This is a snippet from a never-released interview with Steve Vai. I have 4 unreleased interviews of Vai that will be released later this year. One covers David Lee Roth's Skyskrapper album, one on Vai's Passion and Warfare album, one on the Whitesnake album, and one on his Alien Love Secrets record. If you're a Vai fan, you will love these interviews.
I spoke to him on 95YNF on the radio in the 80s. He was real nice to me as a kid. I asked him about where he came up with "Little Green Men" on Flexible because I wanted to give an original question. He said he wrote it one day on an airplane out of the blue. Even my Mom liked his music and called him "Little Stevie Vai" from Passion and Warfare and she did not like any other of my guitar heroes except Eddie cause she liked his smile.
Can confirm. I worked for Steve briefly at the Mothership on Manola Way in the 90s. There was a DAT machine in the studio and we were listening to some stuff. It was REALLY heavy and groovy and I asked who it was. Steve said it was him and Ozzy just doing some scratch stuff since they were experimenting. Of course you might ask why I wouldn't instantly recognize Ozzy's voice, but the whole thing was pretty out of character for both of them. To this day, the heaviest thing I think I've heard Steve play.
This is great stuff, thanks! I remember a guitar magazine interview Ozzy gave when this album was released, he said he loved working with Steve as well.
I was fortunate enough to be in a position to hear it back then. Yes, it was different for both of them, but great. As described, heavy and melodic, with Ozzy singing melody, counter melody, and in the pocket, sounding fierce. It sounded big, but dry, without reverb or big production. It had a mood/sound of its own and a sense of purpose. I only got to hear it once, so I don't have a detailed description beyond that. It wasn't solely Sharon vetoing. The business people thought that the public would be confused by the pairing, and chose to stick with a safer route (as well as not having to split the money and attention). The Born Again era Sabbath was cited as an example not to follow. I've always been disappointed that it still hasn't come out, even as a bootleg. It's possibly the best that I've ever heard from Ozzy.
@@kevinmiracle8233Why? Ozzy hasn't had trouble with bandmates since the very early days. Steve is credited with a song on the album. The only song of his that's on the album.
This is fascinating, not just musically...but from a business perspective. I've heard Vai mention numerous times that keeping his own publishing rights (advice from Zappa) was among his best industry choices...and on the flip side, sharon n company are notorious for their parasitic and exploitative treatment of musicians. As awesome as the music may have been, Sharon's vile greed and manipulation wouldn't mesh with Vai and his standards of maintaining writing credits.
Prince of Darkness has to be one of the most misleading nickname in rock history. All Ozzy's solo songs are poppy dance numbers with talented heavy metal guitarists
This pretty neatly explains how Zakk got out of the Shazza Trap with Vai's help. Shaz didn't want to pay musicians _anything_ and so by getting ‘the best session guitarist’ in to write this excessively heavy music, with the expected result it would be tossed, you've got this situation where now Ozzy has to put out a record, and who do they _need_ this time? Zakk. I wonder if Geezer put them up to it, to put one over on Shaton?
Same just what I said, his instrumental work is ok but his work with bands way better. I think because he has to restrict his playing to a degree. He's not Satriani.
@@lstarrtna4288 Hes a little like Shakespeare, overwhelming until you get on the wavelength, then it's beautiful. Passion and Warfare is glorious, like the 9th.
Tbh, i could care less about ozz kicking vai out. Its a neat footnote but thats about it. What really irks me about ozzmosis is how they kicked out randy castillo for "being too 80s". And who did they replace him with? Deen castranovo, another big 80s drummer 🤦♂️ tbh i thought deen sucked for years til i finally heard his shrapnel records stuff lol. Its sooooo bland on ozzmosis. Maybe randy c dodged a bullet lol. Still shady, the guy is dead and gone now and you never hear the osbourne camp even mention his name. But lord you hear the other randys name alllllllll the time from them lol. Plus it shouldve actually been no more tears pt 2. I still enjoy the album, the drums annoy the crap out of me tho lol
1995 was too early for Ozzy Osbourne to become really really heavy, with all that drop c tuning. Ozzy Osbourne was never that heavy he was always just heavy rock.
