Vai plays (and talks) King Crimson!
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- Опубліковано 16 тра 2024
- This is part one of our exclusive interview with @SteveVaiHimself about his upcoming tour with @BEATtourofficial, performing the music of @kingcrimson.
00:00 Steve plays Frame by Frame
00:19 Playing in NST?
00:25 Standing or sitting?
00:36 Picking technique
03:09 Most intimidating songs
06:22 Thela Hun Ginjeet
07:58 Touring gear & synth guitars
Stay tuned for part 2, where we discuss polymeters; appreciating Adrian, Tony, Bill, and Danny; Prog and UK (the band); working with Adrian; and more!
Beato best interviewer.
That ain't no Beato - he's some nerdo
Beato's a douche tool.
@@johnhasso8908 💯
That's Mark Zukerberg from Microsoft you silly!
huh huh huh huh, Beavis
Oh man, I really hope a concert is recorded properly, for those of us not in the USA.
Is it being recorded? That would be *wonderful*!
Pretty sure the whole thing will be well documented.... At least King Crimson has had a habit of meticolously documenting and recording everything, David Singleton being the "crypt keeper" :D
I hope so, also!
Yh me too, sounds like it'll me awesome and the new gear too✌️😊👍💜
I got my Houston Tix for September...this is gonna be great
How is a guy with such a massive catalog of amazing work so freaking humble?!?!? Vai is such a class act.
He is the best.
Right?! I didn't realize what a great guy he is until I saw a video of him giving some little girl a tour of his studio a few years ago. He was so welcoming, kind, and encouraging to her.
@@BassByTheBayYeah, that was heartwarming. Didn't he gift her a pedal too?
If you'd ever tried to learn Robert Fripp guitar parts, you'd know exactly why. :)
Ego is a handicap and must be overcome to grow.
When Vai says that something is "a little difficult", be sure it is at the very limit of what is possible for human body.
Just a little. Not very. Hahaha
🤣 like when Zappa gave him an impossible request in his try out for the band
😂
And for some weird reason without any guitar class ever taken I decided to go and try to play Frame by Frame (for me Iron Maiden stuff are difficult enough)...
Almost getting the speed of the first Fripp part. Thisnis the first time I m actually practicing to improve. (I can just get at 150bpm and for no more than 1:30 min)
It's crazy how fast tickets have sold for a band that haven't even rehearsed together yet playing 40 year old music. It's going to be awesome.
Im not surprised at all. Last year my 19 year old daughter came home from University for the holidays and ask me if I had any King Crimson CDs as she was really into them. Youngins seem to be liking the music us old farts grew up on too. 😁
I’m so happy about that aspect of it.
My wife scored me/us meet and greet 3rd row tickets...i'm beyond psyched!
@@scottbookman No way! I didn't know they were doing meet and greet, too
I got mine the day they went on sale. VIP tickets, so I get to meet these guys> Woot.
I love Steve's humility and respect even to the transcribers. Kudos.
It’s wonderful, isn’t it?
For sure he was humbled even back in the day with DLR being compared to EVH
I think Steve has a soft spot for transcribers. I heard an interview he gave where his first job with Zappa was doing nothing but transcription.
@@RussTrotter You heard correctly; he was still a student at Berklee School Of Music when he was already showing an amazing talent and work ethic, taking on the project of transcribing Zappa, including a lot of his incredibly difficult stuff.
He created a whole notebook with a ton of Zappa tunes transcribed and sent it to Frank. Frank was so impressed with the quality, he contacted Steve and offered him the job of transcriber, and Steve was 19 years old at the time!
Later Zappa did make him audition for the job of guitar player. It's a hilarious story and I won't wreck it by trying to tell it myself; Steve did a great video talking about it, just a few minutes long, well worth checking out. You can probably just search "Steve Vai Frank Zappa audition", here on UA-cam, and find it right away. You won't be sorry!
@@RussTrotteris that part of where the "Stunt Guitarist" nickname came from? Or was it how he'd be made to play what Zappa wouldn't? I forget the origins on that 😅
We want them AROUND THE WORLD
That’s the hope. He addresses this in part 2
That's Chili Peppers
Cool that Robert was behind this almost from the beginning and that he’s advising and encouraging Steve.
