Joe Satriani is an extraordinary guitarist whose pupils include names like Steve Vai (solo, David Lee Roth, etc.), Larry La Londe (Possessed and Primus) and Metallica’s Kirk Hammet. Satriani was a member of Squares in the mid-‘80s before charting his own path via solo albums.

His earlier albums are generally recognized as being more technical and flashy than the later works. The early albums were issued by Food For Thought, which was a division of Relativity Records. Satriani replaced Ritchie Blackmore in Deep Purple in 1994, albeit temporarily as apparently contractual obligations would disallow him to permanently join the band. He would later tour as part of the G3 ensemble alongside Steve Vai, Yngwie Malmsteen and others. Satriani would keep touring and releasing albums and would re-join Ian Gillan in 2005 for the Deep Purple singer’s Gillan’s Inn disc. Legacy Records reissued Surfing With The Alien in September of 2007. The guitarist released a Box Set and toured to commemorate Surfing With The Alien’s twentieth anniversary. He released his thirteenth album, entitled Professor Satchafunkilus And The Musterion Of Rock both as a regular CD and CD + DVD edition. The album was released by Epic Records.

Satriani is also a singer and has collaborated with the likes of Stuart Hamm, Gregg Bissonette and Paul Ashley in the past. Ibanez guitars sponsored Satriani.

JOE SATRIANI – SURFING WITH THE ALIEN – EPIC  
Guitar hero Joe Satriani’s 1988 record Surfing With The Alien is back through Legacy Records with a rich package full of goodies. This is the Bay Area guitarist’s best known record and the one that features the distinct cover artwork of the dashing alien indeed surfing at high speeds.
Many people have a hard time getting into shredding instrumentals like these (including myself), but some of this material is astonishing. From the shredding to the tapping to the more moody and acoustic strumming Satriani is a master of the fret. The album has material that will (or has) appeal(ed) to metal fans, progressive lovers and guitar observers. Satriani is backed with a great rhythm section as well which probably makes this the ultimate ‘guitar hero’ disc. This edition features a DVD that has footage from the group’s performance at the Montreux Jazz festival of 1988 and the whole background story, which is included in the CD’s booklet. If that weren’t enough the interview with Nigel Tufnel of Spinal Tap is a riot. Joe used to have cool long hair before he shaved it off too. – Sheila Wes Det