This is a snippet from a never-released interview with Steve Vai. I have 4 unreleased interviews of Vai that will be released later this year. One covers David Lee Roth's Skyskrapper album, one on Vai's Passion and Warfare album, one on the Whitesnake album, and one on his Alien Love Secrets record. If you're a Vai fan, you will love these interviews.
I'll wait! 🙂
Can't wait!
@@Guendalin80 what did?
@@LungMing23 They played together in Ozzmosis
I spoke to him on 95YNF on the radio in the 80s. He was real nice to me as a kid. I asked him about where he came up with "Little Green Men" on Flexible because I wanted to give an original question. He said he wrote it one day on an airplane out of the blue. Even my Mom liked his music and called him "Little Stevie Vai" from Passion and Warfare and she did not like any other of my guitar heroes except Eddie cause she liked his smile.
Can confirm. I worked for Steve briefly at the Mothership on Manola Way in the 90s. There was a DAT machine in the studio and we were listening to some stuff. It was REALLY heavy and groovy and I asked who it was. Steve said it was him and Ozzy just doing some scratch stuff since they were experimenting. Of course you might ask why I wouldn't instantly recognize Ozzy's voice, but the whole thing was pretty out of character for both of them. To this day, the heaviest thing I think I've heard Steve play.
I wish Steve would release that, I’m sure lots of people would love to hear it!
I’d really like to hear the stuff. I’ll bet it’s fantastic.
Ozzy is my favorite singer & Steve is my favorite shredder.
@@Patcd89 Pretty sure it's Ozzy/Sharon that own the material so I don't think he can, unfortunately...he might not even have a copy of those tapes.
Vai has copies.
Very cool. Thank you for sharing this info.
This is great stuff, thanks! I remember a guitar magazine interview Ozzy gave when this album was released, he said he loved working with Steve as well.
Would love to hear that! 🙏
A doom satriani riff!!
Record company = Sharon Osbourne
Hah, 100%...
😂 totally
She knows stuff. That C sound probably sounded awful.
$. $. $.
No she's a manager.
I was fortunate enough to be in a position to hear it back then. Yes, it was different for both of them, but great. As described, heavy and melodic, with Ozzy singing melody, counter melody, and in the pocket, sounding fierce. It sounded big, but dry, without reverb or big production. It had a mood/sound of its own and a sense of purpose. I only got to hear it once, so I don't have a detailed description beyond that.
It wasn't solely Sharon vetoing. The business people thought that the public would be confused by the pairing, and chose to stick with a safer route (as well as not having to split the money and attention). The Born Again era Sabbath was cited as an example not to follow. I've always been disappointed that it still hasn't come out, even as a bootleg. It's possibly the best that I've ever heard from Ozzy.
Was that position sat down with your ears uncovered? That's not really fortunate - it's a very common position for people to be in.
I want to hear those C tuning songs
Seriously
SAME
But Vai is referring to the Ozzmosis album, right?
C tuning with Octave is muddy garbage
Great interview, thanks TTA!
Ozzy has played with so many great guitarists, and the list was already insane before Patient No. 9.
Vai first started using a 7 string around 1990 so tuning that bad boy to C was actually a step up.
He wasn’t using the 7 string much in the mid 90s. That was when he was full-on with EVO.
That would be a half step actually…
@@dogman5680 True, I thought about that after I posted, E to F, B to C...half steps.
What C tuning. Is it C# tuning like Tony Iommi?
Maybe one day we'll hear it
As an Italian I will never not read his name like he has his own built-in boost: "Steve, Vai!" ("Go Steve!") 😅
Vai sounded disappointed but didn't seem to harbor any resentment. Can't fault a Ozzy for sticking with his guy.
Steve Vai,gran guitarrista virtuoso.Pagannini.hard rock.
🤘😎🤘
Hopefully it comes out.
Bootlegs
My Little Man was one of my favorites songs off that album!! It's very Vai'ish sounding.
that's a shame they didn't do an album.
