Steve Vai - How I Made Flex-Able and Passion And Warfare
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 11 ม.ค. 2024
- In this interview legendary guitarist Steve Vai talks about the inspiration for his first solo album Flex-Able and the steep learning curve he experienced during the recording and mixing process. Vai also shares with us how he prepared for his follow up album years later, "Passion and Warfare", and how its success took him by surprise and set the path for a brilliant and illustrious career.
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I was working as night manager at Ocean Way Recording at the time Steve came in to play The Devil's guitar parts for Ry Cooder on the score for Crossroads. I told him that I was looking for a mixer for my home studio and he sold me the Carvin 1608 he talks about in the interview. I remember picking it up in his Sylmar studio and thinking how professional he was to have an Ampex ATR 102!
WOW! That is amazing, I'd take that thing to my grave with me, lol.
The great thing is, when Steve spots someone who is a genuine fan to the extent they’re prepared to take his and Zappas music to pieces to understand it, he gives unparalleled access to the real history of this incredible music. Well done Chanan, please keep them coming. This is perhaps the best Vai interview I’ve seen.
And I used to use Passion and Warfare to show off my stereo too! It’s an incredible sounding record.
Thank you and best wishes.
FLEXABLE IS STILL MY FAVORITE RECORD OF ALL TIMES .in any Universe - in any Galaxie - on any planet ,- periode !
love ' little green men'😁
.. i still have the cassette ..
Flex-able with Compact Leftovers FTW! 😝
@@miky8788I had it on cassette as I didn't buy a cd player till the 90s and couldn't find it on vinyl
Me too. I had the smaller vinyl record version of it. I loved the cover and weirdly the smell of it. I just loved Steve's sound, so unique back then. Unfortunately my dad or brother accidentally threw it out, argh!
This was fantastic. I never get sick of hearing anything about Frank, and I still miss him.🍻
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Tremendous ... "There's Something Dead in Here" was a favorite tune to play record stores to chase people away at closing time.
"Blue Powder" is still my favorite Vai track.
Blue Powder
indeed@@johnnyd63
These interviews should be curriculum. So insightful
If you wanna get laid, got to college. If you wanna education go to the Library. FZ.
I am definitely in "the club". Hearing Frank's music for the first time as a teenager, it was instant. I realized I had been looking for this music my whole life. Likewise, Flexible was also a life changing revelation. I remember my guitarist friend playing me the Attitude Song on the Guitar Player magazine flexi-disc, and we just listened to it over and over with our jaws hanging open. When I bought the full album, I loved that no two songs sounded alike. The experimentation on that album was so inspiring, and reflected what I loved about Frank's music as well. Unpredictable and insane levels of detail and nuance.
I also have to say, I love Steve's interview here because he gets into detail about the production on his albums and his relationship with Frank in a nuanced and emotional way that we generally don't get in other interviews. It reminds me of why Henning Lohner's PeeFeeYatko is my favorite Zappa documentary: it's the ONLY one where Frank talks about composition and working with the Synclavier. So refreshing after endless "why did you give your kids such weird names" and "how am I supposed to believe you don't use drugs" and "is it true you ate shit on stage" garbage. There's just something you can't fake when the interview is being conducted by someone who genuinely knows and loves the actual work of the person being interviewed. So great job Chanan, I always enjoy your videos!
Thank you very much.
i remember that was the very first flexi-disc that Guitar Player Magazine offered.
Yngwie Malmsteen's "Black Star" was also one of the first few
I was a straight analog guy from the 80's forward, various 8 and 16 track decks. Early dedicated hardware digital recorders were just too expensive, and computer based too twitchy. Coming into the 2000's two things happened - PC based recording became stable and workable, and I experienced non-linear digital editing. After decades of razor blades and tape, computer editing was like a religious revelation. Assembled my first computer based studio, and have never looked back.
It’s nice to hear a Steve vai interview where the interviewer isn’t asking about taking lessons from Joe Satriani
Another great segment, Love the part about him giving Frank a gold record, super touching.
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Flex-Able is a record I go back to regularly and my favorite from the shred/Shrapnel era of peak guitar playing. Even though I'd have to admit Passion and Warfare is the greatest "feat" for the era, Flex-Able is the one for me. Maybe it's the Zappa influence, maybe it's the Fender Strat, who knows. Amazing stuff that I'm grateful to have access to and it is still inspiring me decades later. Also, love the Frank Zappa insights - a miracle indeed. Thank you, @stevevaihimself and thank you Chanan for letting Steve tell the story.