Yes, this would have been awkward otherwise! :)
Saw the era of King Crimson they are playing with Fripp, Bellow, Levin and Bruford on drums in the 80’s and again in early 90’s. Going to see Beat November 8 in Vegas Baby!!! Man… I can’t f’ing wait!!!! 🤘
Gonna be a mind blowing show. I’m going in phoenix
Love Belew Crimson but the latest incarnation of KC playing the old stuff is unbeatable!
It's not a competition. It's about playing great music out in the world.
@@MakeWeirdMusic
Who’s competing?
@@kenjohnson8752 Sorry, I was probably overcompensating! Sometimes comments get negative
How awesome is the universe, that all those years ago you befriended Steve Vai and now he comes to you and the Discipline Era Transcriptions book that you had such a big part in to get ready for this great tour .....it's going to be awesome!!!...Great job!!!
Honestly, it’s blown my mind. He was so into the Fracture book, so I’m honored to play a tiny part in influencing any of this.
The Fracture book is so well put together and and such a great read...and love the Steve Vai Magnet holding the Fracture book I got when I ordered it!!!!
Thank you for buying it!
Whey they announced that Beat tour I thought that was some April's fool joke. But it was real and I got the ticket. It's gonna be once in a lifetime experience. And I want to see Steve Vai go crazy :D
If I didn’t know about it for the past couple years, I’d have agreed. It’s so wild it seems like it can’t be true.
Oh! Maybe Steve will pull out his hydra? That could be fun!
Never even had a chance of seeing before, but coming to a little city in Atlantic Canada. Can hardly believe it! Got my ticket!
This man Steve Vai has no ego and REALLY cares about music - that’s inspiring me as a drummer. Love, Greg Burrows
Yep! Thanks for watching, Greg
So hyped. Never would've imagined Vai and this supergroup playing Crimson
Half the group played the original music, but I get what you mean :)
he's probably the only guitarist id trust to play crimson and do it justice
@@fakhourikakeesh5527 I wouldn't have guessed Vai doing anything like this at first, but now that I think about it, he is one of the few guitarists that can pull it off brilliantly. Vai and Belew, 2 of a perfect pair :)
So let’s decipher the concept of ‘overhyped’! There are three albums from the eighties. The first one is fresh and good. The second is a photocopy of it. The third is a photocopy of the second. But even the first of the three albums, frankly speaking, does not represent anything significant in comparison with the 69-74 collection. Fripp was right when he called the new group Discipline. This is not King Crimson, it's like a spin-off. Just like Blind Faith is not Cream. For Belew, these albums represent enormous subjective value, and his contribution is undeniable. He gave it his all. But vanity has never been King Crimson's philosophy. Belew uses Vai not as a guitarist, but as a brand. This is management, and it smacks of falsehood. Fripp was not interested in reviving '80s disco' because he knows very well that these are intermediate, not quite classic albums. Belew is also probably annoyed that Fripp didn't take him into the 2016 reincarnation, and he wants to show who's boss in the 80s house.
King Crimson is not just a band, it is a mystical force. But Discipline is not King Crimson, it is Discipline. Therefore, the hype is justified. Let there be hype!
I don't see much enthusiasm in Vai's eyes, I see he’s full of doubt. In my opinion, he simply could not refuse out of politeness. I wouldn't want to be in his place. Memorizing Fripp's parts when you are already an accomplished guitarist is very against the grain. It would be wiser to give up this place of honor to one of the effective fans. Someone's cherished dream could come true, but alas. This is the cybernetics of it. (If you think it necessary, pass this message to Vai. I may be wrong, but this is how I see this situation. In fact, Belew still has a chance to prove himself as a true leader, picking up someone talented off the street in the same way that Zappa, Bowie and Fripp once picked him up.) [Eugene Iodine, April 22, 2024].
I hope you could hear my eyes rolling all the way from Mesa, AZ, Eugene Iodine.
absolutely gobsmacked. This is like my obsessive 1983 playlist slamming together.
Any regular day 1982-86 meant "listen to something with Vai or Belew on it. Play King Crimson 80s music"
so this was AMAAAAZING to see. wow. just wow/ hoping this tour goes in to '25 so more of us can see it...
