Joe Satriani & Steve Vai Chat About Stage Volume, David Lee Roth & Mick Jagger & More

[Seshmeister]

[silverfish]

Looks like they got so well that the Satch/Vai 2024 Tour is a go:

http://www.satriani.com/road/

Dates from March 22 to May 12 (Atlanta & Denver gigs already Sold Out) means Joe should be
nice & limber when the Best of All Worlds tour starts on July 13.

Joe's Band: Bryan Beller (bass), Kenny Aronoff (drums), Rai Thistlethwayte (keys/guitar/vocals)
Steve's Band: Phillip Bynoe (bass), Jeremy Colson (drums), Dante Frisielle (keys/guitar)

[silverfish]

“You Really Got Me” – Live – Orlando, Florida 3/22/2024

“Enter Sandman” – Live - Orlando, Florida 3/22/2024

[Von Halen]

“You Really Got Me” – Live – Orlando, Florida 3/22/2024

If you want to know why there should have never been an EVH "Tribute" show, the answer lies right here in this video.

Also, even more proof as to what a farce this upcoming Clichegar tour is going to be.

[Terry]

Yeah, I wasn't too keen on the idea, although I did think if it was a hypothetical choice between a one-off EVH Tribute Show and whatever version of Van Halen Mach 5 (Roth, AVH, Satriani, Newsted) touring that I'd much prefer a one-off featuring a bunch of different guitar players then seeing Roth or Alex or whoever trying to reconstitute the band in whatever form. I guess the idea being that a one-time show would be more respectful than trying to restart the band without Eddie.

I had a general feeling that nothing was gonna be done either way. Nothing that had any participation or a stamp of approval from Alex or whoever heads up 'Van Halen' as a business...Wolfgang and Alex or whoever. Like, nothing done in a timely manner by way of what Queen did for Freddie a year or so after his passing. That whole biz of Alex and Dave doing something with Satriani and Newsted...I mean, I tend to think all of that talk between Alex, Dave, Satriani and Newsted was just that...talk.

The upcoming Van Hagar tribute tour seems to be little more than just another Circle or Chickenfoot tour with a few more Van Hagar numbers in the set than there had been on previous tours, when you get right down to it. I suppose Satriani playing instead of Vic Johnson is a slightly bigger draw or whatever. From the venue sizes I've seen that the tour will be playing in, it's in the 5 to 10 thousand seat capacities for the most part.

Players like Satriani and Vai have been even less special to me now with each passing day and each new guitarist uploading videos of themselves shredding on youtube than ever...back in the 1980's, that style was shit-hot. Now, too many bedroom guitar wankers have devalued that guitar hero technician currency. Try as they may, neither Vai nor Satriani will ever be as revered as Eddie...both will remain in Eddie's wake for eternity, treading water alongside Nuno Bettencourt, Paul Gilbert and the other also rans. But I suppose that's to be expected when your soloing abilities far exceed your songwriting abilities. Kinda fits into why Satriani is gonna be touring playing Eddie's licks, eh?

[Von Halen]

Yeah, I wasn't too keen on the idea, although I did think if it was a hypothetical choice between a one-off EVH Tribute Show and whatever version of Van Halen Mach 5 (Roth, AVH, Satriani, Newsted) touring that I'd much prefer a one-off featuring a bunch of different guitar players then seeing Roth or Alex or whoever trying to reconstitute the band in whatever form. I guess the idea being that a one-time show would be more respectful than trying to restart the band without Eddie.

I had a general feeling that nothing was gonna be done either way. Nothing that had any participation or a stamp of approval from Alex or whoever heads up 'Van Halen' as a business...Wolfgang and Alex or whoever. Like, nothing done in a timely manner by way of what Queen did for Freddie a year or so after his passing. That whole biz of Alex and Dave doing something with Satriani and Newsted...I mean, I tend to think all of that talk between Alex, Dave, Satriani and Newsted was just that...talk.

The upcoming Van Hagar tribute tour seems to be little more than just another Circle or Chickenfoot tour with a few more Van Hagar numbers in the set than there had been on previous tours, when you get right down to it. I suppose Satriani playing instead of Vic Johnson is a slightly bigger draw or whatever. From the venue sizes I've seen that the tour will be playing in, it's in the 5 to 10 thousand seat capacities for the most part.

Players like Satriani and Vai have been even less special to me now with each passing day and each new guitarist uploading videos of themselves shredding on youtube than ever...back in the 1980's, that style was shit-hot. Now, too many bedroom guitar wankers have devalued that guitar hero technician currency. Try as they may, neither Vai nor Satriani will ever be as revered as Eddie...both will remain in Eddie's wake for eternity, treading water alongside Nuno Bettencourt, Paul Gilbert and the other also rans. But I suppose that's to be expected when your soloing abilities far exceed your songwriting abilities. Kinda fits into why Satriani is gonna be touring playing Eddie's licks, eh?

