Coordinates	41°52′55″N87°37′40″N
name	Orianthi
background	solo_singer
birth name	Orianthi Panagaris
alias	Orianthi
birth date	January 22, 1985
origin	Adelaide, Australia
instrument	Guitar, bass, drums, piano, vocals
genre	Rock, pop rock, blues rock, glam metal
occupation	Musician, guitarist, singer-songwriter
years active	2005–present
label	Geffen, 19 Entertainment
associated acts	Michael Jackson, Alice Cooper, Carlos Santana, Carrie Underwood, Adam Lambert, Steve Vai, Allison Iraheta, Koda Kumi, Slash
website	http://www.orianthi.com
notable instruments	PRS Custom 22 (Named Manos)PRS Custom 24 (Named Pepper)Jackson KV2 & KV5 Models (Discontinued Models)Ibanez RG Models (Discontinued Models) SE signature model (SE Orianthi) }}

Orianthi Panagaris (born 22 January 1985), better known simply as Orianthi, is an Australian musician, singer-songwriter and guitarist. She is perhaps best known for being Michael Jackson's lead guitarist for his ill-fated ''This Is It'' concert series. Her debut single "According to You" has peaked at No. 3 in Japan, No. 8 in Australia and No. 17 in the US; her second album, ''Believe'', received a worldwide release in late 2009.

Life and career

Early life

Orianthi Panagaris was born in Adelaide, South Australia, and is of Greek and Australian descent. Orianthi first started learning piano and playing at the age of three and moving to acoustic guitar at the age of six. She learned to play the acoustic guitar at six at the encouragement of her father, started electric when she was eleven and left her school, Mercedes College, enrolling at Cabra Dominican College. At the age of 15, she turned her focus to writing songs and so began her professional career. She has been playing in bands since the age of 14 in England and in France, and performed in her first stage show for Steve Vai at the age of 15. Orianthi met and jammed with Carlos Santana when she was 18. He invited Orianthi to get up and jam with him at soundcheck then later asked if she would join him on stage that night to jam at his Adelaide concert, Memorial Drive on 30 March 2003.

Orianthi independently released Violet Journey in 2005, composing all the material, contributing guitar, vocals and drums on most cuts. She produced and mixed the final product at her home studio. Carlos Santana brought Orianthi to Paul Reed Smith's attention which led to her endorsement. Orianthi relocated to Los Angeles, signed with Geffen Records in late 2006 and struck a management deal with 19 Entertainment.

Orianthi has played with Prince, made a commercial for Panasonic HD, featured in the song Now or Never for ''Bratz: The Movie'', played at the Eric Clapton Crossroads Guitar Festival, appeared in ''The New York Times'' business section promoting eco-friendly acoustic guitars, and opened for Steve Vai in the US.

Breakthrough

Orianthi appeared at the 51st annual Grammy Awards as Carrie Underwood's lead guitarist, with Underwood inviting Orianthi to become a member of her band. Following that performance in addition to recommendations from industry professionals Michael Jackson's management reached out to Orianthi for an audition for This Is It.

Orianthi was Michael Jackson's lead guitarist and was present on all rehearsals for his This Is It concerts before his death. In regard to being handpicked by Jackson, she stated:

She played and sang at Jackson's memorial, globally televised live on 7 July 2009. She appears in the film ''Michael Jackson's This Is It'', which chronicles the rehearsals for the tour and shows her and Michael on stage. She presented an award at the 2009 American Music Awards, which Jackson won posthumously.

Orianthi appears on "We Are the World: 25 for Haiti" – with the original co-written and partly performed by Jackson.

In 2009 Orianthi was named one of 12 Greatest Female Electric Guitarists by Elle magazine. At the 2010 NAMM Show, she released her first signature guitar model with PRS, the SE Orianthi model.

Orianthi started working on her major label debut ''Believe'' in 2007 which was released in October 2009. The album produced the worldwide hit "According to You", which was the Single of the Week on iTunes on 27 October 2009, reached number 2 on US radio airplay and charted to number eight in Australia, three in Japan, and achieved platinum status in the US and Australia. The charismatic rock instrumental Highly Strung featuring Steve Vai became a popular YouTube video with millions of views and climbing, and her song Suffocated was featured on Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock as a playable song. Orianthi followed up with a four song EP including two singles Shut Up and Kiss Me and Courage.

Orianthi appeared on several late night shows most notably on American Idol results show 26 March 2010. In 2010 she toured extensively with headlining shows in the US, Japan, Australia and Malaysia. She also opened for other artists including: John Mayer, Mika, Kid Rock, Daughtry and over 30 dates for Adam Lambert’s Glam Nation Tour with former Idol contestant Allison Iraheta. Orianthi performed at various music festivals and charity functions most notably at the Stand Up to Cancer telethon.

