An award is something given to a person or a group of people to recognize excellence in a certain field; a certificate of excellence. Awards are often signified by trophies, titles, certificates, commemorative plaques, medals, badges, pins, or ribbons. An award may carry a monetary prize given to the recipient, for example, the Nobel Prize for contributions to society or the Pulitzer Prize for literary achievements. An award may also simply be a public acknowledgment of excellence, without any tangible token or prize.

Overview

Awards can be given by any person or institution, although the prestige of an award usually depends on the status of the awarder. Usually, awards are given by an organization of some sort, or by the office of an official within an organization or government. For instance, a special presidential citation (as given by the President of the United States) is a public announcement giving an official place of honor (''e.g.'', President Ronald Reagan gave a special presidential citation in 1984 to the Disney Channel for its excellent children's television programming.)

People who have won certain prestigious awards, such as the Nobel Prize, a championship title in a sport, or an Academy Award (Oscar), can have the award become their identity, thereafter being known primarily for winning the award, rather than for any other achievement or occupation.

Mock awards, which typically recognize failures or atypical achievements, are also popular. They are usually given by people and organizations of lower or average prestige, such as comical organizations and individual writers. Popular mock awards include:

Golden Raspberry Awards (Razzies), a satirical counterpart to the Academy Award which recognizes the worst acting, screenwriting, songwriting, directing, and films that the film industry had to offer

Ig Nobel Prize, a satirical counterpart to the Nobel Prize, given for achievements that "first make people laugh, and then make them think."

Darwin Awards, "given to people who seem to improve the human gene pool by accidentally killing or sterilizing themselves during a foolish or careless mistake."

One common type of award in the United States is the ''Employee of the Month'' award, where typically the recipients' names are listed in a prominent place in the business for that month. A common mock award is the wooden spoon, given to an individual or team which has come last in a competition.

Some awards are given only after a fee is paid by the recipient, such as the German Design Award.

See also

Award ceremony

References

bn: পুরস্কার de:Auszeichnung (Ehrung) id:Penghargaan it:Onorificenza he:פרס (זכייה) ml:പുരസ്കാരം ja:賞 no:Utmerkelse pt:Prêmio ru:Награда simple:Award fi:Palkinto ta:விருது zh:獎勵

Coordinates	30°19′10″N81°39′36″N
name	Salman Khan
birth name	Abdul Rashid Salim Salman Khan
birth place	Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India
birth date	December 27, 1965
occupation	Film actor, television presenter and philanthropist
yearsactive	1988–present
residence	Bandra, Mumbai
othername	Sallu
parents	Salim KhanSalma Khan
relatives	Arbaaz Khan (brother)Sohail Khan (brother)Helen Richardson (step-mother) }}

Salman Khan (pronunciation : ; born Abdul Rashid Salim Salman Khan on 27 December 1965) is an Indian film actor. He has starred in more than 80 Hindi films.

Khan, who made his acting debut with a minor role in the drama ''Biwi Ho To Aisi'' (1988), had his first commercial success with the blockbuster ''Maine Pyar Kiya'' (1989), for which he won a Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut. He went on to star in some successful Hindi films of those times, such as ''Saajan'' (1991), ''Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!'' (1994), ''Karan Arjun'' (1995), ''Judwaa'' (1997), ''Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya'' (1998) and ''Biwi No.1'' (1999), having appeared in the highest earning films of seven separate years during his career.

In 1999, Khan won a Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor for his extended appearance in ''Kuch Kuch Hota Hai'' (1998), and since then has starred in several critical and commercial successes, including ''Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam'' (1999), ''Mujhse Shaadi Karogi'' (2004), ''No Entry'' (2005), ''Partner'' (2007), ''Wanted'' (2009), ''Dabangg'' (2010), ''Ready'' (2011) and ''Bodyguard'' (2011), which has become the second highest-grossing Bollywood film of all-time. Khan has thus established himself as one of the most successful actors of Hindi cinema.

Early life

Khan is the eldest son of screenwriter Salim Khan and his first wife Salma (''née'' Sushila Charak). His paternal grandfather was a Muslim from Afghanistan who came to India and settled in Madhya Pradesh, whereas his mother is a Marathi Hindu. Khan himself had once said that he is "half Muslim and half Hindu". His stepmother is Helen, a former actress, who has co-starred with him in a few films. He has two brothers, Arbaaz Khan and Sohail Khan, and two sisters, Alvira and Arpita. Alvira is married to actor/director Atul Agnihotri. Khan finished his schooling through St. Stanislaus High School in Bandra, Mumbai, as did his younger brothers Arbaaz and Sohail. Earlier, he studied at The Scindia School, Gwalior for a few years along with younger brother Arbaaz.

Career

1980s

Salman Khan made his acting debut with a supporting role in the 1988 film ''Biwi Ho To Aisi''. His first leading role in a Bollywood movie was in Sooraj R. Barjatya's romantic family drama ''Maine Pyar Kiya'' (1989), one of India's highest grossing films. It earned him a Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut, as well as his first nomination for a Best Actor at Filmfare.

1990s

1990 saw one film release starring Khan, ''Baaghi: A Rebel for Love''. The film was a box office success, followed by four hit films in 1991, ''Patthar Ke Phool'', ''Sanam Bewafa'', ''Kurbaan'' and ''Saajan''. Despite these early successes, nearly all of his 1992–1993 releases resulted in box office failures. In 1995 he starred in Rakesh Roshan's ''Karan Arjun'' alongside Shahrukh Khan.

In 1996, Khan performed in two movies, Sanjay Leela Bhansali's directional debut ''Khamoshi: The Musical'', a box office failure, but critically acclaimed; and Raj Kanwar's action hit ''Jeet''. He had two releases in 1997: ''Judwaa'' and ''Auzaar''. The former was a comedy directed by David Dhawan where he played a dual role of twins separated at birth.

Khan worked in five different films in 1998, his first release being the comedy ''Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya'' opposite Kajol, one of the biggest commercial successes of that year. This was followed by the moderately successful drama ''Jab Pyaar Kisise Hota Hai''. and ''Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam'', which earned another Best Actor nomination at the Filmfare.

2000s

In 2000, Khan acted in films including ''Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega'' and ''Chori Chori Chupke Chupke''. ''Chori Chori Chupke Chupke'' addressed the issue of surrogate childbirth; Khan played the role of a rich industrialist, who hires a surrogate mother after his wife becomes infertile. Critics noted his turn towards a more serious role, which reportedly had more substance in comparison to his previous roles. In 2002 he starred in the delayed release ''Hum Tumhare Hain Sanam''.

For ''Tere Naam'', (2003) Taran Adarsh said of him, "Salman Khan is exceptional in a role that fits him to the T. He breathes fire in sequences that demand uneasiness. But beneath the tough exterior lies a vulnerable person and this facet in particular comes to the fore in the latter reels. His emotional outbursts are splendid..." He subsequently continued his success at the box office, with comedies like ''Mujhse Shaadi Karogi'' (2004) and ''No Entry'' ''(2005)''. He next appeared in the Hollywood movie, ''Marigold: An Adventure in India'' which told the love story of an Indian man and an American woman. Khan starred in three films throughout 2008, all of which underperformed.

Khan hosted the second season of ''10 Ka Dum'' in year 2009 which turned out to be even more successful than his first season as host of the game show in year 2008. The show got very high TRPs for Sony Entertainment Television and according to reports, the show helped Sony TV regain its third position in the Indian television ratings.

Khan's first film of 2009, ''Wanted'' directed by choreographer turned director Prabhu Deva. In the same year, he appeared in two other films, ''Main Aurr Mrs Khanna'' and ''London Dreams''. While ''London Dreams'' doing average business, only due to the uninspiring music, but ''Main Aurr Mrs Khanna'' made 21 crores through DTH Premiere.

2010s

Khan's first release of 2010 was Anil Sharma's commercially and critically unsuccessful film ''Veer''. His next release, ''Dabangg'', was produced by his brother Arbaaz Khan, and released on 10 September 2010. It made a record opening at the box office and Box Office India declared it an all-time blockbuster. For his performance in ''Dabangg'', Khan received a Star Screen Award for Best Actor and a Stardust Award for Star of the Year – Male and was nominated for his sixth Filmfare Award for Best Actor. Anupama Chopra from NDTV wrote about his performance, "It's the role of a lifetime and Salman Khan bites into it like a starving man devours a feast. He inhabits it fully, strutting and swaggering and even, spoofing himself."

Khan's first release of 2011 was ''Ready'' which released on 3 June. The film broke several box office records and is currently the fourth highest-grossing Bollywood film of all time. He next appeared in ''Bodyguard''. Upon release, the film Became a Blockbuster at the box office, with Khan's performance receiving favourable comments from critics and is currently the second highest-grossing Bollywood film of all time.

Personal life

In 2004, he was voted seventh-best-looking man in the world and the best looking man in India by ''People'' magazine, US. Khan has been involved in several charities during his career.

On 11 October 2007, Khan accepted an offer from Madame Tussauds wax museum in London to have a wax replica made of himself. His life-size wax figure was installed there on 15 January 2008, making him the fourth Indian actor to have been replicated as a wax statue in the museum.

Khan has been the subject of several controversies, including certain legal troubles. On 28 September 2002, Khan was arrested for rash and negligent driving. His car had run into a bakery in Mumbai; one person who was sleeping on the pavement outside the bakery died and three others were injured in the mishap. Charges of culpable homicide were laid against him, but later dropped, and he was found not guilty. On 17 February 2006, Khan was sentenced to one year in prison for hunting the Chinkara, an endangered species. The sentence was stayed by a higher court during appeal. On 10 April 2006, he was handed a five year jail term and remanded to Jodhpur jail until 13 April when he was granted bail.

On September 2010, Khan was reported to have claimed during an interview to a Pakistani channel that the 26/11 attacks were hyped because the "elite" were targeted. During the interview the actor had said - "''It was the elite that was targeted this time. Five star hotels and all. So they panicked. Then they got up and spoke about it. My question is why not before. Attacks have happened in trains and small towns too, but no one talked about it so much."'' Khan also said that Pakistan was not to be blamed for it, and that the Indian security forces had failed. Khan's comments had drawn strong reactions from Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra Chagan Bhujbal, Shiv Sena, BJP and other political parties. The comments were also condemned by Ujwal Nikam, Special Prosecutor in the 26/11 trial. Khan later apologised for his comments.

His relationship with actress Aishwarya Rai was a well publicised topic in the Indian media. After their break-up in March 2002, Rai accused him of harassing her. She claimed that Khan had not been able to come to terms with their break-up and was hounding her; her parents lodged a complaint against him. In 2005, news outlets released what was said to be an illicit copy of a mobile phone call recorded in 2001 by the Mumbai police. It appeared to be a call in which he threatened Rai, in an effort to force her to appear at social events held by Mumbai crime figures. The call featured boasts of connections to organised crime and derogatory comments about other actors. However, the alleged tape was tested in the government's Forensic lab in Chandigarh, which concluded that it was fake.

After years of speculations, actress Katrina Kaif admitted in an 2011 interview for a magazine that she was in a serious relationship with Salman Khan for several years, which ended in 2010.

In August 2011 he admitted he suffers from trigeminal neuralgia, a facial nerve disorder commonly known as the suicide disease. In an interview he said that he has been quietly suffering it for the past seven years, but now the pain’s become unbearable. It has even affected his voice, making it much harsher.

Non film work

Khan has started an NGO called 'Being Human' which will sell T-shirts and other products online and in stores. A portion of the sales will go to a worthy cause supporting the underprivileged.

In January 2012, Khan has offered to pay for releasing around 400 prisoners from around 63 prisons in the state of Uttar Pradesh via his NGO. The prisoners had completed their term but due to economical reasons, they were unable to pay a legal fine for their charges.

