Strange Beautiful Music
Page 27
Special thanks to my wife, Rubina, and my son, ZZ, for everything they are, the lights of my life.
—JOE SATRIANI
* *
First and foremost, I would like to thank the great Joe Satriani for granting me this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity as a biographer to collaborate on the writing of a book that factually kept me from retiring in 2011 after thirty-three books, took me to another level as a writer creatively, and gave my career a second life. I'll be forever grateful as a fan and author for the honor.
A million thanks to the indespensible Mick Brigden, the greatest music manager I've ever had the privilege of working with in fifteen years in the business. This book would not have been completed without your steady hand helping to guide the process, from arranging interviews with players and producers to acting as point person with our publisher once the deal was done. It has been a true privilege.
Thank you to the colorful cast of talented souls who contributed their time and interview commentary to help tell this amazing story, including the awesome Steve Vai, John Cuniberti, Mike Fraser, Glyn Johns, Andy Johns (R.I.P.), Sammy Hagar, Chad Smith, Michael Anthony, Larry LaLonde, Bongo Bob Smith, Jeff Holt, Jeff Campitelli, Gregg and Matt Bissonette, Eric Caudieux, Kenny Aronoff, Brian May, Billy Gibbons, Robert Fripp, and Stu Hamm.
Many thanks to our amazing publisher, BenBella Books, for giving this book a home, specifically publisher Glenn Yeffeth for first believing in the project, and all of the gifted staff who worked so hard on this book, including our awesome editor Erin Kelley, Adrienne Lang, Alicia Kania, Jennifer Canzoneri, Sarah Dombrowsky, Lindsay Marshall, Jenna Sampson, Monica Lowry, Debbie Harmsen, Adia Herrera, et al.
On the personal side, first and foremost, a thousand thank- yous to my Carriedoll for giving up two years of Sundays to my workaholism/tolerating my six-day work weeks necessary to undertake the writing of this opus and for inspiring me tirelessly along the way, I love you beyond all words and songs; our devoted pets, Scooter and Hannie; to my wonderful parents, James and Christina Brown, thank you for all your tireless support and love throughout my creative life as a musician and writer; my brother, Josh; the extended Thieme and Brown families. Thank you to my lifelong cast of amazing friends: Alex, Ellen, Jackson, and Willamena Schuchard; Andrew and Sarah McDermott; Sean Fillinich and Lisa Wood; Cris Ellauri; Adam and Shannon Perri; Alexandra Federov and Larry Jiminez; Paul and Helen Watts; Bob and Cyenne O'Brien; Richard, Lisa, and Regan Kendrick; Joe Viers; Aaron C. Harmon; Tony and Yvonne Rose; John Cerullo; Kenny Aronoff; and anyone and everyone else whom I've had the chance to share this wild ride called life with over the past thirty-eight years!
—JAKE BROWN
Index
A
Alexander, Dan, 70
Allen wrench, as drum, 47–48
“All Right Now,” 1
“Alright Alright,” 250–251, 254
alternative rock, 86
“Always with Me, Always with You,” 94, 103, 119, 130
American Dream, 266, 267
amplifiers. see also gear
The Extremist, 139–140, 144–145
Not of This Earth, 72–74
“Andalusia,” 221–223
Anthony, Michael, 225, 233, 234
Chickenfoot I, 226–228, 231, 235, 236, 238, 239
