Steve Vai 1990 Network Television Debut

[@joeylodes]

I remeber staying up ALL NIGHT waiting for this part of the show when I was a kid!!! Amazing!!! Thanks so much for posting this!! Ahhh... the memories! Joey Lodes

[@sunnys5150]

I was in 10th grade here. Those days in music were somethin else. A world of talent.

[@ace1usmc]

I remember seeing this when it happened. That segment where Dave is "rifling" through random phone books was hilarious. He would get his assistant to bring in a phone book from somewhere in the middle of the United States in a rural area, and randomly call a number from the book and ask them "How's the weather?" and I remember the woman that answered that night was clueless and funny. I was standing up from the couch when Dave said "What the new guy is too good to play some rifling music?" and Steve responded with 'Whole Lotta Love' in a New York minute. Such a quick-witted and PERFECT response. And Dave's reaction was real and genuine and pretty much matched everyone's surprise.

[@RodrigoCFD]

This video is awesome. It has an incredible historical value. Plus, it's always good to see Steve playing an Universe. Wish he started playing an Universe again!

[@interminablyperplexed4903]

That album is so creative. Many folks just think of him as a shredding tool, but this man created some beautiful outside of the box sounds that were/are fun to listen to. P&W takes me thru a myriad of emotions in about 60 minutes. Genius, dramatic performer and nice dude.

[@MusicissuperiorEVHROX316]

Passion and Warfare is far beyond just wanky guitar playing, it’s musical, eclectic, story driven, evocative and deeply soulful. There’s nothing like listening to the album on vinyl, it’s an absolutely otherworldly experience.

[@warptek]

Steve Vai had to hold back that night. The Letterman band is only so limited you know. :) At 4:10 he channels Jack Butler.

[@sammyhillback968]

Every time I try to play a Steve Vai song, my guitar laughs at me and says: "Steve Vai man, that's too much for you man".

[@alexsherel3344]

Way too much car for you right?

[@josephcent]

He's the greatest...

[@paulwall1981]

All I can say is that this is the master at work. Mr Vai cannot put a foot worng. Brillaint work and the best was yet to come from him later on. Top marks.

[@Fearzero]

He cannot play blues. Zero feeling in that style. But he is a great specialist at progressive music.

[@MusicissuperiorEVHROX316]

@@Fearzero I think he’s a pretty solid blues player; listen to his song “The Boy From Seattle”. That’s a lovely piece of music.

[@mutludogan8670]

It's an honor to be a network television that welcoming VAI... :)

[@sbrave]

Pretty good tone for that little Marshall practice amp

[@MusicByDamienA]

That’s actually an amp he would use a lot in his studio recordings because of the tone

[@JoshMurphyShred]

that tiny little bit of feedback, right before the first notes of "Liberty", is just beautiful for some reason.

[@FlaGuy66]

I met Steve last weekend and got a Passion and Warfare LP autographed. He's gotten even better on the guitar (if that's possible)

[@guerrero89holy]

this version of spanish castle magic is beautiful... in my opinion steve must do a complete concert with jimi's songs, a tribute .... sarebbe bellissimo

[@mreyes8519]

The outro solo of liberty good lord.. so epic

[@Jasonjk74]

That was an amazing time: "I Would Love To" getting radio play and the album going gold, Eric Johnson going platinum with Ah Via Musicom and "Cliffs of Dover" getting airplay.

[@rockandroll63]

Superb tonal control.

[@alal6964]

He's really an icon

[@DenPay]

Oh man! I wish I could've been in the audience that night. Hell, I had know idea it was even on. But the cassette was in the car stereo at the time. Believe ME, it was! TIMELESS GREAT!

[@Geeteaohh]

Simply awesome... I got this album the day it came out... I so over played this record over and over. So raw so Steve... so cool. Awesome to see this on Dave's program. Thank you for posting this video!!

[@ivi13]

I was all over this when this was on-have this on vhs somewhere

[@JaneDoe-ql7sc]

i love the beginnings of this song!! and his playing reminds me of how frenetically the kids play video games

[@PeterHBne1]

I saw Steve Vai live in a a horrible hot sweaty room in Brisbane about 14 years ago. MY GOD HE ROCKED.

[@chez117]

My favorite part was when he played some Zeppelin. GO STEVE!

[@GuitarONtatami]

yeah, that is just perfectly nailed

[@fc7alibi]

Wow, he pretty much did all Henrix (Spanish Castle Magic, Wait until Tomorrow, Voodoo Child) I love how the band guitarist just stares at him at around 4:23. It's like an alien were there.

