STEVE VAI Has No Problem With Fans Using Their Phone During His Shows

We live in an era where smartphones reign supreme, and capturing a moment at a concert has become a ubiquitous desire. But, do you remember the days of security guards confiscating bulky VHS cameras at concerts? Legendary guitarist Steve Vai does.

While some artists have staunchly opposed this trend – don’t you dare to take your phone out during a Tool show – not everyone shares the same sentiment.

“Those little concert clips,” Vai said in an interview with Rick Beato (transcribed by Guitar.com), “they’re very meaningful to fans.”

Vai acknowledged the shift from a time when recording concerts was strictly forbidden. “It was conditioned into me that you just don’t do that,” he remembered. “They don’t allow it, and with very strict policies. We used to send people out during the shows to find anybody with one of those big giant VHS cameras.”

For Vai, the proliferation of technology isn’t something to resist but rather something to embrace. Instead of viewing it as a hindrance, he sees it as an opportunity for fans to capture and share their experiences in their own unique way.

“But after a while… It really depends on how you choose to look at it, so the way I choose to look at it is — it’s great. Because now, it may not sound great when people are at the concerts, and then they post it… It would be nice if they sounded good, but there’s even a charm in the way that they don’t sound good, sometimes.”

Which makes sense depending on how you wanna look at it, and what you wanna achieve as an artist playing a live show. Maynard thinks it’s rude, Vai thinks it’s more about savoring the experience.