How much Frank Zappa paid Steve Vai

This is my review on how much Frank Zappa paid Steve Vai

[karsguitarchannel]

Steve Vai wrote on his website: "This was my first real solo album. I saved up all the money I earned working for Frank ($14, 000) and put a down payment on a house on Fellows Avenue in Sylmar, California."

[miguelrausch]

No amount of money could buy you the honor and priviledge that means for a musician to have been a member of the Zappa Band. It immediately puts you in a category of its own. They are some kind of legends.

[IPLAYLOUD]

I sold Steve Vai his Nikes (Size 13) in 1979 at JC Penney in Garden City, NY. Steve lived close by in Carle Place. Nice guy.

[donaldanderson]

Vai said that Zappa gave him one bit of advice which saved him millions. Keep hold of your publishing rights. You didn't sign up for Zappa to get rich. You went to what Bill Bruford called the University of Frank Zappa. Worth a zillion college degrees.

[mrguitarwho]

Steves sage advice on finance is so true.when I graduated high school my 1 st check was saved the same amount. side jobs were 100 % saved. after 5 yrs I bought a house with property that was 5 times the average price. 2 and 1/2 times the purchase was achieved in 2 yrs.started my own contracting co. and over 46 yrs, have made millions and lost millions. it all came out ok in the end. live a clean life below your means and it all works out. BTW still working at 70 and loving it.

[nunestunes]

After hearing how much other solo artists who were bigger at the time paid Frank was actually good to his guys. However the stress of having to constantly learn and play very complex music might drive someone crazy

[DominelliGuitars]

Steve Vai has always seemed grateful for his time with Zappa, for all he learned and experienced. Zappa was a mentor to him. At the age of 18 you should not be concerned about the money you make, but the experiences you are having and the skills you are accruing. Steve was smart with his money. Sage economic advice there!

[twinsmm]

being known as part of an FZ lineup is worth its weight in gold.

[RichardGutierrezRG]

Scott Thunes (pronounced-toon is). Steve Vai made $10 a page for his transcriptions of not only guitar, but drums, and other instruments as well. The Frank Zappa Guitar Book was published with Steve's hard work.

Frank also taught Steve about how to record and produce, Frank also loaned amps, and various studio processing gear so Steve could record his first tunes, as well as Flexible and Flexible Leftovers. Steve Vai did get the house in Silmar but also packed it with various roommates to pay for the mortgage along with his future wife Pia (a bassist, most famously with Vixen, and can be seen in the movie Hardbodies), who he had not only met at Berkley but moved with him to California.

[kristencall]

I saw Zappa back in 1980. Steve Via wasn’t even heard of. But man I’ll tell you, the 2nd guitarist in Zappas band (Zappa being #1 of course), that guy blew me away. Totally and completely incredible. Years later I realized who that was. Steve Via. I was not surprised. Zappa on the other hand, he was as good as anyone ever was if not better. He never got the high credit he deserved. But somehow, IMO, i honestly don’t think Zappa even cared. But still, he should’ve been.

[davifernandeslima]

honestly, frank was great to steve. Gave good work and paid good salaries, lent him tons of equipament and a place to record and live.

[tomdecuca]

That is better than i thought he would have paid. That was actually pretty good money for back then.

[MJ]

Ozzy only paid his guitar players 500/wk, KISS paid Vinnie Vincent 450, and Ive heard Phil Collins only paid Leland Skar 500/wk. Frank was a lot more generous but his musicians were top notch (not trashing the other guys). Most musicians can't cut Frank's music so he paid above average.

[buckodonnghaile]

1000 a week in 81 was pretty decent money, equivalent of 3500 a week today.

[keithwald]

I only knew guys who worked for Zappa and for Sting, and they both said things consistent with this video. Sidemen got about $1k to 2k per week, while some of the veterans likely got more. These gigs are done for experience and exposure, not to get rich. The financial pyramid in the music biz is very tall and very, very narrow. (btw, a nit but Scott Thunes pronounces his last name like "toon-iss".)

[peterh]

Always remembered Mick Ronson took on work as a short-order chef and car mechanic to keep the lights on. And that is a man considered in the top hundred guitarist of all time. To be fair he was offered top paycheck money by Bob Seeger, but he wanted to be with his wife and child. Don't think he got much playing with Dylan.

[tvviewer]

Steve vai had no problems with finances because he is Steve vai.

[PatrickCharlesjpc]

I had the pleasure of meeting Steve Vai on the movie set of the film "crazy, " the film is a biopic of the life and music of guitarist Hank Garland.

[ShawnStaplesFreeGuitarLessons]

I saw Frank Zappa in 1981 when Steve Vai was in the band and did not have any idea who Steve Vai was. I was actually upset because he played all new music and nothing from the album Apostrophe which is my favorite Frank Zappa album which he released in 1974.

[jjzuc]

That was still good money for the 80's!