G307: On Fire!
Interview May 2007

by John Kindred
Staff Writer

Joe Satriani, John Pettruci & Paul Gilbert
Uptown Theater
Kansas City, Mo.
March 23, 2007

Joe Satriani Photo by John Kindred

Comments: The guitar was elevated to new heights in the ‘80s by artists honing their chops and skills to levels unheard of before. Labels such as Shrapnel Records strove to deliver unknown talent to the public at an alarming rate. Guitarists such as Vinnie Moore, James Byrd, Greg Howe, Tony Macalpine, Marty Friedman, Jason Becker and Michael Lee Firkins became hugely popular with guitar fans worldwide.

Of all these immensely talented “future” guitar heroes, Joe Satriani’s arrival with his first solo instrumental release Not of This Earth in '86 pushed the instrumental driven guitar compositions to the mainstream music spotlight, '87s Surfing With the Alien, produced two radio hits; “Satch Boogie” and “Always With Me, Always with You.”

Joe Satriani Photo by John Kindred

Satriani has 21 releases under his belt that include live and studio albums, selling more than 7 million copies. And he has been nominated for a Grammy 13 times. He has worked with Mick Jagger, Deep Purple and Alice Cooper. Prior to his career as a recording musician, he was a widely-sought-after guitar teacher whose students included Steve Vai, Kirk Hammett, Counting Crows' David Bryson and jazz artist Charlie Hunter.

Satriani’s gift to die-hard instrumental guitar fans worldwide has been the G3 tour, which began in 1996. The “g” for guitarist and the “3” for number of featured artists on tour has proven to be quite a successful venture for Joe. The tour has featured the cream of the crop when it comes to guitar heroes. Artists to grace the stage of the G3 tour include; Steve Vai, Eric Johnson, Michel Cusson, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Yngwie Malmsteen, John Petrucci, Robert Fripp, Paul Gilbert, Uli Jon Roth, Michael Schenker, Adrian Legg and Patrick Rondat.

The tour has been rumbling from town to town, city to city and country to country for more than a decade. There were tours in '96, '97, '98, '00, '01, and continue yet again in 2007 with the current tour featuring Satriani, John Petrucci and first-timer Paul Gilbert.

Paul Gilbert Photo by John Kindred

Paul Gilbert is monster guitar player. In the '80s, two bands featured Paul Gilbert, and both were drastically different in styles. One of metal's loudest and fastest bands, Racer X, featured the twin axe attack of Gilbert and former student Bruce Bouillet. The band pushed metal to the extreme limits. Gilbert displayed his technique and speed that frightenly pushed the envelope for extreme guitar performance. Pulling in the reigns after leaving Racer X, Gilbert shifted gears, united with bassist Billy Sheehan and delivered an up-tempo, polished melodic-hard rock band in the guise of Mr. Big. After Mr. Big, Gilbert rejoined Racer X and delivered several solo releases.

John Petrucci, one of the founding members of the progressive band Dream Theater, arrived in the late 1980, and his band survived the rise and fall of metal. Cementing them as one of the top progressive-metal bands of all time, Petrucci’s

Dream Theater delivers precise musicianship so sharp that, at times, the songs become a bit sterile and convoluted with the over-the-top, if not extreme, performances. Balancing this out is Dream Theater vocalist James LeBrie, who gives the band its melodic nature with his soaring vocal style.

Joe Satriani Photo by John Kindred

With the G3 tours' key artist now showcased for the '07 tour, fans can expect to be treated to some of the best guitar-playing acrobatics by three of today’s great guitar players. These three men have taken the inspiration of their youth in the guise of their guitar heroes and manifested that into careers of their own; that are built around their love for the electric guitar. Satriani has helped push the guitar as a lead instrument into the mainstream music scene, and his traveling carnival is a compelling and interactive way for our heroes to continue to allow us to hear their supreme performances within a live setting.