Guesting on the UCR Podcast on Spotify, guitar legend reflected on how his initial G3 tour came about in November 1996, featuring himself, Steve Vai and Eric Johnson. Following is an excerpt from the interview.
Satriani: “It was amazing that it happened. It started with a simple complaint: me walking into Bill Graham Offices and saying, ‘Thanks, guys. I’ve got a career and I can play whatever I want, but how come I’m all alone?’ It was part of my teenage dream that you’d be partying all of the time with all of the cool guitar players and musicians, but it wasn’t like that at all. You were either stuck on a bus or in a hotel room or you were just doing the gig. The isolation really started to bother me. I thought, ‘Well, the only way to really do it is to stand next to these guitar players that frighten you. (The ones that) make you wonder, ‘How does that work? How do they do it?'”
“I thought, ‘That’s the only way to move forward with your musicianship, is to be challenged.’ But not every other month or year. It’s like, every night. I had a hunger for that. I just wanted that challenge. Maybe because growing up, that’s kind of what it was like — kids just trying to outdo each other all of the time. But it was fun. We enjoyed it and there wasn’t this outside world like on the internet. We weren’t adults, so we couldn’t go wherever we wanted anytime. We were stuck in our communities and spent a lot of time playing with each other.”
Read more here.
The original lineup behind the G3 touring concept returns with Reunion Live, released January 31 worldwide on earMUSIC. The album captures the guitar magic of Joe Satriani, Eric Johnson, and Steve Vai on their sold-out 2024 US tour. This electrifying reunion features three guitar icons who first joined forces in 1996 and showcases boundary-pushing performances that define G3.
Fans will enjoy full sets from each guitarist, including hits like Satriani’s “Sahara,” Johnson’s “Cliffs Of Dover,” and Vai’s “For The Love Of God,” along with a thrilling encore jam of Hendrix, Clapton and Steppenwolf covers.
Reunion Live is much more than “just“ a live album. It’s a full album-length set from each artist, plus a collaborative supergroup LP and the first G3 release in 20 years.
The deluxe edition features a different coloured vinyl for each artist, a special splatter LP for the encore jam, and a 64-page photo book, divided into artist and jam chapters, with the full program also on 2 CDs. It is also available in a 2CD digipack with a 16-page photo booklet and, 4 LP gatefold and digital download.
Order/save the album here.
Satriani says, “This live album recorded at The Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles captures all the energy of the live performances while shining a spotlight on the ever-evolving art of playing the electric guitar.”
Since its inception in 1996, the G3 tour has consistently brought together guitar legends for unforgettable performances. Each edition of the tour has featured guitar virtuosos performing solo sets that showcased their individual mastery, followed by electrifying jam sessions that highlighted their collaborative brilliance.
Over the years, G3 has seen iconic guitarists like Yngwie Malmsteen, John Petrucci, and Paul Gilbert, among others, joining the ranks. Expanding beyond the US, the tour has evolved into a global celebration of guitar excellence, uniting fans and artists from different generations and genres, making it a must-see event for guitar aficionados worldwide. The G3 experience represents more than just a series of performances—it has become a platform for creative collaboration and a testament to the enduring power of guitar music.
“A G3 tour is always an electrifying experience, and this particular G3 tour with Eric and Joe was a career highlight for me. To be able to hit the road with old friends and be in that lit-up environment of the stage and communicate on the deepest musical levels with friends is a privilege and honour, especially with such incredible players as Eric and Joe, who delivered magnificently at these shows.” – Steve Vai
“Playing with Joe and Steve was an affirmation that while we all want to push the envelope of musical boundaries; we also want to share our heart experience and a soulful communication of the music that we have been allowed to partake of in our own lives.” – Eric Johnson
“Reuniting with Eric and Steve this year, commemorating the very first G3 tour of ’96, was nothing short of glorious. They were the first two guitarists I called when planning G3’s maiden voyage, so, this reunion was a confirmation of our special connection. Storming the stage with two of my favourite musical giants, celebrating our shared roots as well as our unique differences, once again proved to be a winning formula.” – Joe Satriani
Tracklisting (all formats):
“Gravitas” (Vai)
“Avalancha” (Vai)
“Little Pretty Intro” (Vai)
“Little Pretty” (Vai)
“Tender Surrender” (Vai)
“Zeus In Chains” (Vai)
“Teeth of the Hydra” (Vai)
“For The Love Of God” (Vai)
“Land Of 1000 Dances” (Johnson)
“Righteous” (Johnson)
“Trail Of Tears” (Johnson)
“On-Ramp Improv” (Johnson)
“Freeway Jam” (Johnson)
“Desert Rose” (Johnson)
“Venus Reprise” (Johnson)
“Raspberry Jam Delta-V” (Satriani)
“Surfing With The Alien” (Satriani)
“Satch Boogie” (Satriani)
“Sahara” (Satriani)
“Nineteen Eighty” (Satriani)
“Big Bad Moon” (Satriani)
“Always With Me, Always With You” (Satriani)
“Sumer Song” (Satriani)
Introductions
“Crossroads” (Encore Jam)
“Spanish Castle Magic” (Encore Jam)
“Born To Be Wild” (Encore Jam)
“Crossroads” video:
The post JOE SATRIANI Reflects On Launching G3 Tour In 1996 – “It Started With A Simple Complaint…” appeared first on BraveWords - Where Music Lives.
