as well as recording with artists such as Public Image Ltd , Mary J. Blige , Spinal Tap , Alice Cooper , Motörhead , and Polyphia . Additionally, Vai has toured with live-only acts G3 , Zappa Plays Zappa , the Beat Tour (playing 1980s era King Crimson), and

1078-485: A three-month tour of North America called "Beat". A reinterpretation of the 1980s King Crimson albums Discipline , Beat and Three of a Perfect Pair . In 2022, a 77 minutes long documentary was released to honor his first 30 years. This is the first documentary covering Vai's life from 1960 to 1990. It was co-written by Steve Vai. The video covers his life growing up, attending Berklee College of Music , playing with several artists like Frank Zappa , Alcatrazz ,

1155-435: A transcriptionist, and in the middle of his fourth semester, moved to California to start his career as a session and touring artist for Zappa. Also while at Berklee, Vai met his future spouse Pia Maiocco . They have been together since they met and have two children. In 2003, Vai was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Music from Berklee . In 1978, Vai sent both a notated transcription of Frank Zappa's " The Black Page ", and

1232-653: A video or picture representation of each show of all of the 254 engagements attended. 2014 saw the announcement of a new, intensive guitar camp called the "Vai Academy", which was an evolution of the Alien Guitar Secrets masterclass. Each year the camp is held, Vai creates a syllabus with a particular theme and invites special guests to help him teach it. During the day, Vai and the special guests (some of whom have been Guthrie Govan , Jeff Baxter , Vernon Reid, Eric Johnson, Sonny Landreth , and others) hold classes in which they add their insight and perspective to

1309-610: Is frequently listed in the liner notes of Zappa's albums as having performed "stunt" or "impossible" guitar parts. Vai was a featured artist on the 1993 release Zappa's Universe , and in 2006, Vai appeared as a special guest on Dweezil Zappa 's Zappa Plays Zappa tour; both projects won Vai a Grammy Award . After moving on from Zappa's employ in 1983, Vai bought a house in Sylmar, Los Angeles , where he built his first professional studio. During this period, Vai formed two bands (The Classified and 777) as well as writing and recording

1386-494: The Ozzmosis album. Due to conflicts, the album was re-written and recorded with Zakk Wylde on guitar. In 1994, Vai won a Grammy award for his performance of "Sofa", from Zappa's Universe . While recording his fourth studio album Fire Garden , Vai took time to record and release the stripped down EP Alien Love Secrets . A departure from the often highly compositional and heavily produced style of his previous projects,

1463-632: 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 Ibanez JEM guitar. "Juice", from Alien Love Secrets , was featured on the 1996 video game Formula One for the PlayStation . Vai's guitar work also appeared in the 2002 video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City . David Lee Roth's " Yankee Rose "

1540-516: The Voyeurs album of his band Two . Due to Townsend's discontent with the sound, in September 1996, he took the recorded material with producer Daniel Bergstrand to Málaga , Spain, to re-record the guitars, drums, and re-amp the bass. Torrential rains were storming the seacoast of Spain at that time, which prevented them from taking any decent recording of the drums. As a result, the sample for

1617-614: The Where the Wild Things Are DVD. In 2008, Vai announced the release of his signature Ibanez Jemini distortion pedal , a twin distortion pedal with both a custom overdrive and lead distortion section. 2010 marked the twentieth anniversary of the production of the Ibanez Universe guitar, which was commemorated with a twentieth anniversary Universe model. A reissue of the early 1990s Universe 77 MC (multi-color swirl),

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1694-479: The '80s". He was voted the "10th Greatest Guitarist" by Guitar World magazine’s readers, and has sold over 15 million records. Steve Vai, a descendant of Italian immigrants , was born in Carle Place, New York on June 6, 1960. He is the fourth son of John and Theresa Vai. Vai was raised Roman Catholic . He described his first experiences with music as, "at the age of five I walked up to [a] piano, hit