Awards and nominations

Filmography

Actor

! Year	! Title	! Role	Other notes
1988	''Biwi Ho To Aisi''	Vicky Bhandari
1989	''Maine Pyar Kiya''	Prem Choudhary	Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut Nominated—Filmfare Award for Best Actor
1990	''Baaghi: A Rebel for Love''	Saajan Sood
1991	''Sanam Bewafa''	Salman Khan
1991	''Patthar Ke Phool''	Inspector Suraj
1991		Akash Singh
1991		Prithvi
1991	''Saajan''	Akash Varma
1992		Vicky/Suryavanshi Vikram Singh
1992	''Ek Ladka Ek Ladki''	Raja
1992	''Jaagruti''	Jugnu
1992	''Nishchaiy''	Rohan Yadav/Vasudev Gujral
1993	''Chandra Mukhi''	Raja Rai
1993	''Dil Tera Aashiq''	Vijay
1994	''Andaz Apna Apna''	Prem Bhopali
1994	''Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!''	Prem
1994	''Chaand Kaa Tukdaa''	Shyam Malhotra
1994	''Sangdil Sanam''	Kishan
1995	''Karan Arjun''	Karan Singh/Ajay	Nominated—Filmfare Award for Best Actor
1995	''Veergati''	Ajay
1996	''Majhdhaar''	Gopal
1996	''Khamoshi: The Musical''	Raj
1996		Raju	Nominated—Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor
1996	''Dushman Duniya Ka''		Special appearance
1997	''Judwaa''	Raja/Prem Malhotra
1997	''Auzaar''	Inspector Suraj Prakash
1997		Captain Jeet Sharma	Incomplete film
1997	''Deewana Mastana''	Prem Kumar	Special appearance
1998		Suraj Khanna	Nominated—Filmfare Award for Best Actor
1998	''Jab Pyaar Kisise Hota Hai''	Suraj Dhanrajgir
1998			Special appearance
1998		Raju
1998	''Kuch Kuch Hota Hai''	Aman Mehra	Extended guest appearanceFilmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor
1999	''Jaanam Samjha Karo''	Rahul
1999	''Biwi No.1''	Prem	Nominated—Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role
1999	''Sirf Tum''	Prem	Special appearance
1999	''Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam''	Sameer Rafillini	Nominated—Filmfare Award for Best Actor
1999		Hero
1999	''Hum Saath-Saath Hain: We Stand United''	Prem
2000	''Dulhan Hum Le Jayenge''	Raja Oberoi
2000	''Chal Mere Bhai''	Prem Oberoi
2000	''Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega''	Raj/Romi
2000	''Dhaai Akshar Prem Ke''		Special appearance
2000		Prem Kapoor
2001	''Chori Chori Chupke Chupke''	Raj Malhotra
2002	''Tumko Na Bhool Paayenge''	Veer Singh Thakur/Ali
2002	''Hum Tumhare Hain Sanam''	Suraj
2002	''Yeh Hai Jalwa''	Raj 'Raju' Saxena/Raj Mittal
2003	''Love at Times Square''		Special appearance
2003			Special appearance
2003	''Tere Naam''	Radhe Mohan	Nominated—Filmfare Award for Best Actor
2003		Alok Raj	Special appearanceNominated—Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor
2004	''Garv: Pride and Honour''	Inspector Arjun Ranavat
2004	''Mujhse Shaadi Karogi''	Sameer Malhotra
2004	''Phir Milenge''	Rohit Manchanda	Extended guest appearance
2004	''Dil Ne Jise Apna Kahaa''	Rishabh
2005	''Lucky: No Time for Love''	Aditya
2005	''Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya?''	Dr. Samir Malhotra
2005	''No Entry''	Prem	Nominated—Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role
2005	''Kyon Ki''	Anand
2006	''Saawan... The Love Season''	Sameer Sam	Extended guest appearance
2006	''Shaadi Karke Phas Gaya Yaar''	Ayaan
2006	''Jaan-E-Mann''	Suhaan Kapoor
2006		Avinash Kapoor
2007	''Salaam-e-Ishq: A Tribute To Love''	Rahul
2007		Prem Love Guru
2007	''Marigold: An Adventure in India''	Prem	English language film
2007	''Om Shanti Om''	Himself	Special appearance in song "Deewangi Deewangi"
2007	''Saawariya''	Imaan	Extended guest appearance
2008	''God Tussi Great Ho''	Arun Prajapati
2008		Chetan Bhagat	Special appearance
2008		Balkar Singh/Jassvinder Singh
2008	''Yuvvraaj''	Deven Yuvvraaj
2009		Radhe/Rajveer Shikhawat
2009	''Main Aurr Mrs Khanna''	Samir Khanna
2009	''London Dreams''	Mannu (Manjit Khosla)
2009	''Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani''	Himself	Special appearance
2010		Veer
2010	''Prem Kaa Game''	The Sutradhaar (Narrator)	Special appearance
2010	''Dabangg''	Inspector Chulbul Pandey(Robinhood Pandey)	Nominated—Filmfare Award for Best Actor
2010	''Tees Maar Khan''	Himself	Special appearance in song "Wallah Re Wallah"
2010	''Isi Life Mein''	Himself	Special appearance
2011		Prem Kapoor
2011		Lovely Singh	Nominated—Filmfare Award for Best Actor
2011	''Tell Me O Kkhuda''		Cameo
2011	''Do Aur Do Paanch''		Extended guest appearance
2012	''Ek Tha Tiger''		Filming
2012	''Dabangg 2''	Inspector Chulbul Pandey(Robinhood Pandey)	Filming

Television presenter

''10 Ka Dum'' (Seasons 1 & 2)

''Bigg Boss'' (Seasons 4 & 5)

Writer

''Baaghi: A Rebel for Love'' (1990)

''Veer'' (2010)

Producer

''Chillar Party'' (2011)

See also

List of Indian Actors

List of people from Madhya Pradesh

References

Further reading

External links

Category:1965 births Category:Filmfare Awards winners Category:Indian actors Category:Indian film actors Category:Indian television presenters Category:People from Indore Category:Hindi film actors Category:Living people Category:Scindia School alumni Category:Bigg Boss Category:Indian people of Afghan descent

ar:سلمان خان az:Salman Xan bn:সলমান খান bg:Салман Хан ca:Salman Khan da:Salman Khan de:Salman Khan es:Salman Khan (actor) fr:Salman Khan gu:સલમાન ખાન hi:सलमान ख़ान id:Salman Khan it:Salman Khan he:סלמן ח'אן jv:Salman Khan kn:ಸಲ್ಮಾನ್‌ ಖಾನ್‌ kk:Салман Хан hu:Szalmán Khán ml:സൽമാൻ ഖാൻ mr:सलमान खान ms:Salman Khan no:Salman Khan ps:سلمان خان pl:Salman Khan ru:Хан, Салман si:සල්මන් ඛාන් fi:Salman Khan sv:Salman Khan ta:சல்மான் கான் te:సల్మాన్ ఖాన్ th:ซัลมาน ข่าน tg:Салмонхон ur:سلمان خان zh:沙萊曼·罕

Coordinates	30°19′10″N81°39′36″N
name	Big Star
alt	Prominent in the foreground, two guitarists concentrate on their playing, while the drummer, a little behind them to their left, toils away.
background	group_or_band
origin	Memphis, Tennessee, United States
genre	Rock, power pop
years active	1971–1974, 1993–2010
associated acts	The Box Tops, The Posies
website	bigstarband.com
past members	Alex ChiltonJody StephensAndy HummelChris BellJohn LightmanJon AuerKen Stringfellow }}

Big Star was an American rock band formed in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1971 by Alex Chilton, Chris Bell, Jody Stephens and Andy Hummel. The group broke up in 1974, but reorganized with a new line-up nearly 20 years later. In its first era, the band's musical style drew on the work of British Invasion groups including The Beatles and The Kinks, as well as The Byrds, The Beach Boys, and other U.S. acts. To the resulting power pop, Big Star added dark, nihilistic themes, and produced a style that foreshadowed the alternative rock of the 1980s and 1990s. Before it broke up, Big Star created a "seminal body of work that never stopped inspiring succeeding generations" in the words of ''Rolling Stone'', earning recognition decades later, according to Allmusic, as the "quintessential American power pop band" and "one of the most mythic and influential cult acts in all of rock & roll".

Big Star's first album—1972's ''#1 Record''—met with enthusiastic reviews, but ineffective marketing by Stax Records and limited distribution stunted commercial success. Frustration took its toll on band relations and by the time a second album was completed in January 1974, both Bell and Hummel had left. Like ''#1 Record'', ''Radio City'' received excellent reviews, but record company problems again thwarted sales—Columbia Records, which had assumed control of the Stax catalog, effectively vetoed its distribution. After a third album was deemed too uncommercial for release and shelved before receiving a title, the band broke up late in 1974. Four years later, the first two Big Star LPs were released together as a double album. The band's third album was finally issued soon afterward; titled ''Third/Sister Lovers'', it found limited commercial success. Shortly thereafter, Chris Bell was killed in a car accident at the age of 27.

The Big Star discography drew renewed attention in the 1980s when R.E.M. and other popular bands acknowledged its influence. In 1992, further interest was stimulated by Rykodisc's reissues of the band's albums, complemented by a collection of Bell's solo work. In 1993, Chilton and Stephens reformed Big Star with recruits Jon Auer and Ken Stringfellow of The Posies, and gave a concert at the University of Missouri. The band remained active, performing tours in Europe and Japan, and released a new studio album, ''In Space'', in 2005. Chilton died on March 17, 2010, after being admitted to a New Orleans hospital with heart problems. Hummel, who was diagnosed with cancer in 2008, died on July 19, 2010. These deaths leave Stephens as the sole surviving founding member.

First era: 1971 to 1974

Formation of the band

Alex Chilton was the lead singer for the blue-eyed soul group The Box Tops from 1967 to 1970 when the band had a #1 hit with the song "The Letter". At the age of sixteen, Alex Chilton recorded a solo studio album. He was offered the role of lead vocalist for Blood, Sweat & Tears, but turned the offer down as "too commercial". Chilton had known Chris Bell for some time: both lived in Memphis, each had spent time recording music at Ardent Studios, and each, when aged 13, had been struck by the music of The Beatles during the band's 1964 debut U.S. tour. A song Chilton wrote nearly six years after he first witnessed a Beatles performance, "Thirteen", referred to the event with the line "Rock 'n' roll is here to stay". Chilton asked Bell to work with him as a duo modeled on Simon & Garfunkel; Bell declined, but invited Chilton to a performance by his own band, Icewater, comprising Bell, drummer Jody Stephens, and bassist Andy Hummel. Attracted by Icewater's music, Chilton showed the three his new song "Watch The Sunrise", and was asked to join the band. Both "Watch the Sunrise" and "Thirteen" were subsequently included on Big Star's first album, ''#1 Record''. The now four-piece band adopted the name Big Star when one member was given the idea from a grocery store often visited for snacks during recording sessions. One of many Big Star Markets outlets in the Memphis region at the time, it had a logo consisting of a five-pointed star enclosing the words "Big Star"; as well as the store's name, the band used its logo but without the word "Star" to avoid infringing copyright.

''#1 Record''

Although all four members contributed to songwriting and vocals on the first album, Chilton and Bell dominated as a duo intentionally modeled on John Lennon and Paul McCartney. The album was recorded by Ardent founder John Fry, with Terry Manning contributing occasional backing vocals and keyboards. The title ''#1 Record'' was decided towards the end of the recording sessions and evinced, albeit as a playful hope rather than a serious expectation, the chart position to be achieved by a big star. Although Fry—at the band's insistence—was credited as "executive producer", publicly he insisted that "the band themselves really produced these records". Fry recalled how Ardent, one of the first recording studios to use a sixteen-track tape machine, worked experimentally with the band members: "We started recording the songs with the intent that if it turned out OK we'd put it out [...] I wound up being the one that primarily worked on it: I recorded all the tracks and then they would often come late at night and do overdubs. One by one, they all learned enough engineering."

Describing the mix of musical styles present on ''#1 Record'', ''Rolling Stone'''s Bud Scoppa notes that the album includes "reflective and acoustic" numbers, saying that "even the prettiest tunes have tension and subtle energy to them, and the rockers reverberate with power". Scoppa finds that in each mode, "the guitar sound is sharp-edged and full".''#1 Record'' was released in June 1972, and quickly received strong reviews. ''Billboard'' went as far as to say, "Every cut could be a single". ''Rolling Stone'' judged the album "exceptionally good", while ''Cashbox'' stated, "This album is one of those red-letter days when everything falls together as a total sound", and called it "an important record that should go to the top with proper handling". Proper handling, however, was not forthcoming: Stax Records proved unable to either promote or distribute the record with any degree of success, and even when the band's own efforts to get airplay generated interest, fans were unable to buy it as Stax could not make it available in many stores. Stax, in an effort to improve its catalog's availability, signed a deal with Columbia Records, already successful distributors in the U.S., making Columbia responsible for the entire Stax catalog. But Columbia had no interest in dealing with the independent distributors previously used by Stax and removed even the existing copies of ''#1 Record'' from the stores.

''Radio City''

The frustration at ''#1 Record'''s obstructed sales contributed to tension within the band. There was physical fighting between members: Bell, after being punched in the face by Hummel, retaliated by smashing Hummel's new bass guitar to pieces against the wall. Hummel took revenge at a later date: finding Bell's acoustic guitar in the latter's unattended car, he repeatedly punched it with a screwdriver. In November 1972, Bell quit the band. When work continued on songs for a second album, Bell rejoined, but further conflict soon erupted. A master tape of the new songs inexplicably went missing, and Bell, whose heavy drug intake was affecting his judgment, attacked Fry's parked car. In late 1972, struggling with severe depression, Bell quit the band once more, and by the end of the year Big Star disbanded.

After a few months Chilton, Stephens and Hummel decided to reform Big Star, and the three resumed work on the second album. The title chosen, ''Radio City'', continued the play on the theme of a big star's popularity and success, expressing what biographer Robert Gordon calls the band's "romantic expectation". As Hummel put it, Stephens recalled: "''Radio City'', for me, was just an amazing record. Being a three-piece really opened things up for me in terms of playing drums. Drums take on a different role in a three-piece band, so it was a lot of fun. [...] ''Radio City'' was really more spontaneous, and the performances were pretty close to live performances."

