An A&R guy told Steve Vai to remove all the pinch harmonics from a record because they sounded like a dying whale!

[gtrjay]

https://www.musicradar.com/news/steve-v ... ket_reader

An A&R guy once walked into the studio and told Steve Vai to remove all the pinch harmonics from a record because they sounded “like a dying whale”

"And I said, ‘F**k you!’ ...Well, in so many words"


Just as one does not simply walk into the kitchen of L’Arpège and tell Alain Passard how to cook the duck, it is simply bad etiquette for the lay person to stride into the studio and tell Steve Vai what he can and can’t do with the electric guitar.

And yet such people exist, often gainfully employed in the music industry in the specialist branch of A&R, and as Vai can confirm, such instances have been known to happen.

Vai was speaking to MusicRadar about the writing and recording of his new album, Vai/Gash, the “straight ahead” hard rock album he made with his best friend on vocals, the late Johnny ‘Gash’ Sombretto, as a soundtrack for the open road; something to listen to when they were biking.

Such records present the artist with unalloyed freedom. When recording with bands, however, there is always compromise, decision making by committee. That’s fine, all part of the process, but sometimes outside influences can be unwelcome.

Like when he was recording with “a big band” – he was naming no names here – and an A&R man took a particular exception to the pinch harmonics. And the scene that Vai describes is a little like someone storming up to the pass at L’Arpège and asking for every grain of Sarawak pepper to be removed from their plate.

“I had an A&R guy come into the studio of a big band I was recording with, and I was playing harmonics,” Vai recalls. “Now, you know what a harmonic is? It’s a squeal. It’s part of my style. It’s part of most guitar players’ styles. And he goes, ‘What’s that?’ And I go, ‘Oh, it’s a harmonic. You pinch it with your finger and…’”

…And, well, what’s wrong there, right? But whatever frequencies Vai was jamming between index, pick and thumb of his right hand they were not resonating with this A&R guy.

“He goes, ‘No, don’t do that. It sounds like a dying whale,’” says Vai. “And I said, ‘It’s a pinch harmonic!’ And he goes, ‘Well take it out. Take it out.’ It is all over the whole record and he says, ‘Take them out. Take them all out.’”

Vai let’s out a laugh, and explains that he did what every good professional guitarist should do on such occasions. Be firm but diplomatic. “I said, ‘Fuck you!’” he laughs. “Well, in so many words.”

Vai/Gash is out now on all formats via Favored Nations. The full interview with Steve Vai, in which he talks Tom Waits, the joy of reconnecting with Whitesnake at Hellfest, and the freedom of playing stripped back rock rhythm guitar is coming soon to MusicRadar.

[Love_Industry]

Probably Alcatrazz as there are dying whale squeals all over that album. Which is good by the way and the best Graham Bonnet ever sang on.

[Bono Nettencourt]

But he said it was "a big band", so it's gotta be Whitesnake. A&R wouldn't give 2 shits about Alcatrazz.

[Newsted's FU Money]

Steve's about as creative as George Lynch is with the project names.

Vai/Gash. Oof.

[Mister Freeze]

Sounds like Whitesnake and John Kalodner.

[Love_Industry]

Sounds like Whitesnake and John Kalodner.

But wasn't it Kalodner who brought Vai in to do his magic because Adrian was not cutting it? You'd think he knew Vai's style.

My guess was Vai replacing Yngwie in Alcatrazz as back then was an unknown to all except maybe some Zappa diehards.

[Bono Nettencourt]

Again, he said "big", and Alcatrazz were never big. He was paid a cool mil to resuscitate SOTT, so it stands to reason that A&R would micromanage the process since there was a lot at stake.

[Psychobolia.com]

Vai's a hack.

Zakk Wylde needs to show him how to correctly play pinch harmonics, that sound like a thriving whale.

[keyofgee]

Vai's a hack.

Zakk Wylde needs to show him how to correctly play pinch harmonics, that sound like a thriving whale.

ZAkk wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy overuses pinch harmonics.

[Wild Obsession]

Vai made Slip of the Tongue sound dated before the album was even released........ Coverdale/Whitesnake miscalculated going with a soulless wank-off shredder, they should have gone the other direction with a more rooted/classic rock based player.

[Danzig in the Dark]

Vai's a hack.

Zakk Wylde needs to show him how to correctly play pinch harmonics, that sound like a thriving whale.

ZAkk wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy overuses pinch harmonics.

Imagine that A&R guy with him.

[Love_Industry]

Vai made Slip of the Tongue sound dated before the album was even released........ Coverdale/Whitesnake miscalculated going with a soulless wank-off shredder, they should have gone the other direction with a more rooted/classic rock based player.

Maybe it would sound less dated but it wouldn’t sell. 3/4 of Whitesnake tried that route after SOTT and made the Manic Eden album with Little Caesar's singer. Good album and onetime eurometal poser Vandenberg nailed that 70s guitar sound, but it didn't sell shit.

Maybe it was too late, but even in 89/90 labels tried pushing bands like Little Caesar themselves, Circus of Power and Junkyard with a dirtier, more 70s rock sound and they didn't sell either.

