American guitarist, songwriter, composer and producer. He first learned guitar by studying under Joe Satriani and also studied at the Berklee College of Music. He started as a transcriptionist for Frank Zappa in 1978, joined his band in 1980 and stayed until 1983. He formed two separate bands, the Classified and 777, and began recording music in his own professional studio. This material would be released as his first solo album, "Flex-Able," in January 1984. Vai replaced Yngwie Malmsteen as the guitarist for Alcatrazz and played on the album "Disturbing The Peace." Vai left the group following the tour to join David Lee Roth's solo band following Roth's departure from Van Halen. After playing on two successful Roth albums, "Eat 'Em And Smile" and "Skyscraper," Vai went solo again, buying out his Warner Bros. Records contract and signing to Relativity Records. He also replaced the injured 'Adrian Vandenburg' on Whitesnake's "Slip of the Tongue." Vai's second solo album, "Passion and Warfare," was released in 1990. He has continued performing and recording ever since.