Although uncredited, Bell contributed to the writing of some of the album's songs, including "O My Soul" and "Back of a Car". Shortly before the album's release, Hummel left the band: judging that it would not last, and in his final year at college, he elected to concentrate on his studies and live a more normal life.

''Rolling Stone'''s Ken Barnes, describing the musical style of ''Radio City'', opens by noting as a backdrop that the band's debut, ''#1 Record'', established it as "one of the leading new American bands working in the mid-Sixties pop and rock vein". ''Radio City'', Barnes finds, has "plenty of shimmering pop delights", although "the opening tune, 'O My Soul,' is a foreboding, sprawling funk affair"; Barnes concludes that "Sometimes they sound like the Byrds, sometimes like the early Who, but usually like their own indescribable selves". ''Radio City'' was released in January 1974 and, like ''#1 Record'', received excellent reviews. ''Record World'' reported, "The sound is stimulating, the musicianship superb, and the result is tight and rollickingly rhythmic." ''Billboard'' judged it "a highly commercial set". ''Rolling Stone'''s Bud Scoppa, then with ''Phonograph Record'', affirmed, "Alex Chilton has now emerged as a major talent, and he'll be heard from again". ''Cashbox'' called it "a collection of excellent material that hopefully will break this deserving band in a big way". But just as ''#1 Record'' had fallen victim to poor marketing, so too did ''Radio City''. Columbia, now in complete control of the Stax catalog, refused to process it following a disagreement. Without a distributor, sales of ''Radio City'', though far greater than those of ''#1 Record'', were minimal at only around 20,000 copies.

''Third/Sister Lovers''

In September 1974, eight months after the release of ''Radio City'', the two remaining members of Big Star returned to Ardent Studios to work on a third album. Chilton and Stephens were assisted by producer Jim Dickinson and an assortment of musicians including drummer Richard Rosebrough, and Lesa Aldridge, Chilton's girlfriend, who contributed on vocals. The sessions and mixing were completed in early 1975, and 250 copies of the album were pressed with plain labels for promotional use.

Parke Putterbaugh of ''Rolling Stone'' described ''Third/Sister Lovers'' as "extraordinary". It is, he wrote, "Chilton's untidy masterpiece. [...] beautiful and disturbing"; "vehemently original"; of "haunting brilliance":

To listen to it is to be "plunged into a maelstrom of conflicting emotions. Songs are drenched in strings and sweet sentiment one minute, starkly played and downcast the next. No pop song has ever bottomed out more than "Holocaust", an anguished plaint sung at a snail's pace over discordant slide-guitar fragments and moaning cello [...] On the up side, there's the delicious pop minuet "Stroke It Noel," the anticipatory magic of "Nightime" ("Caught a glance in your eyes and fell through the skies," Chilton rhapsodizes) [...] Big Star's baroque, guitar-driven pop reaches its apotheosis on songs like "Kizza Me," "Thank You Friends" and "O, Dana". [...] Without question, ''Third'' is one of the most idiosyncratic, deeply felt and fully realized albums in the pop idiom.

Fry and Dickinson flew to New York with promotional copies and met employees of a number of record labels, but could not generate interest in the album. When a similar promotion attempt failed in California, the album was shelved as it was considered not commercial enough for release. Fry recalled, "We'd go in and play it and these guys would look at us like we were crazy". In late 1974, before the album was even named, the band broke up, bringing Big Star's first era to its end. Dickinson later said that he was "nailed for indulging Alex on Big Star ''Third'', but I think it is important that the artist is enabled to perform with integrity. What I did for Alex was literally remove the yoke of oppressive production that he had been under since the first time he ever uttered a word into a microphone, for good or ill.

Since quitting the band in 1972, Bell had spent time in several different countries trying to develop his solo career. In 1978, after his return to Memphis, the first two Big Star albums were released together in the UK as a double album, drawing enthusiastic reviews and interest from fans. Soon afterwards Big Star's recognition grew further when, four years after its completion, the third album too was released in both the U.S. and the UK. By now, the hitherto untitled ''Third/Sister Lovers'' had become known by several unofficial names including ''Third'' (reflecting its position in the discography), ''Beale Street Green'' (acknowledging the legendary site nearby, once a focal point for Memphis blues musicians) and ''Sister Lovers'' (because during the album's recording sessions, Chilton and Stephens were dating sisters Lesa and Holliday Aldridge).

Not long after the release of ''Third/Sister Lovers'', Bell died in a car accident. He apparently lost control of his car while driving alone and was killed when he struck a lamp post after hitting the curb a hundred feet before. A blood test found that he was not drunk at the time, and no drugs were found on him other than a bottle of vitamins. Bell is believed to have either fallen asleep at the wheel or become distracted.

Second era: 1993 to 2011

Big Star returned in 1993 with a new line-up when guitarist Jon Auer and bassist Ken Stringfellow joined Chilton and Stephens. Auer and Stringfellow remain members of The Posies, founded by the pair in 1986. Stringfellow is also known for his work with R.E.M. and The Minus 5. First-era material dominates Big Star's performances, with the occasional addition of a song from the 2005 album ''In Space''; Stringfellow recalled that during the 1990s, "We were working out the set list and we went to this little cafe. Little did I know we'd be playing that set for the next ten years". The resurrected band made its debut at the 1993 University of Missouri spring music festival. A recording of the performance was issued on CD by Zoo Records as ''Columbia: Live at Missouri University''. The concert was followed by tours of Europe and Japan, as well as an appearance on ''The Tonight Show''.

''In Space'' was released on September 27, 2005 on the Rykodisc label. Recorded during 2004, the album consists of new material mostly co-written by Chilton, Stephens, Auer and Stringfellow. Reviewing ''In Space'', ''Rolling Stone'''s David Fricke first points out the context for its release: "a world expecting that American Beatles ideal all over again" from a band that "achieved its power-pop perfection when no one else was looking". In Fricke's estimation, the seemingly unrealistic expectation is in part met: "It's here—in the jangly longing and ice-wall harmonies of 'Lady Sweet'"; Fricke finds though that such songs are interleaved with "the eccentric R&B; and demo-quality glam rock that have made Chilton's solo records a mixed blessing", and that "'A Whole New Thing' starts out like old T.Rex, then goes nowhere special". Warming nevertheless to "the rough sunshine" of "Best Chance", Fricke says in conclusion: "''In Space'' is no ''#1 Record'', but at its brightest, it is Big Star in every way".

The band appeared at San Francisco's Fillmore Auditorium on October 20, 2007. San Francisco-based band Oranger, performed as opening act. Big Star performed at the 2008 Rhythm Festival, staged from 29–31 August in Bedfordshire, UK. On June 16, 2009, the ''#1 Record''/''Radio City'' double album was reissued in remastered form. The same month, it was announced that a film of Big Star's history, based on biographer Rob Jovanovic's book ''Big Star: The Story of Rock's Forgotten Band'', is in pre-production. On July 1, 2009, Big Star performed at a concert in Hyde Park, London, UK. On September 15, 2009, Rhino Records issued a four-CD box set containing 98 recordings made between 1968 and 1975. ''Keep An Eye On The Sky'' includes live and demo versions of Big Star songs, solo work, and material from Bell's earlier bands Rock City and Icewater.

Chilton died on March 17, 2010 after being admitted to hospital with heart problems. He had been scheduled to perform with Big Star in Memphis, Tennessee three days later. The remaining members, joined by special guests original bassist Andy Hummel, M. Ward, Evan Dando, R.E.M.'s Mike Mills, and Chris Stamey, staged the concert as a tribute to him. Hummel, who was diagnosed with cancer in 2008, died on July 19, 2010. Asked about the band's future plans, Stephens told Billboard, "It's music we all really love to play, and we love to play it together, so we're trying to figure out a way forward where we can keep doing it."

After the EP ''Live Tribute to Alex Chilton'' was released in June 2011, Stephens wrote on the Ardent blog that the tribute performance in May 2010 was the last performance for Big Star as a band.

Musical style and influences

Bell took up guitar when twelve or thirteen, but only on hearing the first Beatles records was he motivated to play the instrument regularly. He acted as lead and rhythm guitarist and vocalist for a sequence of bands, performing songs by The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Kinks, The Zombies and The Animals. Chilton's first awareness of music came at the age of six when his brother repeatedly played a record by The Coasters. His father's liking for jazz then exposed him over the next few years to the music of Glenn Miller, Ray Charles and Dave Brubeck. Chilton's enthusiasm for music took hold when at age thirteen he first heard Beatles records; he recalled having known of 1950s rock and roll but "by 1959 Elvis was syrup and Jerry Lee was pretty much gone, and the rockabilly thing was sort of over so I didn't get really caught up in the rock scene until the Beatles came along".

Chilton took up electric guitar at thirteen, playing along with Beatles songs, later saying, "I really loved the mid-sixties British pop music [...] all two and a half minutes or three minutes long, really appealing songs. So I've always aspired to that same format, that's what I like. Not to mention the rhythm and blues and the Stax stuff, too". Chilton abandoned his guitar-playing when with The Box Tops, then took up the instrument again; he met Roger McGuinn, guitarist for The Byrds, and developed particular interest in electric guitar and acoustic folk. Stephens enjoyed the music of Otis Redding, The Isley Brothers, The Who, The Kinks and, in particular, The Beatles. He first played drums at home with his brother, then with a handful of bands in the years before Big Star formed. Hummel likewise was a member of more than one band during his early musical years, again influenced by The Beatles and other British Invasion acts. The bassist also played acoustic guitar for personal enjoyment, following the styles of Simon & Garfunkel and Joni Mitchell and using finger-picking techniques to play folk and bluegrass. Most songs on the first three albums are credited to either Bell/Chilton or Chilton, but some credit Hummel, Stephens and others, as either writer or co-writer. At the only seven live performances in the original era, the last of which took place before the second album's release, all four members contributed vocally.

While primarily inspired by the music of The Beatles and other British Invasion bands, acknowledging too the jangle pop and power pop of the period, Big Star also incorporated dark, nihilistic themes to produce a striking blend of musical and lyrical styles. The body of work resulting from the first era was a precursor of the alternative rock of the 1980s and 1990s, at the same time yielding material today considered an outstanding example of power pop. The stylistic range is evident from modern day critiques. Bogdanov et al., commenting on ''#1 Record'' in their ''All Music Guide to Rock'', perceive in "The Ballad of El Goodo" a "luminous, melancholy ballad", whereas John Borack's ''Ultimate Power Pop Guide'' singles out ''Radio City'''s "September Gurls" as a "glorious, glittering jewel" of power pop. Borack notes too that ''Third/Sister Lovers'' is "slower, darker and a good deal weirder" than the first two albums, identifying "Holocaust" as "Alex Chilton at his haunting best", yet finds "Thank You Friends" exemplifying "left-field gems" also present in which "the hooks are every bit as undeniable" as before. Jovanovic writes that when recording what Peter Buckley in his ''Rough Guide to Rock'' terms the "snarling guitar rock" of the first album's "Don't Lie To Me", the band, deeming conventional instruments inadequate for the task, wheeled two Norton Commando motorcycles into the studio and gunned the engines to intensify the song's bridge. Bogdanov et al. reserve "snarl" for a ''Radio City'' song, "Mod Lang"; here Buckley writes that "the power of the performance and the erratic mix gave a sense of chaos which only added to the thrill".

Legacy and influence

Although Big Star's first era came to an end in 1974, the band acquired a cult following in the 1980s when new acts began to acknowledge the early material's significance. R.E.M.'s Peter Buck admitted, "We've sort of flirted with greatness, but we've yet to make a record as good as ''Revolver'' or ''Highway 61 Revisited'' or ''Exile on Main Street'' or Big Star's ''Third''. I don't know what it'll take to push us on to that level, but I think we've got it in us." Chilton, however, told an interviewer in 1992, "I'm constantly surprised that people fall for Big Star the way they do... People say Big Star made some of the best rock 'n roll albums ever. And I say they're wrong."

Today, critics cite Big Star's first three albums as a profound influence on subsequent musicians. ''Rolling Stone'' notes that Big Star "created a seminal body of work that never stopped inspiring succeeding generations of rockers, from the power-pop revivalists of the late 1970s to alternative rockers at the end of the century to the indie rock nation in the new millennium". Jason Ankeny, music critic for Allmusic, identifies Big Star as "one of the most mythic and influential cult acts in all of rock & roll", whose "impact on subsequent generations of indie bands on both sides of the Atlantic is surpassed only by that of the Velvet Underground". Ankeny describes Big Star's second album, ''Radio City'', as "their masterpiece—ragged and raw guitar-pop infused with remarkable intensity and spontaneity".

