Steven "Steve" Siro Vai (born June, 1960 in Carle Place, New York) is an American instrumental rock guitarist, songwriter, vocalist and producer. After starting his professional career as a music transcriptionist for Frank Zappa, Vai would also record and tour in Zappa's backing band starting in 1980. The guitarist began a solo career starting in 1984 and has released 13 solo albums as of 2008. Apart from his work with Frank Zappa, Vai has also recorded and toured with numerous musical artists including Alcatrazz, David Lee Roth and Whitesnake. Vai has been a regular touring member of the G3 Concert Tour which began in 1996. In 1999 Vai started his own record label, Favored Nations, with the intent to showcase, as Vai describes: "...artists that have attained the highest performance level on their chosen instruments."

This is no normal guitar hero - this is, arguably, the king of guitar heroes. His compositional skills set him apart from the usual fretboard pyrotechnics squad and his curiousity-filled nature sends him on paths other guitarists fear to tread. Staggering technique, matched with supreme musicality that sees him seemingly channeling from another realm rather than merely 'playing', serve to make Vai a very potent guitar force INDEED.