[Tommy2Tone84]

Vai made Slip of the Tongue sound dated before the album was even released........ Coverdale/Whitesnake miscalculated going with a soulless wank-off shredder, they should have gone the other direction with a more rooted/classic rock based player.

Agree to disagree. If you want to talk about a hack, it’s Adrian. That guy’s lips rode Coverdale’s ball sac all the way to the top of the hair metal mountain. Vai classed up the joint quite a lot. With or without Vai, you still have embarrassing, shitty swill like Cheap N Nasty and Kitten’s Got Claws. Slip of the Tongue is a cheesy title too. But we are talking about a band called “Whitesnake” who had an album called “Slide It In.” It’s also a much better song than those other two face palms. So…..

If you want to get technical and honest, John Sykes was a soulless, wank-off shredder too. Especially when you compare his wankery to Mel’s and Bernie’s playing styles. He’s just a fan favorite for some reason. It probably has more to do with the onstage flailing of his pretty, blonde, lion’s mane, poodle hair than anything. It came straight from the producer that Huff played on most of that album. Which I know is a controversial topic amongst the fan base who cry GFTPM tears at the thought of their hero getting ghosted over in the studio.

Don’t hate the player, hate the game. A game Cov had no problem selling out his allegedly bluesy soul for just another pretty faced, flashy guitarist. Sykes, Vandenballwash, Viv, Vai….take your pick.

[Wild Obsession]

Vai made Slip of the Tongue sound dated before the album was even released........ Coverdale/Whitesnake miscalculated going with a soulless wank-off shredder, they should have gone the other direction with a more rooted/classic rock based player.

Maybe it would sound less dated but it wouldn’t sell. 3/4 of Whitesnake tried that route after SOTT and made the Manic Eden album with Little Caesar's singer. Good album and onetime eurometal poser Vandenberg nailed that 70s guitar sound, but it didn't sell shit.

Maybe it was too late, but even in 89/90 labels tried pushing bands like Little Caesar themselves, Circus of Power and Junkyard with a dirtier, more 70s rock sound and they didn't sell either.

The problem with the Manic Eden album was that is was completely void of any "hooks" (vocal or instrumental).

[Bono Nettencourt]

Vai made Slip of the Tongue sound dated before the album was even released........ Coverdale/Whitesnake miscalculated going with a soulless wank-off shredder, they should have gone the other direction with a more rooted/classic rock based player.

Agree to disagree. If you want to talk about a hack, it’s Adrian. That guy’s lips rode Coverdale’s ball sac all the way to the top of the hair metal mountain. Vai classed up the joint quite a lot. With or without Vai, you still have embarrassing, shitty swill like Cheap N Nasty and Kitten’s Got Claws. Slip of the Tongue is a cheesy title too. But we are talking about a band called “Whitesnake” who had an album called “Slide It In.” It’s also a much better song than those other two face palms. So…..

If you want to get technical and honest, John Sykes was a soulless, wank-off shredder too. Especially when you compare his wankery to Mel’s and Bernie’s playing styles. He’s just a fan favorite for some reason. It probably has more to do with the onstage flailing of his pretty, blonde, lion’s mane, poodle hair than anything.

It was his tone - dirty fingers bridge pickup with a Boogie Colluseum head. Fucking massive.

Olsen hated Sykes for not coming back to finish the album after he was fired, so he gilded the lily more than a little. Did Huff do some overdubs? Probably. Did Sykes write and play the riffs and licks? Definitely. Watch him on YouTube. He's the only person who can cover Still of the Night properly - because it was his song.

And I agree that Vanderpouf sucks. That hand injury was made up. You can tell from that home video Coverversion shot at his house where they were writing SOTT that they were in trouble. Kalodner looks visibly unimpressed - I bet he whipped out his Rolodex as soon as he got home and started calling guitar players' agents.

[Love_Industry]

Vai classed up the joint quite a lot. With or without Vai, you still have embarrassing, shitty swill like Cheap N Nasty and Kitten’s Got Claws. Slip of the Tongue is a cheesy title too.

Cov originally wanted to call it Liquor and Poker. Probably another (good) management decision to change the title.

The tour was still called L&P.

[FreddyFender]

If you want to get technical and honest, John Sykes was a soulless, wank-off shredder too. Especially when you compare his wankery to Mel’s and Bernie’s playing styles. He’s just a fan favorite for some reason. It probably has more to do with the onstage flailing of his pretty, blonde, lion’s mane, poodle hair than anything.

Sykes is a fan favorite because he wrote some of the most iconic riffs and solos of the 80s.

Mel Galley, Mick Moody, and whoever else did not.

You want to tell yourself it's all because of Syke's HAIR? Jesus Christ.

[GreatWhiteSnake]

I enjoyed some of those Vai/Gash tunes...

[Tommy2Tone84]

Vai classed up the joint quite a lot. With or without Vai, you still have embarrassing, shitty swill like Cheap N Nasty and Kitten’s Got Claws. Slip of the Tongue is a cheesy title too.

Cov originally wanted to call it Liquor and Poker. Probably another (good) management decision to change the title.

