Crossroads - Head cutting duel

Guitar duel from the movie Crossroads

[@MrZipdang]

Steve Vai deserves a bloody Oscar for this scene! So dramatic and hilarious, no lines just his presence and insane playing. The Devils Guitarist! 🤘

[@HappyAstronaut-bi2ml]

🏇

[@nicholasmuro1742]

He looks possessed. Looks a bit like Paganini as well.

[@frankrobinsjr.1719]

I've known, as I'm sure most people have, a few people who were so good at their art seeing/hearing a mistake would actually make them cringe. I always wondered how much it hurt him to hit a wrong note/not be able to hit the note.

[@CachoMartinez-bd5qp]

Uo😊y 🕘 😊9😅88j8😊0😢que se oye 9😊😊o😊j9

[@moiseshernandezmartinez3403]

EN CONTRASTE CON ESA CELESTIAL MAGNÁNIMA MAGISTRA EJECUCIÓN LAS CUERDAS DEL DESTINO LIBERARON ESA PLÉYADES DE VIBRATIUM VIRGEN PURO …DIOS MÍO QUE SINCRONIA

[@stephenlord7316]

I’m not sure who the better actor is in this scene. Ralph Machio for acting like he could play or Steve Vai acting like he couldn’t.

[@DrLuke49]

Ralph woodshedded for months while he was filming this movie so wasn't any acting in this scene. He channeled Mr. Miyagi through that guitar. ***BANZAI***

[@ronaldh8446]

Great comment. Macchio does pretty well mimicking Ry Cooder (thanks to coach Arlen Roth). Not flawless but you can tell he worked hard at it and the result is exceptional.

[@christaleavey9725]

That’s really a great observation Stephen and seriously funny as hell.

[@ACEDIAMOND666]

Ironically enough, Ralph can actually play guitar in real life, but not like in this scene.

[@hosiebushiv1481]

It is crazy that Steve Vai played both parts of the duel. Essentially, he had to lose to himself. Just proves that we are always our own worst enemy. Great film!

[@rdmcneal]

One of the most powerful displays of guitar masteries all in one movie I love this movie from the first time it came out never gets old.

[@Albert-Mag...]

Me too Bro ..Cheers from Vancouver BC ..,, Canada's Rock and Roll concert capital of the '60s & '70s

[@billphilips8522]

yes it does get old and no one worth a shit cares about this anymore.

[@geradpelletier478]

🎉❤😂

[@nicholasmuro1742]

Beer League is better... lol

[@taichifenghuang]

We need to know, all the guitars of that film , recorded by Steve Vai

[@keiman74]

Aside from his guitar playing I don't think Steve gets enough credit for his acting during the duel. He goes from being the cocky ruler of the roost to getting serious when he realizes Lightning's no pushover, to looking concerned and even worried when he sees Lightning pull off a move he's not sure he can match, and then finally dropping his guitar and walking off stage without a word when he realizes he lost. It's an excellence performance.

[@MrPHart]

The whole show is an "excellence performance" sir!

[@mattsmith9348]

Decades later after seeing this movie, when the classical guitar kicks in, goose pimples and chills all over. Love this.

[@longrider42]

You and me both. You and me Both. Plus it was one heck of a Classical song.

[@KSNSATX]

Paganini violin.

[@MrStickyfingers22]

Ain't seen this for 30 years, never gets old. Great movie and story.

[@jcgarcia1931]

Man, the look on Steves face when faced with Ralphs final solo... Its just priceless. He played the roll well IMO, perhaps his finest...

[@dlc1119]

What's better that IS Vai playing that solo.

[@danieldavis7434]

​@@dlc1119exactly lol. He played both his part and Ralph's for the classical part.

[@franksliwa362]

Even though this was posted 15 years ago…this is one of my favorite guitar battle scenes!! Great movie too!!!

[@cliffordtillman]

I just rewatched it too. It’s so good. Loved this movie. Inspired me to learn guitar.

