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Joe Satriani
Joe Satriani was inspired to play guitar at age 14 after hearing that Jimi Hendrix had died. Satriani reportedly heard the news during a football training session where he immediately confronted his coach and announced that he was quitting to become a guitarist. Starting in 1974, he studied music with jazz guitarist Billy Bauer and with reclusive jazz pianist Lennie Tristano. The technically demanding Tristano greatly influenced Satriani's playing. During the 1970's, Satriani also began teaching guitar, with his most notable student being fellow Long Island native Steve Vai. In 1978, he moved to Berkeley, California to pursue a music career. He continued to teach guitar in California, and his students included David Bryson (Counting Crows), Kirk Hammett (Metallica), Larry LaLonde (Primus), Phil Kettner (Laaz Rockit) and Charlie Hunter.
When his friend and former student Steve Vai gained fame playing with David Lee Roth in 1986, Vai raved about Satriani in several interviews with guitar magazines. In 1987, Satriani's second album Surfing With the Alien produced popular radio hits, and was the first all-instrumental release to chart so highly in many years. Satriani also toured Australia and New Zealand with Mick Jagger in support of the Rolling Stones singer's solo album.
His success is notable in a genre typically unfriendly to instrumental musicians. Satriani has received 13 Grammy nominations, and he has sold more than 7 million albums worldwide. Many of his fans call him "Satch," an apocope, or shortening, of Satriani, as have his friends over the years.
Joe Satriani : Black Swans and Wormhole Wizards
Electric Guitar / Rock
Black Swans is pure guitar prog, filled with compressed boogies, sci-fi synths, exotic flourishes, and all of Satch’s phasers and flangers in full-tilt overdrive.
Joe Satriani : Super Colossal
Electric Guitar / Rock
Super Colossal is a 2006 album by instrumental rock solo artist Joe Satriani. It is his tenth studio album recorded at Studio 21 by Joe Satriani.
Joe Satriani : Strange Beautiful Music
Electric Guitar / Rock
Satriani set himself apart from other would-be kings of the six-string in the 1980s by combining impeccable technique with great feel and pop hooks. With those qualities, he produced great guitar-driven albums like Surfing With the Alien and Flying in a Blue Dream. On this 2002 release, Satriani tries to make his music fresh by incorporating world music influences and a bit of techno flava.
Joe Satriani : Crystal Planet
Electric Guitar / Rock
Crystal Planet is a 1998 instrumental rock album from guitarist Joe Satriani. It is likened to his classic 1989 release Flying in a Blue Dream in terms of sonics (returning from the blues/jazz toned "Joe Satriani", and the "big sounds" The Extremist) and songwriting, and features his first recorded use of a 7-string guitar (an Ibanez "Universe" model - this was before Ibanez had made him a custom "JS" seven-string) on the track "Ceremony".
Joe Satriani : Surfing with the Alien
Electric Guitar / Rock
Surfing With the Alien is the second album by instrumental rock solo artist Joe Satriani, released in 1987. Often regarded as one of the most important guitar albums of the 1980s, Surfing helped Satriani establish his reputation as a top virtuoso in the field of guitar playing.
G3 Live : Steve Vai, Eric Johnson, Joe Satriani : DVD
Concert DVD
Three of the greatest rock instrumental guitarist of the past decade finally get together and performed one of the finest guitar shows ever. The video captures the three virtuoso players with individual sets and together at the grand finale.
G3 Live : Steve Vai, Yngwie Malmsteen, Joe Satriani : DVD
Concert DVD
If musical notes were gold nuggets, then King Midas would look like a pauper next to Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, and Yngwie Malmsteen. Performing both individually and together in this 112-minute concert, the three die-hard rock guitarists prove their virtuosity beyond a doubt.
G3 Tokyo: Steve Vai, John Petrucci, Joe Satriani : DVD
Concert DVD
G3 returns in fine form with "G3 Live in Tokyo". Joe Satriani teams up with Steve Vai and find a third guitarist (John Petrucci) worthy of sharing the stage with them. Each member performs his own set and then all 3 jam on stage together.