Joe Satriani is one of the most technical and respected guitarists, with whom many prominent musicians from the 80s and 90s studied. Joe was born on July 15, 1956 in Westbury, New York. At the age of 14, impressed by the genius of Jimi Hendrix, Satriani began to master the guitar, although initially he was interested in drums. The instrument came easily to him, and soon Joe himself began to give lessons in the game. By the end of the 70s, when the musician moved to Berkeley (California), his students included such future celebrities as Steve Vai, Kirk Hammett ("Metallica"), Larry LaLond ("Primus"), David Bryson ("Counting Crows") and fusion specialist Charlie Hunter. In the early 80s, Satriani worked as a session player for Greg Keane, but in 1984 he decided to start a solo career. His first work was the mini-album "Joe Satriani", which the musician recorded and produced himself. The release remained unnoticed, and the guitarist was noticed a little later.
It happened in 1986, when Steve Vai, who had become famous for his work with David Lee Roth, mentioned the name of his teacher in a number of publications. For Satriani, this was a good moment, and the guitarist did not fail to take advantage of it by releasing his debut LP. "Not Of This Earth" made a lot of excitement in the rock community, but Joe's real success came with his second album "Surfing With The Alien".
This album, which received gold (and later platinum), forced the public to recognize Satriani as one of the leading rock guitarists of our time. Confirmation of the dramatically increased popularity of the musician was his invitation by Mick Jagger to the Australian-Japanese tour. After the EP "Dreaming # 11", which contained both studio and live tracks, the guitarist's third full-length album was released in 1989. "Flying In A Blue Dream" differed from previous works in that it featured Satriani's vocals for the first time (he also played harmonica and banjo for the first time there). The album sold well, and an additional step towards success was the inclusion of "One Big Rush" on the soundtrack to Cameron Crowe's "Say Anything". In the early 90's Joe opened his own line of guitars for the Ibanez company. This business somewhat distracted him from his studio work, but still in 1992 Satriani returned to purely instrumental rock with the opus "The Extremist", which became the most successful in his discography (both in terms of reviews and sales).
The following year, in addition to the "The Beautiful Guitar" compilation, Joe released a Time Machine double, which included new tracks, live numbers and compositions from the very first EP. In 1994, Sutch rescued the legendary "Deep Purple" and played a Japanese tour with them instead of the escaped Blackmore.
He was even offered to stay in the group permanently, but the guitarist refused, preferring a continuation solo career... In the second half of the 90s, Satriani released two more albums, tending towards the relaxed blues "Joe Satriani" and the energetically hardy "Crystal Planet", and also organized the "G3" project with Steve Vai. In 2000, Joe released his most daring creation, an electronic based "Engines Of Creation". Although this techno album was nominated for a "Grammy", on the following releases Satriani returned to a more familiar style for him. Having exchanged zero with the studio "Live In San Francisco" and the numbered studio album "Strange Beautiful Music", the musician summed up some line in his work with a two-disc anthology "The Electric Joe Satriani". Throughout the decade, Joe regularly supplied fresh solo albums to the market at two-year intervals, and in 2008 he was discovered in the company of Sammy Hagar, Michael Anthony and Chad Smith in the Chickenfoot project.
At the end of the same year, Satriani filed a lawsuit against "Coldplay" because Britpoppers allegedly slammed his "If I Could Fly" ideas for their hit "Viva La Vida". The guitarist's claims were not officially recognized, and the case was let down on the brakes. However, the musician himself did not mind borrowing something from others, and for example, on his albums "Black Swans And Wormhole Wizards" and "Unstoppable Momentum" here and there the influence of the fried boogie "ZZ Top" was visible.
Last update 05/07/13& nbsp & nbsp & nbsp Date of publication: November 25, 2005 Joe Satriani needs no introduction - an icon of guitar music, virtuoso, mega-successful instrumentalist, honorary endorser of the Ibanez company specializing in guitars and related assortment, teacher, person who gave a start in life to Steve Vai, Kirk Metallica's Kirk Hammett, Primus's Larry LaLonde, Counting Crows's David Bryson, and more. "Is There Love In Space?" ("Is there love in space?") - the maestro's ninth "studio album". Guitar lovers and their sympathizers will not be disappointed. "Is There Love In Space?" is a selection of brilliant rock guitar numbers. This is how we know and love Sutch (that's how they call him in the guitar community)!
