I won’t mention who it was made by, but I hated the thing, but everybody was saying how great it was, so I gave it a spin. I had done a solo using a piece of rack gear that was the hot new piece of gear at the time. "There was really only one situation where David asked me to redo something and I completely agreed. Working with David was great and there was something in his phrasing as a singer that I just adored.
I just did it, and if there was something he didn’t like I was happy to change it because it was his thing. David knew what I was capable of and didn’t really interfere with what I wanted to do. "David was a prince! He had a lot of confidence in me and basically knew he needed to just let me do my thing. (Image credit: Jim Steinfeldt/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
What was he like to work with? Was he hands-on or did he get out of the way and let you do your thing? He also reflected on what was one of his finest moments as a bona fide rock star.ĭavid Coverdale had a lot of experience working with gifted players when you joined the fold and seems to be someone who really values the interplay between a frontman and a dazzling lead guitarist.
The guitar hero opened up about his sole release with the band, lessons learned from Diamond Dave and his working relationship with Coverdale and co-guitarist Adrian Vandenberg. In anticipation of the album’s big birthday, Guitar World was invited into Vai’s studio, the Harmony Hut, to chat about the album. Slip of the Tongue celebrated its 30th anniversary late last year and was treated to a royal re-release package, complete with a fresh remaster and an expanded, deluxe edition of the album that boasts unreleased studio recordings, music videos, a new interview with Coverdale and a recording of the band’s positively blistering 1990 headlining set at Castle Donington.