Steve Vai about Frank Zappa and overcoming his depression
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- Опубліковано 21 лют 2022
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"The alternative was killing me, literally". Guitar virtuoso Steve Vai talks about how he struggled with depression early in his career, how he had to transform his outlook on life, and how his debut solo album 'Flex-Able' helped in doing so.
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Let me tell you about Steve Vai. Met him in 1996 i was a young 22 year old dumb kid, he was soo kind to me. FLASH FORWARD to 2015 i had (and still do) severe medical issues, bad kidneys, neuropathy and depression. He finds out through a friend about this, EMAILS ME during a BUSY TOUR and recording session to give me hope, gave me suggestions on reading material, and just to give me warm wishes. He is a BRILLIANT musician and guitarist, and even GREATER Human Being. Humble as can be. IF it wasnt for that email, i dont think the first 2 Gideons Mob albums would have been possible! Now we are selling great in japan and the UK and just him being THAT KIND made that much a differnce. Thanks Steve. For EVERYTHING.
jesus, what a man steve is
Dammit, i teared up
good story.... keep on rockin'
Thanks so much for this; a lot of us struggle with the darker side of ourselves and it’s always a massive blessing to hear about such kindness from one we hold so dear who is living through it - thank you Steve Xx
The one and only time I saw him live was with generation axe in Nagoya Japan, I think in 2017, and it was a small enough venue that when you go early enough you can see the bands pull in to unload with their bags and stuff. I was standing there with a small group of guys, maybe 7 or 8 of us, to see the guys pulling in to the back. I see Zach Wylde, Yngwie, Nuno, Tosin, all come in different vans and all get out and walk straight into the back of the venue, more or less ignoring our small group who basically just want to say hi. Then Steve’s van pulls in. Steve Vai saw us standing in the side of the road as his van arrived and he gets out the first thing he does, he immediately walks over to us and stands with us to take individual pictures with each of us guys in the group. He didn’t really talk or say anything, and honestly looked nervous (They we’re all Japanese and I was the only white guy, maybe he was nervous because he probably can’t speak Japanese) but he stood with us all when he easily could have ignored us and just walked in like the other famous guitar players did. Good guy Steve
Steve Vai has incredible musicality, but his humanity seems even greater.
Well said !
So many well known people have fame, wealth and the like, but they lack any humanity. Steve Vai is an exception.
Ditto! It was nice hearing how his attitude towards the world matured. Plus, I could completely identify with what he said about his attitude as a younger man (of course, I didn’t spend time with Frank Zappa as a young man - unfortunately).
I know a Strong Island accent when I hear one
The man will be remembered for BOTH and very FEW members in that club for sure … a long life to him beforehand pal
51 years old and suffering from depression and I needed to hear this.
Take care of number one mate,be patient you will get there I promise you that. Peace to you.
Hang in there, sir.
@@vaseofflowers4619 His work on John Carpenter's score to Ghosts of Mars is also amazing!
Same.
I met Steve in 2015 and had him sign a quote of his that I'd printed on card stock. He read it and looked at me, put his hand on my shoulder, even though I hadn't said what events had made it impossible for me to continue recording my music, looked me in the eyes, and told me, "Things will get better for you, I believe that, it's in you."
Sadly that wasn't the case but I appreciated his empathy.
Steve Vai saved my life, listening while homeless. Thanks sir.
Best of luck to you 🤘
im also homeless and hearing the “just change your mindset” rhetoric way too much. it’s damaging and sad to realise steve isn’t intelligent like i thought he was.
Johnny thunders is ironically saving my life right now
@@starchflamingo To be fair mindful thinking is important but yeah-Steve doesn't seem to understand what depression is.
@@ZiddersRooFurry We know you wear your victimhood like a badge of honor. Normal human afflictions aren't isolated to you m#ron.
Zappa was cynical but he wasn't depressed. He called out bullshit and seemed to really enjoy it. Look at all the bullshit in our world today. Go back 40 years and listen to what Zappa was saying. He was calling it all out then and it has taken most of us this long to see that he was right
🎯🎯🎯
He wasn't right. Not at all. I can see (hear) Steve's restraint in saying that what works for one, doesn't necessarily work for the other.
Frankly, (cute, get it,?) I came to the same crossroad about my life, and I'm still trying to cross that bridge, but getting every better everyday - about placing boundaries between things that I thought I liked, and now I realize I don't.
