Joe Satriani

Joe Satriani

Joe Satriani is an American multiple nominated Grammy Award multi-instrumentalist, best known as an instrumental rock guitarist. Early in his career, Satriani worked as a guitar instructor, and some of his former students have achieved fame with their own amazing guitar skills including Kirk hammet and Steve Vai.

Satriani has been a driving force behind many musicians throughout his career and is a founder of the ever-changing touring trio, G3, as well as performing in temporary positions with other bands.

Joe’s most famous albums include 1987′s ‘Surfing With The Alien’, 1989′s ‘Flying in a Blue Dream’ and in 1992, Satriani released ‘The Extremist’, his most critically acclaimed and commercially successful album to date. Radio stations across the country were quick to pick up on ‘Summer Song’, ‘Cryin’ and ‘Friends’.

In late 1993, Satriani joined Deep Purple as a temporary replacement for departed guitarist Ritchie Blackmore during the band’s Japanese tour. The concerts were such a success that Satriani was asked to join the band permanently but he declined, having just signed a multi-album solo deal with Sony.

In 1998 Satriani recorded and released ‘Crystal Planet’, which went back to a sound more reminiscent of his late ’80s work. Planet was quickly followed up with Engines of Creation.

Interestingly, on December 4, 2008 Satriani filed a copyright infringement suit against Coldplay, claiming the Coldplay song ‘Viva la Vida’ includes “substantial original portions” of the Satriani song “If I Could Fly” from his 2004 album. The case is still ongoing at present.

Joe Satriani posing with his signature Ibanez

Satriani is widely regarded as a highly technical rock guitarist and is often deservedly referred to as a virtuoso. He has mastered many modern guitar techniques including Legato, two-handed tapping and arpeggio tapping, volume swells, harmonics, and extreme whammy bar effects.

Satriani has endorsed Ibanez’s JS Series guitars, and Peavey’s JSX amplifier. Both lines were designed specifically as signature products for Satriani and the range includes the budget JS100 through to the high end signature JS1000, and JS1200 models.

Joe Satriani at House of Blues (filmed by Tony Newman)

Joe Satriani LIVE Colombia Bogota August 2008

Joe Satriani Press Conference – Bogota, August 2008. Despite being interviewed in spanish there are some really great insights into Joe’s playing and background here.