It’s early morning here on the West Coast, and we’re joined on the phone by none other than guitar legend Vinnie Moore, dialing in from the Right Coast—Delaware, to be exact. Known for his blazing solos and melodic phrasing, Vinnie’s been a staple of the rock and metal guitar world for decades, both as a solo artist and as a longtime member of UFO.
We kicked things off with a little East Coast/West Coast banter, and Vinnie’s energy was immediately infectious. "I'm doing well," he said. "Good talking to you—thanks for having me on."
Touring Through Hell(fest) and COVID
Not long ago, I caught Vinnie live at Hellfest, sharing a bill with legends like Whitesnake, the Scorpions, and Steve Vai. “That was one of the first shows on that tour,” Vinnie recalled. “Unfortunately, after that, everyone started coming down with COVID. Saxon canceled some shows, Whitesnake had to cancel their tour, and yeah... I even got COVID shortly after.”
Despite the illness, Vinnie powered through the European leg of the tour. “It was probably the hardest tour I’ve ever done. I did ten shows with COVID—mostly in Germany. I’d get out of bed, play the show, then go right back to sleep. Thankfully we had a tour bus, so I could crash in my bunk between gigs.
Growing Up with Rock and a Record Player
Vinnie’s love for music started early. “I was just a typical kid into rock. The Beatles, Deep Purple, Zeppelin, Floyd, Queen—bands that were all guitar-driven. That made me want to play.”
He credits his mom with playing music around the house and always having the radio on in the car. “Music made me feel things—even as a little kid. I’d hear a song and get sad, or goofy. It’s always touched me deeply.”
From Hyper Kid to Guitar Shredder
“I was a hyper kid,” he laughed. “Hard to sit still, hard to focus. I’ve never been officially diagnosed with anything, but I’ve talked to my doctor—it’s likely. I just found a way to channel it into creativity, and music became my outlet.”
The Vicious Rumors Era and Homesick in Santa Rosa
Vinnie’s first recording gig was with Vicious Rumors in 1985. “I was like 19 or 20,” he said. “The plan was to go out to Santa Rosa for three weeks and finish a record. It turned into four months. I got really homesick.”
Creative differences also played a role in his departure from the band. “They started going in a direction I wasn’t into, and it just made sense to part ways. It was weird how early that happened in my career, but it worked out.”
Delaware Roots and Why He Never Left
Despite all the travel and touring, Vinnie still calls Delaware home. “I feel grounded here. Family, friends—it just feels like home. I thought about moving when I was younger, but for what I do—touring and recording—I didn’t need to live in L.A. or New York.”
If he were to relocate? “Somewhere sunny, with less winter,” he joked. “Maybe California.”
Influences: From Eddie Van Halen to Al Di Meola
Like many guitarists, Vinnie had a Van Halen phase. “I was obsessed. I was doing all the tapping, playing whole VH sets in cover bands. Then I started pulling in other influences—guys with fast picking styles.”
One key moment was hearing Yngwie Malmsteen for the first time on the Alcatrazz record. “It was frightening. I thought, ‘If there’s a guy like this in Sweden, there must be 100 more around the world.’ It made me practice harder.”
Other major influences? “Blackmore, of course. Then I got into jazz fusion—Larry Carlton, Al Di Meola, Robin Ford. I wanted to learn from everyone.”
Self-Produced and Still Growing
His last few solo records have been self-produced under his own label, Mind’s Eye Music—named after his debut album. “Making a record is never easy. I try not to fall into the ‘torture vortex,’ but I can be obsessive. Still, I’m proud of how things have turned out.”
The new album, Double Exposure, features collaborations with vocalists like Keith Slack and Brian Stephenson. “I met Brian on the Extreme Guitar Tour in 2016. He was in a band called Old James. Great guy, great voice. I kept him in the back of my mind for future projects.”
A Future with a Full-Time Band?
So what’s next for Vinnie Moore?
“I’d like to do some shows in Europe this September—maybe some UFO-related stuff if Phil’s health allows. Long-term, I want to put together a band with a permanent vocalist and move away from the ‘solo artist’ vibe.”
Top Instrumental Records in Vinnie's Collection
When asked for his favorite instrumental albums, Vinnie didn’t hesitate:
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Jeff Beck – Wired
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Larry Carlton – Room 335
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Al Di Meola – Casino
All fitting choices for a player who’s long balanced melody and firepower.
Vinnie Moore continues to be a force in the guitar world—always evolving, always grounded, and still “blowing it up on Metal Gods Radio.” Stay tuned, because it sounds like there’s a whole new chapter just around the corner.
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