Chickenfoot III, 249, 253, 254, 256, 258–261
Armoury Studios, 212
Arnold, Gary, 239
Aronoff, Kenny, 259–260
artistic venture, Satriani’s music as, 39–40
Ashley, Phil, 131–132, 134, 155–156
“Asik Veysel,” 221, 223
“Attack,” 186, 187
B
backing tracks, 179, 187
“Bamboo,” 198–200, 202
“Banana Mango,” 48, 51, 54
band-feel recording, 241–242
BBC News, 205
Bearsville Studios experiment, 131–135, 138
the Beatles, 5
Beck, Jeff, 18, 86, 155
“The Bells of Lal (Parts 1 and 2)”, 123–124, 129
Berklee College of Music, 20
Bettencourt, Nuno, 1
“Big Bad Moon,” 125, 127, 128, 130
Billboard magazine, 111, 137, 169, 241
Bill Graham Management, 138
Bissonette, Greg, 140–143, 148, 150–152, 155–156
Bissonette, Matt, 214
The Extremist, 140–143, 148, 150–152, 155–156
Is There Love in Space?, 201, 202
Professor Satchafunkilus and the Musterion of Rock, 215, 217–218, 220–221
Strange Beautiful Music, 194–195
Black Swans and Wormhole Wizards, 241–248, 279–280
Blind Faith, 143
BlogCritics.org, 197
blues, 19, 238
blues-rock, 199
Boden, Mike, 214
Professor Satchafunkilus and the Musterion of Rock, 222
Unstoppable Momentum, 268
“Borg Sex,” 182–183, 185, 186, 189
Brawer, Gary
Chickenfoot III, 253
and Floyd Rose units, 105
Brigden, Mick
Chickenfoot III, 259
The Extremist, 139, 155
Flying in a Blue Dream, 128–129
and G3, 169–171
and Mick Jagger gig, 113
on Satriani and Glyn Johns, 160
Bruce, Jack, 146
Bryson, David, 24
Burns, Kevin, 138
C
“Cabo Wabo,” 236
call-and-response, 210–212
Calvagna, Danny, 10
Campitelli, Jeff, 27, 200, 214
on beginning of the Squares, 27–30
Black Swans and Wormhole Wizards, 244
Crystal Planet, 172, 173, 175, 176
on end of the Squares, 38–39
Engines of Creation, 189
and feel for music, 28–29
Guitar Player Soundpage, 116–117
“Happy Birthday” recording, 44–45
Is There Love in Space?, 199, 201
Joe Satriani EP, 55
Not of This Earth, 63–67, 69, 71, 77, 78
Professor Satchafunkilus and the Musterion of Rock, 215, 217
on rehearsals of the Squares, 34
on Satriani’s musical ability, 28
on Satriani’s style, 29
Strange Beautiful Music, 194, 195
Super Colossal, 206, 209–212
Surfing with the Alien, 93, 94, 97, 99–101, 107
“Wormhole Wizards,” 244
on writing credits for the Squares, 35
“Can’t Find My Way Home,” 143
“Can’t Go Back,” 265
Cantrell, Jerry, 226
“Can’t Slow Down,” 130
Carle Place High School, 16
Carter, John, 257
Caudieux, Eric, 193, 214
Crystal Planet tracking, 179
Engines of Creation, 181–190
Professor Satchafunkilus and the Musterion of Rock, 222
“Champagne?”, 186
Chaney, Chris, 268–270
Charles, Ray, 141
Chickenfoot, 128
Chickenfoot I, 2, 225–240, 279
Chickenfoot III, 207, 249–261, 280
“Circles,” 94, 97, 99, 105
Clapton, Eric, 162
classic rock-band model, 57–58
Clink, Mike, 139
Coast Recording, 179–180
Colaiuta, Vinnie, 268–270, 269
Coltrane, John, 75–76
“Come Closer,” 252, 255–256
“Cool #9,” 165
“A Cool New Way,” 205–208
Counter, David, 146
Cox, Billy, 10
“Crazy Little Thing Called Love,” 1
the Critters, 26
“Crowd Chant,” 210–212, 271–272
Crowe, Cameron, 127–128
“Crushing Day,�
�� 97, 104
“The Crush of Love,” 117
“Crying,” 137, 151–152
Crystal Planet, 165, 172–180, 277
“Crystal Planet,” 174–175, 179
Cultreri, Cliff, 85, 96
and budget for Surfing with the Alien, 106
creative connections through, 87–88
on The Extremist, 155
and Not of This Earth deal, 85–88
