Steve Vai's "Bad Horsie" Played on Cello — Video

News
By published

Below, check out a recently posted—and top-notch—cello cover of Steve Vai's "Bad Horsie" by cellist Ryan Knott.

The performance, which was shot by Adam Brown in what looks like a simple rehearsal studio, features Zach Miller on drums.

"Bad Horsie," a track from Vai's 1995 album, Alien Love Secrets, was derived from a riff Vai played during the final scenes of the 1986 film Crossroads.

Vai's version of the tune is considered one of the best-ever wah-wah recordings by Guitar World and Guitar Player magazines.

Damian Fanelli
Damian Fanelli
Editor-in-Chief, Guitar World

Damian is Editor-in-Chief of Guitar World magazine. In past lives, he was GW’s managing editor and online managing editor. He's written liner notes for major-label releases, including Stevie Ray Vaughan's 'The Complete Epic Recordings Collection' (Sony Legacy) and has interviewed everyone from Yngwie Malmsteen to Kevin Bacon (with a few memorable Eric Clapton chats thrown into the mix). Damian, a former member of Brooklyn's The Gas House Gorillas, was the sole guitarist in Mister Neutron, a trio that toured the U.S. and released three albums. He now plays in two NYC-area bands.

More about music releases

“If any song can unite all generations of rock guitar fans, this is it”: March 2025 Guitar World Editors' Picks

"The BTO sound is BACK!!" Bachman-Turner Overdrive release first new material in over 25 years – and it features a Neil Young guitar solo

“Even standing with the guitars is tricky”: Ritchie Blackmore's health sparks concern after update from wife and musical partner Candice Night
See more latest
Most Popular
Ritchie Blackmore of Rainbow performs at SC Olympic on April 8, 2018 in Moscow, Russia
“Even standing with the guitars is tricky”: Ritchie Blackmore's health sparks concern after update from wife and musical partner Candice Night
Guthrie Govan, Marco Minneman and Bryan Beller of The Aristocrats perform on stage at the Assembly on February 19, 2014 in Leamington Spa, United Kingdom
“The rest of the world didn't know that the world's greatest guitarist was playing a weekend gig at this place in Chelmsford”: The Aristocrats' Bryan Beller recalls the moment he met Guthrie Govan and formed a new kind of supergroup
Neural DSP Nano Cortex
“Our answer to everything players have asked for and more”: Neural DSP’s Nano Cortex had one major drawback – but now it’s been addressed with a huge free firmware update that takes on Kemper and TONEX
Carlos Santana performs on stage at North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre on June 17, 2022 in Chula Vista, California
Carlos Santana hospitalized following pre-show medical emergency
different musical instruments and pedals against a bright orange/yellow background, with the word Reverb at the center
“The musicians, shops, and brands who use Reverb have always been at the center of all that we do”: Reverb has been acquired by two new investors – and will once again become an independently operated company
Rivers Cuomo and Keanu Reeves
Weezer’s first show was opening for Keanu Reeves’ band Dogstar. Now the John Wick star is set to play a villain in the Buddy Holly hitmakers’ forthcoming mockumentary
Left-Eric Clapton performs onstage during Day 1 of Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival at Crypto.com Arena on September 23, 2023 in Los Angeles, California; Right- Toshiki Soejima posing with his guitar while sitting on a stool, against a light yellow background
“Even the thought that Clapton might have seen a few seconds of my video feels surreal. But I’m truly honored”: Eric Clapton names Japanese neo-soul guitarist as one to watch
People walk past the yellow-painted Gak Music Emporium and guitar shop in The Lanes conservation area in Brighton, East Sussex, UK
One of the UK's biggest guitar stores has sold its stock and website to online retailer Gear4music for $3.2 million – after weeks of speculation over its future
Mårten Hagström of Meshuggah performs at SF Masonic Auditorium on April 08, 2025 in San Francisco, California.
“Imagine the roaring intensity of Meshuggah’s live performances echoing through your rig”: Meshuggah’s world-ending guitar tones are now available in a signature pedal
Billie Joe Armstrong
Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong tackles one of Randy Rhoads’ most iconic solos – tapping and all – in live cover of Ozzy Osbourne’s Crazy Train