Hey Chicago , guitar extraordinaire Steve Vai wants to make it up to you for canceling his concert in March of this year at the Copernicus Center . Due to personal injuries ( undergoing two serious surgeries ), his Inviolate Tour 2022 was postponed and rescheduled to the new

there . And the audiences are fantastic ; it ’ s a great city .” The three-time Grammy Award winner started his music career in 1978 at eighteen years old as a transcriptionist for the legendary composer / musician Frank Zappa , then later as his guitarist in his band from 1980 to 1983 . According to Vai , getting to know Zappa is something that he will always cherish . “ Those were very formative years , so I was like a sponge ,” Vai explains . “ Frank was Frank , and he was an explosion of freedom . I had a front ( row ) seat to a creative genius , and how he worked , and how he marched to the beat of his own drum . I absorbed everything I could , and there ' s principles that I learned and protocols from then that have stuck with me for my whole career up to today .” Vai then

Steve Vai

date of Wednesday , November 16 . As Steve explains , he couldn ’ t be happier that he gets the chance to return to the city . “ I love Chicago ; I love performing there ,” Vai enthuses during a recent phone conversation . “ I get to see family too . My brother Michael lives there , and he ' s got a couple of really great restaurants . Chicago has always been a sweet spot ever since my Zappa days when we would tour

embarked on a successful solo career starting in 1983 and released his first album in 1984 , going on to record and tour with established acts such as Alcatrazz , David Lee Roth , and Whitesnake , as well as artists such as Public Image Ltd , Alice Cooper , G3 , Zappa Plays Zappa , the Experience Hendrix tour and more .

Vai ’ s latest recorded masterpiece is Inviolate released in January on his Favored Nations

label . One of the highlights of his 10th studio solo album is the opening track , “ Teeth of the Hydra ,” inspired by Vai ’ s new Frankensteinconstructed guitar creation , the Hyrda . The triple-neck guitar encompasses a 7 and 12- string guitar , a 4-string 3 / 4 scale length bass , harp strings , and other accouterments . Vai will be bringing this alien-esque instrument on the

road with him for the first time on this current tour . Vai spoke to us about his love for Chicago , his recent surgeries , the new album and more during a pre-tour phone interview .

IE : Due to personal injury , the Inviolate Tour was postponed earlier this year , including the Chicago date at the Copernicus Center . I