Not so long ago, the musician played a small promotional tour in support of the new disc. On the way - a European tour with "G3" with Steve Vai and Robert Fripp (Robert Fripp). About love in zero gravity, guitar music and other hot topics - our conversation with Mr. Satriani.
Mr. Satriani, let's remember the day when you first picked up your guitar.
In 1970, Jimi Hendrix died and I was determined to become a guitarist. I never regretted my choice.
How did it happen that you started teaching?
Life made me. I worked as a gardener and a bricklayer ... even as a seller in a shoe store. However, I always wanted to do music. In high school, I already played pretty well. Disciples started coming to me. One of those guys was called Steve Vai. Then there was a move to San Francisco, where I taught for about ten years. I had Kirk Hammett, Larry LaLond, David Bryson and a bunch of other people there. Again in San Francisco, with my current drummer Jeff Campitelli, we formed The Squares. So teaching guitar was just a side job. The main thing for me is playing in a group.
Why did you start doing guitar instrumental?
In a certain period, a bunch of home records accumulated. Usually I write everything - improvisations, fresh discoveries, etc. And one day I thought it would be nice to release an instrumental album. I could not even imagine that the idea would be so successful.
How advanced is the guitar scene these days?
Enough. Today I can afford to tour more cities in front of more listeners. The position of commercial FM stations in relation to serious musicians does not change. But you can always find a loophole.
How do you usually work on an album? Does Joe Satriani have any proven technology of his own?
Music is composed by inspiration. It's important not to burn out. It sometimes takes years to write a melody. And another motive comes out right away. There is no single algorithm! Songs with words are a completely different story, because the lyrics require a special attitude towards themselves. I play guitar, bass, drums and keyboards. Many compositions come out simply because I enjoy doing what I love.
After so many years, it must be difficult to compose?
What do you! I have a shaft of music in my head. It is a pity that there is not enough time to properly arrange it (laughs).
There are a couple of vocals on your new album. What is their semantic load?
OK. In its style "Is There Love In Space?" turned out at the junction of rock and blues-rock, and I thought it would be nice to refine the overall picture with a couple of songs. Have you noticed that the presentation is slightly different in the tracks with vocals?
Have you ever thought about making a song album?
What? Sing? No, not me. For these purposes, it is better to invite a specially trained person (laughs).
What can you tell us about the G3 project? How did it come about?
It was 1995. Once I complained to my manager, they say, I feel isolated from the rest of the world: myself in the studio, myself at concerts ... My tours and the tours of other guitarists like Steve never overlap. We are deprived of the opportunity to communicate and exchange information. Guitarists, you know, love to hang out with each other, jam and all that stuff. So the idea was born ... of a guitar festival or something. However, there was one limitation - no more than three performers can take part in the "festival". Firstly, in many concert halls there is a regulation - no more than three hours. And, secondly, three hours of "live" music, you must agree, is still too heavy for the listener. From all these ideas, the G3 appeared. If memory serves, my manager came up with the name. At first, the project was not in great demand. The managers and promoters were intimidated by the mere idea of \u200b\u200ba guitar competition. Nevertheless, I managed to convince everyone of the expediency of G3, and the reaction of the fans was not long in coming.
Joe, how does it feel to be on stage with musicians like Steve Vai or Yngwie Malmsteen? Is there a competitive spirit between you - who is cooler?
So the bet was placed on that! When several musicians get together, their enthusiasm skyrockets. Steve and I have known each other for years. When we start playing together, amazing things start to happen. It happens that one of us "gags something", and the other is surprised: "Wow! How did you do this?". All the guitarists who played in G3 are close to us in spirit. They are confident in themselves and are not afraid to give a piece of themselves to the listener. If it's called a competition, then I think it's great!
What inspires you?
Everyday life, people around me. I never cease to amaze with simple things! There is something to write about, something to think about, something to hope for ... On my own I can say: only then you play well when you empathize with the music. I'm not the kind of person to just sit down and write a record on request. Not my style. It is important to let the music pass through yourself.
