“It was a crazy thought to begin with.”

Renowned guitarist Joe Satriani made an appearance on Loudwire Nights on Thursday, March 6, to delve into the groundbreaking G3 tour that originally featured him alongside fellow guitar legends Steve Vai and Eric Johnson in 1996. He shared insights about the events that led to their much-anticipated reunion, which is now documented in the new live album, G3 Reunion Live. This conversation sheds light on the evolution of guitar music and the remarkable journey of these artists. You can listen to the entire conversation in the player located towards the conclusion of this article.

Joe revealed that the spark for the G3 reunion came from an unexpected source—his son. “He approached me with the intriguing idea of creating a documentary about his life growing up with a father who had a rather unconventional career,” Satriani explained to host Chuck Armstrong. His son encouraged him and his fellow guitarists to come together for a reunion show, which eventually blossomed into the idea of a tour.

Reflecting on the original G3 tour back in ’96, Satriani confessed that it too was a rather audacious concept. “The challenging part was persuading promoters at the time to agree to feature three headlining instrumental guitarists on the same stage,” he reminisced. “Moreover, I had to convince the managers of other artists to allow their talents to share the spotlight with two other equally skilled guitarists. Understandably, they were quite protective of their artists.” Despite the challenges, the tour became a legendary event showcasing three of the greatest guitarists of our time, and nearly three decades later, they reunited to relive that magic.

As Satriani recounted, “I approached Steve and Eric quite late in the process, leaving us only a few months to see if we could pull this off.” Fortunately, they found a small window in their busy schedules, which were already filled with prior engagements. The task of coordinating their schedules fell to their agent, Wayne Forte, who worked diligently to secure enough gigs that would allow the three guitarists to come together in the same location, making the reunion a reality.

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While the G3 reunion wasn’t an extensive tour, the brief series of performances allowed for significant footage to be captured. Fans can look forward to experiencing this remarkable event through a film, which is expected to be released within the next year. “The visuals from that tour turned out to be fantastic, particularly the concluding performance at The Orpheum, which was truly exceptional,” Satriani shared.

Insights and Highlights from Joe Satriani’s Appearance on Loudwire Nights

• Satriani expressed that he never dwells on his reputation as one of the greatest guitar players of our time: “Every morning, I wake up thinking, ‘What am I going to write today?’ I get butterflies in my stomach at the thought of creating something new. I feel the pressure to compose, and when I pick up my guitar, I remind myself, ‘Oh man, I need to relearn how to play!’”
• He emphasized his forward-thinking approach: “Currently, I’m engaged in songwriting and recording with Sammy Hagar, while preparing for two separate tours. Additionally, I’m working on art projects for the Wentworth Gallery. Recently, I established a connection for a collaboration with a renowned artist, which I’m excited about. I’m always focused on future endeavors; I simply don’t have the time to celebrate past achievements.”
• Satriani expressed enthusiasm for his upcoming Vegas residency with The Best of All Worlds, featuring Sammy Hagar, Michael Anthony, and Jason Bonham: “When on tour, we have to manage our time effectively, often only having 18 hours in each city. It’s an exhilarating experience, but it can also be exhausting. A residency will allow us to conserve energy and enhance our performances, as we won’t be as sleep-deprived and overwhelmed.”

Catch the Complete Interview in the Podcast Player Below

Joe Satriani joined Loudwire Nights on Thursday, March 6; the show is available for replay online here, and you can tune in live every weeknight at 7 PM ET on the Loudwire app. Additionally, check to see if the show is accessible through your local radio station and listen to interviews on-demand.