He released his first solo album Flex-Able in 1984, while his most successful release, Passion and Warfare (1990), was described as "the richest and best hard rock guitar-virtuoso album of the '80s".ġ990 - Passion & Warfare (25th Anniversary - 2016)ġ998 - Flex-Able Leftovers1999 - The Ultra ZoneĢ002 - The Elusive Light And Sound Vol. He also designed the first commercially produced seven-string guitar, the Ibanez Universe, which became popular among bands in various genres the 1990s, including nu metal death metal, and progressive metal. The launch of the Ibanez JEM guitar developed and co-designed by Vai was described as the "exact moment the entire guitar landscape was reshaped". Vai has been described as a "highly individualistic player" and part of a generation of "heavy rock and metal virtuosi who came to the fore in the 1980s". Additionally, Vai has toured with live-only acts G3, Zappa Plays Zappa, the Experience Hendrix tour, as well as headlining international tours. He has recorded and toured with Alcatrazz, David Lee Roth, Whitesnake, as well as having recorded with artists such as Mary J. He embarked on a solo career in 1983 and has released eight solo albums to date. A three-time Grammy Award winner and fifteen-time nominee, Vai started his music career in 1978 at the age of 18 as a transcriptionist for Frank Zappa, and joined his band from 1980 to 1983. He was voted the "10th Greatest Guitarist" by Guitar World magazine, and has sold over 15 million records. Steven Siro Vai (/vaɪ/ born June 6, 1960) is an American guitarist, composer, singer, songwriter, and producer. No.Vai, Steve - Studio Discography (1984 - 2016) Track listing Īll tracks are written by Steve Vai, except where noted.
Stephen Thomas Erlewine at AllMusic gave Sex & Religion two stars out of five, calling it "the most predictable and conventional-not to mention boring- of Vai's usually remarkable career" and criticizing the band as being "pedestrian".
STEVE VAI PASSION AND WARFARE TORRENTS PROFESSIONAL
The band split up after the album was finished, and Vai subsequently toured only with Townsend and several session drummers and bassists (including Abe Laboriel Jr., Toss Panos, and Scott Thunes).Ĭritical reception Professional ratings Review scores As Vai explains, there was heavy expectation to make another album in the style of Passion and Warfare (1990), but he instead made the decision to go in a radically different direction, therefore confounding many fans and critics. It was originally intended for each musician to contribute ideas and play a large role in the creative process, but Vai ended up micro-managing the whole project, which caused much conflict during the making of the album. For Sex & Religion, Vai wished to put together a band of "monster musicians" which included himself, Townsend, drummer and fellow Frank Zappa alumnus Terry Bozzio, and bassist T.