1771-468: The 16th-century cycle Lagrime di San Pietro by Orlande de Lassus . Many of the songs on Ocean Machine: Biomech have become live staples during Townsend's career; however, "The Death of Music" did not make its live debut until April 2015. The album is specifically referenced in the demo "Ocean Machines" from Ass-Sordid Demos and "Resolve" from Addicted . "Sister" is sampled in the ambience ending "Traveller" on Accelerated Evolution . "Voices in

1848-806: The 2015 release of Vai's fourth live DVD project Stillness in Motion , filmed in October 2012 during his Story of Light tour at the Club Nokia in Los Angeles. Released on April 7, the double-disc set contained a copy of the Stillness in Motion concert footage and a special bonus feature disc called The Space Between the Notes . The latter is a complete chronological timeline of the Story of Light tour, with

1925-503: The Experience Hendrix Tour, as well as headlining international tours. Vai has been described as a "highly individualistic player" and part of a generation of "heavy rock and metal virtuosi who came to the fore in the 1980s". He released his first solo album Flex-Able in 1984, while his most successful release, Passion and Warfare (1990), was described as "the richest and best hard rock guitar-virtuoso album of

2002-603: The Fan" is recalled in "Colour Your World" on Ziltoid the Omniscient . A riff in "Regulator" forms the basis of "Om" from the Infinity/Christeen + 4 Demos EP. "Bastard" is referenced in "Rain City" on Sky Blue . "The Death of Music" reuses the chorus of bonus track "Japan" from the first SYL album Heavy as a Really Heavy Thing (also released as a bonus on No Sleep 'till Bedtime ). Ocean Machine: Biomech

2079-526: The String Theories band, with pieces such as the visceral Grammy-nominated " Now We Run ", to the dynamic ballad "Angel Food". 2007 also marked the 20th anniversary of the production of the Ibanez JEM guitar, a milestone which was commemorated with the 20th anniversary JEM model. Made of an acrylic body with three-dimensional "swirl painted" interior, this guitar can be seen in the beginning of

2156-551: The [Steve] Vai album Sex & Religion will know that Townsend's voice is top-notch, with the ability to go from aggressive bark, to high-pitched wail, to soft emotional whisper in the space of one song." On 17 March 2017 a complete live playthrough was made at Hammersmith Apollo , followed on September 22, 2017, by a live performance in the Ancient Roman Theatre in Plovdiv , Bulgaria, recorded and featured on

2233-665: The album had reached number 18 in the Billboard 200, selling over a million and a half copies worldwide. Passion and Warfare won Vai a number of awards such as Guitar World and Guitar Player' s "Best Album" and "Best Rock Guitarist" awards. Passion and Warfare has been cited as one of the most pertinent instrumental albums released. 1990 also saw the release of the Ibanez Universe seven-string guitar co-designed by Vai in conjunction with Ibanez. Vai left Whitesnake in 1990 to pursue his own musical avenues and formed

2310-658: The album in 1991, but it remained unpublished after Sombrotto's death in a motorcycle accident on September 7, 1998. Vai and Sombrotto had bonded over a shared love of motorcycles. The album cover features a photo of Sombretto, showing the extensive burn scars he sustained in a 1977 motorcycle crash. The album released on January 27, 2023. Having previously covered her composition, "Mullach a tSí" for The Story of Light in 2012 and performing together in Vicar Street in Dublin, Vai collaborated with Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin for

2387-515: The album, Vai embarked upon a 54-date American tour of the same name. In 2021, Vai was also featured on a track called "Lost Children of the Universe" on the latest album by Star One , a project led by Arjen Anthony Lucassen . In 2022, Vai was featured on Polyphia 's track "Ego Death". On November 10, 2022, Vai announced his latest album, Vai/Gash , alongside its lead single "In The Wind". Vai and singer Johnny "Gash" Sombrotto had recorded