I hope you can make it to a show!!
Steve is a man who takes music about a serious as anyone I've ever heard.
He's unbelievably passionate about what he prepares and what he performs.
Passionate and capable.
@@MakeWeirdMusic Amen
I am glad Steve has enthusiasm for this project.
Just gonna make it even better!
He has no enthusiasm. He hasn't even learned the parts yet. For comparison, here is an example when he had genuine enthusiasm. But he was removed from the project. (Ay-ay-ay, get rid of this Vai!)
ua-cam.com/video/pJW26ljxlVc/v-deo.html
@@eugene_iodine_psychedelia1960s Every second of this video proves you wrong. Period.
@@stephanlandshuter5237 Oh, I didn't notice. He's indeed singing and dancing in celebration, he's going to join the band, he's in the Promised Land! Thanks for correcting me!
@@eugene_iodine_psychedelia1960s You're a ridiculous hater. I have no idea what's wrong with you.
Steve is just from another world. You can see the light just hearing him.
Agreed.
Disipline today sounds Fresh.
I know BEAT will honor King Crimson the way Robert and Bruford would approve.
It's great they got blessings from Robert and Bill.
Adrian always wanted to revisit this material with orginal lineup which would have been great.
I think this Tour is going to be really special.
You got Adrian and Steve with Tony and Danny holding down the bottom end. I hope they put thre own signature on this great music.
It’s gonna be great.
Steve and Danny can fill those shoes in their own ways while remaining true to the spirit of the original performances.
This should be a world tour!
Let's hope so!
So stoked to see them live. Going to be epic.
Killer can't wait for this tour!
Wonderful chat! Thanks, Anthony! Thanks, Steve!
Robert's picking is indeed relentless ...& PRECISIONAL too.
Yes, as I learned the hard way by spending 22 years on Fracture lol
@@MakeWeirdMusic the one that freaked me as hypnotic was Frame by Frame on the Discipline album and the way Robert would lock in with Tony on that Chapman Stick.
Love u man. So excited with this project
I am so psyched for the tour. I hope I can make it.
I love that Frame by Frame riff. I've used it as an exercise for years. It challenges both hands and you can alternate pick it, move it around the neck, and just groove to it.
Super fun with a looper or a second guitarist
Wonderful inteview, Ant - looking forward to the rest of them! And that Steve is using the book you contributed to is just beyond my wildest imagination!!
Glad it is getting use and exposure
I am so thankful that you took on this endeavor. I can't wait to see it in all its glory!
ty both you are legends of love and music ,,this world is lucky that 2 of you found your way here".. ty Steve TY Robert
Really looking forward to this group.
Me too. Big time.
oh man I am looking forward to this.
💯 me too
Thanks for making me even more excited for this concert. Steve's attitude is exactly what I hoped it'd be, in line with the way of the recent KC works: honoring the original with new inspiration.
Very much looking forward to this.
Me too!
Love this whole situation... Cheers Steve!
Thanks for watching!
If I don’t see this, shame on me! What a treat it will be!
Great interview! Thanks for sharing!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thanks for this Anthony! I hope I can make it out to see this show.
I hope so too!
Got great seats for the 10/23 show in Reading PA. Probably will be the lineup of the decade. Great interview…Thanks!
Enjoy!
This is an absolute DREAM TEAM!!!
💯
Fantastic! Robert's music in the safest of hands, figuratively and literally! Looking forward to this new iteration of the band.
I wouldn't call it "Robert's Music" but yes, I agree. Very much looking forward to this
I love that you are doing this Steve, and that you’re going to make it your own as well. What a fantastic band this will be! Very much looking forward to October!
Rock on!
Can't wait, it's gonna be awesome! And how humble and nice Steve is, love him even more
He is da best
Both Steve and Eric Johnson are remarkably laid-back and self-effacing guys given their astonishing virtuosity. Wanting to constantly learn new things keeps one humble.
Fantastic interview! I love Steve Vai! I can't wait to see him playing with Adrian and the stick man. Looking forward to seeing the drummer from Tool too! Thanks for doing this interview! It is going to be a magical concert!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Omg I am so psyched for this show 🎸
Me too!
