"I Tried to Get Promoters on Board with Allan Holdsworth, But I Couldn’t Sell Him to Them": Joe Satriani Opens Up About the G3 Tour That Never Happened—and Reuniting with Steve Vai and Eric Johnson

"I Tried to Get Promoters on Board with Allan Holdsworth, But I Couldn’t Sell Him to Them": Joe Satriani Opens Up About the G3 Tour That Never Happened—and Reuniting with Steve Vai and Eric Johnson | Interview

Since its inception in 1996, G3—Joe Satriani's Avengers-level team-up of guitar heroes—has united onstage some of the world's most accomplished players in a celebration of pure six-string mastery. Over the years, the lineup has evolved, featuring guitar greats like John Petrucci, Paul Gilbert, Yngwie Malmsteen, Steve Lukather, Uli Jon Roth, Steve Morse, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, and Michael Schenker. However, the original trio—Satriani, Steve Vai, and Eric Johnson—remains the gold standard of G3.

Now, nearly 30 years later, that legendary lineup has reunited for a new series of electrifying live performances, culminating in the release of G3 Reunion Live—out now via earMUSIC. In an exclusive interview with Guitar Interactive Magazine editor Jonathan Graham, Satriani, Vai, and Johnson look back on the original tour, discuss getting the band back together, share their favourite tracks from one another, and reveal some of the legendary guitarists who almost joined the G3 lineup.

"It is déjà vu all over again," Satriani says with a smile, referencing Yogi Berra's famous phrase. "Every time we do G3, there's this wonderful feeling of camaraderie. It's like seeing family again. It's always a joy to play with these guys."

Vai echoes the sentiment. "G3 is definitely a little blessing. Every time it comes back around, it's something special. I get to play with such incredible musicians, and I don't have to run the whole show myself," he says with a laugh. "Joe is the guy who really steers the ship, which is great because I can just focus on playing and having fun."

For Eric Johnson, the reunion was just as seamless. "It's like no time had passed," he reflects. "You're back on stage with two guys you've played with decades before, and it just clicks. There's an ease to it, and that's what makes it so special."

While this most recent run of shows that led to G3 Reunion Live, from curtain up through to the legendary G3 jams, felt effortless, Apparently, getting the original tour off the ground back in '96 was a bit more of a challenge.

For some, a shred-heavy show like G3 wasn't an easy sell in the mid-1990s. Instrumental rock, along with other genres that had once been a force in the '80s, had largely been pushed out of the charts by grunge, alternative rock, and hip-hop. Promoters were sceptical—who would buy tickets for a tour featuring three guitarists and no lead singers?

"That first show in '96 was the culmination of over a year of arm-twisting," Satriani admits. "It didn't seem like anyone really wanted to see young guitar players get together and play. The hardest thing was convincing promoters that it was worth the risk."

For Satriani, it was a no-brainer; he knew who he wanted on board—Steve Vai and Eric Johnson. But making it happen wasn't so simple.

"Those are the two guys I wanted without a doubt for the maiden voyage," Satriani recalled. But locking down schedules proved to be a logistical nightmare. "Even back then, artists booked a year or more in advance. You couldn't just call someone and say, 'Hey, can you hold your schedule open for me for the next year and a half?'"

Months of negotiations followed before the dream lineup finally came together, committing to 23 shows booked across North America from October to November 1996. The tour culminated in select performances toward the end of the run being recorded and released as an album and home video G3: Live in Concert the following year.

After that first show, any doubts about the project quickly faded, as Satriani recalls, "We all walked off stage and said, 'Wow, the audience is with us, and they think just like we do. They're so happy that we're doing it. So let's do it.'"

The fan response was undeniable, and G3 was officially a success.

To keep the project fresh—and improve the chances of aligning everyone involved's schedule for additional tours that could be taken to a global stage—Satriani initially envisioned G3 as a rotating lineup.

Over the years, the tour has welcomed an ever-evolving lineup of world-class guitarists, each bringing their own unique style to the mix. But it's not just about big names—it's about chemistry, the magic that happens when the right players truly complement one another. That's where Satriani comes in. "My job as the G3 leader," he explains, "is to make everybody comfortable and to see what it is they really need to make them sort of step out of their normal path and join in with everybody else."

John Petrucci, who was a part of the lineup for the first time in 2001, was initially hesitant to get involved. "He said, 'But I don't have a solo career. I don't have a solo album,'" Satriani recalls. "I told him, 'Well, you've got time to make one.' And John, being the awesome character that he is, said, 'Yeah, okay, I'll do that.' And that's exactly what he did."

Other successful tours have been electrified by Paul Gilbert's lightning-fast picking, Kenny Wayne Shepherd's raw blues power, and Yngwie Malmsteen's neoclassical fury—each adding a distinct flavour to the mix.

Despite his somewhat unfair reputation for not always playing nicely with others, Yngwie, according to Satriani, embraced the collaborative nature of G3 better than almost anyone. "I remember when we had Yngwie out with us. I was surprised at how seamlessly he adapted. Because he's such a dynamic solo performer."

