“The guitar duel scene with Ry Cooder wasn’t working. Ry called up Guitar Player and asked who the new hotshot on the block was”: Steve Vai on how he got the career-defining Crossroads gig

Vai’s portrayal of Jack Butler in the iconic 1986 film inspired a generation of players – now, Vai has detailed how he came to be the guitar hot shot the film’s producers were looking for to widen its appeal