lmao now you're a homophobe, not to mention you are watching an interview with steve vai, a guitarist, which in case you dont know, is a liberal art, mr shadow you are a mysterious man indeed.
Joshua Pittman Trendy catch phrases like "homophobe" aren't going to help you out because you've already proven yourself to be a bleeding-heart bitch crying over some washed up rock star's depression. Oh boo-fucking-hoo..
And that perspective gives him the ability to see that the depression is really nothing personal, it's actually just a mental construct which if fed with belief will grow.
As a recovering addict I couldn't agree more with this. I actually overdosed twice this past year. I recently underwent a fifth right hip surgery and I got through it without narcotic painkillers. I told myself before hand that I would do it. I stayed focused and I'm still clean and sober. Wise words indeed Mr Vai
Great job! Stay strong and true to your real self. DO NOT see yourself as the person society want or think how should be...DO NOT live by other people's expectations, it is your life and only you can set them.....if they are not resonating with who you really are, then set new one for yourself... Life is a reality that you can mold to how you want it to be...break out of the box that society and dogmas put you in......it won't always be easy as how they way I wrote this (and though I may wrote this, even I at times have difficulty adhering to this) but keep holding on!!! Whatever bad experience has happened to you in your life that lead you to dark times remember this: Life is 10% what happens to us, but 90% how we respond to it.
Matthew, You're very good!! you stop takin drugs but when it's for painkillers, you've got a good reason! anyway, that's just my opinion. Take care and again: Congratulations :)
Thanks for your views & opinions Lou, hope that works for you. Here's MY view (back to Vai's actual experience) -- ANYthing a person can do to get themselves out of a rut is immensely valuable. This is being proactive VS merely being acted upon (reactive, passive.) This is experiential, pushing and testing yourself. Your inner experience of the reality is far bigger than the outer conditions of your life - and changing your cognition can change how life and people treat you. Like a feedback loop. Life affirms exactly what you think, and in this regard you are always right even if your views are negative, depressive etc.
+Luigi Pati I think you miss the point. Having suffered with chronic illness myself when I changed how I looked at my situation it did indeed change my situation. "Oh well, I just changed my view, that solved my problem". This is a narrow way to look at life. When I realized that my chronic illness was not really a problem but a chance for me to reevaluate my circumstance I was changed dramatically. Through medicine I was able to overcome my illness. It was a long hard fight but what an incredible experience. Even if I would have died (planning on it someday, lol) it still would have been something that changed me for the better and it all started when I changed the way I looked at it. (side note, I am an atheist)
This guy is a true inspiration not only as a guitarist but as a human being in general. He resonates a lot of my personal beliefs so it feels like I have a team mate in this guitar/life struggle.
@@BillDerBerg How sad it is to be stuck in your kind of infantile mental straight-jacket and believe it is "light." You may want to meditate Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 13:11: "When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things." Have hope, you can mature if you desire it... I can only hope you have, since you wrote this. Peace.
+6672rock Yeah, particularly those lydian songs. They only way i can describe his sound is "mystical", but even that doesn't explain it properly. It's so very unique, mainly to do with the phrasing he uses within his riffs/licks.
He's talking about paradigm shifts, but I really love the points he makes about moments of clarity near the end...so true. I occasionally feel this way when I run...unclutter my mind and get a little more aware of myself and the world. Thanks Steve and thanks for posting.
When i was 27 i had a big depression and when that depression was absorbed in my self awareness i've experienced the best moments of my life. Now i'm whaiting my first son and recording my first solo album rounded by ispiration....that's life!
I went to my psychologist and told her that I won’t spend my money and my time with her,anymore.I just listened a less than 4 minutes lesson from Steve Vai for free and it was more useful than years in her studio.
Good for Steve, he serves as a great example for me. His music helps me retract from all the stress daily life brings. I have been depressed for as long as I can remember. I've always felt like this inadequate, unwanted, strange kid that didn't belong anywhere, I had a lot of issues when I was little, and ever since I was like 6 or 7 I started showing a lot of self-esteem issues and self-worthlessness, I was, and am, very critical of myself and I am reaching a point in my life (currently 20 years old) where I feel like I'm not going to last very long. It is this raw feeling in my gut that I am not going to make it out alive, I feel like I'm going to die. Besides depression I have a lot of anxiety issues, and a mild/severe stutter which greatly hinders my social/financial/family life, these problems affect my academic performance greatly, and I really don't feel much potential in me. I don't have the will Steve had when he was younger. I am also finding spiritual methods to recover from this, similar to what Steve did, but I just feel like dying all the time. Steve often says "You become what you think", and I feel like I've become, after all these years, the visage and essence of depression, sometimes I feel empty and dead, and since I've been in this mental spiral for so long, I am it, I think it, I feel IT, this is "normal" for me to the point where I don't even feel it, music doesn't even fix it, and... I often feel like I don't want to fix it, I feel like time is literally running out for me. I respect Steve and I've learned a lot from him, but.... he only went through a brief phase that lasted about a year, he wasn't like that for most of his life.. so, I don't know?.. maybe some people are meant to be failures?, I think I'm a prime example of what you shouldn't be thinking and/or feeling.
I wish you the best, health, yes the words of Steve "The way you look at yourself, shapes your view of the world" seem to be obvious, but only when you are in deppresive mood. It seems also to be the way to start to be healthy, it's kind of diagnosis. I had professional succesess but something had happend in my life and at the begining it was only kind of stress, discomfort then it changed into depression. I took the medicines. I always say - deprresion is very "democratic" illness, it treaten everybody, even such brilliant guitarist as Steve. Sorry for my poor English, I write from Poland and still learn that language.
