Satch...one of the true legends of guitar, and yet one of the newest you will see on my list.
Like everyone, I was introduced to Satriani with Surfing With The Alien which should surely be classed as an all-time classic, yet probably won't be. Joe plays all of the instruments and co-produces it too. From the title track to Satch Boogie and the heavy anthemic-like Lords of Karma this album became one of the largest selling instrumentals of all time.
I have seen him live three times - twice playing with Mick Jagger (duelling with Jimmy Rip) and then on his own world tour. I almost got to see him a fourth time when he replaced my very hero (and one of Satriani's) Ritchie Blackmore on Deep Purple's world tour back in '93 but the show was cancelled here in NZ.
Satriani himself came somewhat out of nowhere - he was a guitar tutor, but when he is credited with teaching the likes of Stevie Vai and Kirk Hammett amongst others, he obviously was destined for stardom. Alien was his first album, and since then he has released another dozen, and in some of them he does sing (although playing is definitely his forte) but none have quite reached the dizzying heights of that first.
He has played for Deep Purple as mentioned (and turned down the chance to be a permanent replacement to his hero), Alice Cooper, Spinal Tap, Blue Oyster Cult, Ian Gillan, and even credited with singing with Crowded House! He also sued (undisclosed settlement) Cold Play for plagiarism on Viva la Vida...sacrilege!
He also has catchups with a few 'mates' on a tour called simply G3 - it always features him and two other guitarists and they duel away on stage to his and other artists songs. Amongst his cohorts on stage; Yngwie Malmsteen, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Robert Fripp, Stevie Vai and Michael Schenker.
I would highly recommend either listening to watching live footage of Satriani, he is a genius and musically beautiful and catching.
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