Joe Satriani interview - The Elephants of Mars, Eddie Van Halen, Steve Vai and more! (2022)

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Joe about when he was still a beginner on guitar, working hard to get better, NYC in the early 70s, the surrealness of his career, teaching Steve Vai, finding “work-arounds” as a guitar player, Eddie van Halen, The Elephants of Mars, experimentation, composing songs over the internet, songs coming together organically, a song inspired by Questlove, Randy Rhoads and what keeps inspiring him.
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Video interview with guitarist, composer, songwriter, and guitar teacher Joe Satriani. FaceCulture spoke with Joe about when he was still a beginner on guitar, working hard to get better, NYC in the early 70s, the surrealness of his career, teaching Steve Vai, finding “work-arounds” as a guitar player, Eddie van Halen, The Elephants of Mars, experimentation, composing songs over the internet, songs coming together organically, a song inspired by Questlove, Randy Rhoads and what keeps inspiring him, and a lot more! (25/02/2022)

[@amyg736]

I've been listening to Joe since the 80s and he is by far my favorite guitarist! I hope he continues for many years to come

[@richardshippful]

Joe Satriani and Steve Via didn't get there by accident. Hard work, and great music in their soul, that they can get out.

[@coolcatsguitars]

I have alot of favorites but Joe holds a special place for me. So glad he is still doing his thing and hopefully for many more years to come

[@carlosgunz85]

Me too man!

[@robertf6344]

I really like the compositions. They're not ear worms which I particularly appreciate.

[@originunknown3209]

A supreme musician, artist, and a gentleman!!! Absolutely phenomenal achievement in music!!!!! 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@shearfury147]

somehow this man over came his ego and continues to give us inspiration. all the others have other issues. thats why hes a legend, he is himself. period

[@GeorgeBonez]

Oh man! I remember back when Steve was super-young and he always talked about how ultra-hip Joe Satriani was because he had a curly guitar cord. I think Joe lived just a few houses down the street from Steve back then. Lol 😂 Those stories always reminded me of when I started taking lessons from Charlie Loin back in the late 80s. He lived right behind my house on a side street and I just worshiped the guy. He was such a great guitarist 😊

[@nilla003]

His comments about EVH are spot-on. The lesser adherents of any discipline may learn the rules and apply them to excellent effect. The genius understands the rules inherently and can disregard them to incredible, groundbreaking effect.

[@jspartacus]

I've always thought that Ed was heavily influenced by his jazz player father in a subliminal way. Just total musical freedom. One time I sat down and really thought about the little scalar line in the "I'm The One" riff. Looking at it as a guitarist, it's a repetitive pattern across strings, and when played slowly, it only sort of follows the "rules". But when you speed it up, it gives the feeling of upward velocity and increased tension, and then played in the context of the full tilt boogie, you then realize that if he did follow the "rules", it would sound lifeless and predictable. He played it without having to think about it, yet other players who are too locked into the theory behind the notes will either play something strictly by the rules, or carefully calculate a way to achieve the same sound. Eddie was something all players should aspire to creatively.

[@Rnrf5150]

Bruce lee of Guitar.

[@KeyOfGeebz]

Great interview - love listning to Joe and his super chill humility

[@cwilliams85]

Would love to hear the piece he written in reminiscent of Randy Rhoads. Randy and Joe are my biggest influences in music & guitar.

[@andrewslads]

Joe is an ambassador of inspiration

[@suprchickn7745]

Excellent interview! Great questions that I haven't really heard asked of Joe before.

[@TheGuitarGuy69]

Joe is so inspiring. Not because he can play so great, that’s kind of a given. His viewpoints are so humbling and genuine. Huge respect for Mr. Joe…look up to you man.

[@amoh5]

Eddie Van Halen was a revolutionary groundbreaking rock guitarist, he created the new rock guitar slinging sound of the 80s especially the artificial harmonics, whammy bar effects and the shredding sound effect. I don't think even Eddie realized how revolutionary he was as a rock guitarist...

[@burroughs334]

Gotta love Joe. Such a humble, thoughtful person with such deep, effortless insight.