[@Kalah_]

Shoutout to Steve's acting here. Real nice stare at Ralph, as if he's just realized "OK, the kid's got game."

[@ronwelch9180]

Always thought Vai deserved an Oscar for his facial expressions. They were great.

[@timorean320]

It took Steve Via 20 takes to make a mistake on his guitar.

[@Anasaera]

Steve via? Or vai

[@justinklinck6575]

That's pretty crazy. But once you get down that muscle memory on a solo it almost becomes a reflex to play it perfectly.

[@gregoryanangelo1197]

@@justinklinck6575 oh shit muscle memory, i hope i have a fuck ton of it

[@moparmatthew77]

Well in real life Stevie won cause he beat himself . Ralph Macchio can't play guitar and Stevie actually plaid all the riffs

[@d.nakamura9579]

Normally it takes much longer, if ever.

[@sethmaki1333]

That red Ibanez Vai is playing in this scene is on display at the Hard Rock Casino in Biloxi, MS and is completely unrestored, complete with the dings sustained when Steve threw the guitar down in defeat.

[@jamesdean8022]

Thats not an Ibanez, its a Charvel Pro San Dimas

[@blainhawkins7648]

I seen it too

[@JohnThomas-bz7xw]

It is there, as of July, 2021. The sad part is the back is facing the deck, the front faces the lobby ... on the second floor. Difficult to take pictures of this iconic 🎸.

[@justantrevinoadams2523]

It was fried once he threw it down on the floor. It'll take mandatory hours and time to restore that guitar.

[@jaker2542]

Dang, i need to go see it now. I live like 10 minutes from there

[@HerrinSchadenfreude]

Steve's fake intensity kills me every time. That, him pointing to his own fretboard like "look right here", and him pointing the guitar at Ralph and shaking it during vibrato like it's firing bullets. He's so awesome

[@user-ri3py6zw6m]

Стив Вей просто умница

[@MitchellMaichak-ze7mr]

Form followed function !!!

[@GBeret83]

Ralph Macchio should've won an award for acting like he could really play the hell out of a guitar and Steve Vai should've won one for acting like he couldn't.

[@bigmanspecz]

Fun fact: he could actually play the guitar but not well enough to play the whole thing especially the ending solo arlen Roth taught him

[@tinasally379]

Was gonna say the same thing... he did pretty good mimicking a Rock God like Steve Vai

[@GBeret83]

@@bigmanspecz , Always thought it was Ry Cooder that actually played Macchio's guitar parts for the head cutting duel?

[@bigmanspecz]

@@GBeret83 Steve vai, ry cooder and Bill kanengiser played the classical peices while arlen Roth taught Ralph the peices for the end but Steve vai played the final peice in the song aka eugenes trick bag

[@daniel1974c]

I went to an arlen Roth clinic when I was younger. He said He taught Ralph to play for the movie and he could play a lot of the parts well

[@jaimetijerina1569]

We were at Steele con in Pittsburgh pa and had a chance to talk to Ralph for a while since it was the first day of the con and it was at the end of the day and there were few people there. I asked him about the movie crossroads and working with Steve and he replied that Steve was crazy fun to work with and couldn't stop listening to him play the guitar. He add, never thought the great Steve Vai would be giving me guitar lessons.

[@konigeurichderwestgoten4460]

I have to grin when that woman and everybody else in the joint celebrate Willie and Lightning’s victory.

[@rishikesh1087]

I've commented before but just can't refrain from doing it again....This scene and entire movie for that matter is grossly underrated. I had no idea what I was watching as a child.

[@danriley5848]

I remember as a kid holding a cassette player up to the television to record this scene just so I could learn Steve Vai's guitar parts. Kids have it so easy nowadays with the internet and being able to instantly find and record anything.

[@blaire.mansell8945]

We had it easier not being brainwashed and glued to our cell phones. ❤️

[@DouglasRichardson-er4ky]

... I'd record off the radio that way for songs I'd request then sit there w my finger on the pause button lol 😆

[@d.nakamura9579]

This never gets old

[@swirling5418]

i keep coming back,

[@ADC6828]

Best part of the movie....

