STEVE VAI: 'YNGWIE MALMSTEEN Doesn't Compromise'

Guitar virtuoso Steve Vai recently spoke to Rock Confidential about the G3 '03 tour with Yngwie Malmsteen and Joe Satriani. Asked for his opinion of Yngwie's attitude on stage, especially during the jam at the end (where Malmsteen reportedly seemed to push everyone into the background and just keep on playing),Steve said, "I know Yngwie and I know how intense he is. Yngwie doesn't compromise. There are no excuses. He plays the way he feels is appropriate for him. He's got a lot of energy and a lot of passion. When you're going to work with someone like Yngwie you've gotta know this and you've gotta let them just cut loose and do his thing, you know? Some nights it was more than others. When you accept that you can enjoy it. The jam at the end, everybody knows what's going on. You let him do his thing and there are a lot of people that find it very entertaining and very cool. Some people find it a little distracting. Joe and I are very confident in what we do. How are you going to compete with Joe Satriani, you know? You just don't. It's the same thing when I get up there to play. I've got Yngwie to the left of me and Joe to the right and we're trading riffs and it's my turn! (laughs) You don't compete with these guys. They help you to bring out in you your potential, because that's what they're doing. You're pushing them, also. For me to get up there during the trades and try to be like Yngwie, I would get mowed down. (laughs) And, it would look stupid. I'm fiercely confident in the way I play and the kind of music I make. Nothing can distract me. I say that, but I'm sure there's something. (laughs) There could be a lot of naked girls on stage dancing. I guess that would be a distraction! (laughs)" Read more.