Features
An unforgettable experience…
In August, this year, we highlighted the fact that Nisha was probably the only Sri Lankan artiste performing in China – in Guangzhou.
Nisha is a guitar wizard and a huge fan of Steve Vai, an American guitarist, songwriter, and producer.
When Nisha heard that Steve Vai was to do a concert, in Bangkok, Thailand, he was all excited and was determined not to miss this opportunity of seeing his idol in action.
He travelled to Thailand last month, October, and was among a crowd of 5000 at the MCC Hall, in Bangkok, where the concert took place.
Nisha say it was a very rare experience to see this ‘guitar god’ in action.
What was even more exciting was when Nisha got a chance to meet Steve Vai, in person, and have a brief chat with him, and also try out some of his famous guitars, too.
Says Nisha: “At the Q&A session, I took the opportunity to ask some questions from Steve and chat about it. Only five guys got this chance.
Nisha added that he also had access to go on stage, before the concert commenced, and check out Steve’s guitars, the whole system, in fact, and talk to his guitar technician.
Steve Vai is a three-time Grammy Award winner and 15-time nominee.
He started his music career, in 1978, at the age of 18 as a transcriptionist for Frank Zappa, and played in Zappa’s band from 1980 to 1983.
Vai embarked on a solo career, in 1983, and has released eight solo albums to date. He has recorded and toured with Alcatrazz, David Lee Roth, and Whitesnake, as well as recording with artistes, such as Public Image Ltd, Mary J. Blige, Spinal Tap, Alice Cooper, Motörhead, and Polyphia.
Additionally, he has toured with live-only acts G3, Zappa Plays Zappa, and the Experience Hendrix Tour, as well as headlining international tours.
Vai has been described as a “highly individualistic player” and part of a generation of “heavy rock and metal virtuosi who came to the fore in the 1980s”.
He released his first solo album ‘Flex-Able’ in 1984, while his most successful release, ‘Passion and Warfare’ (1990), was described as “the richest and best hard rock guitar-virtuoso album of the ’80s.”
Steve Vai was voted the “10th Greatest Guitarist” by Guitar World magazine’s readers, and has sold over 15 million records.
Nisha is over the moon that he met such a distinguished guitar player.
“This is one experience I will never ever forget.”
And, while in Thailand, Nisha took in the nightclub scene, in Bangkok, and jammed with some local bands.
Nisha, who hails from Moratuwa, is now based in China, and, in addition to performing with bands, in Guangzhou, he also does solo gigs.
Referring to his gigs in China, he says he is glad he was able to impress, from the very beginning, “and the loud cheers that I get, especially from the Chinese audience, when I say I’m from Sri Lanka, is very encouraging, indeed. What’s more although many Chinese do not speak much English, they love English music.”