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2464-490: The aspect of teaching and sharing his experiences in life and in the music business, Vai began a series of "Alien Guitar Secrets" masterclasses in 2006- a touring masterclass in which Vai holds open forum discussion about his own experiences in the music industry, explains the key principles to understanding success, plays to backing tracks (often inviting class attendees to jam with him), answers questions, articulates key points of guitar technique, and more importantly goes beyond

2541-589: The awards. The Metal Hammer Podcast was launched in 2009, originally presented by Metal Hammer staff members James Gill and Terry Bezer and covering weekly news and events from the world of metal, as well as reviews of new albums from prominent artists. It'd go on to be presented by Merlin Alderslade, Stephen Hill and Amit Sharma, before being put on hold in 2013 as Metal Hammer launched The Metal Hammer Radio Show on TeamRock's newly founded digital radio station. The radio show continued until 2018, when it

2618-640: The band's third live album , released on July 6, 2018, via Inside Out Music. All tracks are written by Devin Townsend Steve Vai Steven Siro Vai ( / ˈ v aɪ / VYE ; born June 6, 1960) is an American guitarist, songwriter, and producer. A three-time Grammy Award winner and fifteen-time nominee, Vai started his music career in 1978 at the age of eighteen as a transcriptionist for Frank Zappa , and played in Zappa's band from 1980 to 1983. He embarked on

2695-505: The band. He was replaced by Cacophony guitarist Jason Becker . In 1985, after having joined Roth's band, Vai designed the JEM guitar, a unique instrument that incorporated a series of groundbreaking designs that have since become staples in feature throughout the guitar industry, such as the inclusion of 24 frets on a guitar with humbuckers, single-coil middle pickup and a locking tremolo system. Vai began working with Ibanez in 1986 to develop

2772-509: The box set, were released to the public both in 2001 and the years following. Also in 2001, Vai's record label Favored Nations released No Substitutions: Live in Osaka . The release, which Vai himself produced and engineered, won him his second Grammy award for Best Pop Instrumental Album in February 2002. While most widely recognized for his stature as a rock guitar player, Vai is also

2849-661: The end of the show. G3: Live in Concert , a video of the 1996 tour was filmed in Columbus, Ohio and released on June 3, 1997. In 1998, Vai independently released a performance footage DVD of Alien Love Secrets . Also in 1998, Vai started the Make a Noise Foundation with his then-manager Ruta Sepetys . The goal of the foundation was to provide funding for musical education to those otherwise unable to attain it. Today, Vai often auctions items in his possession with proceeds going to

2926-702: The exception of the slide guitar, which was performed by Ry Cooder . In between solo work, Vai replaced Yngwie Malmsteen in June 1984 as the lead guitarist of Alcatrazz , with whom he recorded the album Disturbing the Peace . Vai left shortly after the subsequent tour to join David Lee Roth 's band. In 1985, Vai joined David Lee Roth's post- Van Halen band as lead guitarist , together with former Talas bassist Billy Sheehan on bass; and former Maynard Ferguson drummer Gregg Bissonette on drums. The foursome's debut album Eat 'Em and Smile , released on July 7, 1986,

3003-414: The first half being primarily instrumental while the second half featured Vai on vocals. After the release of Fire Garden , Vai joined his former teacher Joe Satriani , along with guitarist Eric Johnson , for the second installment of the ongoing G3 concert tours. On each G3 tour, three guitar-centric headlining acts are chosen to perform their own sets, and then collectively jam to fan favorite songs at

3080-511: The foundation. At the close of the decade, Vai provided guitar for Joe Jackson's Symphony No. 1 , released in 1999 and winner of the 2001 Grammy for Best Pop Instrumental Album . In December 2001, Vai recorded two performances at The Astoria in London, with his band The Breed (composed of former David Lee Roth bandmate Billy Sheehan, guitarist/pianist Tony MacAlpine , guitarist Dave Weiner , and drummer Virgil Donati ). This live show