“The Mystical Potato Head Groove Thing”, “Surfing With The Alien”, “Flying In A Blue Dream” ... Where do you find such marvelous names for your compositions?
You need to know the places (laughs)! Experience, experience and experience again! When you sit down to write a song, you focus on the title. "Surfing With The Alien" I dreamed. A funny name for which I composed a melody right off the bat. “The Mystical Potato Head Groove Thing” shot in my head while talking to my brother on the phone. I thought for a long time what this phrase means (laughs).
You once said that when you were young, Deep Purple fans. And so, after Ritchie Blackmore took the rejection, you were invited to take his place. You played a 94th tour with Deep Purple. How does it feel?
Feelings are ambivalent. In fact, I replaced BLACKmore ITSELF. Then I think to myself: “Wait a second! Ritchie Blackmore is irreplaceable! " I saw the faces of the audience, who looked in awe at the stage, but realized that I was not one of Deep Purple. There were several songs in the repertoire that no one could play better than Blackmore. Then they gave me the live recordings, and I realized that some of Blackmore's parts changed radically from gig to gig. He was constantly looking for ways to improve the song. And now, already being a member of the group, I took over this baton. The "fit" was mainly about the new material we toured with. They liked my game, I liked playing with them. The team is fantastic!
Have you been invited to "permanent"?
They invited me to invite, but I had to refuse. First, the mass of unrealized own material. Secondly, contractual obligations. I could not take everything and give it up. And more ... I didn't want to talk about it. It was always scary that Deep Purple was perceived as British. I am Italian-American and I am very proud of it. Be that as it may, thanks to the "Dipppelovites" for everything! Cool, but not really mine. And then I began to look for a replacement and suggested Steve Morse.
What advice can you give to young musicians taking their first steps in show business?
First of all, you shouldn't equate music and show business. If we talk about show business, get a cool haircut and get a good lawyer - success is guaranteed (laughs)! If you want to achieve success as a musician, everything is very simple: study, work on yourself. Don't be afraid to be original. This is exactly what the audience expects from you. We all want to be surprised. Many musicians think they will succeed by imitating others. This position, in my opinion, is fundamentally wrong. Don't look around. Listen only to your heart and play only the music to which your soul lies.
Can you remember the most curious incident from your concert practice?
As much as you like! Alice Cooper once invited me to do his solo album. There are about 10 thousand in the hall. And so Alice announces the song, I go on stage. The song begins, and I have not had time to check the readiness of my equipment. The composition has already been playing for several minutes, and I am fiddling with the amplifier, which flatly refuses to work. So he stood on the stage like an idiot, without playing a single note, and in order to somehow justify his presence, he bowed in the final (laughs).
What are your favorite musicians?
Deftones, Jet, Jimi Hendrix, Beatles, Stones, Tom Morello and Audioslave, Miles Davis, Wes Montgomery, Alan Holdswoth ...
Well, these are all time-tested people. What about contemporary musicians? Who can be distinguished?
There are some great guitarists out there. I’m afraid, however, I can’t remember everyone. For example, Mathias Eklund from Sweden. Downhole fellow! There is also a guitar freak from New Jersey. His name is Ron Thal. Plays the fretless guitar. I also want to mention The Mars Volta guitarist Omar Rodriguez-Lopez. All these guys do not fit into the "format" at all, but I am sure that the future belongs to them!
If you could create your own dream team, who would you invite?
Jimi Hendrix. Just Jimi Hendrix and me on guitars. We would improvise making music that is not limited by form or time.
What do you think is the secret of your creative longevity?
I don't even know what to say. Apparently, people like what I do.
And towards the end. What to expect from Joe Satriani in the near foreseeable future?
I can only promise that I will remain true to myself.
Without them, everything would be different
Joe Satriani: 10 guitarists,
tore my tower
Translation - Dmitry Semenov
Joe Satriani has influenced and continues to influence an incredible number of guitarists. But at the same time, he himself does not hesitate to talk about his idols.
