G3: Joe Satriani: 'There Is Nothing Stopping G3'

Since its inception in 1996, the six-string touring fest known as G3 has proven to be a winner for its founders Joe Satriani and Steve Vai. Over the years, the G3 line-up with Satriani at its core has featured an ever rotating roster of fretboard wizards from Yngwie Malmsteen and Eric Johnson to Kenny Wayne Sheppard and John Petrucci.

Recently the G3 juggernaut made its way down to Australia for a series of sold out shows. While in Melbourne, Joe Matera caught up with Joe Satriani, Steve Vai and John Petrucci. In part one of a three part G3 Ultimate-Guitar exclusive, Joe Matera speaks to Joe Satriani about the success of G3, Satch’s recent album Super Colossal and his new modus operandi in recording guitars.

Ultimate-Guitar: G3 celebrates 10 years this year and it’s proven to be a successful venture for you, where do you see G3 heading towards in the future?

Joe Satriani: There is no stopping it. I mean, it will be redefined and redefined and I think the key to it is that new life will be breathed into it with the changing participants. And I can see an acoustic one too, I can see a blues one, I can see a thrash one and a fusion one. I can see all different avenues and I can even see a blending of like we’ve done before. Like Steve and I went out with Robert Fripp once and we went out with an acoustic player named Adrian Legg. So we’ve done pretty unusual ones too. And I did one in South America a few weeks ago with John Petrucci and Eric Johnson and though it was a very unusual pairing, it was very complimentary. We played in front of audiences that were three times the size of what we’re doing in Australia. So the changing nature of it is very attractive to the guitar player audience out there. I think just in concept, the whole G3 concept is something that is just getting started really.

"Just in concept, the whole G3 concept is something that is just getting started really."

Have you got a wish list of who’d you like to see in the line-up over time?

I’ve got so many, we’ve got a beautiful list going and every year we reach out to the obvious people like Eddie Van Halen and Jeff Beck. We’ve been talking to Billy Gibbons and Brian May. We really talk to all the people that you think we really should be talking to. As well as people you haven’t heard of. We are always trying to finesse some unusual threesome, you know, that will capture the imagination of the people and will be inspiring for the players too. Because the players feel they want to be part of something that is unique as well. They want to get something artistic out of it and that is something I want them to feel that they’re going to get.

How does doing a G3 show compare to doing your headlining show?

Well our own shows are incredibly demanding just from my left arm [laughs] because I’m playing all those melodies and solos that require some much squeezing and bending. It is a very different kind of technique than if you were just like playing in a band and are playing rhythm most of the time and then doing a couple of solo breaks. And the more blues phrasing I work into it, the harder it is to keep that going for say a three hour show. It’s very demanding. Like I play at the top of the song, I play the melody, I play the solo, you know, song after song after song. It’s very intense but also very satisfying. At the end of the show I always feel like I’ve played every possible thing I can play that evening. I feel very artistically drained but happy. But it does take a lot of work.

Until recently Matt Bissonette [bassist] was touring with you, why isn’t he on the tour with you in Australia?

The simple reason is we were leaving India at our show that we did there with him and as it happens sometimes, planes get delayed or cancelled and you’re stuck in an airport and you don’t have your passport or luggage. You know the usual screw up. Anyway he right there and then decided that it was the end of international touring for him. I think he just finally had enough of it. And he works constantly as a first call LA session player and tours with Ringo Starr and Rick Springfield, so because the people he plays with are A-list people, he’s not really into jet setting around the world. And especially after playing Calcutta he just decided ‘I’ve done it’. So we said ‘you know we still need some one who wants to jet set around the world with us’. But it turned out to be great as John Petrucci let me steal his bass player whom I should say, lifted him from Steve Morse so we all owe Steve a debt of gratitude. And it has been great because Dave (LaRue) is a soloist as well and he kind of covers the ground that a lot of bass players that I had, used to do. He’s kind of the soloist like Stu Hamm and he’s a really solid rock bass player like Matt. He almost has both of their qualities. Stu never played rock or listened to rock music and Matt was never into soloing. Another third component is, he just plays with his own sense of timing and swing which I really like and which I think made the show that so much better. Having him in the band just feels better and is more exciting.

"The guitars are massive and they take up all the real estate."

Your most recent album Super Colossal diverts from your previous recordings in the way that it is very rhythm guitar track heavy, you tended to have utilized more guitar tracks this time around?

Yeah I wanted to get away from the thing where I would have like two rhythm guitar tracks, left and right and pretty much playing the same thing. I often found that when you do that, one of the first things that goes, unless you do it like Jimmy Page where you thin the guitars out, is that the thumping rhythm guitars take away from the drums and the bass. The ultimate extreme would be Metallica a couple records ago, around the Ride The Lightning album. Where it has almost no bass guitar and there is no room for it and the kick drum is really high. But the guitars are massive and they take up all the real estate. But if you listen to any Led Zeppelin record you hear the antithesis of that. Jimmy Page will make his guitars thinner and give them the mid-range area which then all of sudden makes John Bonham sound huge! And John Paul Jones sounds big and lovely too. So there is only so much real estate you can fit into a recording.

Some tracks feature anywhere up to 10 guitars?

On Ten Words there are at least ten or twelve rhythm guitar tracks. A lot of them are very dirty and then there four clean style ones as well as a couple that are going through a Line 6 Leslie pedal and an old MXR Phase 100. There is also an acoustic guitar on there, my old ’48 Martin that was recorded direct.

What were the main guitars you used on Super Colossal?

