{"title":"Steve Vai","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"inviolate","title":"Inviolate","description":"\u003cp\u003e Steve Vai has continually challenged notions of traditional guitar playing and composition – and on more than one occasion even reimagined the very instrument itself. \"I don't sit around and say, 'Okay, what can I do now that pushes the boundaries?,\" Vai explains about his approach to the guitar. \"What I do say to myself is, 'Okay, Vai – what are you going to do now that's going to interest you, that's going to fascinate you, and that's different than anything you've done before?\" The answer to that question comes in the form of Vai's newest and 10th solo album, 'Inviolate', a nine-song opus that does indeed push the boundaries of instrumental guitar music – this time out, Vai quite literally invented not just a new guitar, but also a new guitar-playing technique. The Hydra, the elaborate three-necked steampunk-inspired guitar that Steve holds on the album cover, is actually played on the song 'Teeth of the Hydra'. On the other hand (no pun intended), Steve recorded and played the song 'Knappsack' with just his left hand, after his right arm was in a sling following shoulder surgery. At the same time, 'Inviolate' presents his most focused, streamlined and perhaps invigorating music in years. The album features a host of esteemed musicians, including Billy Sheehan, Vinnie Colaiuta and Terry Bozzio.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Favored Nations","offers":[{"title":"Black | LP","offer_id":50404793123147,"sku":"1139765","price":27.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":50404794663243,"sku":"1139764","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/a42fa810-0f7f-41cc-8224-57d1c6f6adb9_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1726571240"},{"product_id":"vai-gash-2","title":"Vai \/ Gash","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSteve Vai\u003c\/strong\u003e shares, \"This record was written and recorded in somewhat of a stream of consciousness in 1991 within perhaps a 2-week period as an answer to my desire to have a particular kind of music to listen to when I was riding my Harley Davison Motorcycle with my friends. It's reminiscent of a certain type of rock music I enjoyed as a teenager in the 1970s. These recordings sat on the shelf for over 30 years and are being released now in 2023.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eAn abbreviated synopsis of the anecdotal history and fond remembrances\u003c\/em\u003e as articulated by \u003cstrong\u003eVai\u003c\/strong\u003e in the liner notes offer detail on singer Gash and his deep connection to \u003cstrong\u003eVai\u003c\/strong\u003e. From his teenage years on Long Island, to today, he has openly shared his love of motorcycles. Gash shared that passion. After three decades, \u003cstrong\u003eSteve Vai\u003c\/strong\u003e has finally shared this master with The World. In his opinion, \"He would have absolutely been the greatest rock lead singer you would ever want to know. All the elements were in place, but he was gone.\" Disheartened, I put the entire project on the shelf, and would listen to it at least once a year for the past 30 years, especially around the anniversary of his passing. Then recently something compelled me to want to put it out now. \"I wish you would have had a chance to get to know John. I believe you would have loved him just as we all did. For now, he is In the Wind.\"\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Favored Nations","offers":[{"title":"LP","offer_id":50453904064843,"sku":"2008523","price":27.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"CD","offer_id":50453904687435,"sku":"2008524","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/Gash_f035eef5_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727178639"},{"product_id":"flex-able-36th-anniversary","title":"Flex-Able: 36th Anniversary","description":"\u003cp\u003eComing fresh off his 3 year residency as lead guitarist in Frank Zappa’s band, Vai spent the majority of 1983 in the studio. These recordings resulted in the 1984 release of \u003ci\u003eFlex-Able\u003c\/i\u003e which introduced Vai to the world as a solo artist. The standout instrumental track, “The Attitude Song”, was featured in the October 1984 issue of Guitar Player magazine as the first sound sheet Flexi Disc and quickly established Vai as a bonafide and powerful innovator of guitar pyrotechnics. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eFlex-Able\u003c\/i\u003e has served as an integral part of Vai’s career that paved the way for him to join Alcatrazz, David Lee Roth’s band, Whitesnake, and his follow up, platinum tour-de-force, second album \u003ci\u003ePassion and Warfare\u003c\/i\u003e. No expense or process was spared in the refurbishing and re-release packaging for \u003ci\u003eFlex Able\u003c\/i\u003e. It was remastered in 2020 by Bernie Grundman using the original ¼” analogue master tapes. The package includes a single CD in a dual pocket gatefold wallet with an immaculate 32-page booklet featuring many never before seen photos as well as extensive liner notes written by Vai recounting the story of how this record came to be.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Light Without Heat","offers":[{"title":"Clear | LP","offer_id":50454459842891,"sku":"1153200","price":49.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"LP","offer_id":50454457254219,"sku":"1153199","price":42.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":50454463349067,"sku":"1153198","price":17.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/83e9ed65-86b3-4f31-ac58-11df3b11dad1_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727184064"}],"url":"https:\/\/shop.roughtrade.com\/collections\/steve-vai.oembed","provider":"Rough Trade","version":"1.0","type":"link"}