Fully grown circus elephants are tied to a little stake when they are not working. If they tried they could give a little kick and that stake would go flying. But when they were baby elephants they were also tethered to the stake, and having tugged and pulled thousands of times they couldn’t budge it. So they quit trying. They learned and memorized over time that the stake had total control over them. It does no good to challenge it. By the time they became huge powerful animals, their brain had fully accepted the lie (although it felt so true!) that said, “I am at the mercy of the stake….it is bigger than me, stronger than me….it owns me….It will be this way until I die!!!” And the lie wins! But it is still a lie! It sounds like you, too, are tethered to some stakes in your life….some lies that seem to own you. You might hate them and what they do to you, but they are also familiar, and familiar lies often feel safer than unfamiliar truth. You may need someone to help you unravel one from the other and move toward truth. The truth really can set you free! It is hard to know where to look for that help, but a place you might start is 1-800-A Family [800 232 6459) in USA. Free. Prayers for ya, bro. Peace!
Steve's making some of the most beautiful, positive music this earth has ever heard. In order to feel those emotions, and to express them through his art (music) he has to had experienced the absolute opposite side of the spectrum. The amount of joy one can feel is directly proportionate to the emotional pain one has felt.
Depression is not a choice! It's just something that happens through life experiences. I was fortunate enough to kick its ass back in Dec. 14 2011 after it kicking mine since the age of 15. It was as if a 100 lb. weight had been lifted off my shoulders! I'm not proud of the things I had to go through & the shit I had to endure since 1984 but I believe I'm a stronger & much wiser person from it. Don't give up! DON'T EVER GIVE UP!!!
Those were some very wise words! I have had almost the exact same experience. The way you see yourself changes your perception of the world around you. I have fought with depression, but it is facing the way i trained myself to think about myself and facing the broken view i had of who I was, that saved me. I moved continents and rebuilt who I was into who I wanted to be, away from anything I had known and was holding onto before. I finally learned to be happy and allow myself to love who I truly am. It really is a continuous journey.
Truly inspiring. I'm 22 myself and suffering from anxiety every day and occasional depression. Much better than I was a couple months ago though. Guitar can be so great at relieving anxiety
Strange that his depression hit him at 22. Mine hit me at 25. Ended my musical career/output 6 years later. And pretty much my life in general ever since.... People like him, Peter Gabriel, who've dealt with heavy assed depression and still create beautiful art: They impress, and depress me... 'If they could do it, why couldn't I?.....'
+ROOKTABULA Most artists who experience depression experience it as part of Bipolar disorder. Sometimes they are insanely happy, which is actually quite unpleasant the moment you realize what is happening.
That was funny and also a wake up call on "Whatever you really really really want, you get and whatever you really really really don't want, you get" Heh... Vai is serious as a hammer and nail however funny, strong yet humility comes through. Vai is ripening well on the vine ! ok - that's probably worded wrong. He's showing some wisdom from personal experiences and I look forward to more video time listening to his insights.
"If you change the way you look at something, whatever you're looking at will change"... sometimes it's just the right way of putting something that makes all the difference. Not so much the message, but the actual words, the order etc. Beautiful!
Seriously, I think that is the best interview I've heard with such quality and accurate responses, not some empty commercial words saying "Wahoo I'm so cool and my head so empty ". Now we see who's the mentor:F.Zappa. thanks maestro Steve for being honest ! Take care
People who are honest with themselves and then honest with other people should be commended. Especially when they are at or near the very peak of their personal endeavours. Such honesty is so rare and so brave. Steve should be commended for his candidness. It is a message of hope from one soul to all others. Don't let your ego get in the way of your accomplishments.
Vai is a soft spoken man, very profound, curious, good sense of humor, allergic to being superficial...it's really rare to hear musicians that witty. Besides, one of the best guitarists/musicians around.
Right on! Well said. I always thought the goal was attaining enlightenment. For sure, at first, I didn't even know what it was. I thought it was being hip. Now I realize, that it can be those things that really make you happy. I think sometimes, finding inspiration all by itself can be quite a journey, especially if you're stuck in a mental block. Wanting to be in a better state of mind, has a hell of a lot to do with it and I believe that if you grapple w this, in time, you get better at it. On the other hand, don't grapple w it, and you never get those tools. Sometimes, mere inspiration, can be hard to come by (itself, a disappointment). Thanks to guys, such as yourself, inspiration is just around the bend!
Didn't know Steve Vai had depression, i know something about it, my father have it when i was a kid 8/9/10 years old. Now is feel better, even if he had to took medicine because stomach problems causes from depression. If you have someone suffering from depression, help him, telling everyday how you love him!
Vai just nailed it in few clear honest and simple words, Respect . And that is why we all got this clarity and beautiful skill that he gets playing his guitar .
New Age doctrins? He says that what you focus on or run to/from you end up heading toward. Totally true. We can choose to be independent? True. We can choose to be happy, to a large degree? True. Our perspective changes our reality. True. You sound like a Christian fundamentalist. He is sim[ly talking basic common sense.
