Mexican guitarist Rafael Flores stuns Steve Vai by playing For The Love Of God on two guitars [View all]

[Judi Lynn]

Mexican guitarist Rafael Flores stuns Steve Vai by playing For The Love Of God on two guitars simultaneously

By Jonathan Horsley published 2 days ago

Flores spent three years adapting the arrangement for two guitars and says performing it for Vai was "a dream come true"



Steve Vai and Rafael Flores
(Image credit: Steve Vai / Instagram)

Steve Vai turned up for his gig at the Teatro Metropólitan in Mexico City on 21 June and was greeted by the sight of a local guitarist playing one signature track For The Love Of God with a twist – he performed it on two electric guitars at once.

This, apparently, is Rafael Flores’ specialty. He is a dual-guitar legato master whose two-handed tapping skills are beyond reproach. Some guitarists might reach for the convenience of the double-neck; Vai certainly has on many an occasion. But not Flores. He just has two custom Ortiz Murcio double-cuts, equipped with a Seymour Duncan humbucker pairing, and makes the magic happen, juggling them both on their guitar straps.

As the keeper of the triple-necked Hydra, Vai, of all people, would acknowledge that. Game recognises game, and Vai, taking a video of the performance for Instagram, described Flores as a “wonderful man” and his take on the Passion And Warfare classic as a “lovely rendition”.

- video at link -

As Flores revealed in the comments, it took him three years to put it together. Vai is not the first guitarist whose material Flores has adapted for two guitars – sorry, two simultaneous guitars. He has reworked Always With Me, Always With You by Vai’s mentor Jo:e Satriani, and Something by the Beatles.

More:
https://www.musicradar.com/news/mexican-guitarist-steve-vai-for-the-love-of-god-two-guitars