The way I understand it, there isn't going to be much, if any, Circlejerk or Chickenshit stuff in the setlist.

I wouldn't put Nuno in that list. He's a great rhythm player/writer. He can shred the leads, but he can also write songs with singers involved. If it weren't for Dave, Vai still wouldn't ever have a song of substance that features a singer.

[Terry]

Nah, Nuno belongs on that list.

Better songwriter than Satriani or Vai or Gilbert, but not a truly great songwriter.

[Terry]

The way I understand it, there isn't going to be much, if any, Circlejerk or Chickenshit stuff in the setlist.

I wouldn't put Nuno in that list. He's a great rhythm player/writer. He can shred the leads, but he can also write songs with singers involved. If it weren't for Dave, Vai still wouldn't ever have a song of substance that features a singer.

Is the setlist going to be all Van Hagar and Hagar solo?

I dunno. Sam has diddled with the publicity angle so many times regarding exactly what the tour is. My latest understanding is the upcoming tour will have several more Van Hagar tunes in the setlist, along with Satriani. Hadn't heard exactly what the non-Van Halen tunes in the setlist will be. Whatever the case, it doesn't sound like a massive alteration from what Hagar has been doing live for the last decade or so already, more like tinkering with the setlist a bit.

In a way, I can't blame the guy for doing whatever he has to do in order to hustle up some more business and maybe play to a few more thousand people a night than he otherwise would without the Van Hagar Tribute angle. And by saying I can't blame the guy, I suppose I should say I'm not especially surprised. It's not as if he hasn't openly hustled for a buck all along.

It's all just...so silly. Sort of like Roth re-recording all those CVH tracks in the studio and releasing them online in that these geezers just don't have anything better to do or anything creative left to offer, I suppose. Or they don't want to even bother offering anything new because the bulk of folks out there still willing to pay to hear them just want to hear the old stuff over and over and over again.

Like, these guys are all either in their 70's or bumping right up alongside their seventh decade. Eddie is gone. Van Halen is over. Are they just scrapping for public bragging rights in terms of the legacy? Haven't they been doing that for nearly 40 years already?

[Seshmeister]

If it weren't for Dave, Vai still wouldn't ever have a song of substance that features a singer.

I'm not disagreeing with too much on that but his Sex And Religion album is better than anything Hagar has been involved in.

[Seshmeister]

Also I get this isn't for everyone and it's not super easy listening but fuck even if you aren't a fan you have to appreciate that it was cool that there was a time when you could have a performance like this on network TV...and in the same way that you can argue without Roth Ed Van Halen wouldn't have gone beyond the bars or maybe a Blue Note record deal, without Dave building up Vai this isn't happening on Jay Leno...

[silverfish]

Sam has diddled with the publicity angle so many times regarding exactly what the tour is.

There you go.

Not only is he R&R's answer to the question nobody asked, he is also officially the Donald Trump of R&R.

Congratulations, S(h)am! Another milestone achieved!

[twonabomber]

I did not like Vai's tone on Sex and Religion. I though it sounded thin compared to Passion and Warfare. I don't care for Townsend's voice, either.

In a way, I can't blame the guy for doing whatever he has to do in order to hustle up some more business and maybe play to a few more thousand people a night than he otherwise would without the Van Hagar Tribute angle. And by saying I can't blame the guy, I suppose I should say I'm not especially surprised. It's not as if he hasn't openly hustled for a buck all along.

I looked to see what tickets were available for the Sham Halen tour here at Blossom. Pavilion is just about sold out. I think the last time Shammy was here he played at the MGM casino. So, a 5,000 seat room to a 17,000 seat shed. But not on his own name and merit, he needed the Van Halen name to get there.

[DLR Bridge]

Devin Townsend looks like a bald Gary Cherone mimicking Phil Anselmo. I actually like some of the stuff he did on his own, but nothing he did with Vai ever struck a chord with me.

And RIP TM Stevens.

[DLR Bridge]

If you want to know why there should have never been an EVH "Tribute" show, the answer lies right here in this video.

Also, even more proof as to what a farce this upcoming Clichegar tour is going to be.

That lacked the very essence, soul and sex appeal that both The Kinks and Van Halen laced the song with. This was nothing more than two guys reciting their guitar caches to each other.

[Von Halen]

Is the setlist going to be all Van Hagar and Hagar solo?

According to his interview on Stern, it is going to be Van Hagar heavy with a few Van Halen songs thrown in. He is billing this as a Van Hagar show of sorts. This is the ONLY reason he has gone overnight from playing clubs and State Fairs, to venues like Blossom and Pine Knob. Satch will probably make them play a Chickenshit song or two just to justify his presence. I doubt they'll play any Circlejerk. Is there even a memorable Circlejerk song that his most ardent fans will recognize?