Dude, this is AMAZING!! So proud of BOTH of you!!! ;-)
Thanks for watching!
That was one of the best guitarist interviews I've ever seen. Could have been an hour longer! Great stuff.
Another 30-40 minutes coming later this week! Thank you!!
Steve Vai is amazing ! Always taking risks and pushing out of his comfort zone. Such a role model for me !
💯
Thanks for the interview, this subject matter is so compelling. This tour is really turning into a big project, and I'm thrilled that Robert gave it his blessing and wants to support it.
I can't wait to see this live!
Me neither. So exciting.
Thanks for a wonderful interview, it's nice to see Crimson getting the love it so richly deserves. I think Steve is one of the very few musicians who can do this music justice. It's a tall order to replace Robert and Bill , especially when you've got Adrian and Tony looking over your shoulder!! . I wish they would come to Europe but if not maybe they can livestream a couple of the concerts. Have a great day. PEACE AND LOVE TO EVERYONE ❤❤.
Thank you for the nice comment!
Omg! So looking forward to this! Saw the Discipline tour in Québec City in 1981 and it blew my musical mind wide open! Do it again!
Lucky you! I wasn't born yet, so this will be my first time hearing these songs live (except the ones I've seen Adrian play)
@@MakeWeirdMusic Imagine if you will: I had never even heard of KC, and a friend bought tickets to the concert, and bought the album (Discipline) the day of the show. We crammed in a few listens and headed off to our 3rd row center seats. So many questions: what is "stick"? How was Bruford getting those drum sounds? (it only said "Batterie on the album cover; we'd never heard or heard of Simmons drums before). Where were those weird washes of synth coming from? (we had never heard of the Roland guitar synth). I knew Fripp from his work on Bowie's Berlin albums and Eno's 'Another Green World', but didn't realize I'd already heard Belew live with Bowie during the Stage tour, so totally unprepared all those squeaks and squawks coming from Belew (though "African Night Flight" on 'Lodger' should have prepared me for "Elephant Talk"). Certain, ahem, enhancements were imbibed; lights dim, frippertronics waft out over the hall, and the rest of the night was strapped to the nosecone of a Saturn V. Dreamt frets and strings across infinite space all night, that night. 🤯
Incredible
I saw them in Montreal during that time. Absolutely magical
Love vai...and really enjoy his life philosophy.. great interview
Thanks for watching. More coming soon!
I cant wait to hear the concert here in YT. I love Steve, I love KC, this is the clash of giants
I bet it'll be beyond our expectations
When steve vai bigs you up.Youve done something worth while and special.
100%
I totally respect Steve for taking this on, it must be a real challenge playing someone else's style like this, he's a genius so I know he will do a great job.....looking forward to hearing this band...great interview thanks 👍
Glad you enjoyed. Part two coming later this week
Agreed! It's like Joe going out and playing Eddie this summer.
More like Joe going out and playing Holdsworth! haha
(Whoa! I had no idea you were referring to an actual tour where Joe plays Eddie's stuff!)
So psyched to see them in October!
Where? I’m going to the Keswick Theatre.
@@RickSerra Kodak Center in Rochester, NY. 6th row Orchestra, left side. 😎
I’m so excited for this tour. I have a front row seat at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. I can’t wait
Absent Lovers is a great live album. This is such an exciting prospect. Please come to Europe.
It’s probably a good baseline for set list expectations
would love to see vai play frakctured
Haha, 0% chance of that.
@@MakeWeirdMusic just a dream! I know hahah
@@MakeWeirdMusicMaybe they could divide the especially devilish sections up amongst several guitarists, like the gamelan does with complicated sections sometimes. Those guys are certainly used to counting, if necessary, and I think they could pull it off. I’m only half joking…I guess. 💡Get Musk onboard, he could tap in a couple of neuralinks.
😂
@@MakeWeirdMusiclol I wonder why that is!!!!!!!!!!!!
Man, I m starting to loving Steve more and more now. He is so optimistic and humble ❤
Couldn't agree more!
Wow. That was great! I've already got tickets and can't wait! Been wondering how Steve was going about it all. And, I've alway been curious to know what Zappa thought of Fripp if anything. If you can, do you think you could ask him? It would be historically interesting. :). Thanks for posting this!