The tour was still called L&P.

Cov could be a real cheesdick sometimes. Then again, that Jelly Roll video Sykes did ruined an otherwise decent song. That was grade A cheese

[Bono Nettencourt]

I enjoyed some of those Vai/Gash tunes...

They weren't bad. He should've worked that up instead of teaming up with the screamer...

[Tommy2Tone84]

If you want to get technical and honest, John Sykes was a soulless, wank-off shredder too. Especially when you compare his wankery to Mel’s and Bernie’s playing styles. He’s just a fan favorite for some reason. It probably has more to do with the onstage flailing of his pretty, blonde, lion’s mane, poodle hair than anything.

Sykes is a fan favorite because he wrote some of the most iconic riffs and solos of the 80s.

Mel Galley, Mick Moody, and whoever else did not.

You want to tell yourself it's all because of Syke's HAIR? Jesus Christ.

You’re joking right?

Coverdale, Moody, Marsden and Galley, either by themselves or in some duo or combination wrote: Fool For Your Lovin, Crying In The Rain, Here I Go Again, Slide It In, Slow N Easy, Stranger and Guilty.

That leaves Sykes and Cov writing Still of the Night, Gimme All Your Love and Is This Love.

[FreddyFender]

If you want to get technical and honest, John Sykes was a soulless, wank-off shredder too. Especially when you compare his wankery to Mel’s and Bernie’s playing styles. He’s just a fan favorite for some reason. It probably has more to do with the onstage flailing of his pretty, blonde, lion’s mane, poodle hair than anything.

Sykes is a fan favorite because he wrote some of the most iconic riffs and solos of the 80s.

Mel Galley, Mick Moody, and whoever else did not.

You want to tell yourself it's all because of Syke's HAIR? Jesus Christ.

You’re joking right?

Coverdale, Moody, Marsden and Galley, either by themselves or in some duo or combination wrote: Fool For Your Lovin, Crying In The Rain, Here I Go Again, Slide It In, Slow N Easy, Stranger and Guilty.

That leaves Sykes and Cov writing Still of the Night, Gimme All Your Love and Is This Love.

Yet it’s always Sykes stuff that has been broken down time and time again in guitar magazines, YouTube videos, etc for the past 30 years. Like you said, it’s his stuff that gets all to accolades.

Because of his hair, right?

[Tommy2Tone84]

Sykes is a fan favorite because he wrote some of the most iconic riffs and solos of the 80s.

Mel Galley, Mick Moody, and whoever else did not.

You want to tell yourself it's all because of Syke's HAIR? Jesus Christ.

You’re joking right?

Coverdale, Moody, Marsden and Galley, either by themselves or in some duo or combination wrote: Fool For Your Lovin, Crying In The Rain, Here I Go Again, Slide It In, Slow N Easy, Stranger and Guilty.

That leaves Sykes and Cov writing Still of the Night, Gimme All Your Love and Is This Love.

Yet it’s always Sykes stuff that has been broken down time and time again in guitar magazines, YouTube videos, etc for the past 30 years. Like you said, it’s his stuff that gets all to accolades.

Because of his hair, right?

So was and is Steve Vai’s playing, ten fold. Steve has a much more impressive resume and solo career than John. But Steve “ruined” WS according to many of you.

John’s like a minor league Peter Frampton. His signature model Les Paul Custom is even inspired from Frampton’s. John is largely known for one big album and two songs. That’s John’s career. All that talent, the black Les Paul Custom, one busted tour and poofy, blonde hair and that’s all he really has to show for it. Frampton had the stones to stick around until opportunity came knocking again.


Then there’s the fact that Huff ghosted over Sykes on most of the album according to producer Keith Olsen. Olsen’s description is too detailed for it not to be true. He was also there. You and I were not. I’m a big fan of both John and Dann. John is great but he’s a one trick rock pony even though he was better than your average hairband bear. Dann is a master who can play multiple styles and was a go to guy for producers in the 80s. So was Carl Verheyen. It’s safe to assume most players were ghosted over. Steve, Eddie and Randy were some of the few who weren’t.

[john3232]

Well, dying whale or not Vai certainly is a smart businessman.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5MdpixGvTM

[Tommy2Tone84]

Vai's a hack.

Zakk Wylde needs to show him how to correctly play pinch harmonics, that sound like a thriving whale.

ZAkk wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy overuses pinch harmonics.

Zakk’s pinch harmonics sound like a herd of buffalo farts

[Chip Z'Hoy]

Payback for disrespecting Matt Scrotum!

[VinnieVincentsVag]

Well, dying whale or not Vai certainly is a smart businessman.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5MdpixGvTM

Thanks for sharing

[VinnieVincentsVag]

Well, dying whale or not Vai certainly is a smart businessman.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5MdpixGvTM

Thanks for sharing

[SikkiNixx]

Do we have a whale killer in our midst? Why is he so good at picking up the sound of dying whales?? I would rather have Steve Vai on the radio than some asshole complaining about high frequency sound effects
My favorite guitar player to play with uses the neon green Vai Ibanez and I fukin love it to this day