3157-463: The greatest rock albums of the 1980s. The group's Eat 'Em and Smile Tour began in August 1986 and continued through February 1987. Roth's subsequent album Skyscraper , released in 1988, was produced by both Roth and Vai. Like its predecessor, the album was a commercial success, reaching number six on the Billboard 200 chart. In 1989, following the successful Skyscraper Tour , Vai departed from

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3234-540: The guitar parts for Whitesnake 's Slip of the Tongue album, where he replaced the injured Adrian Vandenberg . Upon its release in November 1989, Slip of the Tongue sold over three million copies worldwide, reaching number 10 on the Billboard 200 while Vai joined the band on their thirteen-month world tour. In May 1990, Vai released Passion and Warfare through Relativity Records, and following its release,

3311-412: The guitar, and the first production Ibanez JEM 777 guitars were released in 1987. From 1985 to 1990, Vai recorded Passion and Warfare at his home studio, his second studio solo album. After leaving Roth's band in 1989, Vai bought out of his Capitol Records contract and signed on with Relativity Records for the release of Passion and Warfare , which was completed shortly after he began recording

3388-533: The idea of a rock magazine publishing in different languages to Jürgen Wigginghaus, publisher of the German magazine MusikSzene , where Rimensberger was chief editor. Wigginghaus helped launch the German edition of Metal Hammer soon after, while Rimensberger launched the flagship, English language version from London in November 1986, installing Harry Doherty, formerly of Melody Maker , as editor. The magazine would grow to be published in 11 different languages around

3465-533: The launch of GuitarTV, an online streaming website dedicated to bringing free guitar-related content to the community of guitar players around the world. Vai's eighth studio album, The Story of Light , was released in August 2012 as the second installment in the Real Illusions concept album trilogy. The Story of Light tour, which began on the month of the album's release, spanned 254 engagements in 52 countries, ending in September 2014. This tour yielded

3542-516: The magazine alongside sister titles Classic Rock and Prog , before Future bought all three brands back following the collapse of TeamRock in December 2016. In 2018, Future renamed the Teamrock.com website as Louder , a continuation of the 'parent brand' model for Metal Hammer , Classic Rock and Prog that would house all three magazines' respective websites. Metal Hammer Germany

3619-523: The master tape by the studio owner. Frustrated by that, Townsend eventually decided to sneak in the studio with Bergstrand at 3 A.M. to make a copy of the master tape, accidentally leaving out the song Ocean Machines there, thus the song exists only in demo quality. Ocean Machine: Biomech featured a mix of hard rock , ambient , and progressive metal . The album was the follow-up to the critically acclaimed City by Townsend's extreme metal band Strapping Young Lad . Townsend viewed Strapping Young Lad as

3696-430: The model included a new five-piece maple / bubinga Universe neck and original swirl-paint job by Darren Johansen (the painter of the original Universe 77 MC guitars). In February 2010, Vai announced the introduction of "VaiTunes", a platform used to release digital-only singles via iTunes and other digital media outlets. In April, Vai performed with Mary J. Blige , Orianthi , Randy Jackson , and Travis Barker for

3773-437: The new lineup. This new band, known as the String Theories band, featured previous The Breed members Jeremy Colson (drums) and Dave Weiner (guitar and sitar), along with new members Bryan Beller (bass), Alex DePue (violin), and Ann Marie Calhoun (violin). During a month of twelve- to fifteen-hour a day rehearsals, Vai and the band perfected the performance (which consisted of pieces from Vai's catalog, arranged by Vai to include

3850-696: The orchestra. This project yielded both the Visual Sound Theories DVD and the Sound Theories Vol. I & II album, which were recorded in 2005 during multiple "Aching Hunger" performances and released in June 2007. While "The Aching Hunger" and its following releases started Vai's public career as an orchestral composer, Vai had been composing since he began a music theory class (taught by Bill Westcott) in high school. While reflecting on his time with Westcott, Vai said "He taught me how to write, compose and appreciate music. There