1. Jimi Hendrix
Let's start with Hendrix. He was the first guitarist who made me realize that a guitar can really sound right and that it can lead you to other things. These aren't just songs about girls and boys and fast cars. All those things that were an important part of 60s music. He used the guitar not only to reflect the sounds of the world around him, but also for a certain inner desire, embarrassment and a whole range of emotions. I remember having difficulty trying to enter “Third Stone From The Sun,” not because it was hard to listen to, but because it bordered on cleansing. Sometimes I listened to the first part of the song, and the second only the next day! He was the first guitarist to blow my tower down. He still creates such an effect ...
2. Jimmy Page
Jimmy Page was Hendrix's contemporary, but he was a musician of a completely different kind. Imagine a boy named Joe Satriani, of Italian-American descent, who spent his childhood in New York. For him, the British guitarist seemed like something exotic. Now we don't think about it, both worlds are closely intertwined, but for a boy who grew up in Long Island, England seemed very distant and mysterious! Page sounded ethnically very different from the music I grew up on, to be more precise - blues and rhythm and blues, which almost border on each other. I've always loved guitarists who put their doubts aside and act. This is part of the rock and roll spirit. Every time I need to learn a Led Zeppelin song for a performance, his explosive playing technique and British folk influences strikes me again and I think, “Wow, this is so unusual! Who else can boast of such a thing? "
3. Jeff Beck
Beck really stood out from the others for a number of reasons. He perceives the musical outline in a completely different way, he seems to be telling you: “I’ll make only three strokes, and it will sound like music”. And he does it, and you think to yourself: “Oh, God! He doesn't seem to have played anything yet, but it sounds amazing! " How does he do it in such a way that he seems not to be involved, and suddenly, at the right moment, he creates a beautiful and powerful musical expression? I compared his musical style to that of Jimmy Page and thought, “This is really cool. These two guys grew up together, were friends, but they have completely different music. " An amazing discovery when you are young and you realize that you can easily choose a different path, because here are two guys who create fantastic music, but each has a unique approach.
4. Eric Clapton
Hendrix, Page and Beck always approached the very edge of the cliff, and were not afraid to fall, which was always happy, but Clapton was another matter. He played like a man who can sing perfectly. And its sound was wonderful. At first, its sound changed a lot. This is not the sound everyone is hearing. He experimented. He was part of an art movement that wanted to turn everything on its head. He was not the blues purist people like to think. Another thing that was striking was that he could maintain interest for long periods of time without turning the volume up 11! Hendrix, Page and Beck always somehow ended up in area 11. And Clapton was always like, "I'll just be here at 8.5."
(This refers to the meme from the classic movie "Spinal Tap", where the guys had an amp with knobs up to 11, and not as usual for everyone under 10 - editor's note)
5. Keith Richards
The figure of Richards has a special place in my mind. The Beatles and Stones were the biggest influences on me as a child. My older sisters were crazy about everything British, so I heard this music from every room in the house. When I became a guitarist, I thought Keith Richards was the coolest guy. He came up with all these riffs and tunes. The way Glen Jones recorded his solos just rips your head off. When you're young, rude, and angry, you're just drawn to it. These guitarists become your idols - the ones who are not afraid to make Telecaster sound like a drill. Many of the first punk bands I hung out with in the mid 70s in New York City, they held Keith Richards in high regard. Keith was the foundation, whether they wanted to admit it or not!
6. Wes Montgomery
Wes Montgomery also influenced me at the same time as Keith Richards. This happened because my parents grew up on jazz and listened to jazz constantly at home. So I grew up listening to the Beatles and Stones, Chuck Berry and Muddy Waters, and then every day I started listening to Wes and Montgomery. When I heard Hendrix, I learned that Hendrix was also a fan of Wes Montgomery. I saw the connection, and it kind of reassured me as a young, long-haired teenager in motorcycle boots. It allowed me to love Wes Montgomery and tell my friends, “You know, Hendrix was listening to this guy! He plays with octaves and never makes mistakes! ” I've always loved the jazz feel and the spirit of improvisation. Round Midnight ... live records are flawless, incredible testimonies to the musical prowess and coolness of that era.