There were definitely fewer than before. I think I had made a point where I had looked around in my studio and looked at my guitar rack and said ‘you know what? That six space rack is going to be it’. So I think I probably had my main two guitars, a JS1000 and a JS1200. I also had two older Fender basses; a ’64 P-Bass and a ’72 P-Bass that had a strange maple jazz bass neck on it. There was also a 1966 Fender electric 12-string, and that old Martin I mentioned before which all together makes up the six. But I have to add that the other unusual thing too is that on two or three of the songs, I used another JS1000 that had .11s on them. I usually play .09s strings but this one I had different gauge of strings on. I used that for Crowd Chant and a couple of the solos that were done right at the end of the recording period in Vancouver.

What led you to the decision to change the string gauge?

I was just experimenting with the way the vibrato arm seemed to be reacting with heavier strings on. When I went to do Crowd Chant, it was such a mystery to how we were going to record it. So I thought I’ve got to start with something. I had been doing things like it on tour for the past five or six years. So I set up this kick drum and I just started improvising and thought since it’s going to be nothing but guitar I might as well make the guitar sound a little hefty. I thought the heavier strings might do the trick. It was a bit of a struggle as I don’t really have the chops for a set of .11s but it did seem to add a bit of drama to the solos.

"What is coming up ahead is a lot of travelling!"

You used a prototype of a mini-amp you’re working on too?

Yeah on Movin’ On I played through this small prototype mini-colossal amp that we’re developing and that is coming out this January with Peavey. It is just five watts, class A with a really simple head with a little 8” inch speaker thing. I just used the JS1200 and I had the amp cranked but I took the volume control, popped up the high bypass filter and then turned down the volume down to two. So it almost sounds like a Telecaster-Stratocaster or something like going into a Deluxe Reverb. That is how I did the rhythm tracks for the song. It’s very rock and roll, Stones like sounding but they’re chimey.

You recently played on John 5’s upcoming new solo disc, The Devil Knows My Name?

Yeah it was fun. John is a crazy guitar player. He had just sent me an email asking if I wanted to play and I said ‘oh absolutely, just send me the stuff’. So I got to record it all in the comfort of my home studio as he was out with Rob Zombie so I was left to my own devices. I played some really crazy sounding stuff. It’s very um…lets just say, it fits in with the crazy music.

So what other stuff has Joe Satriani got coming up?

This is an interesting period for me. In this year, we just released the Super Colossal album and we’ve just released the Satriani LIVE! DVD. And we’re now into like the G3 phase of the touring thing. We’ve also toured the U.S and Europe as a solo act doing long two and a half hour shows and then we started this G3 kind of thing. We have hopefully about three more G3 tours that will take us to the very end of this year and then obviously I’ll be probably in the studio by the end of the year working on another record for release next year. So what is coming up ahead is a lot of travelling!

2006 © Joe Matera

Listen to Joe Satriani (photo) greeting Ultimate-Guitar.com at this location.

Comments

[zRoCkIsAdDiCtIn]

damn my first comment didnt make it there,

wanted to say, G3's an awesome event, brings so many different guitarists together into one crowd, satch is a great guy and guitarist, and hope G3 shows up around the East Coast in the US, ill def be attending =)

[sockboy]

Get Zakk, Kirk or Gilbert on the G3 tour.

[Millenium]

Lovely interview!
Sounds killer with the John 5 solo album too.

[ivan_2894]

Petrucci and satriani should always be in the G3!

[Eric 666]

sockboy wrote:

Get Zakk, Kirk or Gilbert on the G3 tour.

That would be a pretty fine idea...especially Gilbert.

[Satchpwnsnoobs]

Joe Satriani is THE MAN. I love Satch, Vai, and everyone that plays with them on G3.

[sambargun]

Gilbert already played on one G3 fest or so I thought. As for Kirk, the fellow doesnt even acknowledge publicly the fact that Satch was his guru at some point.Proud bastard, dont think he'll make to G3. Zakk will definitely get lost. Cmon guys, he is just not in the same league as Satch, Vai or Yngwie. I saw Satch when he came to Bangalore, took my girlfriend also(she's never listened to any Satch,but she loved the show,was worth every salt) O mighty Satch, when are you bringing G3 to India? Please do it before i die...

[Jawshuwa]

Hammett doesn't go out and say, "Yeah, Satriani was my teacher at one point in time" because no one asks. We have enough people gloating about how they were Satch's pupil anyway. Besides, all Kirk really learned was pentatonic and blues, which is all he needed to be in Metallica; face it, you can learn those scales anywhere. Either way, I'd like for Kirk to go on a G3 tour with fellow student Vai and guru Satch. Wylde is too crazy to tour with Vai and Satriani, seeing as he practically dances with his guitar when he plays. A duel between Vai and Zakk would be sweet though, with Vai playing behind his head and Zakk doing his signature teeth (which I know is just a gimmick) playing or swinging his guitar around thing.

Checked.

[RedNovember]

I want to see John5 on the next G3. How amazing would that be?!

[cman138]

sockboy wrote:

Get Zakk, Kirk or Gilbert on the G3 tour.

God, you need a virtuoso I mean I love Zakk but he wouldn't fit in, Kirk just sucks, but Paul Gilbert would be great to see in G3.

My personal request would be Buckethead though. It'd be amazing to see all the guys jammin' with him and because of his versatility I think he'd be great.

I hope Satch isn't serious about EVH, talk about overrated. Billy Gibbons would be quite badass though. I'd still have to go with Buckethead for my request to see.

[justinp93]

The 2005 lineup was great.

[NightRyder]

RedNovember wrote:

I want to see John5 on the next G3. How amazing would that be?!

pretty damn amazing my friend

[cool#9]

Lol, Buckethead yea! G3 is friggen awsome, and Buckethead would just add the insanity greatness to it.

Awesome awesome awesome!!!!!

[TheGuitaristMan]

They should get the ghost of Hendrix or SRV to play with them one year.

[Forced In]

I'd like to see them come to England with Petrucci.

[BuzzY 424]

Perfect interview! very nice

[Caparisonist]

i think Buckethead would an awesome addition. how about Mattias IA Eklundh? he'd tear it up.