3927-570: The release of Flex-Able , his composition " The Attitude Song " was published in Guitar Player magazine. The song centered itself on a main guitar riff in the time signature 7/16, played over a rhythm section centered in 4/4. Each following section of the song showcased a number of specialized techniques (such as two-handed tapping , whammy bar acrobatics , sweep picking , alternate picking , multi-part harmonies , and odd phrasing ) used in angular and exaggerated ways that were unique to

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4004-459: The second volume of the soundtrack, where he performed on the track "Reclaimer". Vai returned to re-record his Halo work for the Halo 2 Anniversary Original Soundtrack , which was released in 2014 and included as part of the anniversary edition of Halo 2 . In an interview shot during the development of Halo 2 Anniversary , Vai reveals that his part in the "MJOLNIR Mix" was a last-minute inclusion in

4081-535: The second, The Story of Light , having been released in 2012. In 2006, Vai joined the Zappa Plays Zappa tour as a special guest, alongside additional Zappa band alumni Terry Bozzio and Napoleon Murphy Brock . In 2008, for his performance of "Peaches en Regalia" from the Zappa Plays Zappa tour, Vai won his third Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance . Having always enjoyed

4158-502: The seven-track EP was recorded in four weeks and released through Relativity/ Epic Records on March 21, 1995. Vai cites this record as one of his favorites, saying "The recording and release of Alien Love Secrets marked another turning point in my personal evolution. I was more concerned with making the record that I wanted to make, and not worry about what some others thought I should be doing." On September 17, 1996, Vai released Fire Garden , 19-track double album, through Epic, with

4235-401: The snare drum on the album is actually taken straight from the beginning of " Sad but True " by Metallica . Due to Townsend's constant dispute with the studio owner, who kept kicking him out of the studio every afternoon to party with his friends, one of them being then rising movie star Antonio Banderas , Townsend then refused to pay the studio bill, which resulted in him being denied access to

4312-643: The song at the time. Interest from the public grew even greater when Vai's song "Blue Powder" (a demonstration for the Carvin X100b amplifier ) was published in Guitar Player as well, which showed the virtuoso side of Vai's compositional process. Also in 1986, Vai was cast in the film Crossroads as the Devil's guitar player "Jack Butler". In the famous "duel scene" between Vai and Ralph Macchio 's character, Vai wrote and performed all guitar parts with

4389-584: The song. In 2008, Vai's song " For the Love of God " and "Halo Theme (MJOLNIR Mix)" were featured as downloadable tracks for the game Guitar Hero 3 . A live version of "For the Love of God" was also available on the Rock Band Network service, as well as the song "Get the Hell Out of Here" from his 2002 compilation album The Elusive Light and Sound Vol. 1 on March 4, 2010. "The Attitude Song" and

4466-474: The technique and into the more profound esoteric principles at play (see Notable contributions for more on this). In support of Sound Theories Vol. I & II and Visual Sound Theories , Vai put together a new band for a five-month world tour of the United States, Europe, South America, and Australia. While evaluating unique options for the band (which included ideas for a horn section or percussion section), Vai began auditioning violin players to complement

4543-467: The theme. Each evening, Vai and the special guests jam with the campers. The themes have included 2014's Vai Academy- Song Evolution Camp, and 2015's Vai Academy: All About the Guitar. Vai has announced an upcoming 2016 release commemorating the 25th anniversary of Passion and Warfare . This release contains remastered songs from the album, as well as the inclusion of a new album of material written from

4620-617: The time between the recording of Passion and Warfare and his first solo album Flex-Able . After the release, Vai held a world tour in which he played the entire Passion and Warfare album, along with material from the new release. The tour would continue during the first half of 2017. In 2014, Steve Vai with Roman Miroshnichenko 's rock-band and the 80-piece Russian Philharmonic performed in Russia. Next year, double disc DVD “Stillness in Motion: Vai Live in L.A.Stillness In Motion"

