Jakarta,Indonesia – A historic night of guitar virtuosity unfolded at the Bung Karno Main Stadium (GBK) Saturday as Dewa 19’s All Stars 2.0 concert culminated in an unprecedented guitar showdown between Steve Vai and Nuno Bettencourt. The event, already notable for its lineup of international music stars, reached a fever pitch as the two guitarists engaged in a freestyle exchange of solos, a moment rarely witnessed live, especially in Indonesia.
The concert featured a series of collaborations throughout the evening. Eric Martin, vocalist of Mr.Big, opened wiht an keen greeting to the Jakarta crowd, even offering a ”Thank you” in Indonesian.Nuno Bettencourt, lead guitarist of Extreme, captivated the audience with a performance of “tinted Sixties Mind,” showcasing a lengthy and acclaimed guitar solo.
Later,Extreme vocalist Gary Cherone performed an acoustic rendition of “More than Words,” inviting audience participation. The atmosphere escalated when vai joined Cherone onstage, prompting an excited declaration from Ahmad Dhani: “It’s amazing Steve and Gary can be on a stage, never happens anywhere, only happens in Jakarta!” Vai then delivered a solo performance of “For the Love of God.”
Billy Sheehan, bassist for Mr. Big, further energized the crowd with a collaboration with Cherone on the song “jump,” performed amidst falling rain. The peak of the evening arrived with the impromptu guitar exchange between Vai, Bettencourt, and sheehan, demonstrating thier unique and exceptional techniques.
the concert concluded with a united performance of “We Are The Champions” featuring international guests Dino Jelusick, Eric Martin, and Gary Cherone alongside Indonesian artists Ari Lasso, Ello, Virzha, and Ahmad Dhani, followed by a final rendition of Dewa 19’s ”half Breath.”