She is featured on Iraheta's third single "Don't Waste The Pretty". and on Fefe Dobson's song "Can't Breathe" which appears on Dobson's album ''Joy'' released in November 2010. She has stated that the people she has collaborated with (i.e. Allison Iraheta and Lacey Mosley) are some of her best friends.

She is working on a new album and has said it is to be harder rock than the last. She also won the award as "Breakthrough Guitarist of the Year" 2010 by Guitar International magazine.

On 29 August 2011 she was announced as Alice Cooper's new guitarist. She replaces Damon Johnson, who is now a member of Thin Lizzy. She is the first female member of the Alice Cooper band.

Discography

Studio albums

Year	Album details	Peak chart positions						! style="width:30px;"	! style="width:30px;"	! style="width:30px;"	! style="width:30px;"
		2007		* Released: 4 June 2007	* Label: Self-released	—		—	—	—	—
2009	style="text-align:left;"	* Released: 29 October 2009	Geffen">Music recording sales certification
! style="width:30px;"	! style="width:30px;"	! style="width:30px;"	! style="width:30px;"	! style="width:30px;"
2007		* Released: 4 June 2007	* Label: Self-released	—	—	—	—	—
2009	style="text-align:left;"	* Released: 29 October 2009	Geffen	88	4	77	19	1		Recording Industry Association of Japan>JPN: Gold
2012		* Released: 2012	* Label: Geffen	—	—	—	—	—

Singles

Year	Single	Peak chart positions							Certifications	Album
		! style="width:30px;"	! style="width:30px;"	! style="width:30px;"	! style="width:30px;"	! style="width:30px;"	! style="width:30px;"	! style="width:30px;"
2009		8	3	39	159	17	6	22		Australian Recording Industry Association>AUS: Platinum	Recording Industry Association of America>US: Platinum
	style="text-align:left;"	85	11	—	—	—	—	—
	—	—	—	—	—	37	—

Featured songs

Year	Single	Artist	Peak chart	Album
			CAN
2009			—
			—	style="text-align:left;"
		—
	style="text-align:left;"		19	style="text-align:left;"
		—	style="text-align:left;"
		—

Studio work

Year	Single	Artist	Peak chart		Album
			UK	CAN
			—	—
		—	—	style="text-align:left;"
		197	—	style="text-align:left;"
		—	90	style="text-align:left;"

Songs in other media

! Year	! Single	! Title	! Type
2007	"Now or Never"	Bratz: The Movie	Motion Picture Soundtrack
		Rock Band 2	Music game
iPhone Six String App	Mobile game
Dance Dance Revolution	Music game
Kinect Dance Paradise	Music game
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation	TV series episode: Lost and Found and World's End
Dancing with the Stars (U.S. season 11)	TV series episode: Week 6
Disney Sing It: Party Hits	Music game
U-Sing 2 Wii Australian Edition	Music game
"Suffocated"	Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock	Music game
"Sunshine of Your Love"	Nissan Juke	TV Commercial
2011	"Believe"	American Idol Season 10	TV series episode: Hollywood Week round 2

Music videos

! Year	! Song	! Director
2007	"Now or Never" (promotional video)
2009	"According to You"
	"Highly Strung" (with Steve Vai)
"We Are the World 25 for Haiti" (with Artists for Haiti)	Paul Haggis
"Shut Up and Kiss Me"	Ray Kay
"Courage" (with Lacey Sturm)	Scott Speer

Filmography

Film
! Year	! Title	! Role	! Notes
2009	''Rock Prophecies''	Herself	Brief Appearance
2009	''Michael Jackson's This Is It''	Herself	Jackson's guitarist

Awards and nominations

! Year	! Type	! Award	! Result
2009	Elle Magazine	12 Best Female Electric Guitar Players
	Nickelodeon Australian Kids Choice Awards 2010	Fresh Aussie Musos
Billboard Japan Music Awards 2010	Top Pop Artist 2010
Guitar International Magazine	Breakthrough Guitarist of the Year 2010
	25th Japan Gold Disc Award 2010	The Best 3 New Artists (International)
Tokio Hot 100 Awards 2010	Best New Artist
2011 BMI Pop Music Awards	Award-Winning Songs - According to You
Gibson Guitars	Guitar Gals: The Top 10 Female Guitar Players of All Time

Equipment

Guitars

PRS Custom 22

PRS Custom 24

PRS SE Custom 24

PRS SE Singlecut

Jackson KV2& KV5 (Discontinued)

Jackson DX10 (Discontinued)

Ibanez RG Series (Discontinued)

Gibson Les Paul (Early)

Gibson SG (Early)

Garrison & Taylor Acoustics

PRS SE Orianthi (her own signature SE model)

She also has a special private stock PRS Custom 24 guitar, nicknamed "MJ", made for the This Is It concerts. This one of a kind guitar is decorated with Swarovski crystals.

