EXCLUSIVE: Devin Townsend has spoken about the upcoming 30th anniversary of the release of the Vai band’s ‘Sex & Religion’ album. Released in 1993, the alt-rock project featured Townsend, alongside guitar god Steve Vai. Devin made his comments while speaking to eonmusic during his press conference on Saturday 19th June 2022, at Hellfest in Clisson, France.
Photo: Eamon O'Neill.
As reported by eonmusic in a story that went viral in June 2017, Devin reconnected with Vai at the Starmus Festival in Norway, marking the first time the pair had shared the stage since the tour for that album's cycle was completed, in December1993.
When asked how it was to share a stage with the former Whitesnake man again, Townsend said; “Starmus Festival was right to reconnect, but we’re still very different, and I may be wrong, but I think our reasons for doing what we do are fundamentally, slightly different, and it’s always a little chocolate and cheese, you know?”
During Starmus, the pair performed one track – ‘Here & Now’, and with ‘Sex & Religion’s 30th anniversary coming next year, eonmusic asked if the Strapping Young Lad would like to celebrate it, citing that album’s second single, the Desmond Child co-write ‘In My Dreams With You’. Said Devin; “I didn’t like that song, but I love Steve, and if he wants me to do something with him, of course I’ll do something with him. He’s a genius, and I love him”.
Going on to talk about the dichotomy of his and Steve’s approach, Devin revealed that it was exactly that, that made the Vai band album so unique; “I think a lot of what made that record interesting, yet very odd was the fact that we’re very different”, he said; “and back then we were really different. Now we’re less different, but we’re still very different”.
Going on to sum up their friendship, the Canadian was candid about how close he is to the guitar god these days. “Among the people who I count as being closest to my heart, he is one of the very few”, he said; “and as a friend, I would be happy to do anything that he would ask of me because I love him. It’s true”.
Steva Vai meanwhile, reconnected with is former boss David Coverdale, joining Whitesnake on stage at Hellfest on 23rd June.
Looking forward, Devin Townsend has announced that new studio album ‘Lightwork’, produced by Devin and Gggarth Richardson will be released on the 28th October 2022. The album will be accompanied by a companion record called ‘Nightwork’, available as part of the limited edition versions of the release.
Devin tours the UK as part of his European Lightwork Tour 2023 Dates below.
March 28th - Bexhill-on-Sea, De La Warr Pavilion
March 29th - Bristol, Academy
March 31st - Manchester, Academy
April 1st - Nottingham, Rock City
April 2nd - Newcastle, University
April 4th - Wolves, KK's Steel Mill
April 5th - Norwich, UEA
When asked how it was to share a stage with the former Whitesnake man again, Townsend said; “Starmus Festival was right to reconnect, but we’re still very different, and I may be wrong, but I think our reasons for doing what we do are fundamentally, slightly different, and it’s always a little chocolate and cheese, you know?”
During Starmus, the pair performed one track – ‘Here & Now’, and with ‘Sex & Religion’s 30th anniversary coming next year, eonmusic asked if the Strapping Young Lad would like to celebrate it, citing that album’s second single, the Desmond Child co-write ‘In My Dreams With You’. Said Devin; “I didn’t like that song, but I love Steve, and if he wants me to do something with him, of course I’ll do something with him. He’s a genius, and I love him”.
Going on to talk about the dichotomy of his and Steve’s approach, Devin revealed that it was exactly that, that made the Vai band album so unique; “I think a lot of what made that record interesting, yet very odd was the fact that we’re very different”, he said; “and back then we were really different. Now we’re less different, but we’re still very different”.
Going on to sum up their friendship, the Canadian was candid about how close he is to the guitar god these days. “Among the people who I count as being closest to my heart, he is one of the very few”, he said; “and as a friend, I would be happy to do anything that he would ask of me because I love him. It’s true”.
Steva Vai meanwhile, reconnected with is former boss David Coverdale, joining Whitesnake on stage at Hellfest on 23rd June.
Looking forward, Devin Townsend has announced that new studio album ‘Lightwork’, produced by Devin and Gggarth Richardson will be released on the 28th October 2022. The album will be accompanied by a companion record called ‘Nightwork’, available as part of the limited edition versions of the release.
Devin tours the UK as part of his European Lightwork Tour 2023 Dates below.
March 28th - Bexhill-on-Sea, De La Warr Pavilion
March 29th - Bristol, Academy
March 31st - Manchester, Academy
April 1st - Nottingham, Rock City
April 2nd - Newcastle, University
April 4th - Wolves, KK's Steel Mill
April 5th - Norwich, UEA