[@zatarasankofa7892]

seen better: The Commitments and Idlewild, to name two;

[@petroc62]

Nope, never...

[@billphilips8522]

yes it does, its crap.

[@2FRESH-4U]

What an amazing movie what a awesome representation between the timeless battle between good and evil

[@timothylowe5603]

Best almost nine minutes of any movie ever

[@eugeniofrancescodimatteo7217]

Serve vai se lo mangia a colazione l'altro chitarrista, ma il film doveva andare così, nel film Steve è assolutamente fantastico

[@gustavogutierrez5482]

One interesting view on this duel is they staged it too look like a battle between rock, portrayed by a lobg-haired rock star who is a guitar wizard with an attitude versus blues, portrayed by a humble young kid who looks like a shy little thing with a heart.. since Steve played both parts, it is amazing how he developed both solos, providing very different character and tone to each one. He really makes you believe they are really two completely different personalities fighting on the stage. Great scene!

[@jonesq63]

I didn't really know that. I kind of figured that Steve is doing both parts, it was amazing

[@rslawsky]

And when it came down to defeating Jack Butler, Macchio's character falls back on his classical training.

[@johnnycoolguy9554]

The only exception is Ralph Macchio's slide guitar section. Ry Cooder performed those parts. The rest of the scene was all Steve, though.

[@johnnycash1365]

Ry Cooderplayed the slide parts

[@roncar1761]

"Shhhhh...I am trying to listen! And don't tell me how it ends! (👍)

[@matthewfritz7396]

As others have stated, the guy that portrayed the Devil played this part to perfection. Those 2 lines he said send a chill down ya backbone. I ALREADY GOT YOU! AND AINT NOTHING EVER AS GOOD AS WE WANT IT TO BE.

[@dooval434]

"Ohh I can get us there real quick!! Jack Butler's gonna like you!!" Man makes your skin crawl!

[@dooley9621]

Grew up watchin this over and over

[@dooval434]

Brilliant battle. Look at Ralph when he was finished. No smile, no confident, "yeah, im a badass!" He had this look like, "That's all i got man, you top that, you got me!" Love that!

[@ikkenhisatsu7170]

One of the greatest scenes ever, in my opinion.

[@ACTUALLYRICH]

Man there is not nearly enough music/band movies out there

[@darthvader4339]

Cause they are so damn hard to make because it will just look off if the actor is miming it really bad

[@rhyscallen6915]

Eddie and the cruisers!!

[@brianbeans2190]

One of the few movies I ever watched with my father. See you at the crossroads pop. ❤U forever.

[@hoodootheclown929]

You notice that Lightning Boy's sound matured noticeably after Jack lost? Like when Willie said "you got a little bit of lightning, but your missing everything else... Mileage". Beating Jack sure gave him that mileage. His sound throughout the whole movie was clean and technical. That last bit was some NASTY work.

[@dougcampbell9907]

Damn man, all my years watching this (saw it in theaters when it came out) and I never looked at it like that. Gave me a new perspective on something I’ve watched countless times!👍👍👍👍

[@chadpaul7518]

Bought an axe when this show came out. Smoke on the water is still all i can play. 😎

[@lszfarray5929]

Thas better than nothing 💪🏾😎

[@angrycat3525]

But I bet you can play the crap out of it, so rock on!

[@chadpaul7518]

Only the rif!🤣

[@deannederhoff]

Then you just wasted money then

[@chucklillard1243]

First time I seen this was when it came out on VHS. We were all fryin on acid. Oh the 80's....

[@seranodefranco1203]

People don't know what a masterpiece is this from Steve vai guitar playing guitar solo for two roles and this is 1 of great music movie ever.