Amps

EVH 5150III

Engl (This Is It)

Mesa Boogie

Marshall Amplifiers

References

External links

Orianthi's page at 19 Entertainment

Category:1985 births Category:Living people Category:Australian female guitarists Category:Australian female singers Category:Australian guitarists Category:Australian rock musicians Category:Australian singers Category:Australian people of Greek descent Category:Alice Cooper members Category:Geffen Records artists Category:People from Adelaide

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Coordinates	41°52′55″N87°37′40″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	41°52′55″N87°37′40″N
alt	A mid-twenties African American man wearing a sequined military jacket and dark sunglasses. He is walking while waving his right hand, which is adorned with a white glove. His left hand is bare.
background	solo_singer
birth name	Michael Joseph Jackson
alias	Michael Joe Jackson, MJ, King of Pop
birth date	August 29, 1958
birth place	Gary, Indiana, U.S.
death date	June 25, 2009
death place	Los Angeles, California, U.S.
instrument	Vocals
genre	R&B;, pop, rock, soul, dance, funk, disco, new jack swing
occupation	Singer-songwriter, musician, composer, dancer, choreographer, record producer, actor, businessman, philanthropist
years active	1964–2009
label	Motown, Epic, Legacy
associated acts	The Jackson 5
relatives	Janet Jackson (sister)
website	}}

Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Often referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records. His contribution to music, dance, and fashion, along with a much-publicized personal life, made him a global figure in popular culture for over four decades. The seventh child of the Jackson family, he debuted on the professional music scene along with his brothers as a member of The Jackson 5, then the Jacksons in 1964, and began his solo career in 1971.

In the early 1980s, Jackson became a dominant figure in popular music. The music videos for his songs, including those of "Beat It", "Billie Jean", and "Thriller", were credited with transforming the medium into an art form and a promotional tool, and the popularity of these videos helped to bring the relatively new television channel MTV to fame. Videos such as "Black or White" and "Scream" made him a staple on MTV in the 1990s. Through stage performances and music videos, Jackson popularized a number of complicated dance techniques, such as the robot and the moonwalk, to which he gave the name. His distinctive musical sound and vocal style have influenced numerous hip hop, post-disco, contemporary R&B;, pop and rock artists.

Jackson's 1982 album ''Thriller'' is the best-selling album of all time. His other records, including ''Off the Wall'' (1979), ''Bad'' (1987), ''Dangerous'' (1991), and ''HIStory'' (1995), also rank among the world's best-selling. Jackson is one of the few artists to have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice. He was also inducted into the Dance Hall of Fame as the first (and currently only) dancer from the world of pop and rock 'n' roll. Some of his other achievements include multiple Guinness World Records; 13 Grammy Awards (as well as the Grammy Legend Award and the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award); 26 American Music Awards (more than any other artist, including the "Artist of the Century"); 13 number-one singles in the United States in his solo career (more than any other male artist in the Hot 100 era); and the estimated sale of over 750 million records worldwide. Jackson won hundreds of awards, which have made him the most-awarded recording artist in the history of popular music.

Life and career

Early life and The Jackson 5 (1958–1975)

Michael Jackson was born on August 29, 1958, the eighth of ten children in an African American working-class family who lived in a small 3-room house in Gary, Indiana, an industrial city near Chicago. His mother, Katherine Esther Scruse, was a devout Jehovah's Witness, and his father, Joseph Walter "Joe" Jackson, was a steel mill worker who performed with an R&B; band called The Falcons. Jackson had three sisters: Rebbie, La Toya, and Janet, and five brothers: Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, and Randy. A sixth brother, Brandon, died shortly after birth.

Jackson had a troubled relationship with his father, Joe.

The group's sales began declining in 1973, and the band members chafed under Motown's strict refusal to allow them creative control or input. Although they scored several top 40 hits, including the top 5 disco single "Dancing Machine" and the top 20 hit "I Am Love", the Jackson 5 left Motown in 1975.