on Surfing with the Alien, 112–115
Time Machine, 156
Cuniberti, John, 165, 214
at Bearsville, 131–135
on breakup of the Squares, 61
Crystal Planet, 179–180
The Extremist, 137–140, 146–148, 156–157
Flying in a Blue Dream, 120–121, 124–126, 128
Guitar Player Soundpage, 116–117
Is There Love in Space?, 200–202
Joe Satriani LP songs, 165
on meeting Satriani, 30–34
and mixing sections, 53
Not of This Earth, 61–65, 67–71, 73–80, 87
Professor Satchafunkilus and the Musterion of Rock, 222–223
on recordings of the Squares, 35–37
remastering by, 272–273
on Satriani after breakup of the Squares, 39
on Satriani as musical leader of the Squares, 35
on Satriani as sound engineer, 220
on Satriani’s home studio, 218
on Satriani’s studio recording approach, 124
skill of, 32
on soul in music, 221
Strange Beautiful Music, 191, 194–196
on structure of Satriani’s music, 58
Surfing with the Alien, 93, 94, 96–108
“Time,” 165
Cutting Edge Audio Group, 219
D
Cutting Edge Audio Group, 219
“Day at the Beach,” 130
Deep Purple, 165
demo tapes, 36
and “demo-itis,” 264
with Pro Tools, 191
and recording of Crystal Planet, 175
of the Squares, 36–39, 43
of Surfing songs, 83
“Devil’s Slide,” 187, 189
Different Fur Studios, 120
digital delay, 51–52
digital recording
Is There Love in Space?, 201
Strange Beautiful Music, 192–196
DiMarzio, Larry, 71
direct-input (DI) recording, 74–75
disco band, 21
distortion, 198
distributors, 84–85
“A Door into Summer,” 265–266
Dornacker, Jane, 27
“Down, Down, Down,” 164–165
“Down the Drain,” 254
Dreaming #11 EP, 117, 119, 275–276
“Dream Song,” 243–244
Drexler, K. Eric, 186
“Driving at Night,” 78
drum machines. see also gear
live drummers vs., 98–100, 153, 190
for Not of This Earth, 62–67, 72–73
for Surfing with the Alien, 98–102
drummer(s), 28–29. see also specific individuals
Allen wrench as, 47–48
for Chickenfoot III, 260
drum machines vs., 98–100, 153, 190
for Engines of Creation, 190
for The Extremist, 143–144
for Super Colossal, 206
using drum machines as, 62–67
Dylan, Bob, 127
E
East, Nathan, 161–162
“Echo,” 92–93, 104, 129
The Ed Sullivan Show, 5
effects pedals, 74, 183, 185. see also gear
Egan, Mark, 88
Electric Ladyland, 202
Engines of Creation, 181–190, 277
“Engines of Creation,” 182, 189–190
Engines of Creation (K. Eric Drexler), 186
“The Enigmatic,” 70, 71, 76
Epic/Sony, 181
“Every Breath You Take,” 251
Experience Hendrix tour, 241
The Extremist, 137–157, 190, 276
“The Extremist,” 137, 141
F
Fairweather Low, Andy, 161–162
fans, connecting with, 115–116
Fantasy Studios, 124, 174
Fauré, Gabriel, 210
feedback, 18–19
feel, in music, 26, 28–29, 162
Fender guitars, 71–72
Five Towns College, 20
Flex-Able, 83–84
Floyd Rose bar, 49, 105
Flying in a Blue Dream, 119–130, 276
“Flying in a Blue Dream,” 125, 128–130, 212
Fogerty, John, 259
Fraser, Mike, 171–173
Black Swans and Wormhole Wizards, 241–242, 244–247
Chickenfoot III, 257–258
Crystal Planet, 175, 177–178, 180
Is There Love in Space?, 201–202
Super Colossal, 207, 209, 211
Unstoppable Momentum, 267–270
“Friends,” 137, 141, 145, 149–150
Fripp, Robert, 196
“FRYDAY,” 258–259
“Future in the Past,” 235–236, 240, 252
G
G3, 169–172, 174
G3: Live in Concert, 172
Garr, Tom, 10
gear
Black Swans and Wormhole Wizards, 243, 279–280
Chickenfoot I, 279
Chickenfoot III, 256–257, 280