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Well, that was more of a 30 minute monologue than an interview. That is not a criticism as so few interviewers have the skill to listen to their interviewees. I know next to nothing about Vai beyond his work with Zappa, but he is clearly an intelligent and interesting artist and that was thoroughly absorbing. Thanks.
You're welcome and thanks for watching.
Man I love these Vai conversations! Thank you both so much for sharing the insights and wonderful stories!
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I want to listen to Steve talking about FZ, gear and recording stuff when I'll be a grown up!
I enjoyed this so much, could listen to Steve talk all day!
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Could listen to Steve all day.
This is gold chanan all the best
Thanks Brendan.
I could listen to you two talk for hours.
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Steve is an inspirational guy, superb speaker and all round beautiful person. Massive thanks for sharing this Chanan. I hope u asked him for a collaboration, I reckon you two would make something special together
I agree and thank you for watching. Best wishes.
I still have the flexi disc from Guitar Player. I'm never not amazed by that album to this day.
I still miss Frank, the world lost some true spirit the day he left us.
I just love hearing Steve talk about Frank, and anything actually. He's right, it's a club that we belong to, we get it. I love that somebody that actually played The Black Page on stage with the master loves Electric Aunt Jemima. Thanks Chanan ! Also, if anybody is a fan of this channel lives near Olympia WA or the Puget Sound in General and would like to get together and play music let me know.
Interviewer knows how to do his job, ask a question and let the artist answer. Steve had an answer, he was catching memories, re-remembering little details, joking and also educating the listeners all because he was allowed to build on his thoughts. Bravo!!!
Haven't listened to Flex-able for a long time, and will have to check it out again. Remember that Salamanders in the Sun always stood out as being on a level w/many of FZ's best like The Little House I Used To Live In or Peaches en Regalia...just beautiful timeless shit that really improves your quality of life!
Yeah, "Salamanders in the Sun" is a beautiful piece of music.
These conversations are pure gold.
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The best thing is to just let Steve Vai talk
All of Steve's work is Next Level. The Alcatrazz album Steve mentions, "Disturbing the Peace"(1985), is a "must-listen" for any serious fan of Metal. Genuine goosebump stuff. Alcatrazz's Graham Bonnet's vocals, are still as amazing TODAY as they were THEN.
I studied drums from age 12-22 with the late great Carl Mottola and Joe’s Garage was what I called my senior thesis. I transcribed the record over 2 years and went right into sessions and then engineering/mixing and without Frank and Steve and Vinnie on drums I would not be the person I am today. This was a great interview and I thank u both for taking the time to produce this and have it available on ur channel. My channel that I have with my writing partner Chase is called Kasio Jones. We do straight up pop music and am so proud of this work and again thanx to u both🎶🙏
These Zappa stories are great!
Thank you both
Listen this is just amazing. Each conversation with Vai is, like he said, an epiphany. Thank you so much for these interviews. Hugs from México 🤘🤘🤘
Thank you.
‘Good work, sport’ … wow.
Thank you so much from Quebec ! 😊
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Thank you so much Chanan and Steve for making this possible. These videos are a real gift not just to Zappa and Vai fans like myself but also for learning about the creative process, equipment, gear and the way their music was actually put together is so exciting for me and I'm sure as others discover the channel they will be fascinated as well. At the Brisbane Inviolate Tour show, I got to ask Steve a little about his creative process and I felt so blessed by what he shared. Fellow fans may be interested to know that Steve still records lots of stuff(obviously it's easier because of digital recording on your phone etc) however he played us a sample of a fan for example that was making an interesting rhythm noise(it was probably in need of a service), but it reminded me of a friend who was doing a percussion thesis at his music school and while he was doing his washing, the washing machine was making these strange patterns and so he wrote them down, turned them into a drum piece and everyone loved it. Amazing how the world is a musical oasis waiting to be heard by the right ear. Thanks so much Chanan for putting these videos out. Here's to a wonderful 2024.
You're welcome and thank you for watching. Best wishes.
This is exactly what a great interview should be like: Ask a question to get things started, then let the artist talk without interruption. Perfect!
wonderful thank you for these conversations. What Steve said at the end rang true for me. It IS interesting to hear all these stories
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Superb...that is what a real interview is...no ego from the host ..just let Steve tell his story.