"When Yngwie takes the stage, it's just Yngwie, you know? He doesn't really have a lot of experience jamming with lots of people. But he's actually really great at it."

Of course, not everyone makes the cut. Satriani, without naming names, admits that some players simply don't fit the mould—more "not to be" than "G3."

"Some players are great in their bands, but they have no solo vibe, so to speak."

Although the lineups of G3's past read like a who's who of the instrument's finest, not everyone Satriani desperately wanted to include made it to centre stage—chief among them jazz-fusion virtuoso Allan Holdsworth.

"I tried to get promoters on board with Allan Holdsworth, and I could not sell him to them," Satriani reveals. "That was a shock to me. It really broke my heart because I had to be on the phone explaining what a genius he was. And they were like, 'Yeah, but he was here last month, and he sold 200 tickets. So we're not interested.'"

Upon hearing about this, Vai was a little stunned at the prospect.

"That would have been fantastic. But it would have also been a little odd, I think. Only because Allan is a very individualized type of player. He had such a particular sound and approach. He's my favourite guitar player!"

Unprompted, he continues, "When people ask me who the greatest guitar player is—which is a ridiculous question because it's not like sports—I used to go into this big explanation about personal preference, but now, I just say, 'Allan Holdsworth.' Or Tommy Emmanuel. You know, very different, but both incredible."

Then, there was the Jeff Beck tour that never materialized. He was apparently fully on board—until he wasn't.

"Jeff Beck almost did one. We had Jeff Beck and Billy Gibbons all lined up for a G3 tour. It was so close—just about to go to ticket sales, and then Jeff pulled out at the last minute," he recalls.

When asked why Beck pulled out, Satriani added:

"At the time, the reason was he decided that he thought Prince would be a better addition to G3 over Billy," Satriani says with a laugh. "And we were like, 'Well, that's obviously never going to happen.' So, I guess that was his way of saying, 'I'm not doing it.'"

Holdsworth and Beck's near involvement stands as fascinating "what if" moments in G3 history. But while the lineup has shifted over the years, one thing has remained constant—the fans.

And it's not just the audience in awe of these performances. It turns out these guitar legends are just as captivated by what each other brings to the table night after night.

As Vai puts it, his admiration isn't just for the notes his long-time touring partners play but for the intent behind them and the way they're delivered.

"Joe has this way of making the guitar sing, of taking something technically complex and turning it into a melody that sticks with you," he says. "It's that kind of playing that's always resonated with me."

Though his own catalogue is nothing short of remarkable, when asked if there's a Satriani-penned song he'd claim for his own if he could, Vai doesn't hesitate.

"There's that song Crying that Joe does," Vai says. "It's a pretty remarkable piece of music. When I watch him play, I see a human expressing himself beautifully and authentically through an instrument—through melody, through touch, through control. It's transparent, it's seamless, and it's just profoundly beautiful… Joe is a melodic genius, you know? I really feel that he's got a limitless well of inspired melody within him."

When it comes to Eric Johnson, Vai is equally moved by his refined, lyrical, and precise approach.

"Watching Eric play Manhattan—so beautiful! I mean, he's just got such an elegance and tone, and he takes such care of every note."

"Every time he hits a chord, every note has its own little zip code," Vai jokes. "I'm like, 'Wow.'"

Satriani is also quick to acknowledge Johnson's melodic mastery, as well as Vai's almost supernatural ability to shape sound with absolute control, no matter the track or multi-necked instrument in his hands.

"The way Eric navigates a song and the melody is just beautiful," Satriani says, before revealing a track of Vai's that he's relieved isn't a part of his own setlist. "The one that I'm so happy I didn't write would be Teeth of the Hydra. Because every time I watch Steve do that, I think, 'That's totally insane!'

Something he's mentioned to Vai on more than one occasion as he explains, "We were just talking about that the other day, how I said, 'You know, for me, the perfect situation is I have a guitar on, maybe I'm plugged into a pedal—one pedal, it's always on, it's straight into the amp, the amp's up loud, and I just walk around and play.' I said, 'To me, that's the perfect world.'

I told him, 'When I look at you playing the Hydra, I go, "Why would Steve do such a thing to himself?"' It's so detailed, but it's so natural for Steve to do it. And once he starts doing it, he completely communicates the heart and soul of the song through it. But, I mean, who else could have done such a thing? Memorized when to play each of the three necks and all the switches and buttons he's got to push to make it work? That's so remarkable."

Johnson, for his part, admires both Satriani and Vai's ability to create something so technically advanced yet always in service of the song. But for Johnson, you don't have to be the likes of Satriani or Vai to connect with him; just having something to say with the instrument is enough.

"You just start getting that global feeling that there's a connection to all musicians and particularly guitar players," Johnson reflects. "There's always something you can learn from anybody—no matter what, there's always something they do that is unique and beautiful."

Of course, Satriani and Vai's friendship long predates the early G3 shows. The two first crossed paths as teenagers, with Satriani even serving as Vai's hometown guitar teacher in Long Island, NY, for a time.

