Steve Vai is an American guitarist, composer, singer and songwriter. He is a virtuoso recognised for his creative and technical skills, innovative approach to guitar playing, and consistent use of exotic scales and melodies. His career spans three decades and he has released several solo albums, received three Grammy award nominations and produced various albums for other musicians.

At a young age, Vai encountered musical heavyweights such as Frank Zappa and recorded several of the latter’s albums. Vai has also released a number of instructional videos and DVDs and has been closely associated with brands such as Ibanez, presenting and collaborating on signature models. He currently hosts his own radio show on the internet and is a frequent guest performer.