In 1992, Rykodisc generated further interest in the band when it reissued ''Third/Sister Lovers'' and released a posthumous compilation of Bell's solo material, ''I Am The Cosmos''. In his 2007 book ''Shake Some Action: The Ultimate Power Pop Guide'', John Borack ranks the ''#1 Record''/''Radio City'' double album at #2 in his chart "The 200 Greatest Power Pop Albums". ''Rolling Stone'' includes ''#1 Record'', ''Radio City'' and ''Third/Sister Lovers'' in ''The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time'' and "September Gurls" and "Thirteen" in ''The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time''. In addition to R.E.M., artists including Teenage Fanclub, The Replacements, Primal Scream, the Posies, and Bill Lloyd and the dB's cite Big Star as an inspiration, and the band's influence on Game Theory, Matthew Sweet and Velvet Crush is also acknowledged.

Big Star's "I'm In Love With A Girl" from ''Radio City'' features in the soundtrack of the 2009 film "Adventureland". The 2006 tribute album ''Big Star, Small World'' includes Big Star covers by The Posies, Teenage Fanclub, Gin Blossoms, Wilco, Afghan Whigs, Whiskeytown and others. The 1987 tribute song "Alex Chilton", co-written by three members of The Replacements, was released as a single from the album ''Pleased to Meet Me'' and contains the lyric "I never travel far without a little Big Star". In 1998, ''#1 Record'''s "In the Street" was used as the theme song for the sitcom ''That '70s Show'', and in 1999, a new version titled "That '70s Song (In the Street)" was recorded by Cheap Trick for the show. "That '70s Song" and Big Star's own "September Gurls" are included on the 1999 album ''That '70s Album (Rockin')'' released by the television program's producers. "September Gurls", Borack says, "was and is the sine qua non of power pop, a glorious, glittering jewel with every facet cut and shined to absolute perfection. [...] a peerless, aching distillation of love and longing. 'September Gurls' may not actually be the greatest song ever recorded, but for the duration of its 2:47 running time, you can be forgiven for believing it is."

Personnel

Alex Chilton – guitars, piano, vocals (1971–1975, 1993–2010)

Jody Stephens – drums, vocals (1971–1975, 1993–2010)

Chris Bell – guitars, vocals (1971–1972)

Andy Hummel – bass, vocals (1971–1973)

John Lightman – bass, backing vocals (1974)

Jon Auer – guitar, vocals (1993–2010)

Ken Stringfellow – bass, vocals (1993–2010)

Discography

;Studio albums

''#1 Record'' (Ardent/Stax, 1972)

''Radio City'' (Ardent/Stax, 1974)

''Third/Sister Lovers'' (PVC, 1978)

''In Space'' (Rykodisc, 2005)

''Third [Test Pressing Edition]'' (Omnivore Recordings, 2011)

;Live albums

''Live'' (Rykodisc, 1992)

''Columbia: Live at Missouri University 4/25/93'' (Zoo, 1993)

''Nobody Can Dance'' (Norton, 1999) – rehearsals and live recordings

;Compilations

''Biggest'' (Line Records, 1994) – greatest hits

''The Best Of'' (Ace Records, 1999) – greatest hits

''Big Star Story'' (Rykodisc, 2003) – greatest hits with one new track

''Keep an Eye on the Sky'' (Rhino, 2009) – box set with a live disc

Notes

References

Ankeny, Jason. [ Big Star Biography]. Allmusic.com. Accessed June 29, 2009.

Bogdanov, Vladimir, Woodstra, Chris, Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. ''All Music Guide to Rock: The Definitive Guide to Rock, Pop, and Soul''. Backbeat Books, 2002. ISBN 978-0-87930-653-3.

Borack, John M. ''Shake Some Action: The Ultimate Power Pop Guide''. Shake Some Action — PowerPop, 2007. ISBN 978-0-9797714-0-8.

Buckley, Peter. ''The Rough Guide to Rock''. Rough Guides, 2003. ISBN 978-1-84353-105-0.

Eaton, Bruce. ''Big Star's "Radio City" (33 1/3)''. Continuum International Publishing Group Ltd, 2009. ISBN 978-0-8264-2898-1.

Gordon, Robert. ''It Came From Memphis''. New York: Pocket Books, 1995. ISBN 0-7434-1045-9.

Jovanovic, Rob. ''Big Star: The Story of Rock's Forgotten Band''. London: Fourth Estate, 2004. ISBN 0-00-714908-5.

External links

Official site

Category:American power pop groups Category:Musical groups established in 1971 Category:Musical groups from Memphis, Tennessee Category:Musical quartets Category:Musical trios Category:Norton Records artists Category:Pre-punk groups Category:Rock music groups from Tennessee Category:Rykodisc artists Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1974 Category:Musical groups reestablished in 1993 Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2011

de:Big Star es:Big Star fr:Big Star gl:Big Star it:Big Star he:ביג סטאר pt:Big Star ru:Big Star sv:Big Star uk:Big Star

Coordinates	30°19′10″N81°39′36″N
name	Steve Vai
background	solo_singer
birth name	Steven Siro Vai
born	June 06, 1960Carle Place, New York, U.S.
instrument	Guitar, keyboards, vocals
genre	Instrumental rock, hard rock, heavy metal, progressive rock, progressive metal, experimental rock
years active	1980–present
label	Favored NationsRelativity RecordsUrantia Records Akashic RecordsEpic Records
associated acts	Joe Satriani, Frank Zappa, John Petrucci, Alcatrazz, Orianthi, David Lee Roth, Whitesnake, Dream Theater, Eddie Van Halen, Ozzy Osbourne, Zappa plays Zappa, Billy Sheehan, G3, Bad4Good, Incubus, Devin Townsend
website	Official website
notable instruments	Ibanez JEMIbanez UniverseTom Anderson Drop Top Classic }}

Steven Siro "Steve" Vai (born June 6, 1960) is a three time Grammy Award-winning American virtuoso rock guitarist, composer and producer who has sold over 15 million albums. After starting his professional career as a music transcriptionist for Frank Zappa, Vai recorded and toured in Zappa's band for two years, from 1980 to 1982. The guitarist began a solo career in 1983 and has released 8 of his own solo albums since. Apart from his work with Frank Zappa, Vai has also recorded and toured with Public Image Ltd., Alcatrazz, David Lee Roth, and Whitesnake. Vai has been a regular touring member of the G3 Concert Tour which began in 1996. In 1999 Vai started his own record label, Favored Nations, intending to showcase, as Vai describes, ''"...artists that have attained the highest performance level on their chosen instruments."''

Career

1970s and 1980s

Vai began playing guitar in 1973, at the age of 13. In 1974, he took guitar lessons from guitarist Joe Satriani, and played in numerous local bands, one of which was called "The Steve Vais." He acknowledged the influence of many guitarists including Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, Brian May, Jimmy Page, Glen Buxton, and jazz fusion guitarist Allan Holdsworth. Vai followed those lessons by attending the Berklee College of Music, afterwards recording a promotional piece for them in which he spoke about auditioning for Frank Zappa at age twenty. Vai mailed Frank Zappa a transcription of Zappa's "The Black Page", an instrumental for drums, along with a tape with some of Vai's guitar playing. Zappa was so impressed that, in 1979, he hired him to transcribe a number of his guitar solos, including some on the ''Joe's Garage'' album and the ''Shut Up 'n' Play Yer Guitar'' series. These transcriptions were published in 1982 in ''The Frank Zappa Guitar Book''.

Subsequent to being hired as a transcriber, Vai did overdubs on many of the guitar parts for Zappa's album ''You Are What You Is''. Thereafter he became a full-fledged band member, going on his first tour with Zappa in the autumn of 1980. One of those early shows with Vai on guitar, recorded in Buffalo, was released in 2007. While touring with Zappa's band, Vai sometimes asked audience members to bring musical scores and see if he could sight-read them on the spot. Zappa referred to Vai as his "little Italian virtuoso" and listed him in the liner notes as performing "stunt guitar" or "impossible guitar parts." Later, Vai was a featured artist on the 1993 recording ''Zappa's Universe''. In 2006 he returned to Frank Zappa's music as a special guest on Dweezil Zappa's 'Zappa Plays Zappa' tour, alongside friends from his early years with Zappa.

After leaving Zappa in 1982 he moved to California, where he recorded his first album, ''Flex-Able'', in 1983 and performed in a couple of bands. In 1985 he replaced Yngwie Malmsteen as lead guitarist in Graham Bonnet's Alcatrazz, with whom he recorded the album ''Disturbing the Peace''. Later in 1985, he joined former Van Halen front man David Lee Roth's group to record the albums ''Eat 'Em and Smile'' and ''Skyscraper''.

In 1986, Vai played with John Lydon's Public Image Ltd on their album ''Album'' (also known as ''Compact Disc'' or ''Cassette''). Then, in 1989, Vai joined Whitesnake, replacing Vivian Campbell. When Adrian Vandenberg injured his wrist shortly before recording was to begin for the album ''Slip of the Tongue'', Vai played all the guitar parts. Vai also played on the Alice Cooper album ''Hey Stoopid'', along with Joe Satriani on the song "Feed my Frankenstein."

1990s and 2000s

Vai continues to tour regularly, with his own group and with his one-time teacher and fellow guitar instrumentalist friend Joe Satriani on the G3 series of tours. Former David Lee Roth and Mr. Big bassist Billy Sheehan also joined him for a world tour. In 1990, Vai released his critically acclaimed solo album ''Passion and Warfare''

The song "For the Love of God" was voted #29 in a readers' poll of the 100 greatest guitar solos of all time in ''Guitar World'' Magazine.

In 1994 Vai began writing and recording with Ozzy Osbourne. Only one track from these sessions, "My Little Man", was released on the ''Ozzmosis'' album. Despite Vai penning the track he does not appear on the album. His guitar parts were replaced by Zakk Wylde. Another track, "Dyin' Day", appeared as an instrumental on Vai's ''Fire Garden'' album. Vai's band members in the 90's included drummer Mike Mangini, guitarist Mike Keneally, and bassist Philip Bynoe. In 1994 Vai received a Grammy Award for his performance on the Frank Zappa song ''Sofa'' from the album ''Zappa's Universe''.

Steve Vai released a DVD of his performance at The Astoria in London in December, 2001. The performance featured Billy Sheehan, guitarist/pianist Tony MacAlpine, guitarist Dave Weiner, and Australian drummer Virgil Donati.

In July 2002, Steve Vai performed with the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra at the Suntory Hall in Tokyo, Japan, in the world premiere of composer Ichiro Nodaira's ''Fire Strings'', a concerto for electric guitar and 100-piece orchestra.

In 2004, a number of his compositions and orchestral arrangements including some previously recorded pieces, were performed in The Netherlands by the Metropole Orchestra in a concert series entitled ''The Aching Hunger''. In 2003, drummer Jeremy Colson joined Vai's group, replacing Virgil Donati. Vai's latest album, ''Sound Theories'', was released in 2007.

In February 2005, Vai premiered a dual-guitar (electric and classical) piece that he called ''The Blossom Suite'', with classical guitarist Sharon Isbin at the Châtelet Theatre in Paris. In 2006, Vai played as a special guest guitarist alongside additional guest Zappa band members, drummer Terry Bozzio, guitarist-singer Ray White, and saxophonist-singer Napoleon Murphy Brock in the "Zappa Plays Zappa" tour led by Frank's son Dweezil Zappa in Europe and the U.S. in the Spring, as well as a short U.S. tour in October.

On September 21, 2006, Vai made a special appearance at the ''Video Games Live'' concert at the Hollywood Bowl in Hollywood, California. He played two songs with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra; ''Halo Theme'', and a second song for the world premier trailer for Halo 3.

Steve Vai made an appearance at the London Guitar Show in 2007 on the April 28, 2007 at the ExCeL Center. In late April 2007, Vai confirmed the release of his most recent record, ''Sound Theories'', on June 26. The release is a two-CD set, mostly of previously released material that Vai rearranged and played with a full orchestra. Vai says the project was a great joy because he considers himself a composer more than a guitarist, and he is happy to see music he has composed played by an orchestra that can play it well. A DVD followed the record later that year. He guested on the Dream Theater album, ''Systematic Chaos'', on the song "Repentance". The appearance was vocal rather than instrumental, as Vai was only one of many musical guests recorded. The song features contributions from many artists, with the aim of apologizing to important people in their lives for wrongdoings committed in their pasts. On August 29, 2009, he appeared on stage with Dream Theater during the final show of their Progressive Nation tour at the Greek Theater, where he performed in an improvised jam with the other musicians on tour. ''Broken Records'' magazine (Volume 1, Issue 3) quotes Vai as saying, "I enjoy challenging myself to come up with new ideas that I believe are unique."