Move to Epic and ''Off the Wall'' (1975–81)

In June 1975, the Jackson 5 signed with Epic Records, a subsidiary of CBS Records and renamed themselves the Jacksons. Younger brother Randy formally joined the band around this time, while Jermaine left to pursue a solo career. In 1980, Jackson won three awards at the American Music Awards for his solo efforts: Favorite Soul/R&B; Album, Favorite Soul/R&B; Male Artist, and Favorite Soul/R&B; Single for "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough". That year, he also won Billboard Year-End for Top Black Artist and Top Black Album and a Grammy Award for Best Male R&B; Vocal Performance, also for "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough". Jackson again won at the American Music Awards in 1981 for Favorite Soul/R&B; Album and Favorite Soul/R&B; Male Artist. Despite its commercial success, Jackson felt ''Off the Wall'' should have made a much bigger impact, and was determined to exceed expectations with his next release. In 1980, he secured the highest royalty rate in the music industry: 37 percent of wholesale album profit.

''Thriller'' and ''Motown 25'' (1982–83)

In 1982, Jackson contributed the song "Someone In the Dark" to the storybook for the film ''E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial''; the record won a Grammy for Best Recording for Children in 1984. In the same year he won another seven Grammys and eight American Music Awards (including the Award of Merit, the youngest artist to win it), making him the most awarded in one night for both award shows. The album topped the ''Billboard'' 200 chart for 37 weeks and was in the top 10 of the 200 for 80 consecutive weeks. It was the first album to have seven ''Billboard'' Hot 100 top 10 singles, including "Billie Jean", "Beat It," and "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'." ''Thriller'' was certified for 29 million shipments by the RIAA, giving it Double Diamond status in the United States. The album won also another Grammy for Best Engineered Recording – Non Classical in 1984, awarding Bruce Swedien for his work. Thanks to the ''Bad'' album, Bruce Swedien and Humberto Gatica won one Grammy in 1988 for Best Engineered Recording – Non Classical and Michael Jackson won one Grammy for Best Music Video, Short Form for "Leave Me Alone" in 1989. ''HIStory'' received a Grammy nomination for Album of the Year. However, the sales for ''Invincible'' were lower than those of his previous releases, due in part to a lack of promotion, no supporting world tour and the label dispute. The album also came out at a bad time for the music industry in general. Jackson rehearsed in Los Angeles in the weeks leading up to the tour under the direction of choreographer Kenny Ortega. Most of these rehearsals took place at the Staples Center, which was owned by AEG. With ''Thriller'', Christopher Connelly of ''Rolling Stone'' commented that Jackson developed his long association with the subliminal theme of paranoia and darker imagery. Allmusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine noted this is evident on the songs "Billie Jean" and "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'". In "Billie Jean", Jackson sings about an obsessive fan who alleges he has fathered a child of hers. In "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" he argues against gossip and the media. "Beat It" decried gang violence in an homage to ''West Side Story'', and was Jackson's first successful rock cross-over piece, according to Huey. He also observed that the title track "Thriller" began Jackson's interest with the theme of the supernatural, a topic he revisited in subsequent years. In 1985, Jackson co-wrote the charity anthem "We Are the World"; humanitarian themes later became a recurring theme in his lyrics and public persona. ;Bibliography

George, Nelson (2004). ''Michael Jackson: The Ultimate Collection'' booklet. Sony BMG.

Further reading

External links

Michael Jackson Live: Best Pics – slideshow by ''Life magazine''

Michael Jackson at MTV

FBI file on Michael Jackson

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Coordinates	41°52′55″N87°37′40″N
Name	Joe Satriani
Background	solo_singer
Birth name	Joseph Satriani
Alias	Satch
Born	July 15, 1956Westbury, New York
Instrument	Guitar, bass, keyboards, vocals, harmonica, banjo, harp
Genre	Rock, hard rock, instrumental rock, blues
Occupation	Musician, songwriter, producer, guitar instructor
Years active	1978–present
Associated acts	Alice Cooper, Mick Jagger, Deep Purple, Steve Vai, G3, Sammy Hagar, Chickenfoot, Jason Becker
Label	Sony, Epic, Relativity
Website	Official website
Notable instruments	Ibanez Joe Satriani Signature model}}

Joseph "Joe" Satriani (born July 15, 1956 in Westbury, New York) is an Italian American instrumental rock guitarist and multi-instrumentalist, with multiple Grammy Award nominations. Early in his career, Satriani worked as a guitar instructor, and some of his former students have achieved fame with their guitar skills (Steve Vai, Larry LaLonde, Rick Hunolt, Kirk Hammett, Andy Timmons, Charlie Hunter, Kevin Cadogan, Alex Skolnick). Satriani has been a driving force in the music credited to other musicians throughout his career, as a founder of the ever-changing touring trio, G3, as well as performing in various positions with other musicians.

