Praise isn’t easy to come by from Ritchie Blackmore. The Deep Purple guitarist, known for his stern demeanor, has admitted that his bluntness has cost him positive encounters with idols like Bob Dylan and Eric Clapton. But this reluctance to praise means that when Blackmore does give a compliment, it carries weight.
Throughout the 1970s, Blackmore shaped Deep Purple’s iconic sound, helping sell over 100 million records. His approach to guitar mirrored his tough personality—dark, heavy, and intense, fitting the emergence of prog and metal. However, the 1980s ushered in a new era of flashy, fast guitar playing on MTV, epitomized by players like Eddie Van Halen. Blackmore’s reaction was skeptical: “The latest trend seems to be how fast you can get from A to B without actually playing anything,” he remarked to Metal Hammer. “It’s good, but I find it leaves me cold… Okay, you can hear that the guy has practised, but what’s he feeling?”
Amid the sea of quick-fingered players, Blackmore found one guitarist who stood out: Steve Vai. “The guy that sticks out at the moment is Steve Vai. He’s really shit-hot,” Blackmore stated. “Not only can he play every style there is, he can write and transpose the whole thing as well.” Vai’s versatility and speed impressed him, a rare acknowledgment from the critical Blackmore.
Frank Zappa, who launched Vai’s career, likely shared this opinion. When a young Vai auditioned for Zappa, he found himself playing for a music master. Vai recalled how Zappa challenged him, asking him to switch time signatures on command. “I’d play something, and he’d say, ‘Play that in ⅞’… ‘Now play it in reggae ⅞’,” Vai said. Vai continued to impress, but Zappa wasn’t done testing him. At one point, he asked Vai to add an impossible note. When Vai admitted he couldn’t, Zappa joked, “Well, I hear Linda Ronstadt is looking for a guitar player.” Zappa was kidding, but Vai had earned his spot.
Perhaps, as Blackmore hinted, Vai’s humility set him apart. Rather than focusing on flashy showmanship, Vai’s dedication to his craft and modest attitude made him stand out in an era when guitarists vied for attention on MTV. It’s a quality that often defines guitar legends, whose legacy outlasts trends and makes a true impact.
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