+Peter Zirkul. And yet here you are, with your own proclamations about what he is and what he isn't. Why should we listen to your opinion on anything? Steve has a lot more runs on the board than you do. He inspires people, he just advocates that people explore themselves and live in a state of truth. He doesn't tell people what they should do or want. He just asks people to be authentic and understand themselves. There's nothing wrong with that. It is in accordance with pretty much every psychological treatment for depression.
+Peter Zirkul: I don't need any advice, I'm challenging your assertion that he is dangerous to people with a precarious mental disposition. I am very well informed about mental health, and I just don't think anything here could be described as dangerous or misleading. Certainly, it's incomplete and anybody following this line of thought would have to flesh it out thoroughly and work out how it pertains to them, but there is certainly some food for thought in this. He was asked about his personal experience - and his answer has value and validity. We can't expect a full treatise on the subject in a musical interview. It's up to individuals to explore their own issues - whether that's on their own or with a therapist. I think Mr Vai is an inspiration to countless people and whilst I don't advocate people slavishly attaching themselves to the beliefs of others, there are far worse people one could be inspired by than Steve Vai. He is a good hearted, compassionate person and he speaks with personal integrity. He's ok by me.
I'm a guitar player, with a deep passion for music and guitarplaying, and myself am going through a depression. I'm 19. It's sucking my life out. I've been suffering severe chronic back pain for the past 4 years, and had to take a break from my guitar studies and, atleast momentarilly, give up my dream of being a professional guitar player purely from the pain. I cannot play. 15 minutes of normal practice is sheer torture and usually end up in tears. It's destroying me. This gives a ray of hope.
oh steve vai. he really is one of the most interesting and inspirational people i have ever been lucky enough to lived through his music and many of his songs have been kind of a sound track to some of my life, so lots of happy memories come back when listening to his works. the thing that i like about steve is his personality is a great blend of out-there yet he is grounded in that he is in touch with people on a deeper level than most of us tend to consider.
I loved Steve as a kid...he was the most amazing guitarist to listen to and still is. It is so cool to know a personal side of him. We've all had to fight our demons in our lives....even our icons.
I am so sorry Steve has to go thru all these depression issues.He is a hard worker and a great talent,I have always loved his playing and the guy deserves something better than these consequences,,,,
frkn awesoome song, awesome guy, awesome guitarist. Meeting hime twice at EVO shows was amazing and so fun for everyone. Such a unique experience with 15 fans and Steve, SOOO worth it!!!
hey total respect Mr Vai you hit so many nails on the head there and I could feel the intensity of your sincerity. loved the truth about what you want you get and what you dont want you get. terrifying but true and we do have free will but it takes a lot of pain and self examination perhaps before we can begin to use it sensibly.
It's funny how I saw this in 2 times, first when I tought I was sick (better not to say what was in my head at the time) and now when I have other problem to deal with. Steve, God bless you and all the best to you.
I think what Steve's talking about here is how we're all conditioned into believing negative things about ourselves that aren't necessarily true, and that interferes with our happiness. I might add there's more to it than just throwing off the shackles of our conditioning. Self-discovery is a life-long journey, but I think he touched on that with his comment about "being a work in progress."
true words to follow! I decided the same thing after a long depression, quit my SHIT job and now pursuing my dreams. Don't think about it.....go for it!
I love this guy as more of my all time greatest influences but for the last few years its been as him as a person first his words has helped me through some hard times and i'm for ever thankful to Steve Vai for this i'm a better person and a better artist we all need to choose our influences wisely lets face it there's more bad than good these days thank you Mr Steve Vai for all your contributions.
Ok God I am publicly acknowledging and thanking you for sending me this video. I'm not even that much of a Vai fan and you had me stumble on to this when I'm feeling at my worst. Thank you.
Mr. Vai has a lot of resources in his own website, related to the power of mind and how you see yourself, to recover your uniqueness and get focused in your inborn habilities. Really really deep approach from a genius and artist as Steve!
Keep yourselves alive - no matter what. When I mill those aforementioned words around in my mind, I'm reminded of great guys and artists like Del Shannon who lost all hope when "the words wouldn't come." Great words from a great artist, here. God keep you Forever, Steve Vai!
as a person whose been diagnosed after many years of treatment with "Major Deppresive Disorder", "Generalized Anxiety Disorder" and "Manic/Depressive Bi-polar Disorder", i agree its all very unknown as of yet. Im young only 24 and for anyone familiar with these diagnosis you know it takes years to be truly diagnosed and such was the case for me. so ive been chemically deppendent on anti-depresents/mood stabalizers/benzos for years and those meds we know are changing the chemistry of my brain...
Steve Vai seems to be a really cool guy with such a deep sincerity in his heart. He said he prayed hard because of his depression due to what he was going through at that time. That shows to me he believes in God even though he never mentioned him. I pray for Steve that one day soon he can come to realize who is behind the meaning of life and where we are heading to in the days to come. Looking forward seeing him perform in a few weeks in my home town. GB
is interesting watching him talk about ''fellings'', he is one of a few people that focus in this aspect of life that directly influences what he does for a living.
So dead on and so refreshing to hear this from an Icon........... Gods bless you Steve and thank you for your magic!!!!! Hailz \m/\m/ YOu just helped me!
I trully respect Mr.Vai and some of the things he says are interesting.Changig you perpesctive is a really strong tool,but in deep depression you are unavailable to get off your bed,feel anything or think at all.
If you are that bad it is not mental it is physical and it has to be treated with more than making a decision to think about things differently. Steve is really only talking about mental depression.