Unfortunately Frank Zappa was one of those artists that I just started to have enough of... Say what you will about me, it doesn't matter. He was basically a snotty man covering up many of his insecurities through his music. I can even hear the same comments from Dweezil Zappa... you just have to listen.
Frank Zappa was an amazing man and an amazing musician. I still love listening to his guitar works. Even some of the synth stuff, and of course I love his early stuff with the Mothers of Invention... ( Uncle Meat is still one of my favorite albums in the world) Somewhere in the middle of it all he copped an attitude for perfection, or maybe it was always there and it surfaced "somewhere"... I'm not sure where, but that never mattered to me in the 80s or the 90s, I loved his music so much. Still do I suppose. But was all of that worth it? I'm tired of hearing that everybody was so afraid to play for Frank Zappa or to audition for him. I'm just saying he was probably much more fun when he was younger.
@@tomallen5837 Huh? Yes, Frank was right about most things he said. What is it that you think he was wrong about exactly?
@@AtacamaHumanoid oh y-yes sir yes sir I'll come over that information right away in fact I'll make a documentary about it yes sir yes sir
@@tomallen5837 It's definitely refreshing to hear the toxic traits of Zappa addressed alongside all the usual reverence. I deeply love his Art and think his mind was far ahead of the times, but so much of his philosophies amount to some very entitled proto-libertarian thinking that I just can't jive with anymore.
I think Frank was deeply flawed man, and that shouldn't be glazed over just because he was brilliant and passed far too soon.
"The quality of my life is my responsibility."
.
Omg how I can't wait to use that line when I leave my job.
Peace, love and the improvement of humankind's current condition will come. Unfortunately it won't be during my lifetime. I need more Vai-ness in my life.
He doesn't play a doctor on TV, but that's the best description of depression I've heard..... Go Steve...
Thank you Steve for your voice addressing depression. You inspire many , including me .thanks again .
I read somewhere that zappa studied zen in high school and i think that's what formed his healthy cynical attitude. That stuff can give you an outlook that seems very bitter and dark to some people but it comes from a place of love for the world and everything in it. It's about understanding the darkest aspects of humanity but not being judgemental about it. From all the interviews I've seen, Frank seemed to actually care about his fellow human beings despite having very critical things to say about them. He was a truly enlightened individual
That's the vibe I've always got from Zappa.
Yes, I think that’s right. He was always generous when it came nurturing other talent as well. He was abnormally astute in his prime but I’m not sure if he had the humility when he got older to recognise that he wasn’t right about everything. It’s easy to mock politicians and it’s often the right thing to do, but had he ventured further into politics I think he would have realised that it’s probably more complex than he had imagined and how easy it is to become demonised, misjudged or simply compromised by the machinations of democracy despite good intentions.
@@Flowmotion1000 i think that's accurate he made the mistake that a lot of high achievers make where because they have had immense success in one area they assume they can be just as successful in other areas and it doesn't quite work that way. His politics were well thought out but personality wise he wouldn't have succeeded in politics because he'd be steam rolled by manipulative people with more domineering personalities
@@TheGiantMidget Politicians are not domineering at all. They are all controlled puppets of the NWO. They read scripts and do what their masters tell them or they'll be gone tomorrow. Most of them are spineless cowards who are too afraid to tell the truth. That's why you only make the grade in politics if you're a good liar. Here today gone tomorrow. Politicians only care about themselves and money.
The reason he was so critical in his public life was because he was trying to improve people's quality of life and critical thinking. You don't do that if you're a misanthrope
Not only a brilliant guitarist, but a warm human being, too. Depression is pure evil, if you let it grab you, but it can be fought and crushed. Thanks so much.
Sitting in the 7th row Steve looked at me and fired his guitar pick which hit me dead center chest and fell into my lap. Thanks for that memory Steve. You are an AMAZING human being!
Same here… GA show… Im in the close crowded show. SV flicks da pick and the damn thing hits me in the forehead and it was hot and sticky so the pick STICKS TO MY NOGGIN!!!!
I kinda wrinkled my forehead and the pick drops gently into my hand. So crowded Ida NEVER found it on the floor…
Still have it…
Seems a very humble guy. Depression is not an easy talking point. Fair play to him. One of the good guys
Imagine being one of the most talented individuals ever, and not feeling good about your life
I can confirm it isn't fun.
This guy is truly an awesome human. What a class act.