I might email him and ask him
Saw Steve with Frank.... Love his "Stunt Guitar" work, especially his solo on, " Stevie's Spanking". Already got my tix for the Beacon Theater show..... Can't wait!
Enjoy!
Came of age listening to FZ and KC. Can’t wait to see them in Rochester.
Me too! Enjoy the show
Great interview thanks!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Brilliant ! Thanks ! Loads of people will discover Fripp via Vai.
That’s a great point and I hope you are right.
And vice-versa
@@MehYam2112 yes
YESYESYES!!!
Wow, you are ON IT.
@@MakeWeirdMusic oh yeah!
Just caught Steve last week on the Satch/ Vai tour; incredible as always. Can't wait to see him again this Fall...with Danny, Adrian, and Tony...and without the camera filter...lol
No filter on my end. It must be zoom.
Steve and Joe are incredible.
I've been a little on the fence on all of this, and will confess, I don't know Steve from Adam, but this was a really lovely interview and I'm looking forward.
If the Absent Lovers album is a good idea of a setlist for these, its looking to be a great concert!
Agreed!
That's only an opening 1 hour set.
So...
0:27 Matte Kudasai
Throughout Steve's career, he had to emulate so many great guitarists. That is probably one of the main reasons why Steve has such a phenomenal style of playing. He can take on any guitarist's footprint. I think Steve is taking on this gig as a learning experience, as well as challenging himself to do something new. Robert Fripp has been an amazing influence on all to many guitarists, as well as myself. His timing, technique, and progressions are beyond this world, and Steve is one of the only guitarists on this planet who can pull that off. I can't wait to see them live. Hopefully they will come somewhere close to my area code so I can get a great seat in that arena!
This tour will be awesome!
Agreed!
:TLDR:
- Can you play Robert Fripp?
- I'm Steve Vai. It should be fine.
😂 yep!
I think in Vai's case, it's more like "Can you pl-" "Yes."
@@svartmetall Steve Vai seems like such a lovely man and I know he is a wonderful guitarist. :).
You cannot meet a more down to earth authentic person, void of any ego or “I am superstar status guy”
I had a meet and greet pass for a G3 concert, way back in 2004 in Zurich. I had the most interesting conversation with Steve Vai. He even came out and joined me and my friends for a beer at a near by bar (he didn’t drink) but didn’t stay long. It’s those spontaneous moments 🙏
@@ChristopherLightfoot-zu3kb that's a cool story man! Both Vai and Satch seem to be very grounded people even when they are godly skilled musicians.
Well, they won’t play Fracture, so no worries, Steve. All Beat stuff is not so hard to play. I learned the hardest of it when I was 15, transcribing from a tape recorder;)
Not going to lie, I thought that was a pretty bold claim especially when talking Vai, Fripp, and Belew, then I checked out your channel. Good stuff man.
@@Issicra thanks man. But isn’t that true? There’s some really difficult Fripp’s compositions, which can probably be played only utilising his technique.
Beat is an interesting album. It’s “hard” in different ways than the other 2 80s albums. I’ll have to check out your stuff. There’s not a lot of us people who play this stuff
@@MakeWeirdMusic I’m soon releasing the album kinda dedicated to King Crimson music, which I love so much, so stay tuned! There actually a single from that album out, which is my latest video.
@@vitgit I'd agree with that assessment. When I was 15 I was still trying to figure out Stairway or something. I'm nowhere near your guys' level of playing or composition. I look forward to checking out more of your stuff.
Hope to see Beat in Argentina. You guys have so many fans here. Remember 90s Crimson launched here in Buenos Aires!!!
Steve addresses touring in the next part. I’ll try to release later this week
Always admired Steve's work, couldn't ever hope to emulate it (I'm more of s blues rock, and/or Sabbath and/or indie/britpop guy) - but then we all have our own style. Also now we are all getting older, guitar playing can hurt too, so we adapt as music is our lifeblood (I just can't dedicate enough time to it these days).
More importantly Steve has a great ethos and always seems a really nice guy, which is so refreshing - polar opposite to his Crossroads character of course.
And Mr Fripp? Genius, fun guy with his Mrs (Toyah) too. His work on 'Heroes' is to die for, so cool, so different, ground breaking the way he played it.
