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1995 Argentinean tour dates:
1997 South American tour dates:
2000 South American tour dates:
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1995 Argentinean tour dates:
1997 South American tour dates:
2000 South American tour dates:
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Excerpts from the Press Conferences (1995 & 1997):
Q: What's your balance of the album Sex & Religion and why you went back to instrumental music?
A: For Sex & Religion I tried to put a band together. It was a different approach altogether from Passion & Warfare. Some of my fans liked it and some of them just hated it. With Alien Love Secrets I tried to make a simple straight-ahead guitar album. All projects that I have in mind are pretty different today.
Q: What can you say about your experience with Frank Zappa?
A: There is so much to tell you about Frank that it's hard even to start, but I'll try. When I was young, I heard a rumor that this guy Frank Zappa was a genius. When I heard his music it had everything in it that I wanted to hear in music; it had comedy, it was very strict, it had guitar playing... but it wasn't until I worked with him that I realized his true brilliance, and genius. The man was truly a jewel. And all of his musical brilliance was really secondary to his integrity. His was very honest, and very strict, ...but he was very funny... He would say the perfect thing every time. I remember one time I said to him that I wanted to be like him. And he said: "you are too young to go bold". That's just one story...
Q: What is your relationship with your band members? Do you share the decisions?
A: Well it's hard for me to be the bandleader because I am a control freak. But I turn to the musicians for employ and for their expertise and what they do, so you need good musicians and let them express, otherwise why have them? I don't oppose to a good idea if it's better than mine is.
Q: What was the story behind Stevie's Spanking?
A: Oh, boy... Frank Zappa would write songs about anything. Hanging around with Frank would compel you to do things that you would not normally do, because he got a laugh out of it. But you never knew he was going to write a song about it. One morning... well, listen to the song, but keep in mind I was 20 years old...
Brief 1997 shows report:
For a second time, Steve Vai played in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The first time, in November 1995, he had played 3 sold-out shows at the very big downtown
Gran Rex Theatre featuring Scott Thunes on bass. (It was impossible to get in touch with
Scott, since he arrived sunstroked from Brazil, thus in a VERY BAD MOOD).
This 97 tour, no wonder called Fire Garden, actually began in 1996 after Steve was over with G3 (Steve Vai- Joe Satriani - Eric Johnson) in the States (next to tour Europe). Vai hit the road with his band (Mike Keneally on guitar and keys/ Philip Bynoe on bass / and Mike Mangini -ex-Extreme- on drums) with Beer for Dolphins (Keneally’s own power trio) as support. In January 1997 Vai toured the Far East and later on South America (in both cases without the Dolphins).
Once again at the Gran Rex Theatre, the two full house shows basically featured songs from Vai’s latest CD (Fire Garden) plus his live greatest hits: "Liberty", "For the love of the Gods" and "Bad Horsie", among others.
This time Steve gave more participation to the band. In fact, Keneally played a lot of written guitar lines in unison with Steve and in a couple of times they even played two guitar harmonies at the same volume level!
Funny facts to point out:
Overall, a good show and a great band of great people. What else can you expect in the 90s?
Marcelo with Steve -March 1997
click here to see 2 black & white live photos from the 1997 show (15Kb)
click here to see the 1997 Gran Rex Theatre giveaway show program (18Kb)