Great channel mate
Even though I was already a bog fan of FZ’s work, when Passion and Warefare came out, it changed my understanding of what was possible with both electric guitar, production, and music itself.
Thank you for this - I've always wondered how Steve got his chops in terms of engineering and mixing
Flexible was the shot in the arm for me whilst going thru the Mahavishnu / Dixie Dreggs / Holdsworth/ etc. era of my listening curve. Just like Frank , Steve saved me ! Respect Always
Same here. I was 12 when I first heard Frank. Freak out. I was hooked.
Frank was a genius! Steve Vai is also a true guitar virtuoso, and guitar hero! What a fantastic interview! Love the deep dive! Last time I read about Stve’s Passion and Warfare studio, he talked about how he built it in a guitar magazine…well before the internet. So this was a treat! Thank you! ❤️🫡
What a great interview ! I love to hear how those seemingly little things can lead to great ideas. I remember getting pink Steve Vai newsletters delivered - from Sylmar back in the 80`s , just wish Id kept them !! my Flex-Able cassette was played to death !!!
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When Flexable came out. I was walking into Musik Musik in El Cajon. When I walked in the guy behind the counter says "Do you realize that the guy who walked out while you walked in is the greatest living guitarist." I said something like "He doesn't look like Robert Fripp." Then he got excited and said "Listen to this it's his new CD that he just now dropped off.". I listened and immediately said "Hmm sounds like Frank Zappa." He got even more excited and said "No it's Steve Vai, Frank Zappas stunt guitarist. That guy over there is Frank Zappa's son!" I was sort of shy and in a state of disbelief but I talked to the Frank Zappa's son. He had the same sense of humor and looks.
I don't know if I was broke but I didn't buy the CD. Maybe if he had not hyped it so much and I just listened I might have bought it. I did buy Passion and Warfare and I thought he was better than Satriani. Not as good as Fripp though. Lol! I was nuts about Fripp back then.
I truly loved this (sorry love as I listen to this again and recall just how much beautiful unique original heartfelt music there is squeezed onto this one album). As a teenager with music production aspirations the fact that this was self produced and self released was truly inspiring. I listened to it so much that I still know every single sound on this album nearly 40 years later.
thanks Steve and my best Frank memory was as a radio guy worked his way thru the crowd to get backstage wearing a horrid rug in his head one bandmember renarked well was that a toupe...? Frank said...ah more of a flashy fez..❤
Qué tipo tan grande es Vai. Me quito el sombrero ante semejante animal de la música. Me estaría horas y horas escuchándole contar historias. Gracias Chanan por esta fabulosa entrevista.
You're welcome. Un saludo!
Vai's description of FZs practice of editing tape is amazing!
Nice one, another fascinating insight into the world of Frank. It really got me when Steve said that he realised just how interesting all of these tales would be for other members of 'the club' he absolutely nailed it. Thanks to both of you.
🍃🌴🎙️🎸🎛️📻🔊🦜It’s one thing to try and understand music when you hear a guitar player🦎 but you really start learning when you listen to one speak. MaxLove!❤️🔥👊😎🍄🎶🦩🌊🍃
"Let's do more", Steve says at the end. I'm looking forward to that!
I really live the song Blue Powder from Passion and Warfare. I wish he played it more often.
Amazing again. Thanks 👌
Flex-able is the stuff!! That set a standard for me that I still find very rare in recorded music in a lot of ways. I'd love to hear more of that kind of music from Steve (or anyone, recommendations welcome)! Anyway, it's awesome to hear him talk about creating this music, and it's nice that he comes across as a really good guy. Many thanks to you guys for making this available.
Thank you for making this.
Thank you for sharing this, that is awesome❤
Brilliant albums. Legend!
great interview
I could listen to Steve all day. Thank you!
Oh man, this is so good, so interesting! Thank you!
You're welcome and thank you for watching.
This is such a beautiful interview - Vai is filled with so much inspiration and joy here. Thank you for this!
Excellent work Chanan yoru channel is doing great stuff. Big thanks to Vai to talk openly and in detail like this. Look forward to some more interviews like these.
This interview is beyond amazing!!!