In 2010, Vai released several "VaiTunes" singles of tracks that were previously recorded and later finished. They are available on www.vai.com, iTunes and Amazon.com. On September 14, 2010, Steve released "Where The Wild Things Are" as double vinyl through his label Favored Nations and made a guest appearance with Rickey Minor and The Tonight Show Band on NBC. In October, 2010 Steve completed his first full symphony and performed the compositions at the Steve Vai Festival which featured Vai and the North Netherlands Symphony Orchestra (NNO) on October 20–24, 2010. Immediately after the Holland shows, Steve embarked for the US to headline the "Experience Hendrix Tour" which features Eric Johnson, Kenny Wayne Shephard, Susan Tedeschi, Billy Cox, Vernon Reid, Robert Randolph, Johnny Lang, Brad Whitford and other top-notch guitarists.

On March 3, 2011 the online education division of Boston’s renowned Berklee College of Music and Steve Vai, set the Guinness® World Record for the world’s largest online guitar lesson. This first-of-its-kind initiative, held at streaming media platform Livestream Studios in New York City, brought together thousands of members of the international guitar community in a celebration of online music education.

Berkleemusic and Steve Vai have also co-authored a new twelve-week online course: Steve Vai Guitar Techniques. This online course, presents students with the chance to gain a deep understanding of Vai’s death-defying playing styles, repertoire, techniques, and musical concepts from anywhere in the world, and to incorporate their learnings into their own playing.

Video games

"Juice" was featured on the 1996 video game "Formula One" for the PlayStation.

In 1998, "Erotic Nightmares" was featured as the menu music in the video game WCW/nWo Revenge for the Nintendo 64.

Steve Vai's guitar-work appeared in the video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. David Lee Roth's "Yankee Rose" was featured on the game'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, Steve Vai was featured on Xbox's ''Halo 2'' (a game by Bungie Studios) Volume 1 soundtrack, 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 the second volume of the soundtrack, where he performed on the track ''Reclaimer''.

In 2008, Steve Vai's ''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 the song "For the Love of God" was also available at release on the Rock Band Network as well as the song "Get the Hell Out of Here" from his 2002 album "The Elusive Light and Sound, Vol. 1" on March 4, 2010.

A re-recording of "Speeding" is featured in the 2010 video game Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock for Xbox 360, Wii and Playstation 3.

Movies

Steve Vai's music has appeared in a number of feature films, including ''Dudes'' and ''Ghosts of Mars''. He appeared onscreen in the 1986 Walter Hill film ''Crossroads'', playing the demonically-inspired Jack Butler. At the film's climax, Vai engages in a guitar duel with Ralph Macchio, whose guitar parts were dubbed by Vai and also Ry Cooder, who played the initial slide work in the duel and Macchio's earlier performances in the film. Vai also composed the fast-paced neo-classical track ''Eugene's Trick Bag'' that wins Macchio the competition. He based the body of the piece heavily on Paganini's Capriccio number 5. He later borrowed the opening riff from the track ''Head Cuttin' Duel'' for a song called ''Bad Horsie'' from his 1995 EP ''Alien Love Secrets''. Later, the ''Crossroads'' duel reappeared on the 2002 album ''The Elusive Light and Sound, volume 1''.

In 1991's ''Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey'', the introductory riff to KISS' "God Gave Rock 'n' Roll to You II", as performed by the Wyld Stallyns in the Battle of the Bands, was performed by Vai. He also composed and performed the soundtrack to ''PCU'' (1994), and made contributions in 2001 to the score for John Carpenter's ''Ghosts of Mars'', performing on the tracks "Ghosts of Mars" and "Ghost Poppin'". His track, "I'm the Hell Outta Here", can be heard during 1992's ''Encino Man'' in the scene where Brendan Fraser is taking a driving lesson. He plays guitar in the animated short film "Live Music".

Playing style

Vai is a virtuoso in the world of guitar music. His 1990 album ''Passion and Warfare'' and the ballad ''For the Love of God'' in particular received a significant amount of press and are often cited by critics and fans alike as among his best work, often noted since the entire piece, at just over six minutes, was reportedly recorded in one take.

Vai's playing style has been characterized as quirky and angular, due in large measure to his technical ability with the guitar instrument and deep knowledge of music theory. He regularly uses odd rhythmic groupings and his melodies often employ the Lydian mode. Perhaps his most readily-identifiable stylistic feature is his creative use of the floating vibrato, using it to add melodic lines that sound odd to the ear. His playing can also be described as lyrical, as if sung by a human voice. During the recording of "Eat 'em and Smile," with David Lee Roth, he employed several guitar techniques that "mimicked" the human voice, as heard in the opening bars of the opening track "Yankee Rose." He often uses exotic guitars: he plays both double and triple neck guitars (including a custom-made heart-shaped triple-neck model built by luthier Joe Despagni). Vai is regarded as the first to use the 7-string guitar in a rock context. Along with Ibanez, he designed a signature 7-string guitar, the Ibanez Universe, in 1989. He is also noted for being physically expressive as he plays his guitar.

On Composing/The "Evo Era"

“I wanted to be a composer ever since I was a young boy. To me written music on paper was (and is) beautiful. It looked like art and I wanted to have a complete understanding of how to speak, read and write that language. I knew that through the little black dots I could get the music that was in my head out into the world. Though the guitar fell into my lap and my fingers were glued to the instrument, I studied composition and musical notation long before I even started playing the guitar. Through high school, college and beyond, I kept up my studies and kept composing through the years as I felt my eventual calling was in the compositional world. Although I have listened to and studied most of the great older and contemporary composers, when I compose my music I take a similar approach as to when I am developing my voice on the guitar and that's to find and cultivate ideas that I have not heard before. That's the exciting part!

Once you understand the written language of music and the possibilities and limitations of various instruments, composing music is pure liberation. It's an art form that allows for deep personal expression. For me composing is the ultimate playground for my imagination. And to have the opportunity to hear your music performed is the greatest gift a composer could hope for, provided it's performed correctly.

I feel that my task is to merge my authentic rock sensibilities with my orchestrational skills to create a brand of contemporary music that is unique and fulfilling on an emotional and melodic level for the listener. Although rock musicians have worked with orchestras and contemporary composers have written for rock band instruments, I believe the catalog of music that I am building in this field is not what would be expected from either. I'm very excited about this brand and hope to inspire other composers to walk their own parallel lines within this movement. I call this movement "Evo", short for evolution. As it has been in the past through all of history, the 21st century will see a whole new wave of orchestral musical awareness develop. We are now entering the "Evo Era." -Steve Vai

Equipment

Vai is also a producer. He owns two studios ("The Mothership" and "The Harmony Hut" ), and his own recordings combine his guitar skills and novel compositions with studio and recording effects.

Vai helped design his signature Ibanez JEM guitar series. They feature a hand grip (fondly referred to as a "monkey grip") cut into the top of the body of the guitar, a humbucker–single coil-humbucker (H/S/H) DiMarzio pickup configuration with several different types of pickup including Evolution, Breed and EVO 2. He also uses the Ibanez Edge and Lo-Pro Edge double-locking tremolo systems (the current production JEMs have the newer Edge Pro), as well as an elaborate and extensive "Tree of Life" inlay down the neck. Vai also equips many of his guitars with an Ibanez Backstop, a tremolo stabilizer that has been discontinued. Lately Vai has also equipped some of his guitars with True Temperament fretboards to make his chords sound more in tune. Vai also has a 7-string model designed by him named Ibanez Universe, featuring DiMarzio Blaze II pickups in an HSH arrangement. The Universe later influenced the 7-string guitars used by Korn and other bands to create nu metal sounds in the late 1990s. He also has a signature Ibanez acoustic, the Euphoria. Before Ibanez, he briefly endorsed Jackson guitars, but this relationship only lasted two years. His two main guitars are white JEMs dubbed "Evo" and "Flo", each with their own unique modifications.

Steve Vai has also worked with Carvin Guitars and Pro Audio to develop the Carvin Legacy line of guitar amplifiers. Vai wanted to create an affordable amp that was unique, and equal in sound and versatility to any guitar amp he had previously used. Over his long musical career, Steve Vai has used and designed an array of guitars. He even had his blood put into the swirl paint job on one of his signature JEM guitars, the JEM2KDNA. Only 300 of these were made. Currently, he mainly uses his white "Evo", a JEM7V, and his "Flo", which is a customized Floral JEM 77FP painted white. They are both inscribed with their names in two places, mainly so he can distinguish between them onstage. "Flo" is equipped with a Fernandes sustainer system.

He also has a guitar named "Mojo" with dot inlays that are blue LED lights. Additionally, he has a custom-made triple-neck guitar that has the same basic features as his JEM7V guitars. The top neck is a 12-string guitar, the middle is a six-string, and the bottom is a six-string fretless guitar with a Fernandes Sustainer pickup. This guitar was featured on the G3 2003 tour on the piece ''I Know You're Here''. Vai's effects pedals include a modified Boss DS-1, Ibanez Tube Screamer, Morley Bad Horsie, Ibanez Jemini Twin Distortion Pedal, TC Electronics G-System, Morley Little Alligator Volume pedal, DigiTech Whammy, and an MXR Phase 90/Phase 100 on the Passion and Warfare album. His flight cases are labeled "Mr. Vai", or lately, "Dr. Vai." He has used a number of rack effects units controlled via MIDI, but used a floor-based TC electronics G system instead for the Zappa Plays Zappa tour.

Philanthropy

In 2005, Vai signed on as an official supporter of Little Kids Rock, a nonprofit organization that provides free musical instruments and instruction to children in public schools throughout the U.S. He sits on LKR's Honorary Board of Directors.

Vai was a judge for the 3rd and 8th annual Independent Music Awards to support independent artists.

Vai is also the founder of the Make A Noise Foundation, which he started with his manager Ruta Sepetys. The foundation's goal is to provide funding for music education and programs for those unable to pursue music-related activities due to limited resources. Vai is also a patron of music education around the world giving master classes in such prestigious music schools as the Fermatta Music Academy.

Favored Nations

Vai owns Favored Nations, a recording and publishing company that specializes in internationally procuring and maintaining recording artists. Favored Nations is separated into three sections, 'Favored Nations', 'Favored Nations Acoustic' and 'Favored Nations Cool (Jazz style)'.

Personal life

Resides in Encino, CA with his family. Vai is married to Pia Maiocco, former bass player of Vixen, who can be seen in ''Hardbodies''. Vai and Maiocco have two children, Julian and Fire. In his spare time Vai is an avid beekeeper. and an honorary member of the British Beekeepers' Association. His bees regularly produce a crop of honey that Vai sells for his Make a Noise Foundation.

Vai is also a longtime vegetarian. "It has affected my music in a way I believe that what we put in our bodies has a reflection on the way we think," Vai told Veggies Rock. "And the way we think has a reflection on what we create. So I can’t tell you consciously how being a vegetarian affected my music but I’m sure it has." Many fans have been surprised to learn about his vegetarianism because he does not openly preach about it. "I think everyone has to find what’s right for them. I don’t judge anybody for what they eat. That’s their world and everybody has to find what resonates with them."

Band history (not including guest appearances)

More Info on www.vai.com

Young Bands

Hot Chocolate (1967)

The Ohio Express (1971–1972)

Circus (circa 1973 to 1976)

Ravge (circa 1973 to 1976)

Bold As Love (1977)

Berklee Bands

Axis (1978–1979)

Morning Thunder (1979)

Professional Bands

Frank Zappa (1980–1982)

The Out Band (Circa 1983)

The Classified (1984)

777 (1984)

Alcatrazz (1985)

David Lee Roth (1985–1989)

Whitesnake (1989–1991)

Solo Band (Since 1992)

1992-94 (VAI)

"Sex & Religion" Album:

Vocals: Devin Townsend

Guitar: Steve Vai

Bass: TM Stevens

Drums: Terry Bozzio

"Sex & Religion" Tour:

Vocals: Devin Townsend

Guitar: Steve Vai

Bass: Scott Thunes

Keys: Will Riley

Drums: Abe Laboriel, Jr., then Toss Panos

1995

Guitar: Steve Vai

Bass: Tony Pimental, then Scott Thunes

Keys: Will Riley

Drums: Chris Frazier

''This band toured Russia twice, South America and the US (opening for Bon Jovi).''