[@benpotzkai6432]

I watch this video at least twice a week and still can't get enough

[@Crunkboy415]

Somewhere in heaven EVH is shaking his head at Steve Vai 🤣

[@eduardoescobar566]

This was the weirdest karate kid movie ever.

[@soupwizard]

"Sweep the scales!"

[@MichaelJohnson-ln1in]

😂😂😂🤘🤘🤘

[@dnwlogisticsllc8609]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@lcruce]

Not karate kid., IS crossroads.

[@stevestringer7351]

Bonsai!!!

[@okaybean2379]

I love how Steve Vai is such a guitar god that he transcribed Eugine's trick bag and then wrote everything else... What a beast

[@jb-ks9kh]

I love ry cooders slide in this, and that southern comfort movie, its magnificent .

[@garryleach8517]

This is why I started playing the guitar this film is a classic😎😎😎

[@Dcba964]

And this is why i quit...😞

[@leolldankology]

This film inspired me to shred the kazoo.

[@markr.devereux3385]

Vai gets props on a shredfest.. this was cutting edge at the time. A true movie moment.

[@alexmurphy5289]

Whammy bar and a wah...incredibly important for this tone and for Steve Vai. Absolute legend and a huge HUGE inspiration of mine

[@KennethWilson-hy7rs]

Beautiful

[@MASTERSKITLEZ]

Price of an Inferno Red Jackson Dinky: $1030 Price of a standard Yellow Fender Telecaster: $600 Steve Vai's expression at 6:38: Priceless

[@B8sean]

On what planet is a 70s tele only $600? Send me there please!

[@smedleybutler8787]

Mex Tele yes

[@smedleybutler8787]

@@B8sean made in china

[@B8sean]

@@smedleybutler8787 too bad he isn’t playing a mex or mic, he is playing an American

[@larry6686st]

Wonder if that telecaster actually belongs to Steve Vai?

[@jonesq63]

Not a word spoken. Yeah, a great guitar duel. It was terrific watching Steve

[@christiancarrera4476]

Somehow… a well elaborated classic still kicks the hardest core still today

[@loganbrown3565]

Music is timeless

[@mariogonzales1333]

Just crazy awesome Guitar playing,now that's Guitar playing of the Gods🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸👍.

[@robertrobertsakarogerslemer]

Original score by Ry Cooder. Guitarists are William Kanengiser, Arlen Roth and Steve Vai perform in the film but are not featured in the soundtrack.

[@adolflazary5864]

Basada en Bach. Impresionante

[@technewsfortechnoobs]

To this day I have still never once seen anyone play a guitar with fingers like he did in this film. Ever.

[@1destined]

5:20 - Everyone thought the match was over, and then the kid goes, “Allow me to reintroduce myself.”

[@diegogarcia-ud7ii]

Yeah, you really got to have sympathy...

[@Anonymous-jd3zc]

allow me to introduce Malmsteen

[@kevinenger8623]

From a movie aspect,,, this scene is killer!!!! Always brings a smile to my face!!!!!

[@kz1ee1kz]

Браво, Брависсимо людям, что такую музыку нам предоставляют!

[@user-cz2bz4fi1p]

Стив Вай собственной персоной снялся. Вначале фрагмент с альбома Alien love secret "Bad horsie"

[@joeszczechowski8333]

Steve Vai is simply a guitar god. Never got the recognition he deserves.

[@bobberguy1]

Reportedly net worth of 14 mil. That's a lot of recognition.

[@Opticep]

Steve Vai, arguably one of the most talented and famous guitarist out there didn’t get any recognition? What?

[@miken.4693]

Technically he is great but, he never played in a highly successful band so while he may be awesome to the guitar nerds a lot of people have no idea who he is. Compare Vai’s recognition against Hendrix, Page, Clapton or many others and You can see that those guys had technical ability and the album/ticket sales to go with it. Thats the difference.

