Guitar G
Active member
One of the best from that era...
K
kissmyace
New member
I wish Vito hadn't quit. He was awesome
7 Stringer
Well-known member
He`s one of the few that has those fill in`s ala Eddie but has his own rythm style. Who wasn`t copping Eddie back then?
He` was a very unique player and i still like his playing up to this day.
Chris
B
Bob Savage
Well-known member
It's crazy he just fell off the face of the earth. Hopefully he just hated the filthy music biz and is a healthy, happy grandpa somewhere...
IndyWS6
Well-known member
Wiki-fried Information - from a Google search "Where is Vito Bratta" 
Vito Bratta (b. July 1, 1961, Staten Island, New York) is the former lead guitarist and lead songwriter for the 1980s rock band White Lion, playing with the band from 1983 to 1992. He was influenced by Eddie Van Halen, Stevie Ray Vaughan and many other rock and blues guitar players of the 1980s. His playing has been described as melodic, original and technically accomplished, employing two-handed tapping, legato lines, artificial harmonics and various tricks that made him the center of attention on stage. While far from a household name, he is well known and respected by many guitarists. Following the breakup of White Lion, Bratta produced an album for the band CPR on Atlantic Records. Bratta has not been involved in the music industry in any capacity since 1994. He is said to be currently living in his childhood house in Staten Island with his parents.
In 2003, Mike Tramp (former White Lion vocalist), attempted to reunite with Bratta but was unsuccessful. Tramp talked about Bratta in a 2007 interview with Anarchy Music, claiming Bratta was always quiet and distant and the rest of the band "hardly knew his birthday".
On February 16, 2007, Bratta gave his first live interview in over 12 years. The following key points were revealed during the Eddie Trunk interview: Bratta's father suffered through a 5-year illness, which required a large amount of personal time and commitment on Vito's part, both emotionally and financially. In 1997, he injured his wrist while playing classical guitar and finds it painful to move his hand up and down the guitar neck; he manages to play nylon-string guitars without too much discomfort. This injury seems to not be fully healed. In addition, he clarified that he has never ruled out a White Lion/Mike Tramp reunion; up until now, they have simply been impossible due to family obligations and his wrist injury.
In April 2007, Vito Bratta made his first public musical appearances in over 15 years, at both Friday and Saturday nights shows at the L'Amour Reunion Shows in New York.
Vito Bratta (b. July 1, 1961, Staten Island, New York) is the former lead guitarist and lead songwriter for the 1980s rock band White Lion, playing with the band from 1983 to 1992. He was influenced by Eddie Van Halen, Stevie Ray Vaughan and many other rock and blues guitar players of the 1980s. His playing has been described as melodic, original and technically accomplished, employing two-handed tapping, legato lines, artificial harmonics and various tricks that made him the center of attention on stage. While far from a household name, he is well known and respected by many guitarists. Following the breakup of White Lion, Bratta produced an album for the band CPR on Atlantic Records. Bratta has not been involved in the music industry in any capacity since 1994. He is said to be currently living in his childhood house in Staten Island with his parents.
In 2003, Mike Tramp (former White Lion vocalist), attempted to reunite with Bratta but was unsuccessful. Tramp talked about Bratta in a 2007 interview with Anarchy Music, claiming Bratta was always quiet and distant and the rest of the band "hardly knew his birthday".
On February 16, 2007, Bratta gave his first live interview in over 12 years. The following key points were revealed during the Eddie Trunk interview: Bratta's father suffered through a 5-year illness, which required a large amount of personal time and commitment on Vito's part, both emotionally and financially. In 1997, he injured his wrist while playing classical guitar and finds it painful to move his hand up and down the guitar neck; he manages to play nylon-string guitars without too much discomfort. This injury seems to not be fully healed. In addition, he clarified that he has never ruled out a White Lion/Mike Tramp reunion; up until now, they have simply been impossible due to family obligations and his wrist injury.