1996-99

Guitar, Vocals: Steve Vai

Guitar, Vocals and Keys: Mike Keneally

Bass, Vocals: Philip Bynoe

Drums: Mike Mangini

2000

Guitar, Vocals: Steve Vai

Guitar, Vocals and Keys: Mike Keneally

Guitar: Dave Weiner

Bass, Vocals: Philip Bynoe

Drums: Mike Mangini

Keyboards (South American Tour): Eric Goldberg

Drums (South American Tour): Chris Frazier

2001-02

Guitar, Vocals: Steve Vai

Bass, Vocals: Billy Sheehan

Guitar, Vocals and Keys: Mike Keneally, then Tony MacAlpine

Guitar: Dave Weiner

Drums: Virgil Donati

2003-04

Guitar, Vocals: Steve Vai

Bass, Vocals: Billy Sheehan

Guitar, Vocals and Keys: Tony MacAlpine

Guitar: Dave Weiner

Drums: Jeremy Colson

Discography (Solo)

Studio Albums & EPs

!Year	!Type	!Album	!Info
1984	LP	''Flex-Able''
1984	EP	''Flex-Able Leftovers''	Leftovers from the Flex-Able session
1990	CD	''Passion and Warfare''	Gold (USA), #18 on the Billboard 200 on June 30, 1990
1993	CD
1995	EP	''Alien Love Secrets''
1996	CD	''Fire Garden''
1998	CD		re-release of the limited edition 10” vinyl "Flex-Able Leftovers" With bonus tracks
1999	CD	''The Ultra Zone''
2005	CD	''Real Illusions: Reflections''

Live & Orchestral Albums (Inc. G3 (tour))

!Year	!Album	!Info
1997	''G3: Live in Concert''	Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Eric Johnson
2001	''Alive in an Ultra World''
2004	''G3: Rockin' in the Free World''	Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Yngwie Malmsteen
2004		The audio contained on this disc is the same audio contained on the DVD : Live at the Astoria, London
2005	''G3: Live in Tokyo''	Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, John Petrucci
2007	''Sound Theories Vol. I & II''	Orchestral Album from 5 European performances, a studio session and a soundcheck rehearsal recording (between 2004 and 2005)
2009		Orchestral DVD & CD recorded and filmed at the State Theatre in Minneapolis, MN as part of Vai’s “Sound Theories” world tour
2010		12 Tracks Bonus CD from "Where the wild thing are" DVD not included in the 2009 CD released

Other

!Year	!Album	!Info
1998	"Bad Squad"	''promo 2-tracks CD from Morley to promote the Bad Horsie wah pedal.''
2005	''"Naked Tracks"''	This five cd package contains a large selection of tracks from the Vai catalog that have been mixed without the main lead and melody guitar tracks

Compilations

!Year	!Album	!Info
2000		Compilation of the 7th song of Steve's Albums, and 3 tracks previously unreleased.
2001	''The Secret Jewel Box''	''10 CD Collector Box''
2001		Not Sold Separately / Vol.3 of The Secret Jewel Box
2002	''The Elusive Light and Sound, volume 1''	Re-released of the Vol.1 of The Secret Jewel Box''This disc collects Vai’s many contributions to film music''
2003		Compilation of Steve's bonus tracks featured on Japanese releases of his CDs, along with promotional tracks, songs featured on other albums and unreleased/demo tracks / Vol.4 of The Secret Jewel Box
2003		Collection of songs Steve has contributed to other projects and records. / Vol.5 of The Secret Jewel Box
2003	''The Infinite Steve Vai: An Anthology''	A career-spanning collection of 32 digitally remastered tracks over 2CDs (including work with other artists such as Alcatrazz and Whitesnake).
2004	''"Vai: Piano Reductions, Vol. 1"'' (by Mike Keneally)	This is an album of 11 solo acoustic piano interpretations of Vai songs by Mike Keneally / Vol.6 of The Secret Jewel Box
2008	''Steve Vai Original Album Classics''
2010	Playlist: The Very Best of Steve Vai
2011	The Essential Steve Vai

Discography (With Other Artists)

With Band (As Lead Guitarist)

!Year	!Artist	!Album	!RIAA
1985	Alcatrazz	''Disturbing the Peace''
1985	Public Image Ltd.
1986
1986	David Lee Roth	''Eat 'Em and Smile''	Platinum
1988	David Lee Roth		Platinum
1989	Whitesnake	''Slip of the Tongue''	3x Platinum
1994	Whitesnake	''Whitesnake's Greatest Hits''	Platinum
1997	David Lee Roth
1999
2000	Whitesnake	''The Back to Black Collection''
2010	Alcatrazz	''Disturbing the Peace Tour Live in Japan 1984.10.10 Audio Tracks''

Appearances on Zappa albums

!Year	!Album	!Credit
1981	''Tinseltown Rebellion''	Rhythm guitar, vocals
1981	''Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar''	Rhythm guitar
1981	''You Are What You Is''	Guitar
1982	''Ship Arriving Too Late to Save a Drowning Witch''	"Impossible Guitar parts"
1983	''The Man from Utopia''	Guitar parts
1984	''Them or Us''	Guitar
1984	''Thing-Fish''	Guitar, vocals
1985	''Frank Zappa Meets the Mothers of Prevention''	Guitar
1987	''Jazz from Hell''	Guitar
1988		Stunt guitar
1988	''You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore Sampler''	Stunt guitar
1988	''You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 1''	Stunt guitar
1989	''You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 3''	Stunt guitar
1991	''You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 4''	Stunt guitar, vocals
1991		Stunt guitar
1992	''You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 5''	Stunt guitar
1992	''You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 6''	Stunt guitar
1995	''Strictly Commercial''	Guitar
1997	''Have I Offended Someone?''	Guitar
1998		Guitar
1999	''Son of Cheep Thrills''	Guitar, vocals
2001	''FZ Original Recordings; Steve Vai Archives, Vol. 2''(Only available as Vol.3 in The Secret Jewel Box)	"strat abuse" and "impossible guitar parts."
2008		Guitar

Appearances, Featuring (With Other Lead Artists)

!Year	!Artist	!Album	!Info	!RIAA
1983	Lisa Popeil	''Lisa Popeil''	Steve performs on "What You're After", "You Can't Take It Away", "For A Time", "Don't Turn Me Off And On", "I Don't Get It", "The Viper", "Love In My Life", "Perfect Woman"
1985	Heresy	''At The Door''	Steve performs on "London : 1941" and "Wasted Moments"
1986		''The Great Nostalgia''	Steve performs on the track "Autumn in Nepal" & "There's Still Hope"
1986	Randy Coven	''Funk Me Tender''	Steve performs on the track "Funk Me Tender"
1987	Danny Mendez	''Death to All Mankind''	No Information
1986	Western Vacation	''Western Vacation''	Steve performs on the track "Western Vacation" (under the name "Reckless Fable")
1990		''The Best of Dreams''	Steve performs on "Supergirl" / This is a greatest hits CD
1991	Alice Cooper	''Hey Stoopid''	Steve performs with Joe Satriani on "Feed My Frankenstein"
1995	Ozzy Osbourne	''Ozzmosis''	Steve did not play guitar on this album. He Co-Wrote the song ''"My Little Man"''	2x Platinum
1996		''Cryin'''	Steve performs on "Let It Go"
1997	Munetaka Higuchi with Dream Castle	''Free World''	Steve plays guitar and bass on the track "Speed"
1998	Gregg Bissonette	''Gregg Bissonette''	Steve performs on "Common Road"
1998	Al Di Meola	''The Infinite Desire''	Steve performs on "Race with the Devil on Turkish Highway"
2000	Gregg Bissonette		Steve performs on the track "Noah's Ark"
2000	Thana Harris	''Thanatopsis''	Steve performs on the track "Fingers"
2000	Andrew Dice Clay	''Face Down, Ass Up''	No information
2001	Robin DiMaggio		Steve performs on the track "Mallorca" with L. Shankar
2001	Billy Sheehan		Steve Vai appears on the track "Chameleon"
2002	Tak Matsumoto	''Hana''	No information
2003	Surinder Sandhu	''Saurang Orchestra''	Steve Vai performs on the tracks "Amirah", The Little Hindu", "Movement One: Twice Born", "Movement Two: Sunday Morning in Calcutta", "Movement Three: Tradition of the New"
2002	Girls Together Outrageously (G.T.O)	"I'll Be Around" (SINGLE)	GTO (Girls Together Outrageously) is a Dutch trio who released a cover version of Steve's song "I'll Be Around". The CD single features a Radio Version (3:28) and an Extended Version (4:40). Steve performs the guitar solo on the Radio Version.
2003	Eric Sardinas	''Black Pearls''	Steve Vai performs on the track "Green Tea"
2003	Steve Lukather & Friends	''Santamental''	Steve Vai is featured on the track "Carol of the Bells"
2003	Hughes Turner Project	''HTP 2''	Steve Vai appears on the track "Losing My Head"
2003		''One in a Million''	Steve Vai performs on the track "Out Of My Mind"
2003	Yardbirds		Steve Vai performs on the track "Shapes of Things"
2004	Motörhead		Steve appears on the tracks "Terminal Show" and "Down On Me"
2004	Bob Carpenter	''The Sun, The Moon, The Stars''	This CD features a piano interpretation of “Whispering a Prayer”. It also features Steve Vai on acoustic guitar and Pia Vai on harp.
2005		''Songs for Sanity''	Steve appears on the song "Perineum"
2006	The Devin Townsend Band	''Synchestra''	Steve performs an extended guitar solo on the third track "Triumph"
2006			Steve performs on the song "Viper"
2006	Meat Loaf	''Bat out of Hell III: The Monster Is Loose''	Steve performs on the song "In the Land of the Pig, the Butcher is King"	Gold
2007	Dream Theater	''Systematic Chaos''	Guest spoken words on "Repentance"
2007	Eros Ramazzotti		Steve performs on, produced and re-recorded the track "Dove C'e' Musica" on this album
2008	Jason Becker
2009			Steve performs on the song "Short And Sweet"
2009	Mike Stern	''Big Neighborhood''	Steve performs guitar on "Big Neighborhood" and sitar on "Moroccan Roll"
2009	Orianthi		Steve appears on and co-wrote the song "Highly Strung"
2010	Meat Loaf	''Hang Cool Teddy Bear''	Steve performs on "Love Is Not Real/Next Time You Stab Me in the Back" & "Song of Madness"

Soundtracks

!Year	!Soundtrack	!Type	!Info
1986		Motion Picture Soundtrack	All part played by Steve on "The Elusive Light and Sound, Vol. 1"
1987		Motion Picture Soundtrack	Steve performs "Amazing Grace" / This OST is out of printAlso on "The Elusive Light and Sound, Vol. 1"
1987		Motion Picture Soundtrack
1991		Motion Picture Soundtrack	Steve performs the tracks "The Reaper" and "The Reaper Rap" and a few tracks which are not in the OSTAlso on "The Elusive Light and Sound, Vol. 1"
1992		Motion Picture Soundtrack	Steve performs with Joe Satriani on Alice Cooper's "Feed My Frankenstein"
1992	''Encino Man''	Motion Picture Soundtrack	Steve performs the track "Get The Hell Out Of Here"
1994		Motion Picture Soundtrack	Steve scored this film, and contributed the track "Now We Run" to this soundtrack
1997	''Formula 1''	Video Game Soundtrack
2001	''Ghosts of Mars''	Motion Picture Soundtrack	Steve Vai performs on "Ghosts of Mars" and "Ghost Poppin'"
2004		Video Game Soundtrack	Steve Vai performs on "Halo Theme Mjolnir Mix" and "Never Surrender"
2006		Video Game Soundtrack	Steve Vai performs on "Reclaimer"
2008		Video Game Soundtrack	Steve Vai song "For The Love Of God"

Compilations

!Year	!Artists	!Compilation	!Info
1989	Various	''Guitar's Practicing Musicians''	Steve plays guitar on the track "Western Vacation" as Reckless Fable
1993	Various	''Zappa's Universe'' (Tribute to Frank Zappa)	Steve plays guitar on "Sofa" & "Dirty Love"
1995	Various	''In From The Storm''(The music of Jimi Hendrix)	Steve appears on "Drifting" and "Bold as Love"
1996	Various	''Songs of West Side Story''	Steve appears on "The Rumble" (Steve Vai's Monsters vs. Chick Corea's Elektric Band)
1997	Various	''Merry Axemas: A Guitar Christmas''	Steve performs on the gorgeous "Christmas Time is Here" (with Joe Satriani, Jeff Beck, Eric Johnson and more...)
1997	Various		Steve performs on "Der Holle Rache (Queen of the Night)". This album also features Steve Stevens and Eric Johnson
1999	Various	''Radio Disney Kid Jams''	Steve performs the track "Wipe Out"
2001	Various		Steve performs the tracks "Cliffs of Insanity" and "Misfits"
2002	Various	''Guitars For Freedom''	Steve contributed the track "Amazing Grace" to this benefit CD
2002	Various	''Warmth In The Wilderness Vol. II – A Tribute to Jason Becker''	Steve Vai performs the track "Feathers"
2004	Various	''The Sounds Of Nascar''	Steve is featured on the previously unreleased track "Rush" (Only on "iTunes Music Store")
2006	Various	''Monsters of Rock'' (EMI, 3CD compilation)	Steve performs with Whitesnake the song "Fool for Your Loving"

Videos

Live

!Year	!Type	!Album	!Artist	!Info
1995	VHS / DVD		Steve Vai	Features full performances of all seven songs from the album Alien Love Secrets.
1997	VHS / DVD	''"G3: Live in Concert"''	Joe Satriani / Steve Vai / Eric Johnson	Steve plays on six tracks (three solo and three with Joe Satriani and Eric Johnson.)
2003	DVD	Live at the Astoria, London	Steve Vai	Steve's first live solo DVD. Filmed at the Astoria, London UK on December 6 & 7, 2001.
2004	DVD	''"G3: Live in Denver"''	Joe Satriani / Steve Vai / Yngwie Malmsteen	Steve performs on 3 tracks & 3 jam Tracks
2005	DVD	''"G3: Live in Tokyo"''	Joe Satriani / Steve Vai / John Petrucci	Steve performs on 6 tracks
2007	DVD	''"Visual Sound Theories"''	Steve Vai	This DVD features the live performances from the Aching Hunger concerts with the Holland Metropole Orchestra in July 2005.

