What's the greatest feeling in the world? I'll tell you - when you go into work and your boss just gives you a day off because your'e going on holiday tomorrow. I love my job sometimes. The days when I don't have to do it... But the holiday's going to kick ass. I'm going to Newquay with a whole bunch of mates from college, as a sort of farewell before we all tottle off to our various Universities in September. American Pie 2 style... Trouble is, we're leaving at five o'clock in the morning!!!!!!! So, this is my last post for just over a week.

Anybody noticed that Steve Vai mght be slipping a little bit? I know this is a bit of a long shot, but in "The Secret Jewel Box" on the hidden CD he mentions about the final guitar solo in Bill & Ted, and how it was supposed to save the world, and says "I'm not even sure if it could save my career...", so I'm like what's wrong with your career? Then I realized that we haven't had a proper studio album of original material from him since "The Ultra Zone", back in 1999. What's going on? Hmmmmm...

Clarky - Whatever's easiest for you, man. I mean, you're doing me a huge favour here, so I can hardly ask for anything else. Besides, I think I have a friend somewhere who can copy audio from MInidisc to CD. I know he can do it the other way. And what are you gonna call this seven-string custom shop monster of yours, anyway?

Man, IUMA's really starting to piss me off now...

Neil Morgan

Mancubis and everyone: , i posted joe tabs websites some time ago.did you not read them????

And Gruskada - there is something about fire strings on vai's website..go to the news section : http://www.vai.com , if the link doesn't work..copy and paste it into your internet address thingy

Yo joe !!! What ever happened too Jeff Tyson and his T-Ride project.

Master Yoda: I just think he was referring to that solo as not being that great to him. I'm wondering if he wanted us to find that CD or if he was going to let us all know about it after the last cd was released.

Yoda - I'll do all I can to help you out here... but you know this... # : )~

Ovation1 - you make sure you learn to use capital letters and full stops too.... lol ...lol

Hi everyone, thanks for the History lesson, I can sleep at night now I know where Reno is.

Welcome back Austin - hope you had a good holiday and are refreshed enough to read all of the messages in detail, no skipping now.

Today my son is 20 and I feel bloody old, just brings it home that I am 40 next year and don't want to be. I just don't know where the last 20 years have gone. Anyway, it could be my excuse for doing daft stuff, being silly and generally having a laugh before it's too late. Does that sound morbid, hope not.

Anyway, subject for discussion - the state of music in the UK. There wasn't much work on today so we sat about and had a natter and we all agreed that the music scene in the UK is pretty chronic and that's putting it mildly. I know this subject has been brought up before but it is just getting worse. On the breakfast tele the other morning they brought in a band called Toploader and said this band was the up and coming group for the UK, well I'm sorry but if that is the state of play, gawd help us and to make matters worse Gerri Halliwell is bringing out some dumb pop star programme to drive us all nuts with. When bands like Genesis decided to pack up, Led Zep packed up and Queen stopped after Freddie died no-one came to fill their shoes, there wasn't even anyone knocking on the door waiting to get in. It looks well when we have to wait for someone like Joe to bring us what we all want and yearn for which is just basic good music. Have the music Companies lost the plot or can't they be arsed to get round the clubs and pubs and find what must be out there or isn't anyone trying anymore. Whatever happened to the good old fashioned talent scout. Joe - hope you never stop pumping out the good stuff, we need the lifeline you send out. For me you are filling a gap that is just getting bigger and bigger.

Anyway, moan over.

My son is off out tonight to celebrate his birthday so I'll have a drunken 6' lump to contend with later on.

sharon - lol...drunken 6' lump..lol...anyway...that state of music in the uk..hmm...well...i agree with what you said about queen and genesis and led zep..no-one to fill their boots..if the way todays music here in the uk carries on...god help us all... .the record companies are after money..and if one type of music is succesful , they carry on with that..pop is simple and sells well to young kids..they grow up still likeing pop..and their kids listen to it and its a snowball effect..they wouldn't give a Joe a listen because its instrumental and different and not simple and so it wont sell well.....wich is a great shame..my mates say joe and steve and that rubbish...partly cos they know its different and also they dont want to listen to it cos its not in the charts and no-one else likes it..well..i like it like that..it makes me unique :)

Sharon: they say that life really starts at 40!

Hey whats all this talk about getting drunk.

Who do you think Satch should be proud of - out of all his students of course lets not include Vai???????

Sharon: LED ZEPPELIN is my favorite group of all time. Could any band ever fill those shoe's?

Sharon when I was working today, I took a second to listen to the noise coming from the radio - I've never heard such pathetic rubbish, I agree that music is going down the U-bend!!

but don't worry - I've noticed a tendandy for things to come in waves - so get your surfboard ready for the next-gen of guitar soloists!!

MMMindSSStorm - I don't think that comment was really necessary, I was merely asking if there was a chance of posting the bonus tracks - My question was addressed to Jon, so I would appreciate the answer to be from Jon. Thanx :)

XMEZDELCA- I was born in Bauccina, Palermo.

well well....looks like I pissed off Professor MMMindSSStorm.. Or are you really bumdude dooder?? I'm not going to stoop to your level of brilliance, but in your sentence addressed to idiot's...."so sony add (an) extra track(s)"....First of all, it must be "so sony adds an extra track" or "sony adds extra tracks"! Your use of add is a total disgrace to the English language, and you will not receive an "A" this quarter ;-)......I am glad, however, that you take the time to correct everybodys posts!! BTW, I've never heard or read that JOE went to Berklee....I might be wrong, but I'm sure I'll be corrected......Goodnite Sensei....Iippai benkyo ni narimashita

abdallah: I do not own the Japanese version of "SBM" as I ordered it from cduniverse....The U.S. version is suiting me just fine right now, and will take many years to fully absorb :-)

Congrats on the new home ELPP!!!! Glad to hear everythings going great....

I haven't heard anything on "Fire Strings" either, and have been trying to find something on it over the net with no success....There maybe something about it on t.v. here in a few months on the NHK channel....I hope....STEVE, IMHO, has only flourished as time goes on...."AIAUW" proves it....He is a musical genius like JOE....It flow's through their blood....

sharon: Age is a "state of the mind".. right!! :-)

It's hard to believe JOE's vacation is almost over!! Back on the road again soon, and it's great to see him Vai and Petrucci plastered all over guitar magazines (like they and Gilbert are over here)......Finally getting the repect he deserves!!....Godspeed JOE :-)

Peace all, /\/\ike