It has a lot to do with what people you have around you...assholes never help you to get recover from depression, they need you sick & suicidal because they don't like you, that's a fact. When you start to feel well, they are angry or not so happy with you...and you have to see those signs because is not your fault at all, is the people ALSO. YOu have to get distance from them as long as you can or you'll never get fine with your life. That's in my experience!
@Veronica Gorosito Problem complicating this is that people have a role in attracting assholes. Assholes have a way of being ignored or pushed aside except when people keep them around.
I can totally relate. I’m a musician, I’m a singer and I’m a very sensitive person, this means that I feel everything in a very bigger way... I’m happy as f*ck when something very little but positive happens to my life or to people I love, but I’m so down for everything bad that happens in the world. I have very deep down moments in my life, but sometimes I just stop for a while and focus on the positive things and the way I want to look at things and it seems like magic to me, it may be simple but it isn’t. Thanks Mr Steve Vai
This is very poignant for me. Steve Vai literally drew me out of a deep, intense, suicidal depression many years ago when I saw him live for the first time. It was at the G3 show so he only had a 45 minute set (during his Fire Garden era). But I had been wallowing in rock bottom for several months and the person I was when I walked into the theater that night was completely different from the person who left. He changed my life that night. Saved it, in fact. I hope I get to tell him someday.
"If you change the way you look at something, whatever you're looking at, will change". Most of us have Steve in our "neighborhood" at least since 1986, Yankee Rose revelation. It makes him not only a hard-worker musician (Gift doesn't exist, there's only work), and, most important than beeing a loved rock star, he has been sharing our lives for 30 years! Makes him a great enlightening big brother huh ?. No one doubts he has made some interesting discoveries travelling his... inner light :-) LoV
Steve is a very spiritual guy.He was one of my teachers Al Pitrellis teachers.Very well grounded.Met him (Steve) on Long Island years ago at SPIT he was doing a charity event for the Church of St Jude.He is very intense and very calm it is hard to describe,Call it CENTERED .He doesnt subscribe to any particular religion There is a bit of Budhism and a twist of Catholic believing in a Higher Power is what I have seen .He is hyper intelligent and he balances it with a great deal of humility.He is not an average guy but I definately to understand what he speaks of in this video.It has been decades since then and life does always have a way of working itself out.... Nice Job Steve.. Keep it up. The Audience IS listening
![I.N "HALLUCINATION" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/n5B5q1Hwt_U/mqdefault.jpg)
![Felix "Unfair" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Oswujxm2Ag0/mqdefault.jpg)
Came for the riffs, stayed for the philosophy.
+Sbeast Absolutely well put. Cheers.
+Sbeast
Typically, it's referred to as bullshit rhetoric.
+ShadowⓋ sometimes people fucking need that man, it means they too are dealing with depression. you could respect that like a decent human being.
lmao now you're a homophobe, not to mention you are watching an interview with steve vai, a guitarist, which in case you dont know, is a liberal art, mr shadow you are a mysterious man indeed.
Joshua Pittman
Trendy catch phrases like "homophobe" aren't going to help you out because you've already proven yourself to be a bleeding-heart bitch crying over some washed up rock star's depression. Oh boo-fucking-hoo..
Love the post... horrible heading. He's not happy with depression. He has an understanding of perspective.
And that perspective gives him the ability to see that the depression is really nothing personal, it's actually just a mental construct which if fed with belief will grow.
At 1:20 a guy walks in the door behind Steve and hears "deep deep depression" and is like"oh, bad time" and creeps back out
XD
Yeah! Very very funny!
Thanks for pointing out what anyone watching could see for themselves.
thanks for reminding me i dont care
I cant hear the door guy say anything?
As a recovering addict I couldn't agree more with this. I actually overdosed twice this past year. I recently underwent a fifth right hip surgery and I got through it without narcotic painkillers. I told myself before hand that I would do it. I stayed focused and I'm still clean and sober. Wise words indeed Mr Vai
Congratulations! Keep fighting!
Great job! Stay strong and true to your real self. DO NOT see yourself as the person society want or think how should be...DO NOT live by other people's expectations, it is your life and only you can set them.....if they are not resonating with who you really are, then set new one for yourself...
Life is a reality that you can mold to how you want it to be...break out of the box that society and dogmas put you in......it won't always be easy as how they way I wrote this (and though I may wrote this, even I at times have difficulty adhering to this) but keep holding on!!!
Whatever bad experience has happened to you in your life that lead you to dark times remember this:
Life is 10% what happens to us, but 90% how we respond to it.
Thanks both of you!
Great to hear that you are facing it with courage Matthew, go for it mate!
Matthew, You're very good!! you stop takin drugs but when it's for painkillers, you've got a good reason! anyway, that's just my opinion. Take care and again: Congratulations :)
Beautiful words of wisdom.
Speaking as a mental health professional I can wholly agree with Steve's view on depression.
bigtone1348 Are you there?
STOP!!! Did you catch that first line? "If you change the way you're looking at something whatever you're looking at will change." Truth.
+John Rodgers That's a Dyer quote. He died a couple weeks ago unfortunately.
+John Rodgers That's easy to say, but when you're deep into the darkness, that is not a conscious option
+ulfingvar1 - nobody can speak for you, naturally. Steve can certainly speak for himself as to whether being proactive is an option.
Thanks for your views & opinions Lou, hope that works for you.