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Satriani: “It was amazing that it happened. It started with a simple complaint: me walking into Bill Graham Offices and saying, ‘Thanks, guys. I’ve got a career and I can play whatever I want, but how come I’m all alone?’ It was part of my teenage dream that you’d be partying all of the time with all of the cool guitar players and musicians, but it wasn’t like that at all. You were either stuck on a bus or in a hotel room or you were just doing the gig. The isolation really started to bother me. I thought, ‘Well, the only way to really do it is to stand next to these guitar players that frighten you. (The ones that) make you wonder, ‘How does that work? How do they do it?'”
“I thought, ‘That’s the only way to move forward with your musicianship, is to be challenged.’ But not every other month or year. It’s like, every night. I had a hunger for that. I just wanted that challenge. Maybe because growing up, that’s kind of what it was like — kids just trying to outdo each other all of the time. But it was fun. We enjoyed it and there wasn’t this outside world like on the internet. We weren’t adults, so we couldn’t go wherever we wanted anytime. We were stuck in our communities and spent a lot of time playing with each other.”
Read more here.
The original lineup behind the G3 touring concept returns with Reunion Live, released January 31 worldwide on earMUSIC. The album captures the guitar magic of Joe Satriani, Eric Johnson, and Steve Vai on their sold-out 2024 US tour. This electrifying reunion features three guitar icons who first joined forces in 1996 and showcases boundary-pushing performances that define G3.
Fans will enjoy full sets from each guitarist, including hits like Satriani’s “Sahara,” Johnson’s “Cliffs Of Dover,” and Vai’s “For The Love Of God,” along with a thrilling encore jam of Hendrix, Clapton and Steppenwolf covers.
Reunion Live is much more than “just“ a live album. It’s a full album-length set from each artist, plus a collaborative supergroup LP and the first G3 release in 20 years.
The deluxe edition features a different coloured vinyl for each artist, a special splatter LP for the encore jam, and a 64-page photo book, divided into artist and jam chapters, with the full program also on 2 CDs. It is also available in a 2CD digipack with a 16-page photo booklet and, 4 LP gatefold and digital download.
Order/save the album here.
Satriani says, “This live album recorded at The Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles captures all the energy of the live performances while shining a spotlight on the ever-evolving art of playing the electric guitar.”
Since its inception in 1996, the G3 tour has consistently brought together guitar legends for unforgettable performances. Each edition of the tour has featured guitar virtuosos performing solo sets that showcased their individual mastery, followed by electrifying jam sessions that highlighted their collaborative brilliance.
Over the years, G3 has seen iconic guitarists like Yngwie Malmsteen, John Petrucci, and Paul Gilbert, among others, joining the ranks. Expanding beyond the US, the tour has evolved into a global celebration of guitar excellence, uniting fans and artists from different generations and genres, making it a must-see event for guitar aficionados worldwide. The G3 experience represents more than just a series of performances—it has become a platform for creative collaboration and a testament to the enduring power of guitar music.
“A G3 tour is always an electrifying experience, and this particular G3 tour with Eric and Joe was a career highlight for me. To be able to hit the road with old friends and be in that lit-up environment of the stage and communicate on the deepest musical levels with friends is a privilege and honour, especially with such incredible players as Eric and Joe, who delivered magnificently at these shows.” – Steve Vai
“Playing with Joe and Steve was an affirmation that while we all want to push the envelope of musical boundaries; we also want to share our heart experience and a soulful communication of the music that we have been allowed to partake of in our own lives.” – Eric Johnson
“Reuniting with Eric and Steve this year, commemorating the very first G3 tour of ’96, was nothing short of glorious. They were the first two guitarists I called when planning G3’s maiden voyage, so, this reunion was a confirmation of our special connection. Storming the stage with two of my favourite musical giants, celebrating our shared roots as well as our unique differences, once again proved to be a winning formula.” – Joe Satriani
Tracklisting (all formats):
“Gravitas” (Vai)
“Avalancha” (Vai)
“Little Pretty Intro” (Vai)
“Little Pretty” (Vai)
“Tender Surrender” (Vai)
“Zeus In Chains” (Vai)
“Teeth of the Hydra” (Vai)
“For The Love Of God” (Vai)
“Land Of 1000 Dances” (Johnson)
“Righteous” (Johnson)
“Trail Of Tears” (Johnson)
“On-Ramp Improv” (Johnson)
“Freeway Jam” (Johnson)
“Desert Rose” (Johnson)
“Venus Reprise” (Johnson)
“Raspberry Jam Delta-V” (Satriani)
“Surfing With The Alien” (Satriani)
“Satch Boogie” (Satriani)
“Sahara” (Satriani)
“Nineteen Eighty” (Satriani)
“Big Bad Moon” (Satriani)
“Always With Me, Always With You” (Satriani)
“Sumer Song” (Satriani)
Introductions
“Crossroads” (Encore Jam)
“Spanish Castle Magic” (Encore Jam)
“Born To Be Wild” (Encore Jam)
“Crossroads” video:
The post JOE SATRIANI Reflects On Launching G3 Tour In 1996 – “It Started With A Simple Complaint…” appeared first on BraveWords - Where Music Lives.
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