[@DenPay]

Like, Steve Vai man, he's too much man, Steve Vai! I love it. Thanks for posting this.

[@jeannestein9312]

Still my beating heart : I am sooooo jealous of that guitar♡♡♡♡♡♡

[@MusicissuperiorEVHROX316]

I’m a straight male, but I can recognise an attractive man, and I gotta be honest, he was a very good looking guy around this time.

[@youcdtube]

simply put, he's the best!

[@R_SENAL]

I was alive for this, but didn't know it was happening so I missed it! Wish the vid could be restored more, but I understand all too well what happens to magnetic tape over time. Steve is still the best, still innovating... new album here in 2022 Inviolate is the best since Passion & Warfare and Alien Love Secrets.

[@ThrashRoC]

Steve Vai .... REALLY the Best Guitarist of todays I Mean i am the BIGGEST Fan of Jimmy Page , Clapton , Van Halen and Hendrix for shure , They are the Kings , But Stevie here ...OMG He is UNBELIEVABLE good GREAT SHOW

[@chrisnealis4270]

There would be no Vai(as we know him) without Jimmy Page. He has said in many interviews that "Jimmy Page and the music of Led Zeppelin was really the thing that pushed me into an obsession". That is a direct quote.

[@jaimeat1268]

Passion and Warfare. I have that CD....since 1990s

[@dphidt]

You can find original H3000 units on eBay. They were the newest thing in 1990. Eventide has the H8000, H7600, and eclipse units now. These rack units are not cheap, but are some of the best out there.

[@sbtoolman12123]

anything vai plays is freaking gold,that man could play mary had a little lamb and i record it and listen to it 100 times! VAI ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@andrewjenkinson8948]

It actually should be pointed out what amazing musicians Paul Shaeffer(sp?) and the CBS orchestra are. And if I ever start my own country, Vai's Liberty is going to be my national anthem.

[@whitelotus808]

He has the ability to be a total badass but almost never turns that switch on anymore. Steves really matured over the years and has became a self-fulfilled prophet. I just wish he was a bit conceded so his playing really gets through to ignorant listeners, because even today, at the age of 51 going on 52, not too many people can outplay him. Hes the rocky of guitar.

[@fadethetrade]

I love how with ease he breaks out in a zeppelin riff!

[@mariachipr]

this show use to run at 12:30 am, nobody but hardcores watched this. I loved this I watched this way back when. Blew me away.

[@GuitarONtatami]

It is awesome, killer tone and playing

[@damianval4626]

I remember sitting up late one night and seeing this 🤯 I live in Australia so I had no idea he was on Letterman that night😱 Anyway it was one of those nights as a teenage kid that I'll never forget ☺️

[@gorethem]

Love this vid. Vai is the master !!!

[@Radwalls]

His universe is so sweet

[@gasfervis]

4:49 awesome alternate picking on the universe... I miss it

[@joellegg2181]

steve vai freakin shreds!!

[@TrickyE]

@Alejandro4891 it's such a sweet guitar, but that's actually a Universe, the 7 string model with some other variations in it as well :)

[@BledsoeBluvd]

amazin, i wish tv was more like this today

[@rodrigoandres7168]

That Valvestate Tone, damn!

[@tjborekvideo]

I suspect it was just a prop, which is even funnier. I *think* Vai was still rockin' the Carvin X100B as his main live amp. Still, surprised that wouldn't wheel in some kind of half-stack instead of making him look like a middle-school kid. (I don't mean that as criticism for the Marshall, but Vai is a tube amp purist.)

[@samuelarman9693]

And thus, the legend is born.

[@Voicecolors]

Man thanks so much for this!Rare and great video!

[@einarabelc5]

Hey, God bless you too. Argentina has great Rock culture and great base for music.

[@lk4790]

holy jumping shit, discussing south american bands in English! now thats something i have never seen on youtube. I love Soda stereo!

[@RobertBrown79]

how young is david latterman.. OMG... he makes Vai look old.. hahaha.. love you Vai... you seriously rock... seen you at G3 in aus.... loved it... you be the best...

[@fadethetrade]

great! VAi and Paul,what a combination!

[@visiting31]

Thanks

[@aliensporebomb]

Ballerina 12/24 - a brave choice for a tune to play as your features debut. I knew he'd have to go nuts after it though.

[@guitarmajster]

the letterman show, legendary, and steve with his swirled universe, awesome stuff

[@SalvoVecchioGuitar]

Steve is the best

[@evh4611]

Cool dude

[@waltermirren7957]

Some people prefer not to see irrelevant Listerine commercials when they click on a link.