7. Ron Wood
As a punk guitarist from New York, I was overwhelmed by the influence of Ron Wood on a lot of bands where he played and eventually the Stones. He was good at fitting in with the changing approaches of all the bands he was in, and in doing so, he created what people know as the “Ron Wood sound”. How many of these people can you name? He has created an approach and sound that is virtually superior to anyone you name. Call Holdsworth, you can say "legato" if Eddie Van Halen is "tapping", but if we talk about Ron Wood, then you can not name a specific physical action. His whole approach is important here. And he always looks great! How does he manage to remain a great guitarist, a guitarist who wants to emulate? For this you need to come up with a special reward, and it will rightfully go to him!
8. Billy Gibbons
Hendrix once said that this is who the future of music belongs to, and he knew how to feel perfectly. Thanks to Billy, we all know that the guitar sound and his Texas blues style is something unique. It builds on the wonderful styles of other blues musicians, but it's completely unique. He is the most innovative blues composer to emerge in the 50s and 60s. And he keeps getting better day by day. Here is the real display of his talent. I've played with him several times. He is a very nice guy and very interesting personbut when you think you know, “if I buy this gadget,” I can sound like him, Billy comes up with something new. You think, “No! Your guitar sounds like Mount Everest and yet you play the thinnest strings. How do you manage it? " It's a personal talent / voodoo magic if you will.
9. Brian May
Brian's writing style is instantly recognizable. His guitar style is known for his outfit, that famous mantelpiece guitar they made with his father. I played it and unfortunately when I play that guitar I don't look like Brian. Only Brian can sound like that. When I was a young musician, and someone played the Queen record for the first time, my jaw dropped. You have nothing in your head but questions. And yet your body loves this music. The sensory experience is wonderful and fun. He's one of those guitarists who can mix fun and seriousness, and Brian does it masterfully. His music can be categorical and cathartic. She makes you get up and go kick someone's ass. I love that. Real rock and roll.
10. John McLaughlin
John McLaughlin of the Mahavishnu Orchestra drove me crazy into a wild, Black Sabbath-obsessed teen in tight jeans. We used to play Black Sabbath and Zeppelin a lot in my school groupsbut when someone first played the Mahavishnu records for me, something opened up in me. John, all his technique - you saw him play on acoustic guitar and it's a very tight game, he doesn't mess up anywhere - when he picked up the electric guitar, he played almost like Jimmy Page! He walked right to the edge of decency. Songs like “Birds of Fire” created a warm and ambiguous feeling in me when other people just run out of the room. They say: "What is this discordant, awkward music !?" And you tell them: "I've been waiting for this music all my life!"
Joe was born into a musical family - his mother was a good pianist. As a child, Satriani studied percussion instruments... Between 11 and 12 years old, Joe decided to take a break from music, but he did not stop listening to it. At that time, he listened to records of Hendrix and the group LedZeppelin, Beatles, Cream. After the death of Jimi Hendrix, Joe gave up football and completely immersed himself in music.
Unlike drums, he paid serious attention to the guitar, while he felt great joy. At school, Satriani studied music theory and began sight-singing, which was useful to him in the future. Young Joe began to have chord charts and guitar schools. At the age of 14, Joe began performing in parks and at school dances, and was already receiving money for it. At the age of 16, he could already be seen in clubs.
In 11-12 grades of the city school, Joe began to study music theory in depth. He was lucky because his school teacher was Bill Wescott - a real enthusiast. He taught children how to make cantatas, string quartets and even helped them write symphonies. Having thoroughly studied guitar playing, Joe took up teaching, but he himself does not stop learning.
After graduating from school, Satriani went to San Francisco. There he got a job in a music store as a salesman. In addition to work, he is engaged in recording in studios and continues to teach. Later, everyone already recognizes Satriani as a guitar genius. Fate sent him many students, who were doomed to success in the future.
In the eighties he played in many bands, one of which is The Sqares. In 1984, Joe recorded his first solo album, "Joe Satriani", which almost no one noticed. But the second album of 1986 "Not of this Earth" received a lot of positive responses. In 1987, another album appeared - "Surfing with the Alien", which went platinum and hit the Billboard magazine and won the Grammy. One fine morning he woke up a celebrity, all the guitar magazines were decorated with his photo. Even Mick Jagger invited him on tour. Joe Satriani spent the whole year with Mick on tour, he traveled all over the world.
