Steve Vai Talks About Generation Axe

STEVE, THIS TOUR SOUNDS LIKE A DREAM. HOW DID IT BECOME A REALITY? It started out as a concept back in the early days of Favored Nations. I wanted to put together five of the best female guitar players, and then have one backing band. Then some years later, I got a call from Miles Copeland and they (CIA) wanted to put on some kind of a guitar festival. I’ve played in many guitar festivals…and I’ve jammed many times with many great guitar players, and the thing I wanted to avoid was doing something that was repetitive…where it’s a whole day of just guitar players…which is nice, but I didn’t want to do a tour like that. I wanted to do something different. So I presented this concept of having one backing band and five fiercely talented guitar players within a particular genre who could really create something different. I enjoy getting on stage with a bunch of other guitar players and jamming out blues and trading solos, but I wanted to raise the bar and do something more…

So, in my mind, I always thought it would be absolutely spectacular to see five very accomplished guitarists playing where there are moments when they’re totally free to just blow, and times when there’s actually a cohesive melodic structure…because five-guitar part harmony, at various blazing or slow speeds is something to behold. It’s exciting, it’s interesting, it’s beautiful…just the sound of guitars playing rich lush harmonies together…you just don’t hear it unless you’re listening to Brian May. I can’t remember ever hearing five guitar players on a stage doing something like what I was envisioning. Most of the time its just trading solos. And when I mentioned this idea to Miles Copeland’s camp, they were very excited about it. So we created a co-venture, and this is it.

Then I started thinking…I created a list with genre categories at the top and filled it in with my favorite players in various genres. I decided to go for the metal rock genre because it contained such powerful players. It was difficult to get everyone’s schedule together but oddly enough, all the players that committed were within the top 5 of my list. Everybody who’s on board for this is really excited about it, so we feel like we’ve really got a tiger by the tail.

CAN YOU SHED ANY LIGHT ON WHAT WE CAN EXPECT TO SEE AND HEAR WHEN THIS IS IN TOWN?
Once we got into rehearsals, we had to figure out which people worked best together, complementing each other in certain sets. The whole evening is going to flow, there’s not going to be down time between songs…it’s almost like tag team wrestling. I don’t want to give anything up here, but everyone has a chance to play their own music with the backing band and to blend with various players.

WILL ALL FIVE PLAYERS BE ON STAGE FOR THE ENTIRE EVENING?
(laughs) No, no, that would take months of rehearsal. But at least at one point, everyone will be on the stage at the same time…actually, at three or four points.

I wanted to create something where the audience gets to experience each player on their own for a little while, and then is joined by another player. There is a track where there are three players, one where there’s four, and then some where there are all five players. I’m trying to keep it very even because I don’t envision this as something where there’s a headliner. Everybody is so talented! Everybody delivers! And I really like diversity. One of my favorite things about life in general is the intense diversity in everything. So when I put together a show of my own, I try to offer as much diversity as possible. And these players are all pretty diverse, within a given genre.

You’ve got me…kind of quirky and eccentric, and you’ve got Zakk who just totally balls-out rocks. His notes weigh a thousand pounds each…you’ve got Yngwie, who is so…so…so, Yngwie! (laughs) watching him play can cause you to hemorrhage adrenaline from your nostrils. It’s breathtaking really. I think Nuno is one of the more underrated players of our time. He’s really quite a great musician. His chops and creativity are formidable. And what can be said about Tosin? He’s still being discovered. His whole brand of music…rhythmically, melodically, harmonically…the way he plays…the instrument he plays…the way his music is built is unique. He represents an evolution of everything that came before. And even if you’re not in tune with a particular player’s style, there is so much to choose from.

GUITARS FOR THIS TOUR?
I’ll probably bring Evo, Flo…maybe Girlie, and Bo. But it’s according to what songs we’re playing. There are a few things in E flat, so I’ve got to bring another guitar for that. But really, it’s going to be relatively spare. I’ll be using my normal rig. My rig is very simple…it’s two of my Legacy heads with 2 4×12 cabinets, and a pedal board that has most effects in the Fractal Axe FX. With five guitar players…that’s a lot of guitars we’ll be dragging along, so I’m trying to keep it simple for everybody.

SO THIS IS REALLY THE TOUR TO CATCH IF YOU’RE A GUITAR FANATIC…
I just love the guitar. I always have. Throughout my entire career…with everything that’s come and gone, and come and gone, and come and gone…and then come and gone again, (laughs) the one thing that’s never diminished…in fact, that’s actually continued to grow stronger, is my connection with the instrument and my love for it. And I know the people in the audience feel the same way…the guitar lovers. And this is the tour for them. If you like this style of music, and you like these kinds of players, I humbly believe you’re going to see something you’ve never seen before and you’re going to thoroughly enjoy it.

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