Classic Rock
Joe Satriani explains what it is like to play with Yngwie Malmsteen
Back in 1996, the guitarist Steve Vai created G3, a project that would unite him with other famous guitarists and they would tour playing a lot of different material. Joe Satriani, who curiously was Vai’s guitar teacher before they were famous, has been a constant member of the project and back in 2003 they invited the virtuoso Swedish guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen, who is known for his strong personality.
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In an interview with Guitar World, Satriani recalled what it is like to play with Malmsteen live.
Joe Satriani explains what it is like to play with Yngwie Malmsteen
“Some guys are really straight-ahead. Like Eric (Johnson), Steve (Vai), and myself, we’re not demanding when it comes to what we need before we head out on stage. Then other performers need a little more stuff. You have two extremes. Robert Fripp said: ‘No lights on me, I want to sit down and I want to be behind everybody.’ So it was sort of an ‘un-demand’. And of course Yngwie… I mean, if you invite him, you have to just say: ‘I know what I’m inviting.'”
“To Yngwie’s credit, he always plays so great and always puts on the Yngwie Malmsteen show. The only problem that I would have is that sometimes he wouldn’t pay attention to other things happening on stage when his bit was done. He’s not used to not being the focus of the show.”
“So as show leader, I’d just take a deep breath and say: ‘I have to understand that Yngwie’s not used to this kind of thing.’ So we’d be as gentle as possible. Like, I’d say, ‘When Steve’s soloing, don’t throw your guitar up in the air right next to him, because he’s got his eyes closed. I don’t want him to get hit in the head!'” Joe Satriani said.
Yngwie Malmsteen
Malmsteen first achieved fame as the guitarist of Alcatrazz, band that also had the former Rainbow vocalist Graham Bonnet. After recording one album, the musician left the band and started a successful solo career.
His first solo album “Rising Force”, released in 1984 won the Guitar Player’s award for Best Rock Album. Also was nominated for a Grammy Award for “Best Rock Instrumental”, reaching no. 60 on the Billboard album chart.
