Before we head into the night let’s take a moment to say happy birthday to a true axe master Mr. Joe Satriani. Joe grew-up in New York and after hearing of the death of Jimi Hendrix picked up the guitar and the rest is history as they say.

Satriani was 14-years-old when he quit playing football and decided to become a guitarist, which was a good call on his behalf. He studied jazz with guitarist Billy Bauer and piano with Lennie Tristano. The technically demanding nature of jazz greatly influenced his smoking style of playing.

In the late 70’s Satriani started teaching guitar with one of his first student being Steve Vai. He then moved to California were his student list became a whose who of guitarist. Kirk Hammett, Larry LaLonde of Primus, Alex Skolnick of Testament and Third Eye Blind’s Kevin Cadogan to name a few.

Joe Satriani is still a very busy man in the music world and if you ever get the chance to see him at work it is well worth the ticket. I saw him in 1996 in Chicago on the first G3 tour and all I can say is wow that man can shred.

 

More From 95 Rock