Here's MY view (back to Vai's actual experience) -- ANYthing a person can do to get themselves out of a rut is immensely valuable. This is being proactive VS merely being acted upon (reactive, passive.) This is experiential, pushing and testing yourself.
Your inner experience of the reality is far bigger than the outer conditions of your life - and changing your cognition can change how life and people treat you. Like a feedback loop.
Life affirms exactly what you think, and in this regard you are always right even if your views are negative, depressive etc.
+Luigi Pati I think you miss the point. Having suffered with chronic illness myself when I changed how I looked at my situation it did indeed change my situation. "Oh well, I just changed my view, that solved my problem". This is a narrow way to look at life. When I realized that my chronic illness was not really a problem but a chance for me to reevaluate my circumstance I was changed dramatically. Through medicine I was able to overcome my illness. It was a long hard fight but what an incredible experience. Even if I would have died (planning on it someday, lol) it still would have been something that changed me for the better and it all started when I changed the way I looked at it. (side note, I am an atheist)
This video is more about life than music...Many thanks to the person who posted it.
This guy is a true inspiration not only as a guitarist but as a human being in general. He resonates a lot of my personal beliefs so it feels like I have a team mate in this guitar/life struggle.
Guy in the back at 1:20 - "That's deep shit for me, I'm outa here"
Focus on the real thing!
- "The story of light. What is it?"
- "It's just an expression of all the stuff I was just talking about."
Drop mic.
Lucifer brings light... perhaps Steve found Lucifer...😈
@@BillDerBerg How sad it is to be stuck in your kind of infantile mental straight-jacket and believe it is "light."
You may want to meditate Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 13:11: "When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things." Have hope, you can mature if you desire it... I can only hope you have, since you wrote this. Peace.
Steve Vai -- philosopher guitarist extraordinaire! What a unique and readily identifiable tone and style he has!
+6672rock Yeah, particularly those lydian songs. They only way i can describe his sound is "mystical", but even that doesn't explain it properly. It's so very unique, mainly to do with the phrasing he uses within his riffs/licks.
He's talking about paradigm shifts, but I really love the points he makes about moments of clarity near the end...so true. I occasionally feel this way when I run...unclutter my mind and get a little more aware of myself and the world. Thanks Steve and thanks for posting.
When i was 27 i had a big depression and when that depression was absorbed in my self awareness i've experienced the best moments of my life.
Now i'm whaiting my first son and recording my first solo album rounded by ispiration....that's life!
I went to my psychologist and told her that I won’t spend my money and my time with her,anymore.I just listened a less than 4 minutes lesson from Steve Vai for free and it was more useful than years in her studio.
An exceptional human being first, and an exceptional guitar virtuoso somewhere down the list. No wonder you've led such a charmed life. Thanks, Steve.
"If you change the way you're looking at something, whatever you're looking at will change."
👊✋🎤
Good for Steve, he serves as a great example for me. His music helps me retract from all the stress daily life brings. I have been depressed for as long as I can remember. I've always felt like this inadequate, unwanted, strange kid that didn't belong anywhere, I had a lot of issues when I was little, and ever since I was like 6 or 7 I started showing a lot of self-esteem issues and self-worthlessness, I was, and am, very critical of myself and I am reaching a point in my life (currently 20 years old) where I feel like I'm not going to last very long. It is this raw feeling in my gut that I am not going to make it out alive, I feel like I'm going to die. Besides depression I have a lot of anxiety issues, and a mild/severe stutter which greatly hinders my social/financial/family life, these problems affect my academic performance greatly, and I really don't feel much potential in me. I don't have the will Steve had when he was younger. I am also finding spiritual methods to recover from this, similar to what Steve did, but I just feel like dying all the time. Steve often says "You become what you think", and I feel like I've become, after all these years, the visage and essence of depression, sometimes I feel empty and dead, and since I've been in this mental spiral for so long, I am it, I think it, I feel IT, this is "normal" for me to the point where I don't even feel it, music doesn't even fix it, and... I often feel like I don't want to fix it, I feel like time is literally running out for me.
I respect Steve and I've learned a lot from him, but.... he only went through a brief phase that lasted about a year, he wasn't like that for most of his life.. so, I don't know?.. maybe some people are meant to be failures?, I think I'm a prime example of what you shouldn't be thinking and/or feeling.
I wish you the best, health, yes the words of Steve "The way you look at yourself, shapes your view of the world" seem to be obvious, but only when you are in deppresive mood. It seems also to be the way to start to be healthy, it's kind of diagnosis. I had professional succesess but something had happend in my life and at the begining it was only kind of stress, discomfort then it changed into depression. I took the medicines. I always say - deprresion is very "democratic" illness, it treaten everybody, even such brilliant guitarist as Steve. Sorry for my poor English, I write from Poland and still learn that language.
Homo Martian Thanks for the kind words, I try to push further, I don't want to end up as one of those "failures"
man fight, it takes time, it takes a lot of time, don't you love and appreciate yourself? then give yourself reasons to do, work and have patience
Fully grown circus elephants are tied to a little stake when they are not working. If they tried they could give a little kick and that stake would go flying. But when they were baby elephants they were also tethered to the stake, and having tugged and pulled thousands of times they couldn’t budge it. So they quit trying. They learned and memorized over time that the stake had total control over them. It does no good to challenge it. By the time they became huge powerful animals, their brain had fully accepted the lie (although it felt so true!) that said, “I am at the mercy of the stake….it is bigger than me, stronger than me….it owns me….It will be this way until I die!!!” And the lie wins! But it is still a lie!
