We could write a romance about Steve Vai and the guitar. The young man who so impressed Frank Zappa at the end of the 70’s is arguably today’s most famous solo guitarist.

Is it possible to ensure quality in the pop scene? If you heard Steve Vai working with many pop artists you would probably say yes. Renowned in the pop world for doing unusual and high quality music, Vai has provived amazing moments to music lovers especially for the last 13 years since the release of his most well-known album, ‘Passion And Warfare’.

His romance with the guitar is now shown on DVD, man and guitar melded together as one. In this exclusive interview, Vai tell us about this new chapter in his history, as well as the future: the CDs of the Secret Jewel Box, and his next CD of new compositions, as well as discussing the G3 tour. Let’s see what the man of the guitar-shaped heart has to tell us.

You’re just releasing a new DVD that has been incredibly anticipated by the fans. What was it like working on a live DVD, producing it and why did you choose to record it in London?

"I was on tour in Europe and my manager and I realized that I had never released a live DVD of any of my concerts so the thought of filming the two shows in London seemed like the best opportunity. It's a cool, funky type of venue and we had two sold out nights. I prefer to record two shows for a DVD because them you can choose the better performances from two nights. We were able to budget for four cameras each night."

You were supported by a super band. What can you tell us about each of the musicians, their functions and importance to the shows and the tour in general?

"I consider myself tremendously fortunate to have the opportunity to work with the musicians in that band. It's important to me to have capable musicians in the band but even more than that I need cool guys that get along and are interested in having a good time. In the past I have toured with people who were miserable and it's no fun. I would never do it again. These guys make the touring experience something to treasure. Tony McAlpine is a completely accomplished musician with mature and creative musical sensibilities. He can play virtually anything on the keyboards that is humanly possible and his chops on the guitar can bury me. This gives the opportunity to do things with two guitars that would be virtually impossible with a conventional guitar player. Virgil Donati is, in my opinion, the world’s premier technician on the drums. Odd meters and polyrhythms are very natural to him. Dave Wiener is a very solid rhythm player and is one of the most consistent and reliable musicians I have ever worked with. Whatever parts he is delegated are performed with consistency every night. I can rely on him. And Billy Sheehan is the most unique rock bass player that ever lived. He has created and cultivated a style that is unlike anyone else. The two of us together make an explosive team."

You’re also working in a new CD. I know that you had to change some of your first ideas for it. Is that true? What can the fans wait from this new album?

"I started out with a very ambitious project that was going to be a double CD Rock fable type opera with characters and everything but the production got intensive and was going to take close to an additional year to complete and I was going to be subject to the schedules of many other people. It started to get compromised with tracks that I felt I needed to include just for guitar fans when in reality the project was to be more like a musical. I decided to take what I had and put it on the shelf for a while and make a more simplistic record that focuses more on the guitar. The record I'm working on now is more of a cross between Alien Love Secrets and the vocal side of Fire Garden."

G3 2003 finally had the line-up that most of the fans were waiting for. Why did this idea of working with Malmsteen not happen before?

"The G3 experience is a celebration of the guitar and music in general. When the feelers were put out to the fans in what they would like to see on the bill, it came back more that two to one that Yngwie was what they wanted. Yngwie is a uniquely gifted artist with a very strong vision and extraordinary confidence in his work. He is truly the most dedicated guitar player I have ever known. He plays constantly and is fiercely devoted to his art. I always respected him but after this tour I have found a whole new level of respect for him. People see the wild stage persona but that's him being true to his art. Having him on the tour has inspired me tremendously. More than any of that I gained a friend. He may not want me to say this but underneath all that "time to rock" is a guy with a big heart."

Let’s trade our functions. As a music lover and also with critic ears, how would you review a show of this G3?

"If I was to attend this G3 show I believe I would walk away feeling that I have witnessed a unique form of entertainment by highly crafted musician who represent the elite of the elite, playing in top form. Because I'm a guitar player and like all good players regardless of their styles I would see the differences in each of the players and would appreciate each of them equally for what they do. I believe I would walk away feeling as if I experienced a historical event, that's because I'm a guitar lover and to me rock guitar concerts are highly enjoyable."

In G3 you’re always accompanied by Joe Satriani, one of your biggest influences. Everybody knows also about your admiration for Frank Zappa. Would you say that those two musicians were the main influences you had as a guitarist, musician? Which others would you mention as influences on you?

"Everyone I have ever worked with had some kind of influence on me but Joe Satriani and Frank Zappa were my mentors. There are things I learned from Frank that are part of the way I do business and write my music everyday. Joe was always great, even as a teenager, and I was able to witness that first hand once a week for 3 years while I was a teenager. Jimmy Page, Jimi Hendrix, Brian May and many more of the 70's rock guitarists have had a big influence on me too. There are many contemporary guitarists that I find stimulating too, such as, Johnny A., Tom Morello, Monkey and Head from Korn, David Torn, Reeves Gabrel, Edward, etc. But I would say, in my humble opinion, Joe Satriani has done more for contemporary rock guitar playing than anyone else. In my book he's the best."