In April 2007, Vito Bratta made his first public musical appearances in over 15 years, at both Friday and Saturday nights shows at the L'Amour Reunion Shows in New York.
threadkiller
New member
One of my favorite players of all time
threadkiller
New member
It think the wrist injury is kind of an excuse. He can probably play circles around most people even with a wrist injury. He alludes to it that way (as an excuse) a little in some of the few interviews he's given. I think he is just more of a shy reclusive personality who was a practicaholic and got burned out on the music scene and guitar playing early on. Maybe i'm wrong but that's what i've gathered from reading.
guitarmike
Well-known member
Not only was he a great player, he played the same guitar for most of the show (I had to stop watching a 35-40 min in to it). What kind of ESP is that?
It really is a shame he doesn't play anymore.
It really is a shame he doesn't play anymore.
Gainzilla
Well-known member
I was at that show ( I also lived 2 blocks away,less than a 3min walk LOL) I always liked White Lion/Vito but my personal opinion is that he bit off of EVH a littl too much for my tastes. Not that I didnt like what he was doing, I just didnt find him original or unique. The one cool thing was that unlike EVH, all of Vito solos and songs were really worked out compared to eddies impromptu seat of the pants style
thiswaythatway
Well-known member
I remember 89.5 WSOU out of Seton Hall NJ would play their first album ALL the time. Eddie Trunk really pimped them early on, which is great for a band trying to get somewhere. WSOU is still playing metal all these years later, and they're better than Liquid Metal on Sirius.
Anyway, I was a huge fan of White Lion in the 80's. I just wish they didn't go soooo commercial like every other band in the 80's. They sound a little more metal early on. Their first album really has a different sound to it, but the EVH influence was always there in Vito's playing. And as Kage said, I liked Vito's sense of melody in his playing as oppossed to the falling off a cliff feel that Eddie often had in his solos.
Anyway, I was a huge fan of White Lion in the 80's. I just wish they didn't go soooo commercial like every other band in the 80's. They sound a little more metal early on. Their first album really has a different sound to it, but the EVH influence was always there in Vito's playing. And as Kage said, I liked Vito's sense of melody in his playing as oppossed to the falling off a cliff feel that Eddie often had in his solos.
controlled_voltage
Banned
Well-known member
good player
awful music that sounds dated and hackneyed the day it came out
too bad he never did anything with a real rock band
"little child"……..
i cringe at the thought
awful music that sounds dated and hackneyed the day it came out
too bad he never did anything with a real rock band
"little child"……..
i cringe at the thought
charveldan
Banned
New member
Think Vito got burnt out ... i know id rather play golf than guitar nowdays ...
LP Freak
Well-known member
Great player but I can't deal with all the over playing on that performance.
OldSkoolNJ
Active member
Here is his last and only interview explaining everything with Eddie Trunk
thiswaythatway
Well-known member
OldSkoolNJ":2waep6uq said:
Shit, I listened to the whole thing.
Michi
Active member
Gainzilla":d9ylnc3z said:
Exactly how I feel abt Vito too bro!
I found this show on YT some time ago when browsing for live clips during a boring niteshift and was really surprised how goog Vito sounded. But then again, it's easy to see why the band never "made it big"...
veji
Active member
was he using ada mp-1? does anybody know what pickups was in that ESP?
wood etc?
thanks
wood etc?
thanks
crwnedblasphemy
Well-known member
Lorenzo was underrated too. I hated how Tramp sang live, saw them open for Kiss on their first album. Crazy Nights tour. Yes, I'm old.
LP Freak
Well-known member
We're all old.....well most.crwnedblasphemy":3kdr8et7 said:Lorenzo was underrated too. I hated how Tramp sang live, saw them open for Kiss on their first album. Crazy Nights tour. Yes, I'm old.
Death by Uberschall
Active member
I'm sure I'm gonna piss somebody off here, BUT, I always thought Vito was a more polished version of EVH. Don't get me wrong, EVH is the reason I started playing guitar, but Vito seemed to be more musical and melodic while using Eddies trick's and then some to get there. They are both still some of my favorite players.