[Artisan_Bassist]

He seems pretty modest....good to see that, especially when hes so freaking good.

[musicmydrug16]

god with all the guitar greats on tour...its like judgment day

[Rocker1_1]

That is some kickass guitar playing for sure

[Hendrix1721]

yea, buckethead would be sick. i saw Satch in concert this year when he toured for Super Colossal and met him after the show. he is a really chill guy! i saw Dream Theater and Buckethead too this year and after seeing petrucci, buckethead and satch all in one year, i think those three would make for a really really stunning show. Vai is good, but i haven't seen him live yet so idk about him...but personally his stuff is a little too weird for me-its good but not guitar sounding enough...kinda sounds like a keyboard a lot of the times. thats just my opinion.

[TinTin8]

i dont think buckethead would fit the G3
Gilbert, o i wish he was in it
Mattias is awsome, that would be nice
How about Marty? or Chris Poland?

[metal Lover]

if only jason becker could play with him. it be cool to have him with friedman and play some Cacophony.

Checkified

[Punk_Ninja]

Wow, good ol' satch on an interview for UG!
IMO G3 should get people like Tony Iommi in, If Tony Iommi was in one year i wouldnt hesitate to go to wherever it was being held, my three favourite guitarists in one show would be awesome.

[Greenday #1]

MADDEST G3 LINEUP:
Zakk Wylde, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Yngwie Malmsteen and Eddie Van Halen.

[metal_skill]

Ya know who would be awsome for G3? Christopher Amott. He played metal but he also plays a lot of other stuff too. That guy is amazing. I wish i could see G3.

[Wakisazhi]

I think a set of Buckethead, John5, and Satch would be both sick and twisted. XD

[tweeres04]

Man, the 2005 lineup with Satch, Vai and Petrucci was pretty much perfect. I wouldn't mind seeing EVH on the G3 tour, that'd be sick.

[LynchMobster]

id say get George Lynch or Michael Angelo Batio in it. Mike McCready would be cool too, despite him not fitting in at all. Kirk vs Mustaine would be cool too.
Id also love to see Iommi, but maybe with Jerry Cantrell and the guy from Corrosion of Conformity, seeing as how Tony wouldnt fit in. But i would love to see a show with McCready, Cantrell, Dean DeLeo(STP), and Kim Thayil(Soundgarden), becuase it would just be f-ing sweet

[Aftertime]

i would like to see a G3 lineup of satch, vai and kirk hammett lol

[Cabron1]

they should just have a big trough at g3 gigs for eveyone to jerk off in.

[ITSTIMETOROCK]

BUCKETHEAD!!! even though he's weird, he can still shred like no ones business, and hes awesome so whats not to like, thats why i say,

G3 '07: Satriani, Buckethead, Malmsteen

i dont care WHAT you guys think of yngwie, he f-ing rocks, and that's all there is to it.

[Vermillion85]

I saw G3 in Melbourne... I'll be honest when i went in i'd heard next to none of petrucci's solo work. My God, the whole night i was absolutely amazed at what the 3 of them can do... I also love how you can really pick the differences in show-man-ship and style, while all of them are different they compliment really well. Met Satch afterwards, very very polite and charming bloke... Definately have a beer with him given the chance :P

[KissingShadows]

I'd like to see Buckethead, Friedman, or Herman Li : D

[guitarsolo_17]

id say slash, just cuz his stuff is ear candy, and george lynch, but i dont know if hes alive....gotta get yngwie back after his tour

[guitarsolo_17]

TheGuitaristMan wrote:

They should get the ghost of Hendrix or SRV to play with them one year.

i agree whole heartedly, cuz they would just bring a new dimension, and not to mention, those two are easily (especially jimi) the most soulful guitarists ive ever imagined, life isnt all about shredding.....
music is soul....

[Hart_Attack]

buckethead, vai, petrucci

[Dayn]

Just to answer someone's question about Vai's live performance...

At G3, Petrucci was the porn, Vai was the orgasm, and Satch the bliss afterwards.

[speedoman03]

what about synester gates people???

[catchtherainbow]

i vote for buckethead or Paul Gilbert! student and teacher again!

[Sweetbabyjezuz]

Michael Romeo!!!!

[SOADisdabest]

i reckon daron malakian would be pretty cool cos hes got that cool sort of middle eastern/hard rock style

[gatiur]

Greenday #1 :
MADDEST G3 LINEUP:
Zakk Wylde, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Yngwie Malmsteen and Eddie Van Halen.

Doesn´t G3 mean three guitarists?
And by the way: What about Michael Angelo Batio? But then only Satch or Vai can play cause Batio plays already for 2

[grim1]

They should get the ghost of Hendrix or SRV to play with them one year

They Did. It was Kenny Wayne Shepherd. He was damn good. Maybe they could get jonny Lang or Chris Duarte

[and1balla15]

herman li would be fun if he joined G3 doing his pacman noises and game effects. lmao

[K.cobain_RIP]

I saw G3 in Brisbane and i got satch to sign my acoustic he is one of the nicest guys ive ever met

there was this guy who worked at the place where the signing was he was going off at everyone going like you can only have one thing signed only one
then guys would get to satch with like 6 things and he would just sign them he didnt care
maddest guy ever

[i_am_metalhead]

Some names to think about: Alexi Laiho, Jeff Loomis, either Brent Hinds or Bill Kelliher, Ken Susi, cant think of anyone right now lol

[strong_wizard]

G3 to New Zealand. Now!

[Night_Lights]

strong_wizard wrote:

G3 to New Zealand. Now!

word

[Seither2k]

OKay.....I have a question. My brother and I got into it because he said that Steve Vai has no melody, and his songs are all the same and boring. He kept saying over and over "no melody" and that he does nothing but shredding. He even bet me I couldn't memorize any part of any of his songs because of the fact that there is no melody. Someone help me here.