It sounds like you, too, are tethered to some stakes in your life….some lies that seem to own you. You might hate them and what they do to you, but they are also familiar, and familiar lies often feel safer than unfamiliar truth. You may need someone to help you unravel one from the other and move toward truth. The truth really can set you free! It is hard to know where to look for that help, but a place you might start is 1-800-A Family [800 232 6459) in USA. Free. Prayers for ya, bro. Peace!
cbyronize Yeah this is exactly it. I'm looking for methods to mitigate my situation, and I hope I am able to succeed.
I have never been a fan of Mr. Vai's music but i think he is a a VERY gifted musician, that being said this was a great and insightful interview.
Steve's making some of the most beautiful, positive music this earth has ever heard. In order to feel those emotions, and to express them through his art (music) he has to had experienced the absolute opposite side of the spectrum. The amount of joy one can feel is directly proportionate to the emotional pain one has felt.
Depression is not a choice! It's just something that happens through life experiences. I was fortunate enough to kick its ass back in Dec. 14 2011 after it kicking mine since the age of 15. It was as if a 100 lb. weight had been lifted off my shoulders! I'm not proud of the things I had to go through & the shit I had to endure since 1984 but I believe I'm a stronger & much wiser person from it. Don't give up! DON'T EVER GIVE UP!!!
Dang. He's a philosophical virtuoso too:)
Thanks again Steve
Arthur Fonzarelli well read person by tooany books
Yes, Vai is making progress on his journey.
Let’s hope we can find something from his realization and see if it fits in with our own quest.
Peace...
Those were some very wise words! I have had almost the exact same experience. The way you see yourself changes your perception of the world around you. I have fought with depression, but it is facing the way i trained myself to think about myself and facing the broken view i had of who I was, that saved me. I moved continents and rebuilt who I was into who I wanted to be, away from anything I had known and was holding onto before. I finally learned to be happy and allow myself to love who I truly am. It really is a continuous journey.
Great interview. Thank you Mr Vai!
Truly inspiring. I'm 22 myself and suffering from anxiety every day and occasional depression. Much better than I was a couple months ago though. Guitar can be so great at relieving anxiety
Steve Vai is amazing. I love his mind just as much as his guitar playing
Strange that his depression hit him at 22. Mine hit me at 25. Ended my musical career/output 6 years later. And pretty much my life in general ever since....
People like him, Peter Gabriel, who've dealt with heavy assed depression and still create beautiful art: They impress, and depress me... 'If they could do it, why couldn't I?.....'
+ROOKTABULA Most artists who experience depression experience it as part of Bipolar disorder. Sometimes they are insanely happy, which is actually quite unpleasant the moment you realize what is happening.
That was funny and also a wake up call on "Whatever you really really really want, you get and whatever you really really really don't want, you get" Heh... Vai is serious as a hammer and nail however funny, strong yet humility comes through. Vai is ripening well on the vine ! ok - that's probably worded wrong. He's showing some wisdom from personal experiences and I look forward to more video time listening to his insights.
"If you change the way you look at something, whatever you're looking at will change"... sometimes it's just the right way of putting something that makes all the difference. Not so much the message, but the actual words, the order etc. Beautiful!
Seriously, I think that is the best interview I've heard with such quality and accurate responses, not some empty commercial words saying "Wahoo I'm so cool and my head so empty ". Now we see who's the mentor:F.Zappa. thanks maestro Steve for being honest ! Take care
People who are honest with themselves and then honest with other people should be commended. Especially when they are at or near the very peak of their personal endeavours. Such honesty is so rare and so brave. Steve should be commended for his candidness. It is a message of hope from one soul to all others. Don't let your ego get in the way of your accomplishments.
don't have words...i admire Steve and i always will. Great human being, then great guitar player
Vai is a soft spoken man, very profound, curious, good sense of humor, allergic to being superficial...it's really rare to hear musicians that witty. Besides, one of the best guitarists/musicians around.
Steve Vai is not just one of the most inspiring, cleanest guitarists out there, he is a deep thinker and he gave me food for thought.
i personally met him, i can sincerely say that he's really a great person and a kind hearted
Right on! Well said. I always thought the goal was attaining enlightenment. For sure, at first, I didn't even know what it was. I thought it was being hip. Now I realize, that it can be those things that really make you happy. I think sometimes, finding inspiration all by itself can be quite a journey, especially if you're stuck in a mental block. Wanting to be in a better state of mind, has a hell of a lot to do with it and I believe that if you grapple w this, in time, you get better at it. On the other hand, don't grapple w it, and you never get those tools. Sometimes, mere inspiration, can be hard to come by (itself, a disappointment). Thanks to guys, such as yourself, inspiration is just around the bend!
Didn't know Steve Vai had depression, i know something about it, my father have it when i was a kid 8/9/10 years old. Now is feel better, even if he had to took medicine because stomach problems causes from depression.
If you have someone suffering from depression, help him, telling everyday how you love him!
Good to hear that your father is much better know!
Vai just nailed it in few clear honest and simple words, Respect . And that is why we all got this clarity and beautiful skill that he gets playing his guitar .
great guy! I'm glad I had the opportunity to exchange a few words with him! he's a jewel!
I definitely needed to hear this
Not a fan of his music particularly, but well said. Smart man.
Gained a lot of respect for this man after watching this interview. Thanks for this interview, Steve.
Very cool interview
Thanks!
