Steve Vai recently shared his experience playing with David Lee Roth and opened up on the constant comparisons fans made between him and Eddie Van Halen.
Steve Vai started his music career playing with Frank Zappa from 1980 to 1983, a role he secured by persistently pestering Zappa and impressing him during the audition. Although this prestigious position was a significant achievement, his major breakthrough came in 1985 when he joined David Lee Roth, former vocalist of Van Halen. Replacing Eddie Van Halen was a formidable challenge, and many would scrutinize Steve Vai closely, ready to judge if he made any mistakes.
On the subject, Vai noted that comparing with Van Halen is a fool’s errand, but he never experienced anything truly unpleasant from Van Halen’s fans. Speaking with Guitar World, he said:
“I knew all ears would be on me. It was probably the most coveted guitar chair in rock at the time. I adored Edward’s playing, so from a fan’s point of view, I understood that people would be skeptical. I would’ve been too. But competing with Eddie Van Halen? Forget it. You don’t compete with Mount Everest – you just admire it.”
“My mindset was simply to contribute something authentic, be myself, and let that speak for itself. Once the album came out and we hit the road, the reception was fantastic.”
“I didn’t feel the backlash people warned me about. I think fans realize you can’t replace Edward; you can only bring your own voice.”
Few guitarists have faced a tougher assignment than having to play Eddie Van Halen’s seminal guitar parts live. In a recent conversation with Eddie Trunk, Steve Vai and Joe Satriani reflected on what it really means to take on those parts, and why honoring them requires something more nuanced than simple imitation.
Vai was first to share his thoughts on the subject, having played on two classic David Lee Roth albums, 1986’s “Eat ‘Em and Smile” and 1988’s “Skyscraper.”
