Steve Vai Arranged "Bohemian Rhapsody" for Five Guitar Players

Fans on Steve Vai's next Generation Axe tour might get and very special treat, an instrumental version of Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" in which every part is performed on electric guitar. 

It just depends if Vai and his gang of guitar virtuosos have enough time to rehearse it.

Tackling the iconic song's complex arrangement, particularly transposing the song's piano and vocal parts to strings, was no simple task. Vai says it was Extreme guitarist Nuno Bettencourt who challenged him to create the arrangement during the last Generation Axe tour. 

"The idea was to do 'Bohemian Rhapsody' for five guitars," Vai told Eddie Trunk back in September. "I did it. I mean, I created all the parts and got every one of Freddie's vocals. And you gotta hear it on guitars; it's unbelievable. But we just didn't have enough time in rehearsal. Nuno was gonna take the lead on that one because, well, he's very good friends with Brian [May], and he's a huge Queen fan, as we all are."

Even top tier musicians like Vai and his Generation Axe mates, Bettencourt, Zakk Wylde, Yngwie Malmsteen and Tosin Abasi, can't pull of such a complex piece without a lot of rehearsal time.

"If we get time [on this tour] we may try to work it up," Vai continued. "But it's hard. You know those vocals in that song — to play them on the guitar in perfect harmony, you gotta breathe together. Maybe we'll get it one day."

 If ever there was a time to iron out the arrangement it would be now.

The Freddie Mercury biopic, Bohemian Rhapsody, in theaters now has music fans all over the world raving.

The next Generation Axe tour begins Nov. 9. Get all the tour dates here. 

Photo: Getty Images