[@georgeerhard1949]

@@miken.4693 Pretty sure "Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention" qualify as a successful band. Steve Vai was one of Frank's proteges. He taught Vai how to play one of his "impossible to play" pieces by giving him the music in parts, having him practice each, and then said "now play them all in sequence". The song is "What's New In Baltimore".

[@strattuner]

THE HARMONICA is pure class,mixed with the lead,what a cruise

[@palmerlp]

I just realized that when Steve points at Ralph during the first solo he isn't just taunting him, he's signaling "I go, then you go."

[@jrreedve2825]

At the end, it’s like Daniel-san went... oh we aren’t jamming out... your fool ass is trying duel me?!

[@mumenrider862]

This never gets old...

[@OGWonkavisionHD]

Stevie vais vIagra wore off in this battle. Ralph macchio went on to never get laid in the karate kid movies until he got married in kobra Kai.

[@billphilips8522]

@@OGWonkavisionHD hahahaha

[@josepharchuleta3129]

I once heard it said" the only guy that could beat Steve Vai, is Ralph Machio"!😂

[@dansgroi1472]

Whupped em. Lol

[@dorinemort6359]

The only one who can beat Steve Vai would be Stevie Ray or Hendicks or Eddy- RIP

[@aservant2287]

@@dorinemort6359 joey satch

[@CBDre423]

I always loved the fact that it is his love for all music that Eugene wins this. He studied all music, in this film was taught to respect it as well, where Jack Butler probably only studied rock and thought selling his soul was enough. My take away anyway.

[@davidrapant6398]

The whole idea of there being a Crossroads where guys go to make a deal with the Devil so so intriguing. Really surprises me that more movies have not been done with this storyline. This movie is great from start to finish.

[@richardtaylor8595]

The best movie ever and the best guitar match ever. Stevie Via played his part and Ry Cooder play the parts for for Scott. I love this movie.

[@sergiomeireles6581]

Um dos melhores filmes que vi entre o bem e o mal... Stevie Vai é o meu eterno ídolo.

[@TT-kp3cz]

Loved this scene. That was guitar lessons every Saturday instead of playing with his friends outside, ha! Paid off😊

[@muffdiver666]

As quoted in the movie, "them Pussy notes" saved his ass! Only then dude realized the technical skill of classical compared to some elementary blues that he could barely belt out on the harp...

[@sergiopaim7884]

Sensacional , espetacular ,ótimo . Grande duelo. Esse guitarrista é fora do planeta .👍👍👍👍👍

[@williamtolliver4350]

Finally, the whole thing.... I been lookin for this one..

[@christopherberryhill3802]

I love this movie. I play guitar and I was born in 1984. For those of yall keeping score, I was 1 1/2 years old when this movie come out. 🤘

[@AugieDoggyDoo]

I loved this movie. I have been looking for it to watch again.

[@domtanko7160]

Fun Fact..........Vai's guitar in the duel is now ON DISPLAY at the Hard Rock Casino in Biloxi

[@senseigit7015]

m.kzbin.info/door/euPoH7NPCV4_OAb3vybudQfeatured !!!!

[@kurtfroberg6636]

Yeah, well... Casinos like to give Hope to gamblers.

[@MattashiComposer]

6:28 backup guitarists : we got you homie

[@BradPham]

It was the angels up above on their Prince Cloud guitars.

[@ZackyZombify]

“Beat him with the blues” *plays classical*

[@christofferpawirodinomo7639]

Lightning the only guy that got to challenge the devil and walk away as the champion and lived to tell the tale.

[@kurtfroberg6636]

Johnny in Georgia: “Hold my extra fiddle strings.”

[@johnyc9856]

When you watch him play he does it justice way to go rock on

[@richarddonegan4666]

Thanks Joe and Steve, epic!

[@benlynar9438]

Such a beautiful sound

[@jerrysweet8202]

Absolutely loved this movie as a kid! Jam baby!

[@crazyralph6386]

Love how everyone stood up for the devil making his entrance, and only sit after he does. He’s the master of ceremonies of “cutting heads” 😂

[@kevincarpet]

The guy who played the devil really had made his part pure perfection!!