[Stereo]

Page\Petrucci\Satriani . And G3 to Europ It will be fun

[kaliba]

yeh im up for buckethead

[Smokey Amp]

I've been waiting for a Joe Satriani article for a while.

Great article indeed.

Thanks, UG.

[AngleofDeaf666]

Marty Friedman would be good but John Petrucci is still awesome

[flemflames]

=-






A G3 with Marty Friedman would be cool but a G3 with Kiko Loureiro would be damn awesome!!!






=-

checkedd

[Cazz3000]

As long as Satch and Johnson are in the line up, it will be a hit!

[MonsterOfRock]

Saw em 1st of December at Sydney

[Snakexe]

speedoman03 wrote:

what about synester gates people???

Just no.

Paul Gilbert/Marty Friedman would be awesome. It'd be interesting to see them do one with someone like Tommy Emmanuel actually..

[Snakexe]

Seither2k wrote:

OKay.....I have a question. My brother and I got into it because he said that Steve Vai has no melody, and his songs are all the same and boring. He kept saying over and over "no melody" and that he does nothing but shredding. He even bet me I couldn't memorize any part of any of his songs because of the fact that there is no melody. Someone help me here.

Sorry to double post, but play him Erotic Nightmares.

[screamsoftly]

Cabron1 wrote:

they should just have a big trough at g3 gigs for eveyone to jerk off in.

Hahahahahaha.

[littleleo88]

satch and vai, plus any of the following: petrucci, michael angelo batio, malmsteen, eddie van halen, would all be fantastic.
alexi laiho would be good, but just isnt in the same league as the aforementioned guitarists.

[i_am_metalhead]

littleleo88 wrote:

satch and vai, plus any of the following: petrucci, michael angelo batio, malmsteen, eddie van halen, would all be fantastic.
alexi laiho would be good, but just isnt in the same league as the aforementioned guitarists.

You've obviously never seen all that Alexi is capable of then.

[nightrune]

I think Satch, Gilbert, and the Japanesse guitarist Daita should do a should that would be sick

[MA 4 ever]

Two Words.....
Chris Broderick

[sambargun]

The perfect adition to Satch and Vai would have the late great Shawn Lane(dont get me wrong, Petrucci and Eric Johnson were really good, Yngwie was a bit too onedimensional, he still is phenomenal though). Its a pity Mr.Lane missed out. He's got the same attitude and talent. RIP Shawn Lane.

[Kai-7]

speedoman03 wrote:

what about synester gates people???

i know a few retards who can play better than synyster gates. There's more talent in a strand of vai's pubic hair .

[Stuminton]

have the dragonforce boys they would be funny

[DopeDanny]

Wasnt Buckethead on one of the tours?I thought,im probably wrong,anyways he should be on one of the tours

[I Walk Alone]

It should be Satch, Vai, and either Buckethead, John 5, or Michael Angelo Batio. That'd be some sick shit.

Cabron1 wrote:

they should just have a big trough at g3 gigs for eveyone to jerk off in.

LMAO!!!

and Checked.

[SurfinWithSatch]

speedoman03 wrote:

what about synester gates people???

No No No No No No No No No No No, and did I mention NO?!!!
I'd like to see Johnny A on the G3, he toured as support with Satch here in the U.K and he was absolutely awesome....kinda like eric johnson only he doesnt look like a serial killer

[Satch_Boogie]

Oh man come down to England! I'd love to go see a G3 concert. Satriani, Vai & Buckethead FTW. Screw Batio, hes boring. I dont really think Buckethead would be up for it though...I just cant imagine him jamming along...

Although I love Slash, both Satriani and Vai would outclass him so bad it'd be hilarious.

So G3 '07 England, Satriani, Vai & Buckethead.

w00t

[axejam123]

speedoman03 wrote:

what about synester gates people???

Pshyea, YOU can go see a G3 with synyster. and then we can have another show where WE can go watch GOOD guitarists like satch and vai. i used 2 think the beast and the harlot solo was good until i realized its just a shitload of chromatic. lame. just lame.

Guys, Satch and Vai should ALWAYS stay on G3. it's just the way it should b.

of course, slash, my idol, would be a nice addition, even if he doesnt play the same sort of stuff.

[Bazilisck311]

Always great to read a Satch interview. :

Seither2k wrote:

OKay.....I have a question. My brother and I got into it because he said that Steve Vai has no melody, and his songs are all the same and boring. He kept saying over and over "no melody" and that he does nothing but shredding. He even bet me I couldn't memorize any part of any of his songs because of the fact that there is no melody. Someone help me here.

Your friend doesn't know the definition of melody.

[axejam123]

Oh sry about double post, but michael angelo batio would be nonsense. in a good way. as in id go nuts.

[metallicman]

astch and vai are really good guitarists but id like to see eric clapton along that list as well, hes mind blowing!

[Sceeb-O]

I would love to see Brian May at G3, I think he would be phenomenal.

[Icebolt]

Kai-7 wrote:

speedoman03 wrote:

what about synester gates people???


i know a few retards who can play better than synyster gates. There's more talent in a strand of vai's pubic hair .

That is so true lol, yeh i would vote johnson in, as long as theres satch and vai its all good

[Guitarmeister]

id have to say get mike einzeiger in, hes got awesome impro skills and technique, maybe iommi?
john schaefer would be a nice addition too
ahhh so many good guitarists to choose from!
its mind blowing

[Bpags868]

omg Eddie Van Halen in G3 would kick so much ass!

[wasp2020]

Seither2k wrote:

OKay.....I have a question. My brother and I got into it because he said that Steve Vai has no melody, and his songs are all the same and boring. He kept saying over and over "no melody" and that he does nothing but shredding. He even bet me I couldn't memorize any part of any of his songs because of the fact that there is no melody. Someone help me here.

