This is a cool story. Back in 1990 I bought a new guitar. An Ibanez GEM777, designed by one of my favorite guitar players, Steve Vai. Steve had also just released a new album, Passion and Warfare, and was having an album release party in a club named Hot Rocks in his hometown in Long Island. So a few of my friends and I decide we're going to drive out to the club, and I have this idea that I want to see if I can get Steve to sign my new guitar. So we pile into a car and make the 2 1/2 hour trek out to Long Island. It was a cold, rainy, windy night. When we got to the club, there was a line coming out the door, down the steps to the street, down the street and around the corner. I suggested to my friends that they drop me off at the club entrance while they park the car and grab a place in line, so that I could see if the bouncer at the door would stash my new guitar somewhere so I didn't have to stand out in the rain with it.
So I get out of the car and run through the rain up the steps to the entrance of the club. I've got my guitar in one hand, and my girlfriend on the other. I'm dressed in a Cavaricci suit (don't laugh, they were very cool back then. And I still have it in a closet somewhere... OK, now you can laugh) Still have my 80's BIG hair, and my girlfriend is also dressed to the nines. Are you picturing this? So as we run up the steps, the bouncer opens the door to let us in past the waiting crowd and says, "Can I help you sir?". Now my wheels are turning.... this guy must think I'm "somebody". So I tell him, "Yes, I'm here with this brand new guitar that Steve is supposed to sign as a promo". The guy says, "Right this way sir", and leads us past the velvet ropes to a V.I.P. section and takes us right to Steve Vai! He says "excuse me Mr. Vai, this gentleman is here to see you", and leaves. So I explain to Steve that I bought this guitar and I was hoping he could sign it. Well let me tell you, this guy was so nice to us. Signed my guitar, took a couple pictures, and bought us a drink. I hung out with him for about 20 minutes, then mingled into the club.
Well, about an hour and a half later, I run into my friends and they're pissed. They're like "Where the hell were you, man, we waited in line for two hours!" When I explained what had happened, they weren't as pissed. (continued below)
THIRTEEN YEARS LATER.... The signature on the back of my guitar has long worn off because I gig with it so much. Then I score some tickets to a Steve Vai concert at the Beacon Theater on Nov.10, 2003. I have this idea that I’m going to get him to sign it again, so I bring my guitar to the show. To make a long story short, I was able to catch Steve outside the back of the theater as he was entering through loading dock. (I didn't expect that I would catch him at the front entrance.) I explained that I had a guitar that he signed 13 years ago, and asked if he would sign it. He said, "But I signed it already". I explained to him that it rubbed off and he said, "Sure, I'll sign it". As he was signing it I showed him the picture from 13 years ago and he said, "Hey I remember that". I told him "Get outa here", and he said, "No, I really remember that". So we took a few pictures, shook hands, and I told him to have a great show. The show was awesome! I snuck my video camera in and filmed his entire set. The bootleg DVD is in the works.
I've already rubbed the new signature off the guitar, figuring I'll get another one soon. No, I'm just kidding. I may actually laminate it or something this time. Next time I'll sign his guitar!
Steve is still a super nice, humble guy. He is a super amazing guitar player and performer. Check him out.
... this story never ends...
I went to another Steve Vai show on March 30, 2005. Amazing band! Amazing show! I caught Billy Sheehan by the tour bus (Steves bassist) ,
and he was kind enough to sign the Jem.
Steve never came outside while I was there. I'll have to catch him next time.
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