[@hilariobraga1385]

Impressionante, quanto mais eu vejo estás cenas,mais eu gosto desse filme Crossroads.

[@user-bb8pb3ur6g]

Спасибо за название фильма. Обязательно посмотрю.

[@Ebs_Q]

Man that last solo brings tears to my eyes!

[@illumardimago2307]

Wow. Love the blues and this movie. Of all time one of the. Best

[@whiskeytangofoxtrot5244]

Steve's hands make the neck look small. He is the man !

[@acrocks6893]

For those of you that don't know?? Steve Vai is playing both guitar parts!!

[@hiramclark2635]

I had heard Ry Cooder was responsible for the blues side. More especially the slide blues that he was known for.

[@ianfranks7182]

@@hiramclark2635 i also thought Ry Cooder played the other guitar part

[@cdltraining8252]

GET OUT!!! REALLY??? I saw this movie when it came out in 1986 in high school this whole time I thought Macchio was playing his part that whole time

[@dennisromero4757]

Thank you for this clip, I could watch it a hundred times (if I haven't already).

[@grogtgs]

I never heard of this movie. All these clips are making me want to watch it.

[@chrissanders3398]

This sends chills through my fro.

[@slappy8941]

That's a nice fro.

[@chrissanders3398]

@@slappy8941 fro sure😎👍

[@slappy8941]

@@chrissanders3398 Ain't no jive!

[@TweedSuit]

Didn't realise Frank Zappa auditions were so intense.

[@belrenmcglothlin247]

Probably my favorite comment period lol

[@Schooner77]

🙂

[@johnnycoolguy9554]

Okay, that was good, now transpose the whole thing to be in 7:8 and start from the end and work your way backwards.

[@Reverendwin]

Lol!!!!!!!

[@Reverendwin]

Fav comment

[@robertquackenbush5547]

Love the guitar work very awesome

[@user-fu4il4sj8g]

amazing storytelling just via guitar playing.

[@coolmusic1579]

When you mess with lighting boy, you get the lit up by the lighting. 🎸⚡

[@lalyka7238]

Боже, как прекрасно❤❤❤

[@sergiopaim7884]

Grande disputa. Assisti varias vez o filme A Encruzilhada Guitarrista fora de Série.👏👏👏👏 Gancho, praia grande sp 2023

[@terrybailey2430]

Its really one of my favourite scenes in any movie. I love the Robert Johnson legend.

[@bassbeardiful]

This was the first kid in American History to have 2 master's of different arts and of different skin colors. What a legend Ralph

[@badazzmaro]

Like Asians in karate and blacks in blues?

[@bassbeardiful]

@@badazzmaro yes. To the best of my knowledge that hadnt been done before for an actor. Probably wrong lol

[@punishthewicked5845]

I had a chance to purchase one of Stevie Vai’s old guitars at a guitar center I’m Long Island,should have iconic legend

[@billcox8870]

Amazing guitar work

[@user-zq1wc6mn6t]

Фильм офигенный,смотрел в детстве,лайк!!!

[@jesusalonsoguevarasanchez9578]

Me encanta ver cómo baila la hembra enfundada en piel... el real espíritu del baile sin inhibiciones; GENIAL!!!

[@TheChef470]

A great scene from an epic shredder Mr. Steve Vai : )

[@JoeTi88]

Every year, nobody asks and have clue of why; I always come back to watch this scene at least once.

[@Schnuddel77]

It took me weeks to download only the audio from n*pst*r back in the late 90´s, months for the Video and years to find a dvd of it... and still it gives me chills...

[@CaptainNicBlake]

AWESOME guitar!

[@djrychlak4443]

When Jack lost, he knew his soul was destined for larval eternity. Or not.

[@jerrykilgore218]

When ever I need a pick me up that scene always does it for me!!!

[@Odessaterp]

One of my all time favorite movies. Really liked Joe Seneca in it.