Now, almost 50 years later—with a long list of studio albums, world tours, and countless accolades between them—their careers have run parallel, both becoming world-renowned solo artists, constantly pushing the boundaries of instrumental rock with absolutely nothing to prove. But one lingering question from fans has always remained: when will they record a studio album together? Well, with the SatchVai project, that album is officially on the way.

"Steve and I have been joined at the hip," Satriani admits. "We've toured together, played together, been on records together. But we've never formed a band and written music together… until now."

Vai shares in the excitement for the long-awaited project, calling it "something I've hoped for my whole life" and emphasizing that he "would never miss an opportunity to work with Joe like this. It's fantastic."

For both of these guitar virtuosos, the yet-untitled SatchVai album is proving to be a particularly rewarding experience. As Vai puts it:

"It's a lot of fun. It's nice to work with a friend like that. 'Cause I don't collaborate usually."

"What I'm hearing now is so different from anything that I've ever done or ever heard," Vai explains. "It's a little frustrating because it's so compelling. You just want to stay in the music. You just want to stop everything you're doing and go do it."

Satriani, meanwhile, describes the process of piecing together the yet-untitled album as refreshingly open-ended:

"A lot of times, you just start playing, and suddenly, you realize you've got something magical. That's what's happening here."

The first taste of the SatchVai album came with Sea of Emotion Part One, a track released in 2024.

Vai confirms that two additional parts to this trilogy of singles are on the way—however, that's just the start of it:

"We have three tracks that are ready. One that's already finished, mixed, and released which is Sea of Emotion Part One. Then we have Sea of Emotion Part Two and Part Three, which are done. We've probably got about eight or nine other new tracks in the building mode right now."

While both Satriani and Vai have strong signature sounds in their respective solo music, the project is seemingly pushing them into new creative spaces.

"Steve and I have left so much open to whatever feels fantastic in the moment that I can't really say there are parameters yet on exactly how this album's going to pan out," Satriani says. "The music just has to be great. It has to really reflect us and our long history together."

That excitement lies in the unpredictability of the song craft—an exercise in creative spontaneity that, at times, may be reminiscent of the countless jam sessions from their high school days.

"Every once in a while, one of us will say, 'Hey, I wrote this crazy song,' and the other one says, 'Let's just do it. Let's figure it out later... That's the beauty of this project—we're doing it because we love it,'" Satriani says. "And when the time feels right, we'll take it on the road and share it with the world."

Though both Satriani and Vai have stepped in front of the mic from time to time, the majority of their combined back catalogue remains instrumental. However, the SatchVai album will feature some singing—just not from them.

"So far, there's one guest vocalist coming in," Satriani confirms. While he can't share more details just yet, he adds, "We're working with a lot of great musicians to help us put this thing together."

While Satriani and Vai are diving deep into their collaboration, Eric Johnson has also been working on new music. Known for his perfectionist approach to recording, Johnson is cautiously optimistic about releasing his next album sooner rather than later.

"Well, I just started on one," Johnson says. "I just did a tour, but right before that, we went in for a few days and cut a bunch of basic tracks.

Now that I'm back off the road, I'm going to listen to them and see if any of it was any good or whether I need to spend the next 10 years redoing it."

Given Johnson's reputation for painstaking attention to detail, it's hard to take that as a joke. However, hinting at a blues-rock-based album, there appears to be a chance its delivery may take on a more raw, immediate approach.

"This one's kind of a blues-rock thing—so it's not like a huge amount of production. Maybe it won't be quite as long... hopefully."

With the SatchVai studio album in the works, Joe Satriani and Steve Vai are preparing to take their collaboration on the road with a 2025 UK and European tour this summer.

Dubbed the SatchVai: Surfing With The Hydra tour, the first show kicks off on June 13 at the York Barbican and will hit major cities like London, Glasgow, Wolverhampton, and Manchester before heading across Europe with stops in Paris, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Helsinki, and more, including the Guitare en Scene Festival in Saint-Julien, France.

Joining Satriani and Vai on stage will be drummer Kenny Aronoff, bassist Marco Mendoza, and guitarist Pete Thorn. Fans in attendance can expect a setlist blending classic solo material, brand-new tracks from the upcoming album, and, of course, just like G3, extended jams.

As the original G3 trio of Satriani, Vai, and Johnson wraps up their triumphant return, what's next for G3? As the longest-running guitar-centric tour of its kind approaches its 30th anniversary, there's clearly no reason to stop the train anytime soon.

Once again, as instrumental rock shifts and adapts in the modern age, a new generation of guitarists is emerging—players redefining what it means to be a guitar hero. And Vai, for one, is more than optimistic about bringing new blood into the lineup:

"You look at guys like Polyphia, Plini, Mateus Asato—they've taken the torch and are doing something fresh with it."

Joe's the boss, of course, and while he hints that nothing is set in stone for the next chapter, the real question isn't if G3 will return—it's when and who will be in the lineup.

"That's the beauty of G3—we don't do it because we have to. We do it because we love it. And when the time feels right, we'll do it again."

For more information on G3 Reunion Live, and the SatchVai: Surfing With The Hydra tour, visit g3tour.com and satchvaiband.com