The Crying Machine, Tender Surrender, Whispering a Prayer, Jibboom, Juice, For The Love of God, Die to live, Ya Yo Gakk...

[Jonu]

dude, herman li? wtf, he messes up everything he plays, and the creativity in tapping every solo ? dude..

[Godderz_24]

BOBBY ZABEK >.

[mattallica]

littleleo88 wrote:

satch and vai, plus any of the following: petrucci, michael angelo batio, malmsteen, eddie van halen, would all be fantastic.
alexi laiho would be good, but just isnt in the same league as the aforementioned guitarists.


You've obviously never seen all that Alexi is capable of then.

Have you seen the Chaos Ridden Years DVD? I really like Bodom, but Alexi is NOT a good live guitarist. His recorded solos are pretty good but still arnt in the same leauge (as littleleo88 said)

[TinTin8]

littleleo88 wrote:

satch and vai, plus any of the following: petrucci, michael angelo batio, malmsteen, eddie van halen, would all be fantastic.
alexi laiho would be good, but just isnt in the same league as the aforementioned guitarists.

MAB, Malmsteen ... no way ... they cant flow w/ G3 ... i cant stand the garbage they play
EVH would be good, although im not to into him
Alexi ... no way, although he is good, hes not G3 material

[Eternal_One]

A thrash G3?

F-ing AWSOME!!!

Omg,I can't wait for that day!!

But on the normal G3 playing fields,I would like to see maybe Chris Impellitteri and of course...BUCKETHEAD!!!!!

No one can say Buckethead wont fit in because he can fit in with ANYTHING! He is a guitar god.

[nick_b]

sockboy wrote:

Get Zakk, Kirk or Gilbert on the G3 tour.

that'd be hectic if there were more than 3 guys eh?

i mean a combo of Vai, Satch, Wylde, Petrucci & Hammet. That would be insanity on a stage.

especially if they came to sydney.

i would see that. well i'd see them now, but that would be even better.

but i spose they cant be G3 if they have 5 guys on stage.

G5 doesn't have the same ring to it *sigh*

so i guess i'll just have to keep dreaming

[nick_b]

speedoman03 wrote:

what about synester gates people???

oh yeah can't forget about synyster gates.

A7X Rock! ..

ok so thats:

Vai, Satch,Petrucci,Hammet,Wyl
de AND Syn.

[Bubonic Chronic]

Eh, I've seen better musicians play in a bar in my home town.

Jazz is where it's at. Rock is just...boring.

[MarkMurray420]

the d-force guys are sloppy bastards... EVH or malmsteen would be cool. as for michael angelo, what is he going to do, perform no boundries like he does everytime he plays anywhere? good song, but move on man.

[henza_x]

a7x, wylde and hammet dont deserve to share the stage with vai or satriani.
whereas vai, satch, even petrucci have a love of music, meaning they venture into the different genres, the different styles, sounds of music, the jerks you label are only into metal, and can only play fast for the sake of playing fast..
get over it, i doubt they would invite malmsteen back again, mainly because his stage presence is simply ridiculous and not at all controlled or classy like vai or satch

[Doodleface]

i would like to see:

1. Bumblefoot, because he is amazing and plays very odd experimental stuff, which would definitly compliment the show.

2. Allan Holdsworth, because the is just plain amazing, and can improvize better than almost anyone out there

[ihop_08]

henza_x wrote:

a7x, wylde and hammet dont deserve to share the stage with vai or satriani.
whereas vai, satch, even petrucci have a love of music, meaning they venture into the different genres, the different styles, sounds of music, the jerks you label are only into metal, and can only play fast for the sake of playing fast..
get over it, i doubt they would invite malmsteen back again, mainly because his stage presence is simply ridiculous and not at all controlled or classy like vai or satch

Listen to some of Zakk's acoustic stuff, and then tell me he doesn't have a heart for music. He knows what he wants.

It's funny that everyone wants Gilbert, and Buckethead. Wouldn't that be redundant? Haha...maybe Paul could go backstage and change in between sets.....

[fluffylump2]

John 5 MUST be on the next G3 tour. he is the future of guitar music for sure.

[Guitar_Poet]

ivan_2894 wrote:

Petrucci and satriani should always be in the G3!

Satch, Vai, and Petrucci, to me, is the perfect G3.... well, Petrucci/Dream Theater would be amazing! =)

[Guitar_Poet]

MarkMurray420 wrote:

the d-force guys are sloppy bastards... EVH or malmsteen would be cool. as for michael angelo, what is he going to do, perform no boundries like he does everytime he plays anywhere? good song, but move on man.

malmsteen already did G3 for a long time...

[Guitar_Poet]

wasp2020 wrote:

Seither2k wrote:

OKay.....I have a question. My brother and I got into it because he said that Steve Vai has no melody, and his songs are all the same and boring. He kept saying over and over "no melody" and that he does nothing but shredding. He even bet me I couldn't memorize any part of any of his songs because of the fact that there is no melody. Someone help me here.

The Crying Machine, Tender Surrender, Whispering a Prayer, Jibboom, Juice, For The Love of God, Die to live, Ya Yo Gakk...

rofl, yea. whoever said that Vai has no melody... i dont know what else to say.. but theyre just flat out wrong about that, lol.

[Guitar_Poet]

Kai-7 wrote:

There's more talent in a strand of vai's pubic hair .

LOLOL

[Guitar_Poet]

guitarsolo_17 wrote:

TheGuitaristMan wrote:

They should get the ghost of Hendrix or SRV to play with them one year.

i agree whole heartedly, cuz they would just bring a new dimension, and not to mention, those two are easily (especially jimi) the most soulful guitarists ive ever imagined, life isnt all about shredding.....
music is soul....

what if shredding comes from the soul? i think its soulful at times..