You just have to love this guy. He's such a modest and kind genius.
Modest? Haha - hes promoting himself all the time and decieve people with New Age doctrins.
Sky Avila He is an artist. He makes music for a living, he just has to promote himself. And since when sharing ideas counters modesty?
New Age doctrins? He says that what you focus on or run to/from you end up heading toward. Totally true.
We can choose to be independent? True. We can choose to be happy, to a large degree? True. Our perspective changes our reality. True. You sound like a Christian fundamentalist. He is sim[ly talking basic common sense.
+Peter Zirkul. And yet here you are, with your own proclamations about what he is and what he isn't. Why should we listen to your opinion on anything? Steve has a lot more runs on the board than you do. He inspires people, he just advocates that people explore themselves and live in a state of truth. He doesn't tell people what they should do or want. He just asks people to be authentic and understand themselves. There's nothing wrong with that. It is in accordance with pretty much every psychological treatment for depression.
+Peter Zirkul: I don't need any advice, I'm challenging your assertion that he is dangerous to people with a precarious mental disposition. I am very well informed about mental health, and I just don't think anything here could be described as dangerous or misleading. Certainly, it's incomplete and anybody following this line of thought would have to flesh it out thoroughly and work out how it pertains to them, but there is certainly some food for thought in this. He was asked about his personal experience - and his answer has value and validity. We can't expect a full treatise on the subject in a musical interview. It's up to individuals to explore their own issues - whether that's on their own or with a therapist. I think Mr Vai is an inspiration to countless people and whilst I don't advocate people slavishly attaching themselves to the beliefs of others, there are far worse people one could be inspired by than Steve Vai. He is a good hearted, compassionate person and he speaks with personal integrity. He's ok by me.
Awesome interview! Thank you for sharing your view, Mr. Vai!
I'm a guitar player, with a deep passion for music and guitarplaying, and myself am going through a depression. I'm 19. It's sucking my life out. I've been suffering severe chronic back pain for the past 4 years, and had to take a break from my guitar studies and, atleast momentarilly, give up my dream of being a professional guitar player purely from the pain. I cannot play. 15 minutes of normal practice is sheer torture and usually end up in tears. It's destroying me. This gives a ray of hope.
great interview
This interview change my whole life, I couldn't even believe how one quote could do. Unbelievable
Listening to him talk about music is every bit as good as his music.
oh steve vai. he really is one of the most interesting and inspirational people i have ever been lucky enough to lived through his music and many of his songs have been kind of a sound track to some of my life, so lots of happy memories come back when listening to his works. the thing that i like about steve is his personality is a great blend of out-there yet he is grounded in that he is in touch with people on a deeper level than most of us tend to consider.
I loved Steve as a kid...he was the most amazing guitarist to listen to and still is. It is so cool to know a personal side of him. We've all had to fight our demons in our lives....even our icons.
Vai throwing down the wisdom, and pulling no punches. Very nice
Hayward,Ca....His playing,Composing(wow) intellect & definitely on the side of truth....
I like the epilepsy style of video editing. Makes me feel so good
Such an inspirational human being.
Oh my god, Steve is sooooo right on!! This makes me like him more than I had before. Thank you!
Ciao Steve bellissimo video
Come al solito non ti smentisci mai, questa è opera, grazie 👍👏👌😘
Sammi bene saluti Emanuele
Nice. Thanks for passing on the wisdom and the light Steve!
This really uplifted me. Thanks Steve.
I am so sorry Steve has to go thru all these depression issues.He is a hard worker and a great talent,I have always loved his playing and the guy deserves something better than these consequences,,,,
frkn awesoome song, awesome guy, awesome guitarist. Meeting hime twice at EVO shows was amazing and so fun for everyone. Such a unique experience with 15 fans and Steve, SOOO worth it!!!
I have to hear it from Steve Vai before I finally understand. Thanks Steve. Pray it works for me too.
Steve speaks from the heart here...
in the last few days (or maybe weeks?) i was quite unhappy. but this video helped me a lot. thank you steve!
Cool. That's great.
this changed my life, literally
Love Steve's music but artists and their introspective, power of thought, spiritualism I can do without. Thanks.
hey total respect Mr Vai you hit so many nails on the head there and I could feel the intensity of your sincerity. loved the truth about what you want you get and what you dont want you get. terrifying but true and we do have free will but it takes a lot of pain and self examination perhaps before we can begin to use it sensibly.
My new favorite guitarist . Up there with Eddie van halen and Gary Moore
It's funny how I saw this in 2 times, first when I tought I was sick (better not to say what was in my head at the time) and now when I have other problem to deal with. Steve, God bless you and all the best to you.
Thx Vai, for telling something so personal which will definitely help someone.
he is not just a smart musician.. but a genius ! salute you Steve!
Never a truer word spoken. Thank you for turning on my switch
I think what Steve's talking about here is how we're all conditioned into believing negative things about ourselves that aren't necessarily true, and that interferes with our happiness. I might add there's more to it than just throwing off the shackles of our conditioning. Self-discovery is a life-long journey, but I think he touched on that with his comment about "being a work in progress."
true words to follow! I decided the same thing after a long depression, quit my SHIT job and now pursuing my dreams. Don't think about it.....go for it!
I love this guy as more of my all time greatest influences but for the last few years its been as him as a person first his words has helped me through some hard times and i'm for ever thankful to Steve Vai for this i'm a better person and a better artist we all need to choose our influences wisely lets face it there's more bad than good these days thank you Mr Steve Vai for all your contributions.