Still having G3 as the topic. You know that the fans and the media have a vision of a rivalry between you and Malmsteen. In your whole career, did yourself feel some rivalry with Malmsteen? How do you face this?

"Only a fool would compete with Yngwie. I just don't have that kind of strength and technique in my fingers. The moment I heard him back in the 80's I was stunned in disbelief. It was like hearing Holdsworth on steroids. Playing alongside him and Joe on this tour only helps me to push the envelope of my own style. Although I have deep respect, I'm not interested in playing like them. My inner ear hears totally different things than what they play. I have to be true to myself as that's all you ever really have. Being with other musicians like them, and seeing them being true to their inner ear is an inspiration to me, not a competition. Having said all this, and once again expressing deep respect to all of the guys mentioned, including Hendrix, Page, etc. I would rather play like myself than anyone else. I love what I do. I am not saying it's superior, that would be foolish. What I'm saying is, everyday I thank God for giving me the opportunity to play the instrument and create the music I do because it touches me. I don't think I'm the best by any means but I'm my own favorite."

You have your own label now and it’s growing each day. Most of the releases are instrumental albums or works with guitarists as highlights. Is this really the only direction of Favored Nations or there’s space for every music style?

"Favored Nations is in a good place right now. I have no intentions at this time to expand the genres. It's too risky to run after rock bands because then you have to deal with radio and that's disgusting. I feel that we have been and are still very successful at making available an alternative form of highly musical entertainment from artists that are gifted."

As the owner of a label and involved with other labels and the music industry, how do you see this discussion about MP3, file sharing, etc? Do you see some solution for this situation?

"Technologyy is evolving at a fantastic rate and I feel that it will just take a little time for some of the particulars to work themselves out. I'm refering to the policing of free downloads. There is a generation of kids these days that does not understand paying for music. It's difficult to address but I will say that downloading and sharing music for free is a blantant disrespect for the intellectual property of the artist, many of whome live hand to mouth."

There’s also the Secret Jewel Box that is being sold only through your website. We still have a lot to come. When did you have the idea of releasing it? And what is still to come?

"The idea is to have 10 CD's in all. You know the first three come with the box and just recently Archives Vol 3 and 4 were made available. The next one will likely be the Mike Keneally piano CD, playing ‘Ballerina 12/24’, ‘Touching Tongues’, ‘Bledsoe Blvd’, ‘Sisters’ amongst others. Then maybe the double CD of Alcatrazz live in Japan, then the Classified with Stu Hamm, Chris Frazier, etc, a work that I particularly consider as a missing link between ‘Flex-Able’ and ‘Passion And Warfare’. Finally the unusual ‘Hot Chuncks’, odd potpourri of music interspersed with dialogue."

You did another very unusual thing when you released ‘Alive In An Ultra World’. What gave you the idea of recording only unreleased songs and each one of them dedicated to an specific country?

"I see every opportunity to release a record as a special opportunity and I wanted to do something different. It's quite likely the most ambitious live recording in history. I can't tell you how I had the idea, the idea just comes. I sit there and try to imagine what would be interesting and different. I don't like releasing the same music. I usually don't respond to what is conventional but look for things that are a little left of centre. I'm not too out there though. I think that the live record is very accessible and I'm very proud of it."

You're always involved with charity, and helping many people. What do you think about the current situation of the world? War, George W. Bush’s administration, terrorism, etc.

"There always has been, there is now and there always will be war. That's one of the things that this world is about. I don't think the world is supposed to be a peaceful place all the time. War is not all that the world is about, thank God. I see the world as a huge washing machine of sorts where we come to work out our issues. We keep returning until everything is worked out and we've experienced enough to move on. I would say that war, starvation, and sickness are all terrible travestys and I don't wish them on anyone but something else tells me that there is an order and a plan and we just don't have the eyes to see it. I actually think the world is perfect exactly the way it is. We just don't see the reasoning behind things, so we question them. It's natural. Having said this it is still tremendously difficult for me to see living things suffer. I never comment on politics because I don't know enough about them. If I was to say something about the Bush administration, good or bad, I could not do so without properly researching the issue and spending many hours if not days and weeks trying to get all the facts and then the correct answers in order to make a responsible critique. People read the papers and watch the TV and think they know all the things they need to know in order to critisize, bash and make pseudo superior statements on what they think should be done. I could never make any kind of a statement about the war in Iraq unless I knew all the answers to many of the questions I have about it, and who is going to give me acurate and complete info on these things? CNN? Try again. I believe there will come a time in each of our existences - and I'm talking about our consciousness - not necessarily this particular body - that we will see things for exactly what they are and understand why it is we have to go through some of the things we go through in life. The only way to understand these things is to search for spiritual balance. With it comes understanding. I'm not an authority on this stuff and my beliefs are not unique."

Thank you very much for the interview Steve. To conclude, leave a message for your fans... and tell me, which song of yourself would you choose to play for the world right now?

"Just see my set list for the last G3 2003 tour. That’s the music I would choose to play for the world right now. I only play things that I would like to play for the world. Love music. Kind regards to all."