Steve Vai had already established his credentials as a guitar wizard by the time he joined Whitesnake in 1989.
After beginning his career at the age of 18 as a transcriptionist for Frank Zappa, Vai had joined Zappa’s band before going on to play in Alcatrazz and, subsequently, David Lee Roth’s band. During that time, he had also launched his own successful solo career.
Vai’s stint in Whitesnake was brief, lasting only about two years, and produced just one album with the group, 1989’s Slip of the Tongue.
In 1990, the band took the album on tour, during which they performed at the Monsters of Rock Festival at Castle Donington, on August 18, 1990.
The video above is from that show and features – starting at around the 1:06:30 mark – Vai performing an eight-minute solo that includes a medley of “For the Love of God” and “The Audience Is Listening,” from his second solo album, Passion and Warfare, which was released that same year.
Vai is introduced by singer David Coverdale, who calls him “His Royal Darkness…the Seven-String Sorcerer.” Enjoy this moment of magic.
“Eddie told us that he copied that style from listening to us. He was a big fan of the band and came to see us play regularly.” Rick Derringer recalls a young Eddie Van Halen and performing with Johnny Winter
“They said, 'You've got to do it,' but I'm so glad they did. It became my biggest song.” The guitarist behind a power-pop gem almost let his hit single pass him by
