Joe Satriani
By All Music Guide
By All Music Guide
In the early 80s, Satriani got a gig playing guitar with power popster Greg Kihn, doing some session work and touring with the group (an archival release recorded around this time, King Biscuit Flower Hour, was later issued in 1996), and issuing his own solo self-titled EP in 1984, financing and releasing the project entirely on his own. But when Vai hit the big time as the guitarist of David Lee Roths solo band in 1986, he offered praise for his good friend and former teacher in several major guitar publications, leading to widespread interest in Satrianis playing. The timing couldnt have been more perfect for Satch, as hed just issued his first full-length solo album, Not of This Earth, which automatically made ripples in the rock guitar community.
But the best was still to come, in the form of his sophomore release, 1987s Surfing with the Alien. Almost overnight, Satriani was widely regarded as one of rocks top guitarists, as the album earned gold certification and the guitarist would finish at the top of guitar magazine polls for years afterward. He was even handpicked by Mick Jagger to accompany the famous singer on a tour of Australia and Japan around this time. A stopgap EP, Dreaming #11, combed both studio and live tracks and was issued a year later, and in 1989, Satriani issued his third solo full-length, Flying in a Blue Dream. Another sizeable hit, the album also marked Satchs debut as a vocalist on several tracks. His career received another big push the same year when his song One Big Rush was included on the soundtrack to Cameron Crowes hit movie Say Anything.
The 90s began with Satriani creating his own line of guitars for the Ibanez company (the JS Joe Satriani model), but it wasnt until 1992 that he would issue his next solo release, The Extremist. The double-disc set Time Machine followed a year later (a combination of new tracks, live material, and the long out-of-print Joe Satriani EP from 1984), and in 1994, Satch filled in on tour for the departed Ritchie Blackmore for heavy metal pioneers Deep Purple. Although he was asked to become a full-time member, Satriani turned down the offer to return to his solo career.
Satriani issued two more solo albums during the 90s -- 1995s self-titled release and 1998s Crystal Planet -- and also started the G3 guitar showcase tour with Vai in 1996, becoming an annual event and issuing a live document of the tours initial run, G3: Live in Concert, a year later. 2000 saw Satriani issue his most musically daring release yet, the electronic-based Engines of Creation, and a year later, Live in San Francisco. Engines was nominated for a Grammy the next year, and after a successful tour he stepped back into the studio. The result, Strange Beautiful Music, was released in 2002. Electric Joe Satriani: An Anthology arrived in 2003, followed by Is There Love in Space? in 2004, Super Colossal in 2005, and Satriani Live! in 2006. In addition to his own albums, Satriani has guested on several other artists albums over the years, including Blue Öyster Cults Imaginos, Alice Coopers Hey Stoopid, Stuart Hamms Radio Free Albemuth, Pat Martinos All Sides Now, and Spinal Taps Break Like the Wind.
