A veteran who is still in love with touring

WHEN he straps on his guitar, Steve Vai might play like a maniac. But off-stage, he's Zen-like - even when the phones in his Los Angeles home are ringing non-stop in the background while we are speaking to him earlier in the week.

He excuses himself, asks the caller to either hold the line or ring back in five minutes, and coolly wraps up the interview.

It's clear the 53-year-old makes it a point to enjoy everything he's doing; whether it's hitting the road and playing shows for his fan or even speaking to the press -…