Crystal Planet, 174, 176–177, 277
Dreaming #11 EP, 275–276
Engines of Creation, 184–185, 188, 277
The Extremist, 143–145, 276
Flying in a Blue Dream, 126, 276
home studio, 197, 218, 219
Is There Love in space?, 197–198, 278
The Joe Satriani EP, 47–51, 275
Joe Satriani LP, 277
Not of This Earth, 70–75, 275
Professor Satchafunkilus and the Musterion of Rock, 215–216, 218, 219, 279
“Pyrrhic Victoria,” 243
Strange Beautiful Music, 191, 196, 277–278
Super Colossal, 205–206, 278
Surfing with the Alien, 92, 96–97, 104–105, 275
Time Machine, 276
Unstoppable Momentum, 280
“Ghosts”`, 223–224
Giardia attack, 122
Gibbons, Billy, 199
Gibson guitars, 71–72
“Gnaahh,” 202
“God is Crying,” 245–246
“The Golden Room,” 246–247
Gottlieb, Danny, 88
Graham, Bill, 138
Greg Kihn Band, 30, 81–83
Grundman, Bernie, 108
Guitar Legends Festival (Spain), 1, 138
guitar lessons
taking, 6–7, 20–21
teaching, 12–14, 23–26
Guitar Player magazine, 41, 58, 59, 116–117, 119
guitars, creating, 71–72. see also gear
Guitar World magazine, 91, 159, 263
H
Hagar, Sammy, 225, 261
Chickenfoot I, 226, 227, 229–233, 235–237, 239, 240
Chickenfoot III, 249–252, 254–258
Unstoppable Momentum, 265
Hamm, Stuart, 116
Crystal Planet, 172, 173, 175–176
Dreaming #11, 117
Hammett, Kirk, 26
“Hands in the Air,” 198
“Happy Birthday” recording, 44–45
harmonics
The Extremist, 148–149, 153
feedback as, 18
Joe Satriani EP, 54
Professor Satchafunkilus and the Musterion of Rock, 215
Super Colossal, 206, 208
harmonies
Chickenfoot albums, 258
“Circles,” 94
The Extremist, 153
of Satriani’s music, 58
Strang
e Beautiful Music, 193
of Steve Vai, 42
of Van Halen, 258
“Heartbeats,” 243
Hellborg, Jonas, 88
Hendrix, Jimi, 9
and blues, 238
death of, 3
Electric Ladyland, 49, 202
on Billy Gibbons, 199
musicianship of, 155
practice by, 10
riffs and solos of, 95
Satriani’s first exposure to, 5–6
as Satriani’s greatest teacher, 18–19
“Hill Groove,” 196
“Hill of the Skull,” 97
Hogan, David, 128
Holt, Jeff
Joe Satriani EP, 43–48, 50–55
Likewise Productions, 199
“Home,” 165
home studio, 208, 218
extraneous noise in, 222–223
flexibility with, 219–220
gear for, 197, 218, 219
using Pro Tools in, 191–192
Hooker, John Lee, 18
Huffington Post, 249
Hunter, Charlie, 24
Hyde Street Studios, 67–68, 106–107, 121, 123
I
“I Am Become Death,” 40, 47
“I Believe,” 122, 126, 128, 130
“Ice 9,” 83, 97, 130
“If,” 166
“If I Could Fly,” 202, 203
“I Just Wanna Rock,” 215–216, 223
“I Like the Rain,” 199
“I’ll Put a Stone on Your Cairn,” 273
“I’m in the Mood,” 18
Important Records, 85
improvisation, 21, 195, 250
influences, musical, 15–16
instrumental guitar rock, 58, 86, 115, 216, 220
“Into the Light,” 122
Is There Love in Space?, 197–203, 278
“It’s a Mystery,” 213
“It’s So Good,” 209–210
J
“I Am Become Death,” 40, 47
Jagger, Mick, 113, 114, 168
Jerden, Dave, 139
The Joe Satriani EP, 41–55, 57–59, 275
Joe Satriani LP, 159–168, 277
John, Elton, 255
Johns, Andy, 53, 139
Chickenfoot I, 226, 230–231, 238, 247
The Extremist, 139–152
Glyn’s praise of, 160
Johns, Glyn, 160–167, 236–237
Johnson, Eric, 169–170
“Jumpin’ In,” 267
“Jumpin’ Out,” 265, 267
“Just Like Lightnin’”, 210
K
Kalodner, John, 171–172, 174
Katché, Manu, 161–162
Keneally, Mike
Black Swans and Wormhole Wizards, 244, 245, 247–248
Unstoppable Momentum, 268, 269
Kihn, Greg, 30, 82–83