Yes yes and yes. Glad to see everyone is coming around to the fact that Vai isn't just a wanky shredder.
I wish I was even half as good as him :-(
Coming round !!!.. heck been a huge fan since '84.
One thing I like about Vai, and I have seen him say so live, is that he knows his persona and tendency to excessiveness is a bit of a wank, but it is fun. Even my wife, who hates shred, likes Vai. She really likes the piano album where MIke Keneally did solo piano arrangements of several of his pieces.
Vai just happens to be a guitar "shred" dude on the surface. Underneath there is a hugely rounded musician that hopefully continues to keep coming out. I would the guy to get a few scoring jobs for films where he doesn't play guitar. That would really help round him out.
Anyone listened to Taste or Rory Gallagher? I've just been listening to "Born on the Wrong Side of Time" and they have a great sound. The bridge of that song is awesome. I would describe it as clean, haunting guitar.
An Irish piano player I know worships him... have listened but never really grabbed me... I guess just because I have listened to enough of that blues based rock from that era to really try. But yeah a lot of people rate him extremely highly.
Also make sure you say his surname right... its not "grrrr" its "hah"... like as in "hah hah hah". This might save your life if you mention him to an irish fan.