With Other Artists

!Year	!Type	!Album	!Artist	!Info
1982	VHS / DVD	''"The Dub Room Special"''	Frank Zappa	Steve appears 58 minutes into this video performing "Stevie's Spanking" (from The Palladium, NYC show on October 31, 1981)
1985	VHS	''"Power Live"''	Alcatrazz	Live concert recorded at Shinjuku Kousei Nenkin Hall (Japan) on 10/10/84.
1986	VHS	''"David Lee Roth"''	David Lee Roth	Steve performs on "Yankee Rose" and "Goin' Crazy!". There is also an alternate video take for Steve's guitar solo during the "Goin' Crazy!" video.
1987	VHS	''"Video from Hell"''	Frank Zappa	Steve appears 11:15 minutes into this video performing "Stevie's Spanking." (Rome, Italy - July 10, 1982)
1989	VHS	''"The True Story of 200 Motels"''	Frank Zappa	Steve appears 41:33 minutes into this video - in a brief interview shot on July 14, 1982 in Palermo, Sicily.
1990	VHS	''"Metal Head Vol.2"''	BMG Video Magazine	This hard to find "video magazine" features an interview with Steve.
1993	VHS / DVD	''"Zappa's Universe: A Celebration of 25 Years of Frank Zappa's Music"''	Various Artists	Steve performs on "Dirty Love" (with Dweezil), and "Sofa", a performance that won a Grammy.
1997	VHS / DVD	''"7th Heaven video by Ibanez"''	Ibanez Various Artists	Ibanez promotional-only video includes commentary and music from Steve Vai, Head & Munky from Korn, John Petrucci, Dino Cazares, Andy Timmons, Wes Borland, Jerry Sims.
2003	DVD	''"Rockthology"''	Various Artists	This video compilation features the "I Would Love To" promo video.
2003	DVD	''"The Satch Tapes"''(Originally released on VHS in 1993)	Joe Satriani	This DVD re-release features a brief interview with Steve circa 1992.
2004	DVD	''"Crossroads Guitar Festival"''	Various Artists	Steve and the band performing “Get The Hell Outta Here.

Movies (As an Actor)

!Year	!Type	!Album	!Artist	!Info
1986	VHS / DVD		Columbia Tristar (Movie)	Steve appears in this movie as "Jack Butler", a devil guitarist
2005	DVD	"Bill & Ted's Most Excellent Collection"	MGM Video	Bonus Feature : “Score! An Interview With Guitarist Steve Vai.”
2008	DVD		FN Crazy Film LLC	Steve appears in this movie as "Hank Williams"
2008	DVD			Steve appears in this movie as himself
2009	TV	''"Metalocalypse"''	Animated TV Series	Steve appears as guest Voice on ep.39 "Renovationklok" & ep.40 "Tributeklok"

Awards and nominations

Grammy Awards

|- | 1990 | ''Passion & Warfare'' | Best Rock Instrumental Album | |- | 1994 | "Sofa" from ''Zappa's Universe'' | Best Rock Instrumental Performance | |- | 1995 | "Tender Surrender" from ''Alien Love Secrets'' | Best Rock Instrumental Performance | |- | 1997 | "For the Love of God" from ''G3: Live in Concert'' | Best Rock Instrumental Performance | |- | 1999 | "Windows to the Soul" from ''The Ultra Zone'' | Best Rock Instrumental Performance | |- | rowspan=2 | 2001 | "Whispering a Prayer" from ''Alive in an Ultra World'' | Best Rock Instrumental Performance | |- | ''No Substitutions'' | Best Pop Instrumental Album | |- | 2006 | "Lotus Feet" | Best Rock Instrumental Performance | |- | 2008 | "The Attitude Song" | Best Rock Instrumental Performance | |- | 2009 | "Peaches En Regalia" from ''Zappa Plays Zappa'' | Best Rock Instrumental Performance | |- | 2010 | "Now We Run" from ''Where the Wild Things Are'' | Best Rock Instrumental Performance | |}

''Guitar Player'' magazine

1995 Gallery of Greats

1995 Best Rock Guitarist (Tie with Jimmy Page)

1995 Best Overall Guitarist - 3rd Place

1995 Best Experimental Guitarist (tie with Buckethead)

1995 Best Metal Recording - 3rd Place

1995 Best Overall Guitar Recording - 2nd Place

1995 Best Metal Guitarist - 3rd Place

1990 Best Rock Guitarist

1990 Best Overall Guitarist

1990 Best Guitar Album

1990 Best Metal Guitarist

1989 Best Rock Guitarist

1988 Best Rock Guitarist

1987 Best Rock Guitarist

1987 Best Overall Guitarist

1986 Best Rock Guitarist

''Guitar World''

1990 Most Valued Player (tie with Stevie Ray Vaughan)

1990 Best Album

1990 Best Rock Guitarist

1990 Best Guitar Solo (For the Love of God)

1989 Best Rock Guitarist

International Music Award Nomination

1990 Best Guitarist

''Select'' magazine (UK)

1990 Best Album (''Passion and Warfare'')

1990 Best Musician

1990 Sexiest Male

Guitar for the Practicing Musician

1993 Editor's Choice Award

1990 Reader's Choice – Guitar Album of the Year

1990 Best Instrumental Guitarist of the Year

1988 Rock Guitarist of the Year

1987 Hall of Fame

1986 Guitar in the 90's Award

''Kerrang'' (UK)

1993 Best Hard Rock Performance

1990 Guitarist of the Year

1989 Best Rock Guitarist

''Young Guitar'' (Japan)

1991 Best Rock Guitarist

1997 Best Rock Guitarist

''Rock Brigade Brazilian Magazine''

1996 Best Guitarist

1997 Best Guitarist

''RAW''

1990 Best Selling LP Sleeve (No. 1)

1990 Best Selling Promo Video (No. 5, I Would Love To)

1990 Best Selling Promo Video (No. 7, The Audience is Listening)

1990 Best Sex Object (No. 6)

1990 Best RAW Cover (No. 3)

''Playe''r

1995 Best Hard Rock Guitarist – 2nd Place

''Making Music''

1990 Best Album

1990 Best Guitarist

1990 Best Musician

''Metal Hammer''

1990 Best Guitarist (Reader's Poll)

California Music Awards

2001 Outstanding Guitarist (nominee)

Golden Stag Awards Romania

2009 Excellence Prize

See also

List of rock instrumentals

Steve Vai songs

References

External links

Steve Vai's Official homepage

[ Steve Vai] at Allmusic

Audio Interview with Steve Vai on Guitar Jam Daily

Billboard.com Discography of Steve Vai

Steve Vai (1989) - Poster (Hi Res Scan)

Steve Vai Artist Page at GuitarvideoChannel.com

Category:1960 births Category:American heavy metal guitarists Category:American rock guitarists Category:American vegetarians Category:Beekeepers Category:Berklee College of Music alumni Category:G3 Category:Grammy Award winners Category:American musicians of Italian descent Category:Lead guitarists Category:Living people Category:Musicians from New York Category:People from Nassau County, New York Category:Seven-string guitarists Category:The Ozzy Osbourne Band members Category:Whitesnake members

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Coordinates	30°19′10″N81°39′36″N
Name	Neil Patrick Harris
Birth date	June 15, 1973
Birth place	Albuquerque, New Mexico, US
Years active	1988–present
Occupation	Actor, musician, director, magician
Partner	David Burtka(2004–present; 2 children) }}

Neil Patrick Harris (born June 15, 1973) is an American actor, singer, director and magician.

Prominent roles of his career include the title role in ''Doogie Howser, M.D.'', Colonel Carl Jenkins in ''Starship Troopers'', the womanizing Barney Stinson in ''How I Met Your Mother'', a fictionalized version of himself in the ''Harold & Kumar'' series, Patrick Winslow in ''The Smurfs'', and the title role in Joss Whedon's musical web series ''Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog''.

He hosted the 63rd Tony Awards on June 7, 2009, and the 61st Primetime Emmy Awards on September 20, 2009. On March 7, 2010, he made a surprise appearance at the 82nd Academy Awards, delivering the opening musical number, and on August 21, 2010 he won two Emmy Awards at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards ceremony. On December 11, 2010, Harris hosted ''Spike's'' ''Video Game Awards'', before hosting the 65th Tony Awards on June 12, 2011.

He was named as one of ''TIME'' magazine's 100 most influential people in 2010.

In June 2010, it was announced that Harris would receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2011.

Early life

Harris was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and grew up in Ruidoso, New Mexico. His parents, Sheila and Ron, ran a restaurant. He attended La Cueva High School in Albuquerque and was active in school plays and musicals there. Harris was an honors student, and graduated with honors in 1991.

Career

Harris began his career as a child actor, and was discovered by playwright Mark Medoff at a Drama Camp in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Medoff cast him in his 1988 film ''Clara's Heart'', a drama with Whoopi Goldberg based on the novel of the same name by Joseph Olshan, that won him a Golden Globe nomination. In 1988, he also starred in ''Purple People Eater'', a children's fantasy. The following year, he won the lead in ''Doogie Howser, M.D.'', for which he was again nominated for a Golden Globe. After ''Doogie Howser'''s four-season run ended in 1993, Harris played a number of guest roles on television series such as ''Murder She Wrote'', before taking his first film role as an adult in 1995 in the little-seen shocker ''Animal Room''. Since then, his film work has included supporting roles in ''The Next Best Thing'', ''Undercover Brother'', and ''Starship Troopers''. He also plays a fictionalized version of himself in the ''Harold and Kumar'' stoner comedy films (''Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle'' and ''Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay'').

From 1999 to 2000, Harris starred with Tony Shalhoub in the sitcom ''Stark Raving Mad'', which lasted 22 episodes. He has taken lead roles in a number of made-for-television features, including ''Snowbound: The Jim and Jennifer Stolpa Story'' in 1994, ''My Ántonia'' in 1995, ''The Christmas Wish'' in 1998, ''Joan of Arc'' in 1999, ''The Wedding Dress'' in 2001, and ''The Christmas Blessing'' in 2005, as well as series guest roles.

Harris has worked on Broadway in both musical and dramatic roles. He played Tobias Ragg in 2001 concert performances of ''Sweeney Todd''. In 2002, he performed on Broadway beside Anne Heche in ''Proof''. In 2003, he took the role of the Emcee in ''Cabaret,'' alongside Deborah Gibson and Tom Bosley. As a result of his critically acclaimed performance in ''Cabaret'', Harris was named the top-drawing headliner in the role of the Emcee by GuestStarCasting.com, topping fellow celeb stars John Stamos and Alan Cumming.

In 2004, he performed a dual role of the Balladeer and Lee Harvey Oswald on Broadway in the controversial musical revival of Stephen Sondheim's ''Assassins''. He also sang the role of Charles (first played by Anthony Perkins) on the Nonesuch recording of Sondheim's ''Evening Primrose''. He has also portrayed Mark Cohen in the touring company of the musical ''RENT'', a character who he mockingly reprised on the January 10, 2009, episode of ''Saturday Night Live'', which he hosted. Since fall of 2005, Harris has played Barney Stinson, a serial womanizer, in the CBS ensemble sitcom ''How I Met Your Mother''. The Stinson role earned him 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series nominations.

In 2007, Harris worked with Mike Nelson on an audio commentary for RiffTrax. The two riffed on the film ''Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory''. Harris is a big fan of the cult TV series Nelson worked on, ''Mystery Science Theater 3000'' and was interviewed for a 1992 Comedy Central special hosted by Penn Jillette, who did voiceovers for Comedy Central's programming at that time, about the series and its fans, ''This Is MST3K''. In 2008, Harris took the title role in Joss Whedon's musical web series, ''Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog'', alongside Nathan Fillion and Felicia Day. The first episode of the series debuted July 15, 2008. In 2008, Harris also guest-starred on ''Sesame Street'' as the Sesame Street Fairy Shoe Person. On April 26, 2009, Harris hosted the 7th Annual TV Land Awards.

After a highly successful preview at the San Diego Comic-Con, a musical episode of ''Batman: The Brave and the Bold'', featuring Harris as the villainous Music Meister, premiered on October 23, 2009, on Cartoon Network. As a character who could make anyone do his bidding by singing, he spent most of the episode singing several original songs.

Harris starred in the movie ''Beastly'' alongside Alex Pettyfer and Vanessa Hudgens. He played a blind tutor named Will. The film was originally set for release on July 30, 2010, but was pushed back to March 4, 2011.

He also plays the lead in the upcoming indie comedy ''The Best and the Brightest'' as a carefree father who uproots his family from Delaware to move to New York City's Upper East Side.