[RR3]

Get kiko loueiro 4 a g3 tour! and come to new zealand please!

[RR3]

tell steve i caught his pick on the australia tour and its in new zealand! tell him if he wants it bak he has to giv me a visit hehe

[MonsterOfRock]

No Shredders PLEASE!!! I mean Yngwie Malmsteen killed the G33 with his stupid shredding. Get someone with some feel PLEASE!!! Like Carlos Santana, Eric Clapton, David Gilmour or Jimmy Page.

Someone who got a slow but emotion-filled style should provide the much needed contrast from the Godly-Likes of Vai n' Satch

[korn56]

MonsterOfRock wrote:

No Shredders PLEASE!!! I mean Yngwie Malmsteen killed the G33 with his stupid shredding. Get someone with some feel PLEASE!!! Like Carlos Santana, Eric Clapton, David Gilmour or Jimmy Page.

Someone who got a slow but emotion-filled style should provide the much needed contrast from the Godly-Likes of Vai n' Satch

exactly, the G3 is for guitar players with that feeling with the guitar, not just play as fast as you can. so wylde, malmsteen are out, some others mentioned before like hammett arent very good for a G3 (i've never heard some kirk's stuff)

paul gilbert fits perfect for the G3!!!

[Satch_Boogie]

Holy shit Santana would be awesome :O

Between Buckethead and Santana then. Buckethead can do the crazy style speed passages as well as his melodic stuff and mix em both up with songs like Binge & Grab and Nottingham Lace.

Comeon Satch, get the Bucket onboard!

[MarkMurray420]

Guitar_Poet wrote:
malmsteen already did G3 for a long time...

Yes that is that article at the top. Maybe I should have said "again".

[Horvat]

Saw the G3 guys play just recently in the Melbourne tour. Was pretty awesome. Would definitely see it again.

[MonsterOfRock]

One thing though, say "Voodoo Chile [Slight Return]" is the standard G3 Jam [as mindblowing as it is], though I would love to see a G3 Jam of the coolest solo IMO, the "Freebird" solo. Freebird is originally a guitar duel between Allen Collins and Ed King [Lynyrd Skynyrd] and I think it will be a great addition to the G3 Jam.

PS: I really think the G3 Jam of "Rocking in the Free World" is a little lame.

[guitarcontrol]

anybody heard of jerry c...mr canon rock./...itd be fukn awesome if hed be invited to do a g3 with satch, vai..the dude can kick ass..i wish dimebag was alive....and they did a g3 heavy metal...z wylde, dime,alexi laiho/mustaine/malmsteen...oh how bout...randy rhoads,wylde,and dime..or like ... mustaine,dime.hammett.....id love to see vai, gilbert and andy timmons.....or maybe..buckethead, tom morello and some other crazy guitarist whos good with effex..who else could join the 2?. hahha wicked ...classic g3 with jimmy page, eddy van halen and jeff beck...thatd be so sweet....or neoclassical g3....jason becker,malmsteen,vinnie moore/michael angelo batio.....but my dream g3 would be...hendrix,page,stevie ray vaughn ...too bad jimi's gone

[full_metal]

satch is the best damn it!

[guitarcontrol]

and stevie too

Checked

[espliam]

how cool would it be if kirk hammett played with em

[Dyer's Eve]

Skwisgaar Skwigelf LOLOL.

I reckon Alex Skolnick or Devin Townsend would be good additions.

[Graphix]

Ace Frehley anyone. He is a great guitarist. Not enough credit is given to him for that. Next years line up should be Ace Frehley, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, and Satch

[Kurt_Rosenwinkl]

hahaah zakk or buckethead woulld be intense. I dont know where the Kenny Wayne idea is coming from, i mean i guess hesgood, but i never thought he was in that league of virtuosos, ive just heard him playing blues stuff, which anyone off the streets could play :P ALEX SKOLNICK WOW! GOOD CHOICE! DYERS! LETS GET SOME JAZZ GUYS UP THERE hEHHEH, JONATHAN KREISBERG! OR KURT ROSENWINKEL! COME ON CHECK THESE GUYS OUT! As much as i loved kirk growning up, i realize now how bad of a player he is, NO rythmic feel, distasteful melodic lines if u could call them that, and he sounds horrible live. KIRK IS A NO GO!

[Kurt_Rosenwinkl]

and santana is way above all these players, hes wayyyy toooo tasteful to play with satch or vai. ALL HAIL CARLOS SANTANA

[TinTin8]

ihop_08 wrote:


It's funny that everyone wants Gilbert, and Buckethead. Wouldn't that be redundant? Haha...maybe Paul could go backstage and change in between sets.....

... Gilbert & Buckethead are not the same!!!!!

[Guitar_Poet]

The next G3 should be (as always), Satch, Vai, and Dave Martone. that guy rocks!! [JP is better though =) IMO]

[\m/(--_--)\m/]

About the Synyster Gates comment near the middle, I soiled my pants laughing. Almost blew my appendix I was laughing so hard.

[metal_skill]

ok, dragonforce? talk about ruining the feel of the thing. not only would they do nothing but stand up there and shred, they would do a very sloppy job of it. I think my favorite combo was vai/satch/petrucci

[Satch_Boogie]

Guitar control, you know Randy Rhoads is dead right? Also Jerry C because of one song? Whats wrong with you?

[ApexGT]

I love the current line up. Satch, Vai, and Petrucci are a great group (Petrucci is my idol, so it makes it even better). I agree that Paul Gilbert would be an awesome addition. Buckethead can play like no one's business, but it might be a little too..."weird" for lack of a better term. I heard only one person mention Michael Romeo, and I have to second that pick. I think he's usually underrated, but I love his work with Symphony X. Herman Li may be "sloppy", but I think that his playing would add another element to the group. Whoever mentioned Skwisgaar Skwigelf...I totally agree! Either he or Toki would be awesome. I don't think I've heard anyone mention Alex Lifeson...so I will, lol.