In 1989, Satriani began cooperation with the Ibanez company, it was in that year that Joe sang for the first time. In 1994, Joe was invited to a world tour with Deep Purple, where he replaced Richie Blackmore. But he did not want to be a permanent guitarist of the group, having decided to choose a solo career. In 1996, Joe Satriani made his cherished dream come true: he created the G3 project, in which three artists participate. The festival became popular year after year, with two participants on the show, who were Joe and his friend Steve Vai, joined by a third participant each time.
In 1998, the album "Crystal Planet" was released. In the same year, Joe toured America with his fellow G3 mates.
In our millennium, Joe released a techno-style album without losing popularity. He continues to amaze the public and his loyal fans with new ideas, looks to the future, not forgetting about the past. He is a guitarist with a capital letter, he gave life and fame to many outstanding performers, leaving a mark in the history of guitar music. After all, Joe Satriani is a wonderful guitarist, he surprises the world with bright performances, fresh music. At the moment he is leading his column in the magazine "Guitar World", telling readers about current rock and music, in general, teaches to listen to the right music, raising new generations.
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On July 15, in the town of Westbury, the world saw for the first time one of the future idols of the rock scene, Joe Satriani. His path to success was not easy and not always smoothly paved, but the result that this talented person achieved, and the number of awards he earned, impress even those who consider themselves not involved in the guitar rock of the 20th century. Many albums, crowds of fans, worldwide recognition - all this is at his feet today, allowing him to rest on his laurels from many years of work in the field of guitar music.
Passion for music and early work Joe Satriani had a huge impact on the famous Jimi Hendrix, thanks to which many teenagers in America stopped wandering around the street and tried to portray the passages of a virtuoso on their guitars, hiding from strangers in their parents' garage. Having mastered the art of guitar playing, the talented teenager Joe even began to teach his peers, among whom was Steve Vai, well known to fans of rock music of the 70s-80s. Joe's work as a guitar teacher continued for quite a long time - even after he moved to San Francisco, after graduating from high school, where there were also many who wanted to learn how to play rock on a fashionable musical instrument... Joe Satriani's first creative successes in professional musical groups - names like The Squares and Greg Keane's band can be mentioned here.
The first concert tours and the first fans made Joe think about his own musical career, which began with the debut mini-album "Joe Satriani" in 1984, which cannot be called a breakthrough or even a prominent musical event due to insufficient promotion. But already in 1986, the situation was corrected, when a former student and constant companion of Joe Steve Vai was targeted by video cameras that marked the new star of the rock scene. Part of his success went to Satriani. The release of his next major disc "Not of this Earth" more than successfully coincided with this moment, which earned a lot of positive reviews and attracted the attention of the world community.
In 1987, the musician consolidated the success of his previous album by releasing new disc "Surfing With the Alien". A few days - and Satriani became a star, and his new work burst into the US chart, starting its advance to the first place of the leader from the 29th position. The conquest of the famous Top 30 of the Billboard 200 rating is already serious, especially when it comes to a guitar album, not a very popular genre. A new star, who so rapidly burst into Olympus, was quickly noticed by the master Mick Jagger, inviting Satriani to take part in his tour of Japan and Australia.
1989 raised Joe to a new wave of success - a new album "Flying in a Blue Dream" was released, where the performer appeared before a grateful audience as a vocalist. The work was appreciated by the audience, and one track was chosen as the soundtrack for Cameron Crowe's film with the original title "Say Anything". However, the leading places in the TOPs of Satriani's works did not take very often, while the ratings in the mainstream rock genre allowed his works to show off in the top ten.
Satriani's next disc was released only in 1992. "The Extremist" climbed to 22nd place on the Billboard 200. And in 1994, Satriani's career took another turn up the hill - he took the place of legend Ritchie Blackmore in the famous Deep Purple band. Now you could breathe easy - the peak of popularity has been conquered. Today Joe Satriani is one of the eight best guitarists in the world, and his albums have sold over 7 million copies, which can be called a brilliant result in the history of rock music.