helterskelter.ca

VAI, Steve
1984 - Flex-Able.
1990 - Passion And Warfare.
1993 - Sex & Religion.
1995 - Alien Love Secrets.
more VAI, Steve.
way more Helter Skelter.

January 1984 - 2024: 40 years of: Flex-Able.

A new era is upon us.

During the post-Edward Van Halen and post-Randy Rhoads game-changing, the six-string bending was about to morph into oblivion. From the Frank Zappa band to eventual ALCATRAZZ, rocknroll world, please welcome to the arena of sports, the always flexible: Steve Vai.

Landing from above, we meet the "Little Green Men" ...a from beyond experience, this is divine. Not just whammy-bar wankery but actual synth-effects and some spatial magic.

The expressive Vai goes into bar-blues with "Call It Sleep", the dreamy "Salamanders In The Sun" and funky "The Boy / Girl Song". Riff-o-rama rock appears in the form of "The Attitude Song" and the just go for it "Viv Woman".

At the crossroad.

1984 would also bring Swedish Yngwie J. Malmsteen under the spotlight, as the 80s would finally be lead-guitar album-concept friendly. In two-years for now, the hyperactive Steve Vai would become the handy-man for one of hardrock's most flamboyant frontman: Diamond David Lee Roth.

*
Flex-Able = full LP
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDPgVLnHnTY&list=OLAK5uy_kDDEX_6foHUoY90g3grOAzo0aVYmHMUTU
Live in 1984
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YaLRHYu2isY

May 22, 1990 - 2025: 35 years of: Passion And Warfare.

"Donington please welcome his Royal darkness, the 7-string sorcerer, Mister Passion And Warfare: Steve Vai !" - David Coverdale After raising hell with Diamond Dave and being fetishized in the legendary WHITESNAKE ensemble ...the Italian stallion goes RIAA-certified Gold. After the initial exhibition of string prowess of 1984's Flex-Able solo debut-LP, Vai would now forever encompass the electric-guitar album. Written, arranged, produced and performed by Steve at The Mothership, Steve's private million-dollar studio in the Hollywood Hills, this flexable dynamite is the Mother of all instru-metal guitar-albums.

"This is my whammy-bar ...and it's gonna be loud !" - Little Stevie The dramatic "Liberty" intro rings aloud, like a rocknroll "Ode To Joy". Ethereal sights and sounds that thrust us into rock-chaos onto the following wet-dream. "Erotic Nightmares" is the one, the instrumental extravagant hardrock track that fuses pyromaniac leads, crunchy riffing and UFO-like soundscapes ...a turning-point in modern electric-guitar exploration. A crossroad of wild-wahs and dive-bombs is perfectly performed while "The Audience Is Listening". Attacking rhythms and talk-box-like riffing, this masterpiece remains one of his top attraction. The accompanying MTV-video, features a kid-like Steve, portrayed by 10 year-old up-coming BAD4GOOD guitar-star Thomas McRocklin.

But wait there's more ...it's not just some random wankery as the classy "Ballerina 12/24" sets-in. Featuring the cutting-edge Eventide H3000 Ultra-Harmonizer digital guitar-processor, it's heavenly delays and chord progressions are beyond, beyond. Even more studio-technology is put to test on the intergalactic "Alien Water Kiss" ...it literally is E.T. phoning home. Loud arenarock is present of the bestial that is "The Animal". Tuned to C, this massive piece must be handled with extreme caution, while "Greasy Kid's Stuff" and "I Would Love To" puts to shame an entire array of Sunset Strip wankers.

The spiritually awakening of "For The Love Of God" is your one-way ticket to Heaven. Vai himself confirmed that he fasted for ten days straight, before getting into the right mindset. Emotions can be cut with a knife, one the most beautiful instrumental rock-powerballads ...a pure cloud-hopping and tear-tasting experience, reminiscent of Hendrix's "Red House".

"Walking the fine line, between Pagan and Christian." After the initial the early 80s top-guns, namely Van Halen, Rhoads and Malmsteen, the Guitar-Hero status was overdriven by Satriani, Becker and Friedman. Yet Vai remains the most eclectic virtuoso: the super-shredder's Super Shredder. His out-of-body / out-of-mind expressions makes him a one-of-a-kind player along also being a studio-engineer guru and instrument wizard.