@e-mail881 lol they would have TRIED.. steve knows how to protect himself.
@e-mail881 And Zack?
@@kevinmiracle8233 Thats probably why Steve didn't record the album and Sharon ended up calling Zakk.
@@kevinmiracle8233Why? Ozzy hasn't had trouble with bandmates since the very early days. Steve is credited with a song on the album. The only song of his that's on the album.
@@martins.5880Outside of the original bunch of guys who has had a problem working with Ozzy?
Always the gentleman.
This is fascinating, not just musically...but from a business perspective. I've heard Vai mention numerous times that keeping his own publishing rights (advice from Zappa) was among his best industry choices...and on the flip side, sharon n company are notorious for their parasitic and exploitative treatment of musicians. As awesome as the music may have been, Sharon's vile greed and manipulation wouldn't mesh with Vai and his standards of maintaining writing credits.
Steve, please release these recordings?
Release the songs!!!!
Prince of Darkness has to be one of the most misleading nickname in rock history. All Ozzy's solo songs are poppy dance numbers with talented heavy metal guitarists
Diary is dark but yeah not really much else after sabbath
The Scream album in 2009 is very heavy and groove oriented, wonder if any Vai ended up on it.
This pretty neatly explains how Zakk got out of the Shazza Trap with Vai's help. Shaz didn't want to pay musicians _anything_ and so by getting ‘the best session guitarist’ in to write this excessively heavy music, with the expected result it would be tossed, you've got this situation where now Ozzy has to put out a record, and who do they _need_ this time? Zakk.
I wonder if Geezer put them up to it, to put one over on Shaton?
Stick to watching CSI or Angela Lansbury stuff.
IMO, tuning down, isn't what makes a riff "heavy". You have to have the riff, then you could tune down, if you want to.
Hey Steve, you're a JACKASS for saying Tony Iommi was playing out of tune!!
When? Source?
@@karlimo4034 From Tony himself. All the proof I need. When Steve said that to Tony, I lost all respect for him.
Big shame would be fantastic and unusual
Wow what a wasted opportunity. I like Zakk but imagine a whole record with Vai...
Probably way over the top guitar parts that ozzy didn’t dig.
I've always liked Vai in bands at least back then. His guitar albums, no ...
Passion and Warfare is a guitar virtuoso masterpiece!
@@tmackn6592 I like songs, VH and Dokken had them and the soloing and whatnot were part of that. Virtuosos never stop.
Same just what I said, his instrumental work is ok but his work with bands way better. I think because he has to restrict his playing to a degree. He's not Satriani.
@@lstarrtna4288 Hes a little like Shakespeare, overwhelming until you get on the wavelength, then it's beautiful. Passion and Warfare is glorious, like the 9th.
Yeah, but he should've included you on Patient #9 if that was the case... You're better than Beck & Clapton... C'mon man!
Comparing vai with beck and Clapton is like comparing apples with oranges and pomegranates
Tbh, i could care less about ozz kicking vai out. Its a neat footnote but thats about it. What really irks me about ozzmosis is how they kicked out randy castillo for "being too 80s". And who did they replace him with? Deen castranovo, another big 80s drummer 🤦♂️ tbh i thought deen sucked for years til i finally heard his shrapnel records stuff lol. Its sooooo bland on ozzmosis. Maybe randy c dodged a bullet lol. Still shady, the guy is dead and gone now and you never hear the osbourne camp even mention his name. But lord you hear the other randys name alllllllll the time from them lol. Plus it shouldve actually been no more tears pt 2. I still enjoy the album, the drums annoy the crap out of me tho lol
1995 was too early for Ozzy Osbourne to become really really heavy, with all that drop c tuning. Ozzy Osbourne was never that heavy he was always just heavy rock.
Another words, Steve got shafted by ozz $$$$
Trust me Steve does not get shafted. Dude has more $$$ than most from th 80's 90's.
Compared to Vai, Wild can’t play…
Heard enough Vai music to say it would have been garbage. Hes too over the top and unsensible to write with others.
record company said cut steve because technical mode playing is lifeless and cant play a rhythem that rocks.