4697-569: The title track of her 2023 album, Seven Daughters of the Sea . In early 2024, Vai, Satriani, and Eric Johnson embarked on a limited-run "Reunion" tour of the original G3 lineup. Subsequently, Vai and Satriani continued touring as a double-bill. After more than 50 years of professional and personal friendship, the pair wrote and recorded their first single "The Sea Of Emotion, Pt.1", released on March 29, 2024. In September 2024, Vai joined Adrian Belew , Tony Levin and Tool drummer Danny Carey on

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4774-431: The town who's like a shaman; he builds this giant edifice, like a reflecting pond, and when people come to it they see aspects of their personalities and identities and discover things about themselves. There's some comedy involved, too, but it's pretty esoteric. It's about a lot of lofty principles, so it's not a bad idea to dish this all out slowly." The installments to the series will be released over periods of time, with

4851-568: The track " Go! ," from the album Junk by French electronic band M83 . In April and May of the same year, Vai took part in the Generation Axe tour, alongside Tosin Abasi , Nuno Bettencourt , Yngwie Malmsteen , and Zakk Wylde . Starting in June, Vai embarked on the Passion and Warfare 25th Anniversary World Tour, where he played the album in its entirety for the first time. Vai is

4928-607: The two violins). The tour began in June 2007 and ended in December the same year. Midway through the String Theories tour in 2007, Vai recorded a performance at the State Theatre in Minneapolis , which yielded the acclaimed 2009 live concert DVD and Blu-ray release of Where the Wild Things Are . Certified gold in the United States and Canada, Where the Wild Things Are showcased the diverse musical range of

5005-562: The world, including local language editions in Israel, Japan, Serbia, Spain, The Netherlands, Italy, Poland, Hungary and France, also becoming the first Western youth publication in the Soviet Union. Metal Hammer UK changed owners several times between the early 90s and late 2010s. It was bought by Dennis Publishing in 1994, where it remained for six years before being sold to Future in 2000. In 2013, start-up publisher TeamRock bought

5082-406: The years that the creation of music is an infinite personal expression. I realized that I could do this, I could make music, and it could be whatever I want." It was a year later, at the age of six, that Vai experienced his first introduction to the guitar, remembering that, "I saw this nine-year-old boy playing the guitar in my grade school auditorium, and that was another epiphany that I had. It

5159-472: Was both a critical and commercial success, reaching number four on the Billboard 200 albums chart and selling over two million copies. Guitar World magazine editor Brad Tolinski commented on Vai's playing at the time, saying that "Steve Vai's guitar wizardry is so profound that in earlier times he would have been burned as a witch." Retrospectively, Eat 'Em and Smile is frequently evaluated as one of

5236-832: Was distributed in Canada by HevyDevy, in Europe and America by Inside Out Music , and in Japan by Sony . The album sold 12,000 copies in Japan in its first week of release. Although musically straying from Townsend's extreme metal work in Strapping Young Lad , Ocean Machine: Biomech was met with favorable reviews. Metal Hammer praised it as a "concept album akin to the sensuality and escapism of Pink Floyd , [as] Devin lyrically and musically explores real and not particularly uplifting topics such as death, isolation, and depression." Noise Level Critical wrote that "anyone who heard

5313-513: Was featured on Vice City' s soundtrack, as well as "God Blessed Video" by Alcatrazz, as part of the Lazlow -led, 1980s rock/ metal radio station "V-Rock." In 2004, Vai was featured on the soundtrack to the Xbox video game Halo 2 , performing a heavy rock guitar rendition of the " Halo theme ", known as "Halo Theme (MJOLNIR Mix)". He also performed on the track "Never Surrender". He later featured in

