Steve Vai: The 1986 "Eat 'Em and Smile" Interview!!! (Over 2 hours long)

I just devoured this album when it was released. I re-discovered it a while back and the more I listen to it the more I love it. My only wish is that they would have pushed Billy up in the final mix. He had such great, clear tone and his fills are just as much a part of every song as Steve's guitar. Sadly, Billy is just buried in this album - and skyscraper for that matter.
 
Didnt really give EEAS a chance until a few years ago. Vai really knocked it out of the park. Ladies Night in Buffalo? and Big Trouble are hidden gems I had never heard prior.
 
Fuck I love Vai’s solos on this album so much . Still have the tab book . I feel bad for kids who won’t give this stuff a listen . They are missing a lot
 
I’ve been a big Vai fanboy since the “Flexsble” album came out. This period of his career is my favorite. Just ridiculous.
Flexable, Alcatrazz, The Epidemics, PIL, Crossroads, DLR
 
Absolutely love this album. Got it when it came and was blown away. Was a huge VH fan and once they split up, i followed Roth and his musical adventures. Whole lineup was solid.
 
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Try figuring out that album by ear from cassette in 86' like i did. Some of the bar stuff was baffling. Alot of it period was baffling.
Roth & Vai did the guitar tracks in a few days in Vai's garage / studio.
Yes folks there was life B4 youtube.
My drummer belonged to a "record & tape " club, we got all the new music 39 yrs ago.
 
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Try figuring out that album by ear from cassette in 86' like i did. Some of the bar stuff was baffling. Alot of it period was baffling.
Roth & Vai did the guitar tracks in a few days in Vai's garage / studio.
Yes folks there was life B4 youtube.
My drummer belonged to a "record & tape " club, we got all the new music 39 yrs ago.
Same way all us older dudes had to do it. For the first several years it was lifting the needle to rewind for me. I don’t regret it for a minute. It gave me a great ear. If I can hear it, I can pick it out. I can usually work songs out in my head without even touching a guitar.

I relentlessly teased my guitar player for having to rely on tabs or YT videos to learn songs. Most of the time I just picked his parts out and showed it to him.
 
Yes floyd 8 tracks & LP's is where i started. Thats anchient archeological history. There are 5 decades of folks behind me have no idea wtf were talking about.
Us old guys are dying literally.
They can teach monkeys to smoke and 8 yr olds "cliffs of dover" but nobody can teach anyone to make the government work.
 
Yes floyd 8 tracks & LP's is where i started. Thats anchient archeological history. There are 5 decades of folks behind me have no idea wtf were talking about.
Us old guys are dying literally.
They can teach monkeys to smoke and 8 yr olds "cliffs of dover" but nobody can teach anyone to make the government work.
Dan, you spend way too much time worrying about the government. All it does is raise your blood pressure. I spent 12 of the last 16 years utterly opposed to what the government was doing. In the end none of it changed my life all that much. I still do what I do pretty much unfettered. I’m not suggesting ignoring it, but brother it should only be a minor consideration in your daily life.

One of these days I’m gonna talk you into going to a shotgun range with me. Nothing more relaxing than destroying a bunch of shit with high capacity automatic shotguns loaded with magnum slugs and buckshot. It’s a good way to dispose of old electronics and furniture too. It’s like meditation.
 
Dan, you spend way too much time worrying about the government. All it does is raise your blood pressure. I spent 12 of the last 16 years utterly opposed to what the government was doing. In the end none of it changed my life all that much. I still do what I do pretty much unfettered. I’m not suggesting ignoring it, but brother it should only be a minor consideration in your daily life.

One of these days I’m gonna talk you into going to a shotgun range with me. Nothing more relaxing than destroying a bunch of shit with high capacity automatic shotguns loaded with magnum slugs and buckshot. It’s a good way to dispose of old electronics and furniture too. It’s like meditation.
No you're wrong. i spend little to none. There are 168 hrs in a week in a weeks time i may spend 15 minute or less.
I pay no attention to taxpayer funded cocksucking liars and their minions but there ought to be standards to hold taxpayer funded employees to account.
After all were paying for it.
As for RT i have a full life w/o it. I spend very little time here.
I feed over 600+ people meat all week long. I have to fight to make time just to play guitar.
Im lucky to break out the big amps a couple times a month.
Would be nice as a disabled Veteran i could retire but not in the cards.

 
No you're wrong. i spend little to none. There are 168 hrs in a week in a weeks time i may spend 15 minute or less.
I pay no attention to taxpayer funded cocksucking liars and their minions but there ought to be standards to hold taxpayer funded employees to account.
After all were paying for it.
As for RT i have a full life w/o it. I spend very little time here.
I feed over 600+ people meat all week long. I have to fight to make time just to play guitar.
Im lucky to break out the big amps a couple times a month.
Would be nice as a disabled Veteran i could retire but not in the cards.


Are you rated with the VA ? I got a number of a guy who can help you. Three of my friends have went through him and are at least 90%.
 
Love the Jas Obrecht interviews, he always asks good questions and has a lot of insight into his subjects
 
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