[zAg1619]

Synyster Gates.. Teeheehee, that is absolutely hilarious, as well as insulting to Vai, Satch, and everyone else who has been on G3. EVH would be awesome, however i wish Rhoads and Dimebag were still with us.. They would be great.. However, for all those who would like soul in there, Dave Gilmour would be great..

[rusrec00]

sockboy wrote:

Get Zakk, Kirk or Gilbert on the G3 tour.

I second getting Paul Gilbert, hes got great chops and a wonderful "feel" to his playing.

[slash6464]

I SAW THAT SHOW IN MELBOURNE!

the crowd sucked ass!!! during crowd chant there where leik only 15 ppl yelling, thast was me and my mates! we bought out like a whole row of seats.

oh btw, hot tip, paul gilbert wnats to do it.

[slash6464]

OH btw, to any one who recons bucket head is too 'wierd', remember that G3 played with robert fripp too lol.

I WANT MIKE STERN! that would be a great jazz g3

[JS5150]

I want Neil Zaza

[the_white_bunny]

id like to see

paul gilbert, lindsey buckingham, peter frampton, brian may, or richie sambora play on the tour

[Flemingoboy]

Eric Clapton? psh... not even close to the likes of Satch, Vai, and Petrucci. Anyways, I can't believe no one has mentioned Al Di Meola. I vote for the next G3 lineup: Satch, Vai, Di Meola (only since Satch and Vai are always in it. If I had my pick it would be something like Petrucci, Vai, Di Meola)

[MonsterOfRock]

I dont see whats wrong with Clapton bieng there. I mean, I dun want him there, but he surely is good enough to be there. Though I would put Vai, Satch and Carlos Santana as a very healthy lineup.

Saw Petrucci at G3 Sydney, he was pretty good I thaught.

[cointurtlemoose]

Seither2k wrote:

OKay.....I have a question. My brother and I got into it because he said that Steve Vai has no melody, and his songs are all the same and boring. He kept saying over and over "no melody" and that he does nothing but shredding. He even bet me I couldn't memorize any part of any of his songs because of the fact that there is no melody. Someone help me here.

I think the exact opposite. He shreds, but he's not really a pure shredder. I think he focuses on melody first and then fits some shred into his songs. Your brother is probably just being close minded because he's made up his mind he doesn't like Vai.

[Guitar_Poet]

ApexGT wrote:
I don't think I've heard anyone mention Alex Lifeson...so I will, lol.

no doubt petrucci would lol "Alex Lifeson is one of my favorite guitarists. "

[joshjhasarrived]

[quote=Joe Satriani]It was a bit of a struggle as I don’t really have the chops for a set of .11s but it did seem to add a bit of drama to the solos.
[/quote]
Haha! Real funny one there Joe! What a jokester! Har har har!

[Koennethy]

What about Micheal Romeo and Eddie Van Halen? That would be really awesome

[axeslinger0u812]

EVH would be awesome, but I doubt that happening. I would like to see George Lynch...who is NOT dead. 0_o

[Jimy Page]

zRoCkIsAdDiCtIn,
who r those "so many different guitarists". so far only 6 guitarists showed up in G3.
Koennethy,
It would be great to have Van Halen there, but i don't think he can make it, since he sufferes lung cancer.
i would like to see Joe Bonammassa there or Andy Timmons

[Jimy Page]

even Ritchie Kotzen could play a significant part

[Jimy Page]

the one i would really like to see there is Jimmy Page but i don't think he will accept it.
Actually there are a lot of guitarists that would just fit in the linup, like Doug Aldrich, Reb Beach etc

[Jimy Page]

the one i would really like to see there is Jimmy Page but i don't think he will accept it.
Actually there are a lot of guitarists that would just fit in the linup, like Doug Aldrich, Reb Beach etc

[last_biscuit]

I would disagree with quite alot of comments on here, but rather than argue, I would love to see John Butler and his trio play. I'm mostly into rock and metal, but this guy is absolutely amazing, and his technique is so hard to imitate. He has to be one of the most jaw-dropping acoustic guitarists i've ever seen/heard. And he would provide a contrast from the others.

[Murderface x3]

SurfinWithSatch wrote:

Murderface x3 wrote:

satch just wishes he could be good enough to sniff john 5's farts
Is this as retarded as the person saying about Synyster Gates being in G3, or more retarded? John 5 will never achieve the kind of guitar playing ability or status or respect that Satch has. That's why John 5 REQUESTED Satch play on his album.

He may not have the respect that satch has, but respect doesn't mean anything. Not enough people have heard him. And as far as satch apearing on his album, thats all well and good, but he will never be as good as J5. Besides, Avenged Sevenfold sucks.

[cornjolio]

i wish G3 would come to the United States. Then I could finally go see petrucci, satriani, and vai

[Rocker3829]

cornjolio wrote:

i wish G3 would come to the United States. Then I could finally go see petrucci, satriani, and vai

I second that,

What makes Joe one of my all time top 3 guitar players is not only his over the top stuff but his ability to put the melody first and listen like a person who has not music background. To be able to write songs like "flying in a blue dream" and then pull "Speed of Light" is amazing. He still continues to impress me the more I listen to his music

[haotehmao]

Dyer's Eve wrote:

Skwisgaar Skwigelf LOLOL.

I reckon Alex Skolnick or Devin Townsend would be good additions.

LOL. Crush My Battle Opponents Balls is epic. Devin Townsend's a pretty good idea, but John 5 needs to be in there. He's just so damn versatile.