5390-428: Was my first recognition of the instrument. When I saw that guitar and I saw this kid playing it, I knew instinctually that I was going to play the guitar someday, and that it would be my instrument. Don't ask me how I knew, I just knew. It was the coolest thing I had ever seen." As a young child, Vai was influenced by the music his parents had listened to. One album in particular that he cites as his "musical awakening"

5467-437: Was no greater musical influence in my life." In 2005, Vai released Real Illusions: Reflections , the first installment in an ongoing three-part trilogy concept album. Each of the three installments to the series contain material (songs, lyrics, and both spoken and written narration) with particular relationships to the storyline, purposefully left out of order. Upon the release of the third installment, Vai intends to complete

5544-453: Was released in July 1997. When Townsend was unable to get the album picked up by a record label, he founded his own independent record label, HevyDevy Records, to release his solo material. On its original Japanese release, the album was entitled Biomech and "Ocean Machine" was listed as the artist name; the album was later reissued worldwide with a compound title under Townsend's name. The album

5621-694: Was released independently in DVD format as Steve Vai: Live at the Astoria, London in 2003, and was Vai's first of many successful live concert DVD projects. In 2004, Vai released twelve tracks from the DVD in an online only release. 2001 saw the limited release of The Secret Jewel Box , a conceptual ten-CD box set containing unique material from various eras of Vai's career. Four compilation albums ( The Elusive Light and Sound Vol. 1 ; Mystery Tracks – Archives Vol. 3 ; Various Artists – Archives Vol. 4 ; and Vai: Piano Reductions, Vol. 1 ) included as part of

5698-416: Was released with a bonus disc premiering “The Space Between the Notes", a revelatory video diary consisting of more than three and a half hours of footage, lensed around the world on-stage, off-stage and behind-the-scenes, rehearsal and the show moments of Steve's joint performance with Roman Miroshnichenko and orchestra during Vai’s "Story of Light" World Tour. In 2016, Vai played an uncredited guitar solo on

5775-539: Was sold separately to Axel Springer SE in 1999. The Golden Gods Awards were established in 2003 by then-editor Chris Ingham, designed to commemorate the biggest and most exciting names in heavy metal. The annual ceremony, featuring band performances in front of a live crowd, took place from 2003-2018. Over the course of 15 years, the likes of Ozzy Osbourne , Iron Maiden , Motörhead , Slipknot , Tony Iommi , Brian May , Dave Mustaine , Rob Zombie , Bill Bailey , Chris Jericho and more either performed or appeared at

5852-679: Was taken off air. In 2016, Metal Hammer launched a limited ...In Residence series in partnership with Spotify , presented by Alderslade, Luke Morton and then- Metal Hammer editor-in-chief, Alexander Milas. The show produced six episodes featuring exclusive interviews with major metal artists, including Iron Maiden and Bring Me The Horizon . After a five-year hiatus, The Metal Hammer Podcast returned in 2018, hosted by Alderslade, Morton and Eleanor Goodman, staying on air for four more years before going back on hiatus in 2022. There remain independently owned Greek and Italian Metal Hammer publications, while Portuguese and Japanese (licensed from

5929-928: Was the original motion picture soundtrack to the 1961 film West Side Story . At age eleven, Vai was introduced to the contemporary rock and progressive music of the era, and after hearing the guitar solo to Led Zeppelin 's " Heartbreaker " at age twelve, decided to begin playing the guitar. In 1973, Vai began to take guitar lessons from fellow New York native Joe Satriani , and played in local bands (The Ohio Express, Circus, and Rayge) throughout his high school years. He spoke of when his friend John Sergio gave him Joe Satriani's number to Steve for him and his friend Frankie Munn to get guitar lessons. In 1978, to further pursue his interest in music composition and theory, Vai attended Berklee College of Music in Boston , Massachusetts after graduating from Carle Place High School . While at Berklee, Vai began working for Frank Zappa as

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