Thanks for this, always love your interviews. Yes, i was the same when i first heard Passion and Warfare . It wasn't so much the guitar playing, which was amazing. But the engineering and production values really floored me. Learning that Steve had done it all himself really left an impression on me.
Yes I agree, the production on those albums, particularly PAW is outstanding.
I love everything about this.
Great stuff. Thanks to both of you. Definitely want more!
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This interview is so transparent!
Thank you so much, fascinating close up. Particularly interesting and moving that Steve received high praise from the master.
Great entertainment for those who care❤
Love this interview, tons of new insights
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Waiting for more of the same at this level
Thank you both
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Brilliant. It was worth the wait Chanan thank you :)
Thanks John. Best wishes.
Thanks for sharing!!! ❤
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Great interview - loved this, so many interesting stories.
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Thanks a lot!)
You're welcome and thanks for watching.
Thank you Steve. Thank you Chanan.
What a wise man!
Great video!
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Great stuff
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Very interesting!
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It is great to hear Mr. Vai speak about a "club" of people who really dig FZ's music and for whom it is so precious. It gives me a sense of belonging.
What a great "interview". Actually, it is just Chanan listening to these wonderful stories about Frank. Just let Mr. Vai talk. No questions asked. Really great.
Crazy cool! Im upgrading my recording gear now. This will help me tremendously. Thanks man!
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All pure insight without one iota of ego.
Great vid Chan. I still have ‘Flex-able’ on vinyl from when it was released back in the day 😆🐜
Thanks Ant, and thank you for introducing me to Steve Vai's music back in our Neath College days. I hope you're well my friend.
Thanks so much for sharing ❤
🙏❤🌹 Frank 🌹❤🙏
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@@ChananHanspal 😃 👍 👊
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"Oh boy. Good work, sport."
interesting story 🙂
The passion and warfare album.. ah.. such a pivotal moment for me at the time (and for many I presume) .. totally immersed in guitar virtuosity I was..
big fan of his (up till alien love secrets - then switched to classical and what have you). It's great that Vai is sharing all this background information, gives another dimension to my appreciation for his output 😀
There's one thing that reeks a bit insincere and that's the "I didn't have any expectations, I didn't think anyone would care" sort of narrative; he was already exposed to performing on stage... tasting success of playing odd music (Zappa) .. therefore having an idea of a market for it.. so did he really buy/borrow all the equipment.. go through all the trouble of converting the shed into a recording studio etc etc.. just to produce "something nobody would care for"? perhaps to a certain extend but how did the attitude song end up as a flexi disc in a guitar magazine?
No disrespect, I love his music and think Steve Vai is a wonderful person (based on his interviews, and music of course!) - and great story teller - but some of his story telling is not in line with his business acumen that he also testifies to in more credible terms.
What’s even more fun was splicing 2” tape. The first time is nerve wracking but you actually don’t fear it after a few times. Luckily it was not something that needed to be done very often.
He became a CENTRAL SSSSSCCRRUUUTINIZZZEER
Liw liw, liw liw.
Fascinating bit about his console. I always felt the sound of his records changed after Passion and Warfare and I didn’t like it as much. Nothing has ever reached the heights of his production on P&W.
Anecdotes
My mom used to tell me " you can be anything you want to be, within reason"
when i asked her what she meant when she said "with in reason"
she said
YOU ASK A LOT OF QUESTIONS FOR A GARBAGE MAN!
More 4k!!! hahaha funny as fuck
Zappa was a bad ass...rip
Like a perfect sphere in a jar.
Please help me. I cannot understand Steve Vai in 21:50. Wich band is Steve talking about? Green...?... Blues ???
Steve looks like he could be in The Sapranos as a nieghborhood store owner ...lol
Simply marvellous! This is such a treasure trove. I have been a fan of Frank Zappa's music since I was 7 years young, and got Steve Vai's Frank Zappa guitar book as a bd gift from my stepfather. Then I saw Crosseroads, and learned about his impossible guitar parts on FZ's records. I could listen to this forever. I even did a tapping arrangement of Eugene's Trick Bag: th-cam.com/video/bIZT9v2RkZY/w-d-xo.html
For more details for Passion and Warfare recordings , look at this video : th-cam.com/video/g3xCAngOWX8/w-d-xo.html
Fish heads fish heads tiny little fish heads 👏😂
The sound on passion amd and warfare is a bit harsh to me. Flexable sounds better to me and fuller and more intimate. Best home rock studio recording