“If you’re not excited about new players, then that’s pretty sad”: Why Joe Satriani wants the next generation of guitarists to be better than he is
Joe Satriani wants brighter, better players, and is by no means threatened by the next generation of guitarists.
Satriani, who taught friend and fellow shredder Steve Vai when they were both teenagers, feels that having players come along who are better than the current greats is “the whole point” of evolving the future of guitar music.
READ MORE: Sammy Hagar says the way Joe Satriani played Van Halen’s Ain’t Talkin Bout Love is “the best that song has sounded in many, many years”
In an interview with Classic Rock, Satch is asked if he’s worried that a more technically advanced player than him will come along, to which he responds, “It’s already happened! There’s a couple of things to address here. Number one, if it doesn’t happen, the world is in deep trouble. We need newer, smarter people to solve the human condition, in every field – scientists, doctors, writers. We need better, smarter, every single day. That’s the whole point.
“We have children, and we raise better human beings to help us, so we don’t become extinct,” he further explains. “Also, if you’re not excited about new players, then that’s pretty sad. I’m excited about just about every player I see. I champion it, I always have. Because I started out teaching, and I got used to the idea that Steve Vai was gonna walk in my door and blow my mind.”
It seems Satriani’s competitive streak has been fairly non-existent from day one. Back in the 1990s when he was trying to launch the G3 tour – for which he teams up with other guitarists such as Vai, Yngwie Malmsteen, and more – he says management at record companies felt guitarists should be kept apart from others who could be seen as their opposition.
“Everyone, was like: ‘Don’t stand next to that guy, because he’s your competitor.’ At the same time, the promoters would say: ‘Can’t we just have you guys come a month apart?’ So we had nice little arguments with them, saying: ‘This is different.’ This was something I felt the audience really wanted to see, because I wanted to see it,” he shares in the interview.
“When I was fourteen, if I had a chance to see Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck together on the same stage, I’d think that was the greatest thing ever. I wouldn’t be thinking like a promoter, I’d be thinking like a fan.”
Satriani will be touring with Steve Vai as part of the brand new SATCHVAI Band this summer. The stint kicks off in June, and you can find out more via the official SATCHVAI website.
The post “If you’re not excited about new players, then that’s pretty sad”: Why Joe Satriani wants the next generation of guitarists to be better than he is appeared first on Guitar.com | All Things Guitar.
Source: www.guitar-bass.net
