Artist: JOE SATRIANI
Album: SUPER COLOSSAL (CD)

Release date: 2006
Media type: CD

Of all the 80's guitar heroes the unassuming JOE SATRIANI is probably the one most known for being able to translate his talent into solo commercial exposure in the charts, his former pupil WHITESNAKE and DAVID LEE ROTH guitarist extraordinaire STEVE VAI coming a close second. Amongst his other patronages Satriani includes METALLICA guitarist Kirk Hammett. Satriani, following travels abroad for many years, had previously been a member of THE SQUARES in the mid eighties before joining GREG KIHN for his 1986 'Love And Rock n' Roll' album prior to venturing solo.

Featured musicians on the debut were keyboard player John Kreeger, drummer Jeff Campitelli and vocalist John Cuniberti. Seizing upon the guitar fever of the time Satriani moulded an eccentric but quirkily accessible 1987 album 'Surfing With The Alien' which surprised many by making a significant impact on the American charts.

Former MARILLION and GTR drummer Jonathan Mover and noted bassist STUART HAMM formed part of Satriani's live band for 1988. Any potential downtime Satriani plugged with live work for MICK JAGGER. Hamm also supplied bass parts for 1989's 'Flying In A Blue Dream'.

1992's 'The Extremist', produced by Andy Johns and featuring the ex-DAVID LEE ROTH sibling rhythm section of Matt & Greg Bissonette, WHITESNAKE keyboard player Brett Tuggle and session drummer Simon Phillips, gave the guitarist his biggest American chart hit. In 1994 Satriani got the call from DEEP PURPLE, supplanting RITCHIE BLACKMORE on a temporary basis for a Japanese tour.

Satriani renewed links with his former pupil STEVE VAI to create G3 in 1997 undertaking a world tour.

A new album from Satriani finally arrived in early 1998 entitled 'Crystal Planet' produced by Mike Fraser. In 2002 news emerged of a new album entitled ‘Strange Beautiful Music’ featuring a guest session from KING CRIMSON mentor Robert Fripp. An American tour was also announced for the Autumn billing Satriani alongside the highly regarded pairing of DREAM THEATER and KING'S X. Unfortunately Satriani had his unique and much prized Pearly chrome Ibanez stolen backstage at the Clearwater, Florida show.

In March of 2003 it appeared that Satriani had joined the ultra-heavyweight line up of PLANET U.S., a band boasting the frightening pedigree of SAMMY HAGAR, JOURNEY guitarist NEAL SCHON, VAN HALEN bass player Michael Antony and JOURNEY drummer Deen Castronovo. Satriani united with YNGWIE MALMSTEEN and STEVE VAI for October 'G3 '03' North American tour dates. These highly successful shows spawned the DVD and CD sets 'G3 - Live in Denver' and 'G3 Live: Rockin' In The Free World' released in February of 2004. The G3 dates extended into Europe during April of 2004, Vai and Satriani being joined for this leg by KING CRIMSON's Robert Fripp. Solo gigs in December would be curtailed when the guitarists was diagnosed with pneumonia.

A G3 "Mini tour" of Japan in May found Satriani flanking STEVE VAI and DREAM THEATER guitarist JOHN PETRUCCI. In mid May of 2005 Satriani was scheduled to play three Indian concerts in Mumbai, Kolkata and Bangalore. His band for these dates comprised Galen Henson on rhythm guitar, Matt Bissonette on bass and Jeff Campetelli on the drums. In September it was revealed that Satriani had composed the main theme music for the Electronic Artists game 'NASCAR 06: Total Team Control'.

As 2006 opened it would be learned that Satriani had drafted in a new bassist for live band, Dave LaRue having DIXIE DREGS, STEVE MORSE band, JOHN PETRUCCI, VINNIE MOORE and PLANET X credentials. This new unit engaged in the US 'Super Colossal' tour. Upon release in March, the record shifted over 12,000 copies in its first week of US sales to land at number 86 on the charts.

TRACKLIST:

1. Super Colossal
2. Just Like Lightnin'
3. It's So Good
4. Redshift Riders
5. Ten Words
6. A Cool New Way
7. One Robot's Dream
8. The Meaning Of Love
9. Made Of Tears
10. Theme For A Strange World
11. Movin' On
12. A Love Eternal
13. Crowd Chant