Steve Vai

Steve Vai, born 6/6/1960 in Long Island, NY and raised in Carle Place, NY was a pupil of Joe Satriani as a teenager and studied at The Berklee School of Music (his father sold his life insurance policy to pay for the tuition. Vai graduated from Berklee in 1979) before moving to Los Angeles at age 19. He was a huge fan of Frank Zappa's and joined Zappa's band in 1980, after proving that he knew most of the repertoire and could transcribe orchestral pieces by ear. Zappa often credited Steve on albums as "stunt guitarist".

Vai provided guitar and/or vocal for Tinseltown Rebellion, Shut Up 'N Play Yer Guitar set, You Are What You Is, Ship Arriving Too Late To Save A Drowning Witch, The Man From Utopia, Them Or Us, Thing-Fish, Frank Zappa Meets The Mothers Of Prevention, Jazz From Hell, Guitar, You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore Vol. 1, You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore Vol. 3, You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore Vol. 4, You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore Vol. 5, and You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore Vol. 6; also on the Beat The Boots series disk As An Am (BTB).

Steve Vai can be seen in the Zappa movies Dub Room Special, Does Humor Belong In Music? (The Film), Uncle Meat (The Film), The Amazing Mr. Bickford, Video From Hell, & The True Story Of 200 Motels.