Vai/Gash Steve Vai

• 1In The Wind03:49
• 2Busted03:05
• 3Let's Jam04:19
• 4Woman Fever02:26
• 5She Saved My Life Tonight03:39
• 6Danger Zone03:53
• 7New Generation03:33
• 8Flowers Of Fire04:44
• Total Runtime29:28

Info for Vai/Gash

Vai/Gash is a collaboration album of Steve Vai and Johnny "Gash" Sombretto, recorded in the 90s. The recordings sat on the shelf for 30 years, and they are finally seeing the light of day!

Around 1990 Steve immersed himself into riding motorcycles and biker culture. This led him with a desire to record a straight ahead rock album. Through a friend he met Johnny "Gash" Sombretto. Gash was an avid motorcycle enthusiast, who was severely scarred after an accident at the age of 21. Steve and Gash hit it off immediately.

Steve got Gash to sing over these biker type songs he wrote, and nothing prepared him for the voice that came out of Gash's mouth. This was the voice he wanted to hear wailing over these slamming rock tracks. Despite Steve's other musical projects at the time, like Sex & Religion, there were always plans to release this record.

But if wasn't to be. In September 1998, Steve's phone rang, and John's girlfriend told him that John was in a bike accident and killed. Disheartened, Steve put the entire project on a shelf, and moved on to other projects. After three decades, the album will be out, as a tribute to what would definitely have been one of the greatest lead rock singers.

It took thirty years for Vai to actually release this work – going back and forth over the decision after the loss of Sombrotto. “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’.” (Blabbermouth)

Johnny "gash" Sombretto, vocals
Steve Vai, vocals, guitar

Steve Vai
born Steven Siro Vai, is an American guitarist and composer, born June 6th, 1960 in Long Island, New York (making him six years old on the sixth day of the sixth month in 1966, as he noted in the introduction to his guitar transcription book of Frank Zappa). Vai is best known for his self-composed, performed and produced guitar instrumental music, but he has also played on the recordings of several other rock acts.

Steve Vai made his name playing 'stunt guitar' with the legendary rock performer, composer, music producer, and publishing mogul Frank Zappa. In the early 80's he replaced Yngwie Malmsteen (a good friend) as lead guitarist in Graham Bonnett's Alcatrazz. Then he joined former Van Halen front man David Lee Roth's group to record the albums Eat 'em and Smile and Skyscraper. Vai also stepped into guitarist Adrian Vandenberg's shoes to record with British rock legends Whitesnake (after Adrian Vandenberg injured his wrist due to some exercises he found in a book and tried out) shortly before recording was due to begin for the album Slip of the Tongue.

Steve Vai continues to tour regularly, both with his own group and with his one time teacher and fellow Grammy award winning guitar instrumentalist friend Joe Satriani (on the G3 series of tours). Steve recently teamed up with former David Lee Roth band member Bassist Billy Sheehan for a world tour. G3 2003 features Steve, Joe Satriani and Yngwie Malmsteen.

Steve Vai's music has featured in a number of feature films, including Dudes, Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey and Ghosts of Mars. He appeared onscreen in the 1986 Ralph Macchio vehicle Crossroads, playing the demonically-inspired Jack Butler. At the film's climax, Vai engages in a guitar duel with Macchio (with Ry Cooder dubbing Macchio's part). The 32nd note quick tempo pseudo-classical-baroque track (entitled Eugene's Trick Bag) with which Macchio wins the competition was composed by Vai, heavily based on Paganini's Caprice Op. 1 # 5, and has become a favorite apprentice-piece among many guitar students. Vai received a Grammy Award in 1991.

Where Vai's contributions to others' material has been constrained by the largely rock or heavy-rock style of those bands, his own material is considerably more esoteric. Vai is an accomplished studio producer (he owns two: 'The mother ship' and 'The harmony hut') and his own recordings combine his signature guitar prowess with novel compositions and considerable use of studio and recording effects.

Steve Vai owns 'Favored Nations', a recording and publishing business which specialises in looking after both newly discovered and already high profile recording artists from around the world. Vai is married with two children (Julian Angel & Fire) to Pia (former Bassist of All-Female Group 'Vixen', which can be seen in the movie 'Hardbodies'). He also enjoys keeping bees, which regularly produce a crop of honey that Steve sells for his chosen charity every year through his web site. (Source: 8notes.com)

This album contains no booklet.