[@GeorgeBonez]

Man Joe is just the nicest most humble super-guitarist out there and he’s been my no.1 most favorite guitar player since the day I first heard him play Surfing with The Alien on a hot summer day back in 1987 or 88 in aunt Betty’s back yard swimming pool. My buddy Scott said “you gotta hear this dude” and it was just love. Ya know. If I could meet Joe in person I wouldn’t ask for a guitar lesson or any guitar favors at all. I would love the opportunity to just hang out with such a cool dude. I’ve followed him note for note since the day I first heard him play so I already feel like I know him. Lol

[@philfrank5601]

Well there was that time when Joe refused to play onstage with "that kid"...the kid in question was Thomas McRocklin (aka the kids in the Steve Vai video). So even Joe is susceptible to being human.

[@tasosdiaforetico7377]

Maybe refused bnot for abilities. Tom is pretty ego oriented

[@GeorgeBonez]

@@philfrank5601 Yeah but who knows what that could be about? I highly doubt refused because Tom wasn’t worthy or anything like that. Maybe Tom said something about Joes momma or something? Lol In that case I wouldn’t play with him either! 😆 There could be something less flattering about it for Joe? You’re right when you say Joes only human too

[@GeorgeBonez]

@@tasosdiaforetico7377 Yeah that’s what I’m thinking too.

[@danielhartin7680]

Absolute class. Humble, a gentleman, doesn't feel the need to pepper his conversation with profanities. Many other accomplished guitarists could take a lesson from him.

[@forddriver8827]

Thanks FC.

[@ponzo1967]

I still love driving down highway jamming Summer Song at high volume. One of lifes little rewards.

[@Dylank-ys9wz]

Joe changed my life in 88 i didnt know like a million others that you could compose on the guitar like that. And create great brilliant songs

[@biranicolella3509]

Joe Satriani is on another level, much higher than anyone on earth. I used to believe he was from a distant planet, taking advantage of his vast superiority here on earth.

[@ladmandiola8868]

FANTASTIC INTERVIEW!!! Satch NEVER quit and kept moving forward, getting better and better. becoming an expert and mentor in his field! Thank you for your dedication, creating memories for me growing up listening to your music - YOU'RE AWESOME MAN !!!

[@oraculox]

The more my ears "grow up", the more I think eddie is a violinist without the bow

[@SixStringJoy]

Very friendly and well done interview letting Joe speak and be his humble and down to earth self that he just is. Great job!

[@rareform6747]

that super lead in the corner ...💥

[@78consecratedcardsofart78]

Great interview! I remember seeing Joe in Baltimore City back when Surfing With The Alien tour came to town. That was about 1987-1988 and it had a tremendous impact on me as a bass player and musician. I loved experiencing an instrumental show and realized, for the first time, how well a story can be told without a vocalist singing lyrics. Fusion was still new to me and that show was a great lesson.

[@charliejamz.]

Excellent questions. Great interview, thank you for sharing it with us

[@LeeCarlsonguitar]

Just an awesome interview! Thanks so much!!

[@GregDaviesguitarist]

Brilliant interview, great questions from the interviewer!

[@wmgrom2754]

Definitely insightful questions!

[@caramanico1]

Satch's comments that start at 11:10 is EXACTLY why (IMHO) he is THE best to appear since the mid-80s. My opinion has always been that playing an exotic scale over a bizzare chord sequence at 180 BPM and 140 dB through a billion dollars worth of amplification and heavy processing DOES NOT make someone a songwriter.

[@andrewpinner3181]

Thanks for the interview ! Love Joe, phenomenal player & a real gent.

[@jaimomo65]

Joe is a great human being... and also a phenomenal guitarist! ;-)

[@stupid28273]

Phenomenal

[@alexzarvis6949]

Joe is the best, brilliant guy, prolific song writer, amazing talent, i'm a huge fan. As a guitar player, I must put my astronomer hat on and correct the record. Ganymede is a rocky moon of Jupiter. Europa is the icy moon that is thought to have liquid oceans beneath the surface.

[@Happy-Me.]

I saw Joe at the Hummingbird in Birmingham in the 80's. Great player!

[@cantstartafire]

Great interview! Wow! Bravo!

[@thasandman1122]

I just realized I have never, in 25 years, seen Joe's eyes before...

[@danabiondo9243]

I was wondering about the glasses as well.