In 1988, Satriani was recruited by Mick Jagger as lead guitarist for Jagger's first solo tour. Later, in 1994, Satriani was the lead guitarist for Deep Purple. Satriani worked with a range of guitarists from several musical genres, including Steve Vai, John Petrucci, Eric Johnson, Larry LaLonde, Yngwie Malmsteen, Brian May, Patrick Rondat, Andy Timmons, Paul Gilbert, Adrian Legg, and Robert Fripp through the annual G3 Jam Concerts. He is currently the lead guitarist for the supergroup Chickenfoot.

He is heavily influenced by blues-rock guitar icons such as Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Ritchie Blackmore and Jeff Beck, but possesses his own easily recognizable style. Since 1988, Satriani has been using his own signature guitar, the Ibanez JS Series, which is widely sold in stores. He also has a signature series amplifier, the Peavey JSX (although he has since returned to using Marshall amplifiers); a signature Vox amPlug headphone amp; and various signature Vox effects pedals including the "Satchurator" distortion, the "Time Machine" delay, the "Big Bad Wah" wah and the "Ice 9" overdrive.

Biography

Satriani was inspired to play guitar at age fourteen soon after learning of the death of Jimi Hendrix. He has been said to have heard the news during a football training session, where he confronted his coach and announced that he was quitting to become a guitarist. In 1974, Satriani studied music with jazz guitarist Billy Bauer and with reclusive jazz pianist Lennie Tristano. The technically demanding Tristano greatly influenced Satriani's playing. Satriani began teaching guitar, with his most notable student at the time being fellow Long Island native Steve Vai. While he was teaching Vai, he was attending Five Towns College for studies in music.

In 1978 Satriani moved to Berkeley, California to pursue a music career. Soon after arriving in California, he resumed teaching. His students included Steve Vai, Kirk Hammett of Metallica, David Bryson of Counting Crows, Kevin Cadogan from Third Eye Blind, Larry LaLonde of Primus / Possessed, Alex Skolnick of Testament, Rick Hunolt (ex-Exodus), Phil Kettner of Lääz Rockit, Geoff Tyson of T-Ride, Charlie Hunter and David Turin.

1980s

Satriani started playing in a San Francisco-based band called the Squares, where he continued to network and make musical connections (Squares sound man John Cuniberti co-produced his second album). He was eventually invited to join the Greg Kihn Band, who were on the downside of their career, but whose generosity helped Satriani pay off the overwhelming credit card debt from recording his first album. When his friend and former student Steve Vai gained fame playing with David Lee Roth in 1986, Vai raved about Satriani in several interviews with guitar magazines, including ''Guitar World'' magazine. In 1987, Satriani's second album ''Surfing with the Alien'' produced popular radio hits and was the first all-instrumental release to chart so highly in many years. In 1988 Satriani helped produce the EP ''The Eyes of Horror'' for the death metal band Possessed.

In 1989, Satriani released the album ''Flying in a Blue Dream''. It was said to be inspired by the death of his father, who died in 1989 during the recording of the album. "One Big Rush" was featured on the soundtrack to the Cameron Crowe movie ''Say Anything...''. "The Forgotten Part II" was featured on a Labatt Blue commercial in Canada in 1993. "Can't Slow Down" featured in a car-chase sequence in the Don Johnson starring show ''Nash Bridges''.

1990s

In 1992, Satriani released ''The Extremist'', his most critically acclaimed and commercially successful album to date. Radio stations across the country were quick to pick up on "Summer Song," which got a major boost when Sony used it in a major commercial campaign for their Discman portable CD players. "Cryin'," "Friends," and the title track were also regional hits on radio.

In late 1993, Satriani joined Deep Purple as a temporary replacement for departed guitarist Ritchie Blackmore during the band's Japanese tour. The concerts were a success, and Satriani was asked to join the band permanently but he declined, having just signed a multi-album solo deal with Sony, so Steve Morse took the guitarist slot in Deep Purple.

G3

In 1996, Satriani founded the G3, a concert tour intended to feature a power trio consisting of three instrumental rock guitarists. The original lineup featured Satriani, Vai, and Eric Johnson. The G3 tour has continued periodically since its inaugural version, where Satriani is the only permanent member, featuring differing second and third members. Other guitarists who have performed in such a G3 configuration include among others: Yngwie Malmsteen, John Petrucci, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Robert Fripp, Andy Timmons, Uli Jon Roth, Michael Schenker, Adrian Legg and Paul Gilbert.

In 1998 Satriani recorded and released ''Crystal Planet'', which went back to a sound more reminiscent of his late '80s work. Planet was followed up with ''Engines of Creation'', one of his more experimental works featuring the 'Electronica' genre of music. During the subsequent tour, a pair of shows at the Fillmore in San Francisco were recorded in December 2000 and released as ''Live in San Francisco'', a two-disc live album and DVD.