Another example of how depression hits some of the most successful people on the planet. Thanks for sharing.
Yes Zappa was a great psychologist too. I was very shy (introvert) growing up. I was hard to have a conversation with another person. Sometimes before talking to a person on the phone I would need to write down questions first in order to have something to say. Then came Zappa. I'm now very out going and I love to engage in conversations. I wish there was a book on it but Zappa's music had that ability to me. Anyone else have any similar experiences?
Wow I hope I can get myself out of it like you, I am so scared to talk to people I get anxiety and I sweat when I have to interact with someone
@@Johnnysmithy24 It worked for me. I just quoted Zappa at times. I sounded weird but eventually I was dominating the conversation.
When he said Zappa liked people reminded me of one of his lyrics that seemed to say the same to me years ago:
"You might think they're
Dumb and lonely/
But you're wrong,
'cause their love is strong... /
Looka there..."
Steve Vai an all round great bloke and musician
When Steve Vai speaks, I listen.
Steve Vai revealed as much more than a great guitarist and musician. A wise man. A reflective, self-aware human being.
Words of wisdom from Steve here.... great, thanks for posting!
As a depression sufferer, as well as from other things, thank you Steve for speaking out about your depression and how it affected you, as the illness affects people differently.
Running can also help a lot. Cardio at a high speed for three hours a week. I did cure many people from depression. I hope this might help you. I did had a depression a year ago.
I think it's notable that he mentioned "esoteric reading" because it's not easy to root out all your resentments. The mind plays tricks. And the more intelligent you are, the more tricks your mind plays on you. But you have to increase your intelligence to overcome it because you need a mountain to stand on in order to see.
"The quality of my life is my responsibility", I'm taking this away .. i need to tell myself this every.single.day.
This is exactly what every malignant, societal power player wants the masses to believe. "Never rebel. Never question or challenge the system. Nothing is wrong with the world. There is only something wrong with you. All your problems are your own fault."
Steve Vai is a treasure. ♥️🙏🏼
The sounds he conjures out of his guitars will inspire for many generations.
Easy to sum up Steve's words: Perception is reality, change your perception and you change your reality.
Gives me an entirely new appreciation of him… Anyone who’s willing can change their life.. Depression / Addiction / Alcoholism or whatever the issues may be…. It’s all perspective.. Once one realizes it’s not anyone else but themselves who has to change, A great way of life begins..
people don’t fail to recover from depression because they chose not to. that’s victim blaming.
Steve is correct here, however, some people suffer from chronic mental health issues and require professional help. Not everyone can make that decision and take action on their own. Getting help if you can't do it by yourself is ok. Generally though, yes, we are responsible for our own happiness and outlook on life.
Agree. It really isn't a choice for many people
This is so heartening. What a legend. ♥️
Much needed, bad mental health day but this got me out of my own head.
I just LOVE to listen to this guy. So uplifting and inspirational.
He’s a lovely human being. ❤️
I’m a huge Vai fan. IMHO joining the Roth band changed his trajectory. Roth brought fun into his radar.
Thank you for posting this.
Dear Steve. I struggle a lot with negative thoughts and depression myself. Hearing you talking about how you overcame it was a moment of clarity for me and since then i am trying ti deal with my problems in the same way. Thank you 🙏
Thanks for posting.
Beautiful Change in Perspective Of Life - Steve! Thanks for sharing!!!
Someday the world should say MONEY CAN NOT KILL DEPRESSION!!!! Thank you Mr. Vai
If only half the worlds population had Mr Vai's attitude...oh boy!
god only knows the difference of perspective these words would create in the minds of the masses, if they listened
Steve V. You sir are a true gent. Thx for the food for the mind The way you explain depression and the way to fix yourself through self awareness and taking responsibility for self wtg. Well said sir
Great interview
Truth is so easy to see and pierce you when it comes from the heart, it rings true and Steve's recounting of his choice to U turn from depression and know deep down that he's in charge and ultimately the responsible one for his life is inspiring. Rock On.
Thank you Steve for this video. It is so uplifting…
for having seen on stage Frank zappa and steve vai. steve was very young talented fiery. he has always respected zappa. I would like as much respect from the younger generation who don't give a damn about our common passion. we were often attentive or even envious of the old ones, who could only be a few years older… when Frank zappa was in paris he answered questions from journalists, gave his vision and was not mistaken.
Wow. Thank you, Steve. Profound words, man.