[@julenropitini9749]

Joe Satriani Steve Vai are my Inspiration Motivation to playing guitar Peace and Love Homie's

[@donaldcornley9963]

Joe is awesome;I remember hearing his music on fast times at ridgemont high, excellent interview

[@dorfsteen]

When you're young it's kind of easy to become good at a guitar but if you wait till you're older to learn it's a lot harder

[@sonicart1808]

What a great guy....a true role model.

[@tracezachdaniels4264]

and GREAT TALKS.!!

[@cavanhaguitar]

Great interview!!

[@WaltPowellEnt]

Joe is one of my favorite players, but I disagree with him saying "why would you play the same way in every song" People have different styles and someone could say the same thing about him. When Joe goes off into a song, you can say he plays the same style in most of his songs, just like Yngwie does in his stuff. Picking every note doesn't necessarily mean you are showing off. They are just different players.

[@Dave_Wight_The_Rock_Oracle]

Eddie is an all time great and A leaguer, but hearing isolated guitar tracks on youtube, what you hear in the song is what you hear when the guitar is isolated, you are not missing much. When I listen to Randy Rhoads isolated guitar tracks, I hear stuff that I did not pick up during the song, his genius is a notch above in my book, triple tracking solos, playing them slightly different on Crazy Train with such precision this is why he went into the RNRHOF as the first rock and metal musician for his musical excellence.

[@drdave971]

Both are excellent guitarist and pioneers , but Eddie was not a theory guy at all , he did not read music really just memorized everything , while across the way was a very theory classically based guitar player Randy Rhoades , so really night and day players . But I can tell you as an accomplished guitar player myself Eddie’s playing is mesmerizing because he doesn’t follow the rules as his contemporary did and was always creating unusual scale arpeggio patterns , also I will tell you try playing Eddies music it’s ridiculous all the weird things he does when he’s playing , especially his rhythm playing is incredible . I also play Randy Rhoades his playing is insane also believe me but it’s predictable in a sense that he is following theory based harmonic minor scales so you know where he’s going with it , while Eddie is really all over the place because he doesn’t play by the rules which is why guitar players are always blown away by his playing , not taking anything away from Randy but he’s just not as creative and off the wall as Eddie . Both were incredible pioneers of music on there instrument

[@eddiejr540]

@@drdave971 ....perfectly said... I’ve “studied” both and you nailed it exactly!!!!

[@paulm6341]

@@drdave971 Well said - couldn’t agree more. The swing and flow also of EVH is very hard to duplicate.

[@juanpablomarin5463]

@@drdave971 Totally agree with you!! 🎸🎶

[@2216sammy]

One of the most brain dead comments of all time , Rhoads plays nothing but scales and it's by the book easy to figure out patterns and positions . Van Halen was on a completely different level than Rhoads was but he was on a completely different level than all his peers so nothing to be ashamed about . Lynch has admitted the same numerous times . It wasn't Eddies tapping that made him "THE KING" , it was his ability to effortlessly play things that nobody has ever even contemplated before especially his unmatched ridiculously tight and flawless rhythm playing . Rhoads was blown away and greatly intimidated by how great Edward was but so was every other guitarist on the planet including George Lynch who said when he first heard Edward he said no way is that guy from this planet , it's not possible . Ozzie said a bunch of times Edward was not from this earth he was just too amazing . It's OK to have other guitar hero's but stop insulting the intelligence of people who know better . There was nobody in Edward league he was head and shoulders above everybody else and that's why he is worshipped and talked about 1000X more than anybody else . It was never Edward himself claiming he's the greatest he's extremely humble and admitted he's just a punk kid who plays guitar it's the rest of the world around him who have been blown away and captivated by his immense talents .

[@robertsmolinski8685]

You go joe. Keep rocking

[@armandredman]

Wow great to know one song was inspired by the roots and quest love , 👍

[@rickymarino1208]

Great interview, got my sub

[@roopeshlloydpratapyerragun8262]

Melody ❤️🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@QuesnelMedia]

Awesome

[@roopeshlloydpratapyerragun8262]

Great........Satch 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@backroads6695]

The Satchman! Way toooooo cooollllll!

[@chrisCANguitar]

great interview man. Subcribed :)

[@FaceCulture]

Awesome to hear, thanks for watching!

[@metricdeep8856]

If you’re one page ahead of everyone else…..you’re the authority.

[@parousia2771]

quest love should be covering buddy miles in the band of gypsys drums!!!