2000 and beyond

Over the next several years, Satriani regularly recorded and released evolving music, including ''Strange Beautiful Music'' in 2002 and ''Is There Love in Space?'' in 2004.

In May 2005, Satriani toured India for the first time, playing concerts in Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai.

In 2006 Satriani recorded and released ''Super Colossal'' and ''Satriani Live!'', another two-disc live album and DVD recorded May 3, 2006 at the Grove in Anaheim, CA.

On August 7, 2007 Epic/Legacy Recordings re-released ''Surfing with the Alien'' to celebrate the 20th anniversary of its release. This was a two-disc set that includes a remastered album and a DVD of a previously never-before-seen live show filmed at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1988.

Satriani's next album, titled ''Professor Satchafunkilus and the Musterion of Rock'', was released on April 1, 2008.

Satriani released a live DVD recording of a concert in Paris titled ''Live In Paris: I Just Wanna Rock'' and a companion 2 CD set on February 2, 2010.

In March 2010 Satriani participated with other guitarists in the Experience Hendrix Tribute Tour, performing music written and inspired by Jimi Hendrix. In April, Satriani and the rest of Chickenfoot voiced themselves in an episode of the animated television series Aqua Teen Hunger Force. In May 2010, through his website, Satriani announced he was about to enter the studio to record a solo album, and dates were also released for an autumn tour. He also said that demos had been recorded for a second Chickenfoot album.

In May 2010, Satriani joined Sound Strike, a movement led by Rage Against the Machine singer Zack de la Rocha protesting Arizona SB1070. As a result, Satriani refuses to perform live in Arizona.

Satriani released his 14th studio album, titled ''Black Swans and Wormhole Wizards'', on October 5, 2010.

Copyright infringement lawsuit against Coldplay

On December 4, 2008 Satriani filed a copyright infringement suit against Coldplay in the United States District Court for the Central District of California.

Satriani's suit asserts that the Coldplay song "Viva la Vida" includes "substantial original portions" of the Satriani song "If I Could Fly" from his 2004 album, ''Is There Love in Space?''. The Coldplay song in question received two Grammy Awards for "Song of the Year." Coldplay denied the allegation. An unspecified settlement was ultimately reached between the parties.

Other work

Satriani is also credited on many other albums, including guitar duties on shock-rocker Alice Cooper's 1991 album ''Hey Stoopid'', Spinal Tap's 1992 album ''Break Like the Wind'', Blue Öyster Cult's 1988 album ''Imaginos'', band members Stu Hamm and Gregg Bissonette's solo albums. Interestingly, he was credited with singing background vocals on the 1986 debut album by Crowded House. In 2003, he played lead guitar on The Yardbirds's CD release ''Birdland''. In 2006 he made appearances on tracks for Deep Purple vocalist Ian Gillan's solo CD/DVD dual disc ''Gillan's Inn''. On Dream Theater's 2007 album, ''Systematic Chaos'', Satriani contributed spoken lyrics to the song "Repentance." Satriani contributed a guitar solo to Jordan Rudess' 2004 solo release ''Rhythm of Time''. He also composed much of the soundtrack for the racing video game ''NASCAR 06: Total Team Control'' and contributed to ''Sega Rally Championship''.

He featured in the 2006 Christopher Guest film ''For Your Consideration'' as the guitarist in the band that played for the late-night show.

Chickenfoot

It was revealed on May 29, 2008 that Satriani is involved in a new hard rock band called ''Chickenfoot'' with former Van Halen members Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony, and Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith. The band features Hagar on vocals, Satriani on guitar, Anthony on bass and Smith on drums. Their debut album was released on June 5, 2009. The first single and video released from this album is the track "Oh Yeah," which was also played on the Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien on June 5, 2009. Satriani received a writing credit on each of the songs featured on the band's self-titled debut album. When Broken Records magazine asked Satriani in volume 1 issue 3, about his new band, he enthusiastically mentioned that "it was great fun" and it gives him a "kick in the music bone" to be playing with such great talent. He said it felt quite natural to step back and play more rhythm guitar than solo guitar.

Technique and influence

Satriani is recognized as a technically advanced rock guitarist, and is a guitar virtuoso. He has mastered many performance techniques on the instrument, including legato, two-handed tapping and arpeggio tapping, volumes swells, harmonics, and extreme whammy bar effects. During fast passages, Satriani favors a legato technique (achieved primarily through hammer-ons and pull-offs) that yields smooth and flowing runs. He is also adept at other speed-related techniques such as rapid alternate picking and sweep picking, but does not often use them.