Harris appeared as a guest judge on Season 9 of ''American Idol'' in August 2009 auditions taped in Dallas, Texas.

English stage producer Cameron Mackintosh has voiced interest in producing a Broadway revival of the musical ''Barnum'' (which originally starred Michael Crawford and Jim Dale) with Harris in the title role.

Harris provided his voice for the role of the adult Dick Grayson (Nightwing) for the animated film ''Batman: Under the Red Hood''. It was released July 27, 2010.

Harris also voiced the beagle Lou in the film ''Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore'' that was released July 30, 2010.

He directed a production of the rock musical ''Rent''. The stage production ran from August 6 – 8, 2010 at the Hollywood Bowl. Harris cast his ''Beastly'' co-star Vanessa Hudgens as Mimi.

Harris won an Emmy for his performance as Bryan Ryan in the television series ''Glee'' in the episode titled "Dream On."

On November 8, 2010, it was revealed that Harris had provided his voice to the Disney California Adventure attraction California Screamin'.

Harris performed the lead role of Bobby, in Stephen Sondheim's ''Company'' from April 7–9, 2011 with the New York Philharmonic in concert opposite Patti LuPone and others.

Harris hosted the 65th Annual Tony Awards on June 12, 2011. This was the second time he hosted the ceremony.

Harris will make his directorial debut in the upcoming movie ''Aaron and Sarah'', starring Josh Hutcherson and Emma Roberts. The movie is set to be released in 2013.

Personal life

Harris is openly gay, confirming this in November 2006 by saying "...I am happy to dispel any rumors or misconceptions and am quite proud to say that I am a very content gay man living my life to the fullest and feel most fortunate to be working with wonderful people in the business I love."

Harris attended the Emmy awards in September 2007 with his partner David Burtka, later confirming the relationship, which began in 2004, in an interview on ''The Ellen DeGeneres Show''. On August 14, 2010, Harris announced that he and Burtka were expecting twins via a surrogate mother. Fraternal twins Gideon Scott, a boy, and Harper Grace, a girl, were born on October 12, 2010.

Following the passage of the Marriage Equality Act in New York on June 24, 2011, Harris and Burtka announced their engagement via Twitter, stating that they had proposed to each other five years ago but kept the engagement secret until same-sex marriage became legal.

Harris is a fan of magic and is a magician similar to his character on ''How I Met Your Mother''. He serves on the Board of Directors of Hollywood's Magic Castle. Harris won the Tannen's Magic Louis Award in 2006 and hosted the 2008 World Magic Awards on October 11, 2008. Additionally, Harris was the celebrity guest of honor for ''Top Chef Masters'', which took place at the Magic Castle, and included Burtka as a fellow guest. Harris also performed magic in his Emmy-winning performance on ''Glee''.

Discography

Cast recordings

Year	Album title	! Notes
2000	Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (musical)>Sweeney Todd: Live in Concert''	2000 New York Concert Cast
2001	Evening Primrose (musical)>Evening Primrose''
2004	Assassins (musical)>Assassins''
2006	''Wall to Wall: Stephen Sondheim''
2008	Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog (soundtrack)>Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog''
2009	Batman: The Brave and the Bold#Soundtrack>Batman: The Brave and the Bold – Mayhem of the Music Meister''

Singles

Year

Single

Peak chart positions

Sales

Album

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"Nothing Suits Me Like a Suit"

''How I Met Your Mother'' season 5

''Glee: The Music, Volume 3 Showstoppers''

Filmography

+ Film
! Year	! Title	! Role	Notes
1988	''Clara's Heart''	David Hart
1988		Danny Harland	TV movie
1988		Billy Johnson
1989	''Cold Sassy Tree''	Will Tweedy/Narrator	TV movie
1989		Lonnie Tibbits	TV movie
1991	''Stranger in the Family''	Steve Thompson	TV Movie
1993	''For Our Children: The Concert''	Himself (Presenter)	TV movie
1993	''''	Brian Hannigan	TV movie
1994	''Snowbound: The Jim and Jennifer Stolpa Story''	Jim Stolpa	TV movie
1995	''''	Edward Broder	TV movie
1995	''Animal Room''	Arnold Mosk
1995	''Not Our Son''	Paul Kenneth Keller	TV movie
1995	''My Antonia''	Jimmy Burden	TV movie
1995	''Legacy of Sin: The William Coit Story''	William Coit	TV movie
1997		Carl Jenkins
1998	''''	Roger Martin
1998	''''	Will Martin	TV movie
1999		The Dauphin	TV movie
2000	''''	David
2001	''''	Travis Cleveland	TV movie
2001	''Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street in Concert''	Tobias Ragg	TV movie
2002	''''	Benjamin
2002	''Undercover Brother''	Lance
2004	''Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle''	Neil Patrick Harris
2005	''''	Nathan Andrews	TV movie
2008	''Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay''	Neil Patrick Harris
2008	''Beyond All Boundaries''	1st Lt. David Hettema	Voice only
2008	''Justice League: The New Frontier''	Barry Allen/The Flash	Voice only
2009		Steve	Voice only
2010	''Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore''	Lou the Beagle	Voice only
2010	''''	Jeff	Post-production
2010	''Batman: Under the Red Hood''	Dick Grayson/Nightwing	Voice only
2011	''''	Neil Patrick Harris	Filming
2011	''''	Patrick Winslow
2011		Will Fratalli
2011		Himself	Cameo

+Television
! Year	! Title	! Role	Notes
1989	''Hallmark Hall of Fame''	Lonnie Tibbetts	Episode: "Home Fires Burning"
1989	''B.L. Stryker''	Buder Campbell	Episode: "Blues for Buder"
1989–1993	''Doogie Howser, M.D.''	Douglas 'Doogie' Howser	97 Episodes
1991	''''	Himself as [[Bart Simpson">Young Artist Award
1991		The 'Charming' Derek Slade	Episode: "Blossom – A Rockumentary"
1991	''''	Himself as [[Bart Simpson	Episode: "Bart the Murderer"
1992	''Roseanne''	Dr. Doogie Howser	Episode: "Less Is More"
1992	''Captain Planet and the Planeteers''	Todd Andrews	Episode: "A Formula for Hate"
1993		Mike Hammond	Episode: "Return of the Evil Leaper – October 8, 1956"
1993	''Murder, She Wrote''	Tommy Remsen	Episode: "Lone Witness"
1992–1995	''Capitol Critters''	Max	13 Episodes
1996	''''	Howie Morrison	Episode: "From Within"
1997	''Homicide: Life on the Street''	Alan Schack	Episode: "Valentine's Day"
1999–2000		Henry McNeeley	22 Episodes
2000	''Will & Grace''	Bill	Episode: "Girls, Interrupted"
2001	''Static Shock''	Johnny Morrow	Voice Only Episode: "Replay"
2001	''Son of the Beach''	Loverboy	Episode: "Queefer Madness"
2001	''''	Moyo	Episode: "Tarzan and the Challenger"
2001		Joe Baxter	Episode: "Replacements"
2002	''Touched by an Angel''	Jonas	Episode: "The Princeless Bride"
2002	''Justice League''	Ray Thompson	Episode: "Legends: Part 1" Episode: "Legends: Part 2"
2003		Peter Corman	Episode: "Monster's Brawl"
2003	''Spider-Man: The New Animated Series''	Peter Parker / Spider-Man	13 Episodes
2004	''Law & Order: Criminal Intent''	John Tagman	Episode: "Want"
2005	''Numb3rs''	Ethan Burdick	Episode: "Prime Suspect"
2005	''Jack & Bobby''	Prof. Preston Phelps	Episode: "Querida Grace"
2005–present	''How I Met Your Mother''	Barney Stinson	Main RoleNominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – TV Series (2009–2010)Nominated—People's Choice Award for Favorite Scene Stealing Star (2008)Nominated—Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series (2007–2010)Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor – TV Series (2009)Nominated—Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Actor: Comedy (2007–2008)Nominated—Television Critics Association Award for Achievement in Comedy (2009)
2006	''Me, Eloise''	Unknown	Voice only Episode: "Eloise Goes to School"
2007–2009	''Family Guy''	Barney Stinson	Episode: "No Chris Left Behind" Episode: "Peter's Progress"
2008	''Sesame Street''	The Fairy Shoeperson	Episode: "Telly's New Shoes"
2008	''Anytime with Bob Kushell''	Himself	Guest star
2008	''Million Dollar Password''	Himself	Guest Star
2009	''Batman: The Brave and the Bold''	The Music Meister	Episode: "Mayhem of the Music Meister!"
2009	''Robot Chicken''	Various	Episode: "President Hu Forbids It" Episode: "The Ramblings of Maurice"
2009	''Carrie Underwood: An All-Star Holiday Special''	Ace	Voice only
2009	''Yes Virginia''	Dr. Philip O'Hanlon	Voice only
2010		Bryan Ryan	Episode: "Dream On (Glee)"Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series
2010	''''	Dr. Blowhole
2011	''Adventure Time with Finn and Jake''	Prince Gumball	Episode: "Adventure Time with Fionna and Cake"

+ Theater
! Year	! Title	! Role	Notes
1997		Mark Cohen	2nd National Tour-LA, San Diego
1998	''Romeo and Juliet''	Romeo Montague	Old Globe Theatre, San Diego
2001		Tobias Ragg	San Francisco Symphony Orchestra concert version
2002		Hal	Broadway
2003		Emcee	Broadway
2004	''''	Young Anton/Burt Sarris
2004		Lee Harvey Oswald/The Balladeer	Broadway
2005	''Tick, Tick... BOOM!''	Jon	Menier Chocolate Factory, London
2006	''All My Sons''	Chris Keller	Geffen Playhouse, Los Angeles
2006	''Amadeus''	Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart	Hollywood Bowl
2010			Director
2011		Robert	New York Philharmonic Concert Version

+ Web television
! Year	! Title	! Role	Notes
2008	''Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog''	Dr. Horrible (Billy)
2008	''Prop 8: The Musical''	A Very Smart Fellow

+ Video games
! Year	! Title	! Role	Notes
2008	''Saints Row 2''	Veteran Child	voice over
2009	''Eat Lead: The Return of Matt Hazard''	Wallace "Wally" Wellesley	voice over
2010	''Rock of the Dead''	Unnamed character	voice over
2010	''Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions''	Peter Parker / Amazing Spider-Man	voice over

+ Theme parks
! Year	! Title	! Role	Notes
2010–present	''California Screamin'''	Victorian Carnival Character	safety spiels and launch countdown

Awards

+ List of awards and nominations
! Year	! Award	! Category	! Result	! Title
1989	Young Artist Award	Best Young Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama	Nominated	''Clara's Heart''
1989	Golden Globe Award	Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture	Nominated	''Clara's Heart''
1990	Young Artist Awards	Best Young Actor Starring in a Television Series	Won	''Doogie Howser, M.D.''
1991	Young Artist Awards	Best Young Actor Starring in a Television Series	Won	''Doogie Howser, M.D.''
1992	Young Artist Awards	Best Young Actor Starring in a Television Series	Won	''Doogie Howser, M.D.''
1992	Golden Globe Award	Best Performance by an Actor in a TV-Series – Comedy/Musical	Nominated	''Doogie Howser, M.D.''
2007	Teen Choice Awards	Choice TV Actor: Comedy	Nominated	''How I Met Your Mother''
2007	Emmy Award	Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series	Nominated	''How I Met Your Mother''
2008		Favorite Scene Stealing Star	Nominated	''How I Met Your Mother''
2008	Emmy Award	Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series	Nominated	''How I Met Your Mother''
2009	Golden Globe Award	Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television	Nominated	''How I Met Your Mother''
2009	Emmy Award	Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series	Nominated	''How I Met Your Mother''
2009	Bravo A-List Awards	A-List Male Actor	Won
2009	Streamy Awards	Best Male Actor in a Comedy Web Series	Won	''Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog''
2010	Golden Globe Award	Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television	Nominated	''How I Met Your Mother''
2009–2010	Golden Icon Award	Best Performance by an Actor in a Comedy Television Series	Won	''How I Met Your Mother''
2010	Emmy Award	Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series	Nominated	''How I Met Your Mother''
2010	Emmy Award	Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series	Won
2010	Emmy Award	Outstanding Special Class Program	Won
2010	Spike Video Game Awards	Best Performance by a Human Male	Won	''Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions''
2011	People's Choice Awards	Favourite TV Comedy Actor	Won	''How I Met Your Mother''

References

External links

Neil Patrick Harris at Internet Off-Broadway Database

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Category:1973 births Category:Living people Category:Actors from New Mexico Category:American child actors Category:American film actors Category:American magicians Category:American musical theatre actors Category:American television actors Category:American voice actors Category:Emmy Award winners Category:Gay actors Category:La Cueva High School alumni Category:LGBT people from the United States Category:LGBT television personalities Category:LGBT parents Category:People from Albuquerque, New Mexico Category:People from Lincoln County, New Mexico

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