[korny1]

I believe Kirk Hammett would make probably one of the best additions. I'm a huge fan of Paul Gilbert's and Buckethead's (who I would like to see both on G3 in the future), but I think that it's time for something new and old school at the same time. Kirk is a mixture of both the old school bluesy style and the modern neoclassical style that would definitely add a more raw flavor to the show. Don't you ever get bored of seeing everything played perfectly all the time? Nobody's taking any risks. Kirk, love him or hate him, is all about taking risks. I saw him in Florida last year, and he went from playing a finger-picked classical piece to a Hendrix-style R and B doodle to a fleet-fingered tapping bit all in the matter of six minutes. And yes, contrary to popular belief, the man is versatile. I believe he deserves a chance to prove to the world that he can really do what everyone thinks he can't do: keep up with Satch and Vai. He may even outdo them when no one's looking.

Lest we forget, he played with a string quartet, also, to prove that he is highly classically trained. The man knows guitar. Give him a chance.

[JanickGers]

GEORGE LYNCH GODDAMMIT!!!
I would also love to see Joey Tafolla or Joe Stump on the Shows...it would add a little bit of the rythm we all love in metal to the G3.
I never liked Satchs music...they used to many of his songs for commercials in germany
Vai was great in Alcatrazz and Whitesnake... why not one evening of "Whitesnake G3" ? Vai - Vandenberg - Aldrich or the slide-god moody... funny idea.

Otherwise...give Michael Angelo an chance, he definatly is a god, his double-neck performance would be absolutely ass kicking, even in Stevies-Eyes

As a german guy i have to add ome german wizard to the list:

Axel Rudi Pell (great melodies and a lot of feeling)
don't know if anyone of you guys even knows this man...

And FINALLY... for all of you guys who want to see ass-kicking sounds on stage... why Hammet? Hammet is Hammet...he plays on Master of Puppets...thats it

GIVE ME GLEN TIPTON... imagine a G3-Painkiller-Jam
just imagine

This
is
....



cheers from berlin

[arcadi656]

Eddie van halen would rule on g-3, and no one can deny it, even if you think he is overrated, he is the father of the brownsound, and a progenetor of rock guitar, an innovator, and a god among gods. please Eddie, if youre out there, know that your music has influenced the world an we all love a little of it.

As for my own pick of shredders, I would have to say alex skolnick, or the amot brothers from arch enemy, and maybe even david gilmour, no-one can phrase a whale'in ass run like good ol' dave, so please, don't talk trash about eddie, but yes, i do believe that kirk is overrated, and i am a die hard metallica fan, I even love saint ankey(anger), but he is in metallica, and if he joined g-3, james and lars might kick him out like they did jason!

[arcadi656]

I also would like to say that if dime were still alive, he would be the best thing to hit g-3 next to the hammer-gods already there, and I think we all agree, regardless of taste,he changed heavy guitar forever, shaking and ripping the soul out of the six stringed virgin he so-proficiently fondled. Dime will live in my heart and my soul forever, and if you can do that to one person, you are a god.

[Jimy Page]

Arcadi656, i fully agree with you. he would be just perfect for that.

[irishRW]

GET NUNO BETTENCOURT ON YOUR BOOKS!

i think nuno-g3 would be absolutely amazing. His solo section would own and the jam at the end would taste lethal with nuno's flavour mixed in there. His tapping legato style flat-out-ness is unrivalled, he come sup with the best riffs and HE CAN SING!! After hearin satch mumble foxey-lady on the latest dvd we deserve some redemption. I'm sorry satchy-baby but u couldn't sing to save ur life, stick to the frets!

arite,arite,arite...to conclude GIVE US NUNO!!

[korny1]

Hammett can do some very interesting things when he wants to...Metallica doesn't give him enough creative input is all. He did a Little Wing Jam in Jacksonville last year, and he did some harmonics that were absolutely unreal. Tapped harmonics and some very strange E flat minor arpeggios that were absolutely beautiful. I loved every second of it. Again, I'm not saying he should be the only G3 guitarist included by far, I'm just saying he should get at least one G3 tour, just to see if he can hold up. If he can't, what do we have to lose? It'll be entertaining nonetheless.

[Hoosmagootin]

The next G3 tour will have PAUL GILBERT as the third axe.

[korny1]

Maybe I'll just go listen to some meringue music and quit this whole shred thing...

Checked/deleted.

[Tyler17]

When you're talking about guitarists such as Malmsteen, Gilbert, Satch etc..u shouldn't be argueing cause they ALL are top class so it's just a matter of music taste or style...Oh and although i AM syn's fan neither he nore laiho deserve to be in G3...At least not yet...I don't know maybe in future they'll have a huge progress...

[gibsonplyr202]

ALL SHALL BOW TO THE MIGHTY JOE!!!!!11!1

[Gaishredic]

as JanickGers stated: AXEL RUDI PELL is exactly what G3 needs, hes the most under-rated guitarist in the world and is THE Ballad composer...def a music god of some kind.....Also Riff masters Vinnie Moore and Chris Impellitteri havnt been mentioned enough, they would be prime for teh Job....

[Slainone]

Satriani, Gilbert, and Petrucci imo

herman li and syn gates would be upstaged, bigtime... buckethead would be interesting though

[michaelromeoist]

Petrucci is quite good...definitely good.
but hey, a G3 has got to be Satriani, Steve Vai and a guest.
What I find amazing is that only two people here have mentioned Michael Romeo and my personal opinion bout this guy is...
well...can't just believe how is it that this guy has never been into a G3.
when u talk bout his work with Symphony X, i've got to say, yeah, it is remarkable, SX is actually my band,
but have you guys ever happened to listen to his solo project 'The Dark Chapter'? well, if you haven't....
DO IT
It's a must. And please, do yourself a favor, listen to his 'Paganini - Concerto In B Minor' song including in this excellent album.

[michaelromeoist]

sorry....meant '....included in this....'