[@robertf6344]

Album: I didn't like Dance of the Spores at all, now I think it's my fav tune on the album ;)

[@tracezachdaniels4264]

SO SHWEEEETTT...much love Tee with LIONS NAMED LEO.[the music worldwide} and ooo weee cool.!!!!

[@DVincentW]

Allan was the most unique player at that time. Love all of Allan's music.

[@lionchamp29]

music is something you can lean on to make you special

[@ErFoxy71]

Joe the legend! Maybe my favourite guitar player

[@Lou-Lou.]

Great to John Petrucci and Joe making videos together 😉

[@theonlyredspecial]

Good interviewer. Adding time stamps would be helpful.

[@sailorr4287]

What pedal was it?

[@tpike32]

I remember not having a amp and using a tape recorder as a amp

[@maximusaugustus6823]

not many can afford those concert tickets anymore at $500 a ticket, concert tickets were $15-$25 back then

[@macdad159]

How about a Satch/Vai album?

[@shanebullock5005]

Techinally the best. Making instrumental albums is the hardest thing to do and he beats them all.

[@schuey999]

If Joe took all the hair from his arms and put it on his head, he could look like Gene Wilder.

[@somuchpain3388]

My most favorite player is Eddie Van Halen, and then Joe. Technically speaking, Joe is better and being a Professor of Music gives him that edge, but not by much. Eddie turned the page and completely rewrote the book. A lot of unreleased and live music thats on here is WAY better than the crap thats out today. I love both, but Eddie and the rest of em ruled the World. R.I.P. EVH, I will miss you.

[@genecampanelli7456]

I loved Allan. So glad he was influenced by him!

[@dorfsteen]

Funny thing is the F chord was the easiest chord for me most people have a hard time with it I didn't

[@shearfury147]

the real question is...whats your memory like? did you memorize everything///photographic memory? then the ability to tap into it without effort?

[@craigmead3484]

Other than King Edward, Joe is the GOAT. Joe is Lord Voldemort. You can never unsee that now. LOL

[@bigmonmagoomba9634]

Is the interviewer’s name Rudolf?

[@FaceCulture]

haha :)

[@nataliaalos7932]

O no sabe tocar nada como Andy O SE TOCA TODO ACÁ CON LA GUITARRA! Extremista total Voldemort!

[@merlin5420]

It’s obvious Satch is an alien he still looks like he’s in his late 20s 👽

[@Raw-guitar]

Joes such a handsome devil.

[@danabiondo9243]

You mean Handsome God !

[@azmindspin311]

I didn't know Jeff Bezos played guitar. Sheeesh.

[@emmanuelwolfmusic410]

i think joe is a vampire, he doesnt age

[@48mastadon]

How is it that he is seven years older than me but he looks half my age?

[@danabiondo9243]

What's your Life Style and Attitude ??

[@rogerhurren5602]

He only breaths pure oxygen, he’s from another planet!

[@alexnetick1834]

This guy is really full of himself.

[@TheresaCoughy]

No, this man has humility listen to the way he talks about other people. If i was as good a musician as satriani I would be full of myself. You're comment, however, implies that YOU are full of yourself

[@kellymartin3077]

Eddie was a one trick pony and it was a good trick but redundant. Joe is a true virtuoso who's music goes places Eddies could never go. Just sayin

[@uutooyu]

@@Plisken65 agreed edward was totally about feel a feel like no other off the cuff and thats a rarity .

[@beatmet2355]

Don’t go there. Not cool. It’s possible to praise one guitarist without bashing another.

[@kellymartin3077]

@@beatmet2355 Satch was able to replace Blackmore in Deep Purple. Eddie couldn't do that. Just sayin

[@FIGGY65]

@@beatmet2355 . Bravo and well said.

[@gooddognigel9992]

@ kelly martin survey people on the street to name a Joe Satriani song and you will be met with blank stares and head scratching. Ask them to name a Van Halen song and you will be met with a big smile and several VH songs that easily roll off their tongue. JS is excellent on the guitar but EVH is standing on top of the world.

[@workdays8280]

He no nothing about real guitar playing. No nothing about real blues grass .he doze not even have any real rock chops. But hay like his songs. To a point

[@TheresaCoughy]

Is that ignorance or bitterness? Youre insane

[@pascaljeanne6520]

his music has no interest for me ! big distortion ...can he play without ? these guys you cut distortion what will they do ?