Much love Steve! You never fail to inspire.
Bless you,it's a bonus when someone we all know opens up about these things,makes one feel like they aren't the only one struggling and it is possible to undertstand it..Frank was ahead of his time how far who knows..lol..awesome
Best definition of the mechanics of thought behind depressive thoughts and thinking.
Happy to have spent decades with his and Franks music...It's nice he found The Wa. It's not hard to see the dark part of this existence, the counter to that is no less valid...When you look for the good; it CRUSHES the dark...One Love and good health to all...
My dream is to be amazing at playing guitar just like Steve, but my depression is making that impossible. I grab the guitar and lose interest and have no will in a few minutes, and go back to bed. I’m already 18, I wish I had started sooner when I didn’t have depression
I started at 16 and while I’m no Steve Vai, I’ve got far enough to support Top 20 bands and at least tour and make my flights costs back, don’t be too hard on yourself and aim for 30 minutes a day to start. When you start leveling up your mood will lift believe me
I'm 26 and I started when I was 23! It's all about the journey not the destination :) Find what you love the most when playing (maybe it could be jamming, or learning a song) and start with that, when you get momentum switch to more serious stuff. I wish you the best, I know what's like to feel awful but try with all of you energy to engage in good stuff and you will find motivation in your progress. Playing has helped me a lot :)
@@AxelinickRapGirl Thanks I’m practicing right now :)
" only you can decide what kind of day you're going to have."
Thank you.
Simply the best
THAT'S STEVE VAI????
Damn, I'm gettn old.
Thanks Steve
Absolutely love this, no one else is responsible for my quality of life.
Just love Steve Vai, as a musician and human being.
Wow
LOVE THIS
AA big book stuff!
Problems are of my own making
Great Steve Vai!
Amazing story it gives me a total different perspective of him.
I did have a heavy depression, and what changed me was therapy and also a change in identity. I'm a christian and that has know become my identity (relationship with Christ). It did change my whole life and now I'm no longer depressed. It took two years to give up the perspective of the world. (what's your job, status, outward appearance, family etc). You can also find that in other things. I hope this might help some people.
Great Stuff Steve. 🤗🥰
The Italian in Steve is showing more theses days.😊 Also looking like Grampa Stroeman from the bread commercial in the 70’s-80’s. Nevertheless Steve is a very nice person & down to earth. I hung out with him on Dave wieners birthday when they were out on tour. Nice time. Dave is from my area. I run into him sometimes.
He made some very good points about taking responsibility for one's happiness and life.
Steve Vai has a great take on Frank Zappa. I’ve never met him, toured with Ike Willis and other Zappa “aficionados”, but became a fan young, but only a few years before he died. He really did like people. It seems like he had his own depression. He said “I don’t fit in anywhere” during a live show I have recorded. That stuck with me. It’s not that he hates people, he’s always feeling left out of the human experience. Which can be good in many regards, but whit, quips and sarcasm aside, there is a sadness there. Frank was a comedian as well. This is true if a lot of good comedians. He was a great study of the human condition. Imagine the material he would write today. “Adderall decisions”, “Cheney’s/Trump is (insert any Pres. really,)such an asshole”, “Computer love”, “It did happen here” Joes Garage Parts4-6”; social credit system, VR sex, the potential!
Don’t forget his other hit single, “Tweety Thumbs”
Good discussion.
Often SV’s words resonate with me. It is so easy to despair or be cynical in this world (often for good reason). At the same time humans so often inspire me through their resilience, compassion and skills that they achieve to whatever level their circumstances and inspirations make possible. Being mindful and being grateful gives you armour in this world. I love that Steve said “How you CHOOSE to see the world.” For any artist, I would add the phrase, “how you choose to struggle and how you choose to measure your artistic vision and output in the world.” Humans need love and acceptance. I think that SV learned the lesson that love and acceptance must start with the self….Man, even if I could, I would never want to go back to being twenty years old. 😧
this is awesome
Just seems like a solidly grounded guy in addition to being an amazing musician and savage guitar player
I could listen to Steve vai talk for hours. And he can give the best guitar lessons without even touching the guitar. I believe he is a brilliant mind the kind the world sadly increasingly seems to lack.
Oops there's that cynicism kicking in
Being a real human being. ❤
SO SHWEEEETTT...much love Tee with LIONS NAMED LEO.[the music worldwide}
and ooo weee great talks..!!!
Thanks for sharing, Steve.