Satriani has received 14 Grammy nominations and has sold more than 10 million albums worldwide. Many of his fans and friends call him "Satch," short for "Satriani."

An influential guitarist himself, Satriani has many influences, including jazz guitarists Django Reinhardt, Wes Montgomery, Allan Holdsworth and Charlie Christian, and rock guitarists Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck and Ritchie Blackmore.

Equipment

Satriani has endorsed Ibanez's JS Series guitars, and Peavey's JSX amplifier. Both lines were designed specifically as signature products for Satriani. The Ibanez JS100 was based on, and replaced, the Ibanez 540 Radius model that Satriani first endorsed. However, Satriani uses a variety of gear. Many of his guitars are made by Ibanez, including the JS1000, and JS1200. These guitars typically feature the DiMarzio PAF Pro (which he used up until 1993 in both the neck and bridge positions), the DiMarzio Fred (which he used in the bridge position from 1993 to 2005), and the Mo' Joe and the Paf Joe (which he uses in the bridge and neck positions, respectively, from 2005 to present day). The JS line of guitars is his signature line with the JS1000, JS1200, JS2400, JSBDG, and JS20th using Ibanez's original Edge double locking tremolo bridge. The JS100 and JS120s both use Ibanez's Edge 3 tremolo bridge. The JS1600 is a fixed bridge guitar with no tremolo system. The guitar he was most associated with during the nineties was a chrome-finished guitar nicknamed "Chrome Boy." (This instrument can be seen on the ''Live in San Francisco'' DVD.) However, the guitar used for most of the concert was in fact a lookalike nicknamed "Pearly," which featured Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates pickups.

Satriani uses a number of other JS models such as the JS double neck model, JS700 (primary axe on the self-titled CD and seen on the 1995 tour "Joe Satriani," which features a fixed bridge, P-90 pickups, and a matching mahogany body and neck), JS6/JS6000 (natural body) , JS1 (the original JS model), JS2000 (fixed bridge model), a variety of JS100s, JS1000s and JS1200s with custom paint work, and a large amount of prototype JSs. All double locking bridges have been the original Edge tremolo, not the newer models, which point to a more custom guitar than the "off the shelf" models. Joe played a red 7-string JS model, seen in the "G3 Live in Tokyo" DVD from 2005. He also has a prototype 24-fret version of the JS—now called the JS-2400—which he has used with Chickenfoot . Satriani has used a wide variety of guitar amps, using Marshall for his main amplifier (notably the limited edition blue coloured 6100 LM model) up until 2001, and his Peavey signature series amps, the Peavey JSX, thereafter. The JSX began life as a prototype Peavey XXX and developed into the Joe Satriani signature Peavey model, now available in retail stores. Satriani has used other amplifiers over the years in the studio, however. Those include the Peavey 5150 (used to record the song 'Crystal Planet'), Cornford, and the Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ (used to record the song 'Flying in a Blue Dream'), amongst others. He has recently switched to the Marshall JVM series.

His effects pedals include the Vox wah, Dunlop Cry Baby wah, RMC Wizard Wah, DigiTech Whammy, BK Butler Tube Driver, BOSS DS-1, BOSS CH-1, BOSS CE-2, BOSS DD-2 and a standard BOSS DD-3 (used together to emulate reverb effects), BOSS BF-3, BOSS OC-2, Barber Burn Drive Unit, Fulltone Deja Vibe, Fulltone Ultimate Octave, and Electro-Harmonix POG (Polyphonic Octave Generator), the latter being featured prominently on the title cut to his 2006 ''Super Colossal''.

Satriani has partnered with Planet Waves to create a signature line of guitar picks and guitar straps featuring his sketch art.

Although Satriani endorses the JSX, he has used many amps in the studio when recording, including the Peavey Classic. He used Marshall heads and cabinets, including live, prior to his Peavey endorsement. Most recently Satriani used the JSX head through a Palmer Speaker Simulator. He has also released a Class-A 5-watt tube amp called the "Mini Colossal."

He is currently working with Vox on his own line of signature effects pedals designed to deliver Satriani's trademark tone plus a wide range of new sounds for guitarists of all playing styles and ability levels. The first being a signature distortion pedal titled the "Satchurator," and recently, the "Time Machine," which will be a delay pedal, with more to follow in 2008, including a wah pedal called the "Big Bad Wah." On March 3, 2010 a new pedal was announced on Satriani's website regarding the new Vox overdrive pedal called "Ice 9."