Ok God I am publicly acknowledging and thanking you for sending me this video. I'm not even that much of a Vai fan and you had me stumble on to this when I'm feeling at my worst. Thank you.
Steve is the best. A true inspiration in music and in life.
I am sooo happy for Steve that has no clue what depression is. Happy guy. All the best.
Mr. Vai has a lot of resources in his own website, related to the power of mind and how you see yourself, to recover your uniqueness and get focused in your inborn habilities.
Really really deep approach from a genius and artist as Steve!
Thanks for your sincere compliment and love, I’m not complete without you as my Fan 🌹🎻 I have you to be most thankful for 🎻🎻🌹
@@stevevaihimself5245 ❤🎸🎵
Keep yourselves alive - no matter what. When I mill those aforementioned words around in my mind, I'm reminded of great guys and artists like Del Shannon who lost all hope when "the words wouldn't come." Great words from a great artist, here. God keep you Forever, Steve Vai!
as a person whose been diagnosed after many years of treatment with "Major Deppresive Disorder", "Generalized Anxiety Disorder" and "Manic/Depressive Bi-polar Disorder", i agree its all very unknown as of yet. Im young only 24 and for anyone familiar with these diagnosis you know it takes years to be truly diagnosed and such was the case for me. so ive been chemically deppendent on anti-depresents/mood stabalizers/benzos for years and those meds we know are changing the chemistry of my brain...
He has insight into "the story of light" that most of us can't grasp. He laying out bread crumbs to follow to that light.
Excellent . Thank you Mr. Vai
Steve Vai seems to be a really cool guy with such a deep sincerity in his heart. He said he prayed hard because of his depression due to what he was going through at that time. That shows to me he believes in God even though he never mentioned him. I pray for Steve that one day soon he can come to realize who is behind the meaning of life and where we are heading to in the days to come. Looking forward seeing him perform in a few weeks in my home town. GB
is interesting watching him talk about ''fellings'', he is one of a few people that focus in this aspect of life that directly influences what he does for a living.
This is some real great advice.
That's a perfectly cut video. Well done.
"You'll question yourself the rest of your life if you don't find independence." Never were truer words spoken.
So dead on and so refreshing to hear this from an Icon........... Gods bless you Steve and thank you for your magic!!!!! Hailz \m/\m/ YOu just helped me!
Great guitar player and full of wisdom!!
I trully respect Mr.Vai and some of the things he says are interesting.Changig you perpesctive is a really strong tool,but in deep depression you are unavailable to get off your bed,feel anything or think at all.
Welcome to my world.
ZER0
In "deep deep depression" you don´t write on youtube...
If you are that bad it is not mental it is physical and it has to be treated with more than making a decision to think about things differently. Steve is really only talking about mental depression.
It has a lot to do with what people you have around you...assholes never help you to get recover from depression, they need you sick & suicidal because they don't like you, that's a fact. When you start to feel well, they are angry or not so happy with you...and you have to see those signs because is not your fault at all, is the people ALSO.
YOu have to get distance from them as long as you can or you'll never get fine with your life.
That's in my experience!
@Veronica Gorosito Problem complicating this is that people have a role in attracting assholes. Assholes have a way of being ignored or pushed aside except when people keep them around.
Man that music SHREDS!! \m/
I can totally relate. I’m a musician, I’m a singer and I’m a very sensitive person, this means that I feel everything in a very bigger way... I’m happy as f*ck when something very little but positive happens to my life or to people I love, but I’m so down for everything bad that happens in the world. I have very deep down moments in my life, but sometimes I just stop for a while and focus on the positive things and the way I want to look at things and it seems like magic to me, it may be simple but it isn’t. Thanks Mr Steve Vai
This is very poignant for me. Steve Vai literally drew me out of a deep, intense, suicidal depression many years ago when I saw him live for the first time. It was at the G3 show so he only had a 45 minute set (during his Fire Garden era). But I had been wallowing in rock bottom for several months and the person I was when I walked into the theater that night was completely different from the person who left. He changed my life that night. Saved it, in fact. I hope I get to tell him someday.
"If you change the way you look at something, whatever you're looking at, will change". Most of us have Steve in our "neighborhood" at least since 1986, Yankee Rose revelation. It makes him not only a hard-worker musician (Gift doesn't exist, there's only work), and, most important than beeing a loved rock star, he has been sharing our lives for 30 years! Makes him a great enlightening big brother huh ?. No one doubts he has made some interesting discoveries travelling his... inner light :-) LoV
Steve is a very spiritual guy.He was one of my teachers Al Pitrellis teachers.Very well grounded.Met him (Steve) on Long Island years ago at SPIT he was doing a charity event for the Church of St Jude.He is very intense and very calm it is hard to describe,Call it CENTERED .He doesnt subscribe to any particular religion There is a bit of Budhism and a twist of Catholic believing in a Higher Power is what I have seen .He is hyper intelligent and he balances it with a great deal of humility.He is not an average guy but I definately to understand what he speaks of in this video.It has been decades since then and life does always have a way of working itself out....
Nice Job Steve..
Keep it up.
The Audience IS listening
No wonder Steve has played such astonishing music. He goes to some true and real places to get it. Nice one man.
Wow, that riff at 2:53 is really crazy!!!
Indeed it is!!
very inspiring words actually, something that we can all relate to...and most clichés are true
thats the blues baby ..love it ..