You're a Great human being.❤️
Thank you Steve….
To be talented and young with much potential, sometimes it's far too easy to learn from a mentor the bad things as well as the good. Part of the process of individuation is that you realize that you are not that person, and often fame in a profession is being in the right place at the right time with a set of neuroses that can play into career success. Steve found his own similar but unique path.
Thanks +++
Awareness. God bless .
I think a lot of it had to do with him making it big at too young of an age. He was 18 and his brain was still growing and at point where you lose your innocence -- that can be traumatic in itself. Most kids are too busy struggling to get somewhere to have time to dwell on the deep and meaningless. Kids like Bieber, Aaron Carter, and Macaulay Culkin already have their entire future planned out for them and that can mess you up. Some people can handle it, but more often than not, they can't, at least not for awhile. Had he not met Zappa, he may have not developed a sense of humor to help him deal with the stuff he was going through.
Well said steve
That's funny that he concluded Frank liked people considering by most all he wanted very little to do with people. That newish Zappa documentary by Alex Winter, for example, paints him in a pretty good light, but it still shows he wanted as little to do with anyone outside his family as possible. And even his family didn't see him very much since he was always in his home studio. When asked about friends, he said he doesn't have any friends. His family are his friends. Yet, his daughter put a note on his studio's door saying, "Hi dad, it's your daughter, remember me?" or something like that, which is what led to them recording Valley Girl together and then Zappa flew off to Europe for some shows and was surprised to come back later and find out Valley Girl was a hit song.
Well said, his views on depression.
Steve looks so tutig, as we say in Germany! I like and enjoy that very much!
The brain, I've realized recently, is no different than an internet search engine. When you type in something it is going to bring up as many things as it can that it finds are similar like those ''Did You Mean Bla?'' quick-links. For example, when you put in something scary then everything you've ever found scary in your life or associated with scary will be there right below the surface. Or, when you put in something happy then all the other happy stuff will be there competing for your clicks. It's just that simple. When the average adult walks by a stove and glances at it a part of the brain will flash through all the wild imaginations we've had since childhood of reasons not to touch a flame or other hot object. Hopefully, we're not obsessive or that could lead to an aversion to walking by stoves due to the trauma of fear of being burned going through our minds on endless repeat. I really like how Steve didn't claim here that Frank was a depressing person but, rather, focused on the fact that one could take what Frank said and become depressed. That's a HUGE thing to admit to and I believe every single one of us has struggled, to varying degrees, with being influenced by others in that exact same way. It's helpful to not be presumptive but it's never really the obvious thing to do, that has to be trained, fought for.
Amen 🕯
So, individual responsibility is what you are alluding too? That's seems familiar. Its almost contagious in how it can positively affect others. It makes you want to help others. Individual responsibility in all things always has positive affects. Like the pay it forward mentality that goes with it.
He's depression was a gift in disguise!
🙌🏽
I think Steve would be the ultimate exception to the "never meet your idols in person" rule
How can you think of even picking up a guitar and enjoy playing it when your depressed ?
that’s true depression. i’ve listened to many steve vai interviews over the years and what he describes sounds less like depression and more like a type of melancholia or, as he puts it, negative mindset. at best it was a mild depression. he did not suffer but now speaks of it as though he knows all about it when he clearly doesn’t and it is stigmatising and damaging to those who suffer severe depression and mental illness.
I know! What Steve had was probably a bad case of low mood?
met the man myself. rainbow bar and grill. hanging out with billy sheehan . 1987
Be innocent and love people, then go out in the world, and see what happens to you. Zappa wasn't naive. And, by the way, no one sincerely helped me play the guitar. It was a struggle for me, because I had to figure it out myself. Life is just a competitive game. If u really want to get xxxxxx, trust a cichiatrist.
Well if you're going to get emotional damage at an impressionable age, it might as well come first-person from a legend. Whew.
Where's the full interview?
Here you go: ua-cam.com/video/CCLCuWUw1Ac/v-deo.html
has he written a book yet?
This video has changed my whole perspective. The penny has dropped…
amazing story, i wonder what would have happen to Steve Vai if he never got enlightened when he did, and stayed in that dark place for many more years. I guess he might have made a deal at the cross roads, with you know who.
He did make a deal at the crossroads. According to the legend, no one knows what Steve got, but the Devil got guitar lessons
👍🏾
Regret no seeing Frank in Seattle when I should have.