Recurring themes

Satriani's work frequently makes references to various science fiction stories and ideas. "Surfing with the Alien," "Back to Shalla-Bal," and "The Power Cosmic 2000" refer to the comic book character Silver Surfer, while "Ice 9" refers to the secret government ice weapon in Kurt Vonnegut's ''Cat's Cradle''. "Borg Sex" is a reference to ''Star Trek'', which features a homogeneous cybernetic race known as the Borg. His albums and songs often have other-worldly titles, such as ''Not of this Earth'', ''Crystal Planet'', ''Is There Love in Space?'', and ''Engines of Creation''.

On the album ''Super Colossal'' the song titled "Crowd Chant" was originally called "Party on the Enterprise." "Party on the Enterprise" featured sampled sounds from the Starship Enterprise from the ''Star Trek'' TV show. But as Satriani explained in a podcast, legal issues regarding the samples could not be resolved and he was unable to get permission to use them. Satriani then removed the sounds from the song and called it "Crowd Chant." This song is now used as goal celebration music for a number of National Hockey League teams including the Minnesota Wild. This song is also used in EA Sports Hockey video game "NHL10".

"Redshift Riders," another song on the ''Super Colossal'' album, is "based on the idea that in the future, when people can travel throughout space, they will theoretically take advantage of the cosmological redshift effect so they can be swung around large planetary objects and get across [the] universe a lot faster than normal," Satriani said in a podcast about the song.

On the album ''Professor Satchafunkilus and the Musterion of Rock'' the song "I Just Wanna Rock," is about a giant robot on the run who happens to stumble upon a rock concert.

Philanthropy

In 2006, Satriani signed on as an official supporter of Little Kids Rock, a non-profit organization that provides free musical instruments and instruction to children in underserved public schools throughout the U.S.A. Satriani has personally delivered instruments to children in the program through a charity raffle for the organization and, like Steve Vai, sits on its board of directors as an honorary member.

Awards and nominations

Nominations

Satriani has the second most Grammy Award nominations (after Brian McKnight), of any artist (15) without winning. See further artists

Surfing with the Alien

+Nominations	Year !! Album !! Category
rowspan=2	Always With Me, Always With You	Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance>Best Pop Instrumental Performance
''Surfing with the Alien''	Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance>Best Rock Instrumental Performance
Grammy Awards of 1990	1990	Dreaming No. 11>The Crush of Love
Grammy Awards of 1991	1991	''Flying in a Blue Dream''
Grammy Awards of 1993	1993	''The Extremist''
Grammy Awards of 1994	1994	Time Machine (album)>Speed of Light
Grammy Awards of 1995	1995	Time Machine (album)>All Alone
Grammy Awards of 1997	1997	Joe Satriani (album)>(You're) My World''
Grammy Awards of 1998	1998	G3: Live in Concert>Summer Song (Live)
Grammy Awards of 1999	1999	Crystal Planet>A Train of Angels
Grammy Awards of 2001	2001	Engines of Creation>Until We Say Goodbye
Grammy Awards of 2002	2002	Always With Me, Always With You (Live) || Best Rock Instrumental Performance from Live in San Francisco
Grammy Awards of 2003	2003	Strange Beautiful Music>Starry Night
Grammy Awards of 2006	2006	''Super Colossal''
Grammy Awards of 2008	2008	Surfing with the Alien>Always With Me, Always With You (Live)

Discography

''Not of This Earth'' (1986)

''Surfing with the Alien'' (1987)

''Flying in a Blue Dream'' (1989)

''The Extremist'' (1992)

''Time Machine'' (1993)

''Joe Satriani'' (1995)

''Crystal Planet'' (1998)

''Engines of Creation'' (2000)

''Strange Beautiful Music'' (2002)

''Is There Love in Space?'' (2004)

''Super Colossal'' (2006)

''Professor Satchafunkilus and the Musterion of Rock'' (2008)

''Black Swans and Wormhole Wizards'' (2010)

References

External links

Official Website

Real "Guitar Hero" Joe Satriani turns Teacher at WorkshopLive.com

Audio Interview with Joe Satriani on Guitar Jam Daily, June 2007

Part 2 of Audio Interview with Joe Satriani on Guitar Jam Daily, July 2007

Joe Satriani 2006 Modern Guitars Magazine Interview with Brian D. Holland

MusiciansFriend Interview with Joe Satriani

Joe Satriani live pictures

Early Joe Satriani Photos

Joe Satriani guitar video workshop

Joe Satriani Artist Page at Guitar Video Channel

Category:American rock guitarists Category:American blues guitarists Category:American heavy metal guitarists Category:People from Nassau County, New York Category:Musicians from New York Category:American musicians of Italian descent Category:G3 Category:Lead guitarists Category:Chickenfoot members Category:1956 births Category:Living people Category:Deep Purple members

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