Guitar legend Steve Vai has checked in with the following message:
"When I was 19 years old, I asked Frank Zappa for some advice on being an independent musician. I expected some lofty answer, but Frank was very practical and he said to me 'keep your publishing.' I didn’t know what that meant so he gave me the name of his publishing attorney, Gerry Rosenblatt, who to this day is still my publishing attorney 44 years later.
What I discovered is that a musician's equity is in their intellectual property, and that if you are a songwriter, starting a publishing company and signing up with a performance rights organization (PRO) is a must, and it’s easy. At that time, 1980, I started my own publishing company for $12.50, and signed up with the highest rated performing rights organization in the biz (ASCAP). Through the years this saved me millions of dollars and to this day, I still own all my publishing.
To date I have over 500 songs registered with ASCAP that are protected, and that I collect income on. Besides all the esoteric and inspirational things I might be able to share about being a musician, the most down-to-earth thing I can tell you is to start your own publishing company, sign up with ASCAP, and never compromise your intellectual property. It worked for me and it’s easy to do.
The fine people at the ASCAP Foundation give back and are now live with a holiday fundraiser, and this photo shows my contribution.
There’s many other fantastic offerings at this fundraiser and you can check them out here.
Happy holidays!"
For the first time in their nearly 50-year musical careers, legendary guitar icons, Joe Satriani and Steve Vai, have united to form The SatchVai Band, with plans to ignite Europe with an electrifying summer tour. Watch Joe & Steve's announcement video below.
“The SatchVai Band Tour is happening! I’m so looking forward to sharing the stage with Steve again. Every time we play together, it takes me back to when we were teenagers, eating and breathing music every second of the day, pushing, challenging, and helping each other to be the best we could be. I guess we’ve never stopped!” - Joe
“Touring with Joe is always a pleasure and an honor. He is my favorite guitarist to jam with, and now we have another opportunity to take it to the stage. I feel as though we are both at the top of our game, and the show will be a powerful celebration of the coolest instrument in the world, the electric guitar!” - Steve
The Joe Satriani & Steve Vai VIP Package includes (where available):
• One premium reserved seat
• Early entry into the venue
• Intimate pre-show Q&A with Joe Satriani & Steve Vai
• Exclusive group photo in front of the stage with Joe Satriani & Steve Vai
• Collectible tour poster; autographed by Joe Satriani & Steve Vai
• Satriani & Vai commemorative ticket
• Satriani & Vai VIP laminate with lanyard
• VIP On-site host
• Limited availability
For ticket and VIP links, head here.
SatchVai Band shows (more dates to be announced):
June
13 - York, England - Barbican
14 - London, England - Eventim Apollo
17 - Glasgow, Scotland - Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
18 - Wolverhampton, England - Civic Hall
19 - Manchester, England - O2 Apollo
21 - Clisson, France - Hellfest
22 - Paris, France - Palais Des Congres
23, - Antwerp, Belgium - Lotto Arena
24 - Amsterdam, Netherlands - Amsterdam Afas
26 - Copenhagen, Denmark - Amager Bio
29 - Helsinki, Finland - House of Culture
30 - Tampere, Finland - Tampere Hall
July
2 - Uppsala, Sweden - Parksnackan
3 - Oslo, Norway - Sentrum Scene
5 - Warsaw, Poland - orwar
8 - Munich, Germany - Tollwood Festival
10 - Dusseldorf, Germany - Mitsubishi Electric Hall
11 - Frankfurt, Germany - Jahrhunderthalle
12 - Zurich, Switzerland - Volkshaus Zurich
13 - Milan, Italy - Comfort Festival @ Villa Casati Stampa
15, - Pordenone, Italy - Pordenone Blues & Co Festival @ Parco San Valentino
16 - Perugia, Italy - Umbria Jazz Festival
17 - Bologna, Italy - Sequoie Music Park
18 - Saint-Julien, France - Guitare en Scene Festival
20 - Prague, Czech Republic - Forum Karlin
22 - Sofia, Bulgaria - National Palace of Culture