Ever since the colorful Roth-era, Vai became an Ibanez Guitars endorsee. Creating the super-Strat, the now sough-after JEM models and trailblazing the Universe 7-string models, later picked up by new-schoolers DREAM THEATER, FEAR FACTORY and eventually KORN. It all started with a vision between: passion and warfare.

Vai would continue his solo-venture and come back with 1993's Sex & Religion CD, presenting to the world his new-found weapon of mass-destruction / mass-distraction ...a young Devin Townsend !

*
The Audience Is Listening = video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8O3zC4E1NI
For The Love Of God = video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2V9yqfXIf4
I Would Love To = video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLTwqBkmxg0
Passion And Warfare = full CD
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Jmh7Zk-Bu4&list=OLAK5uy_lZ9Zc_2SUmUMfkXBb2nIuLWaeILaCQK2M
Interview in 1990
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjARr7UlvMs
Live on Letterman in 1990
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whLLDRQAXTE
Passion And Warfare - 25th anniversary documentary
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYrCaM_PIYE
Erotic Nightmares guitar lesson by Steve
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAqrwzd3FMs
For The Love Of God explanation by Steve
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPTHOsrGBoc
some guy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXWYtDB2_Fk

July 27, 1993 - 2023: 30 years of: Sex & Religion.

More passion...

The ultimate in electric-guitar witchery: Steve Vai ...and he now has a complete full-band along. The superband of superbands, get a mother-load of these monsters:

Eat 'em and smile !

The pristine-production shines as "Here & Now" breaks the wall of sound. The AC/DC-factor strikes on the title-track "Sex & Religion", while the dirty grime of "Dirty Black Hole" soils eardrums with the help of Townsend's maniacal throat.

Digital-technology brings us into the ethereal feeling of "Touching Tongues", while the posh loud-rock ballad of "In My Dreams With You", beautifully caresses the senses. Another lesson in the extremes, as "Pig" pushes the limits further and the not glamorous but sadist "Down Deep Into The Pain" tests the always in-awe listening audience.

VAI, the short-lived band dove right into the alternative-waves of 1993, like they didn't care. Following the touring-cycle, Steve's magic would flip back solo and bring more greasy kid stuff to the table: 1995's Alien Love Secrets MCD.

More warfare...

*
Down Deep Into The Pain = video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Twi28xWoLxc
In My Dreams With You = video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbiQNM0HrrI
Sex & Religion = full CD
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmfFtzqaOgA&list=OLAK5uy_keFNuLhB4LbVzAkiHbiXnOT963qRKJ7eU
MTV interview in 1993
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lp7ewS9UUBc
Live on Leno in 1993
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-ynEpNTcVQ
Live in New-York in 1993
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mb3h2YIEfC0

March 24, 1995 - 2025: 30 years of: Alien Love Secrets.

Forbidden stratospheric affection.

In this now Townsend-less era, post 1993's Sex & Religion CD ...deep down into the pain, Mister Vai stands naked and proud. Steve's flexibility is fully displayed and blue is his color of choice.

Tuned to C and crushing skulls, the "Bad Horsie" breathes fires. More metal groove is present on the wacky "Ya-Yo Gakk" ...featuring baby Julian Vai. Headbangers rejoice on "Kill The Guy With The Ball / The God Eaters" and the bloody speed riff-o-mania warfare of "Juice". Goin' full axis bold as love on "Tender Surrender" while still keeping his space-rock roots on "The Boy From Seattle".

"SHUT-UP ! we know you can play ! ...Jeesusss." - Dev Here & now in the mid 90s, were guitar-CDs are still a niche market, Steve Vai is the shyboy high on top of the skyscraper, looking at this in awe scene. More erotic nightmares shall appear on 1996's Fire Garden CD.

*
Bad Horsie = video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHubmkOe-MQ
Juice = video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdOcXEEa9RY
The Boy From Seattle = video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZebCnNl0bI
Alien Love Secrets = full CD
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kq_nUOVr_SY&list=OLAK5uy_lZBiQrAfhqT4DbqUNy0jbH7-8EuymY6ic
Interview in 1995
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tG8Cr6LLNPY
Live in Russia in 1995
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EoPhj-sl8dc
Bad Horsie in Harmony Hut in 2020
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pl46Qsk-Wvs

more VAI, Steve:

#ROTH, David Lee
&

#WHITESNAKE