[@Lioninthenight]

I remember seeing this show live and video taping it. Awesome performance. That's a seven string guitar btw. That's how he gets those very unique and interesting notes. Vai is one of the best.

[@stephs.8134]

A true Guitar God

[@riggins25]

that was the cool old show

[@zappafile]

@MaggotIam this song used a popular device called an Eventide Harmonizer. Basically two delays pitched up and down and panned left and right. Cool huh.

[@TheAppieJj]

WHOLE LOTTA LOVE

[@davidgallegoz]

Honor a Quien honor merece!... Steve Vai es Grande Por el amor de dios!!!!. YEAH!!!!!!!!!

[@RichTones]

I have this on VHS tape too in my archive and is just as grainy.

[@altemu]

that's a great video!!! tnx a lot and greetings from italy

[@ChadBurk4420]

Cool CLIP THIS IS AWESOME!!!

[@howluckyhrcosmo]

me encanta el SV de esta época, joder!!

[@adds3566]

thank you so much for the clip, i have only seen part of it before.

[@digitalboomer]

That gig on Letterman is harder than it looks. The band covers about 20 songs a show, and they are condensed versions mostly. If you've ever seen the show live in NYC, the band is also very, very tight as they have to be for television. Not a very fun musical venue, but it beats flippin' burgers at Wendy's I suppose.

[@MusicissuperiorEVHROX316]

It is a chance for them to be seen by thousands of people still, definitely beats flippin’ burgers at Wendy’s.

[@llellin2l]

i remember when this aired

[@Gregorypeckory]

That's like saying Jimi Hendrix slays John Williams-apples and oranges. I appreciate both, but if I had to choose, Steve's the guy. The coolest things Mayer has done were done before by his heros-the pop stuff is unremarkable. Vai, on the other hand has invented his own style, was in Zappa's band playing "impossible guitar parts" at a tender age, and has done all sorts of things nobody else could have done.

[@metalhead00xx]

Whoa this was great, thanks for uploading it.

[@Koffieleuter]

Treasure!

[@MoonyUrsa]

i love how people in the looked early ninties!

[@MrLeedsman]

Thanks for posting this! Super cool!

[@testprogressive3441]

es el increible Steve Vai !!!

[@Alejandro4891]

steve's jem is fucking awesome

[@Equestional]

whoa...vintage 90s :D

[@rockhurstalum09]

EPIC

[@jereibanez]

the song is ballerina from passion and warfare.i am from argentina mi english is bad

[@einarabelc5]

You'll have to wait for Seville 1991 with Brian may, Paco de Lucia, MacLaughlin, Di Meola, Bettencourt, Walsh and Satriani.

[@seventieskashmir]

only the intro of born to be wild at the end are live!!!!!!!

[@gunnerslash]

@feratu22 Have you ever heard Bad Horsie? Steve himself in the Astoria DVD says "Welcome to the Heavy Metal part of the Show"

[@Kramermanhimself]

GOD!

[@dreamwever87]

man spanish castle magic sounded great!

[@FilmForger]

Should've played Blue Powder on air instead of on commercial

[@dphidt]

@shredmaster100 The harp sound is courtesy of an Eventide H3000 harmonizer.

[@guitarded5198]

Pretty sweet MC hammer pants Steve!!

[@sportsportsport]

Oh yeah! I cannot believe I did not have that in the bag!.. I'm ashamed of myself. :(

[@smoothielova]

yeeeah!!!!

[@davidgallegoz]

Por ke en la television mierda Mexicana no hay programas y artistas como estos invitados...!!! Es un honor tener a este maestro en un programa, moriria por ver algo asi en mi pais. Pero es una lastima ke el gusto de la gente de aki sea una mierda gigantesca!. Saludos!

[@Achilles-xw8xh]

The tapping solo of Steve at 4:44 in what song is contained? And do you know what pedals he is using other than Wah wah?

[@AstorSkywalker]

and we didn't know what was coming with the years! Just liberty was good enough for many years!

[@malagueta1986]

fuck HD i love this quality...

[@gamergeek3000]

teh bass line on voodoo chile was ill nasty.

[@dphidt]

@shredmaster100 You may also find the effect in the more affordable Eventide Pitch Factor pedal. They list for about $500.

[@goldenaxeband]

OMG, they were freaking out with the ballerina 12/24 thing

[@andiirejino1210]

am I the only one who sees him using that little Marshall amp?

[@claudiocruzat4768]

to play that you need a good pair of hands,..a little amp, a wha pedal..ah! and even with a gio 250 it would be the same. cheers

[@YaYousef5]

See that amp behind vai at 1:57? Word is he recorded For The Love Of God with that very same amplifier.