Always a pleasure and never a chore to hear Steve or Robert play and talk, thanks for sharing 👍😊
So glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching. Hope you get to see a show
@@MakeWeirdMusic Yes I did thanks - great interview. I'm in the UK and struggling with my health so I hope it'll be recorded at some point🙏🤞✌️💜👍😊
I am so excited for this tour. Got seventh row center for the Madison, WI show.
Wowza! A night to celebrate
I cannot wait for this show.
Me neither. Just a few more months
How great is Roland to understand the significance of the work for Steve to accomplish the sounds of king..... immersed in the deal to know their legacy matters to us..❤
Agreed. I hope they nail it
Love this!
Thanks for watching
Can’t wait for this show. Seeing it twice.
Smart!
This will be EPIC!
I salute Vai for getting stuck into this. So jealous of folks in the USA!
I’ve received my copy of the transcriptions and it is a wealth of knowledge and beautiful and clearly presented.
Glad you like the book!
Looking forward to Milwaukee show!
Man, this is gonna be good.
What an articulate man! We’re lucky to have great guitarists like Vai and Guthrie who can explain things so well.
Totally agree.
I've been trying to play like Fripp for 40 years and Steve is absolutely correct in saying it's the endurance that is one of the biggest challenges. Kudos to Steve Vai!
I have high hopes for this tour. Should be very cool.
Me too. No reason not to!
11:29 Quite the team for new blood and creativity to change this boredom of mundane music in the last 20 years or so. Amazing roster to execute this timeless ART!! BRAVO 👏👏👏
Lots to be excited about
We love you Steve
The Steveness loves you.
I'm taking my son (17) to the Phoenix show from Albuquerque. Can't wait to see this line up playing this music! I saw Adrian, Tony, and Danny at a small club in Santa Fe years ago during the Stickmen/ABPT 3 of a Perfect Pair tour (that might've been Danny's first show with Adrian - he flew in and played the show without rehearsal, if I recall). They were DIY touring in a couple vans, which was amazing. This is gonna be on another level!
BTW - my son is super excited for this one, too. He was about 5 the last time I saw Stickmen/ABPT.
I will be at the Phoenix show. Come say hi! I'm bringing my mom. I'll see if I can get another ticket for my son.
I’m with Robert on this, I want to see Steve be Steve on this music I love. Trust him completely to bring in some cool and exciting stuff.
At first I was shocked it was going to be Vai, and I'm a huge Vai fan. However, every Vai fan knows he's the master transcriber and best guitar player alive today. Obvious choice.
Thanks Frank!
Bought tickets as soon as i was able to. I absolutely cannot wait to see this live, even if im slightly heartbroken that Fripp and Bruford wont be participating. That said, Vai is an outstanding choice.
Better to see this music performed live by great musicians than not at all
So wonderful of Steve to share his work-in-progress, humbly setting himself to the task of learning someone else's guitar parts. One thing in his favor: Fripp's most difficult-to-play bits are generally not to be found on the 80s albums. Someone with Vai's chops won't have too much difficulty with most of it.
I loved seeing the work in progress. Thanks for watching.
Vai has matured like a fine wine :) What a nice guy,
What a massive undertaking! My holy grail concept of this band would be the sound and limitations of the first album’s gear dictating the technology used for all songs performed across all albums.
Can't wait to hear it for real
Amazing stuff!
Glad you enjoyed it
I actually thought this would be challenging for Steve because of the in the pocket very intricate poly rhythmic style although since he played in Zappa tours at 20 years old I have faith in him ! in fact his example in this video show very good progress already .I did see the Vai-satch tour
a few weeks ago ! and when I heard about this tour I was wondering how he was fitting it in the schedule learning wise. awesomeness ! lets Go !
We talk about polymeter in part 2 (coming later this week)
Looking forward to that one thanks
I can’t believe I snagged tickets to see this tour!
Me neither! They're selling so fast!
Back in the day our group spent a fair amount of time and learned Frame by Frame, One More Red Nightmare and Red.
It was fantastic that the 12 people who saw the concert( lol ) actually liked it !
haha, I did the same with a band that never even performed publicly!