Guitar guru lets loose
Guitar virtuoso Joe Satriani hasn't commented much on his legal tangle with Coldplay, but he has plenty to say about his new band, Chickenfoot. The latest in a line of supergroups to pop up recently, the act features former Van Halen vocalist Sammy Hagar and bassist Michael Anthony and Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith.
While Satriani's plagiarism suit is pending – he claims Coldplay's song Viva La Vida incorporates "substantial original portions'' of his 2004 instrumental If I Could Fly – he and Chickenfoot are making an impression. Radio presenters quickly embraced the band's first single, Oh Yeah, from its self-titled debut (out this month), and a nine-date Road Test tour of theatres sold out in minutes.
The band are currently on a full tour of Europe and North?America.
Is the band looking at this as a long-term project?
I think so. From the creative side of it, we're feeling like we've got a few records in us. We have to figure out how we're going to work it out schedule-wise, since everybody has something else to do, and nobody's interested in disrupting anyone else's schedule. But we figured it'll work itself out, so we're just doing it one record and tour at a time.
What is it like to write and record with a band after working as a solo artist for so long?
It certainly is liberating to have so much talent to take advantage of. On a purely musical level, I can write a vague sketch and the bass player and the drummer will fill it up with amazing stuff. And I can count on Mike and Chad to just go way over the top or think really deep into a groove... Knowing Sam and how deep his musicianship is, I would say, "Well, I'm just going to write it and see what happens, because I know he's going to react to this''.
Hagar has said that you're tired of being a solo artist. Is that true?
We had to show up to something, and I said, "You know what? I just want everyone to know I'm really embracing the idea of being the sort of mystery guitar player, the guy who shows up late, doesn't do the interviews.'' Because I realised, "Wow, I don't carry all that responsibility anymore, and I'm going to take advantage of it.'' I guess it's not that I'm tired of being a solo artist, just that it's so much fun to have three other crazy individuals to pick up all the slack. So, like today, I can hang out in my hotel room or bum around the city because I'm not the primary focus of the band.
What size venues are you playing on tour?
If we have a choice of arenas or (multiple shows) in the theatre, we'll take the theatre. It seems like an important thing to do, otherwise we look like your typical supergroup, where famous people get together and play the biggest venues and then get out of town, and we don't like that approach. Since no one's really in it for the money, we don't have to do that smash-and-grab mentality.
To avoid scalping, tickets weren't made available to secondary ticketing agents. How has that worked out?
We tried to get the tickets that were available to the fans as quickly as possible. But the response was overwhelming; all these shows sold out within minutes. I think that the most motivated people bought the tickets, and I haven't heard of any negative stories about that.
Top Rock Supergroups
Cream
Who: The first supergroup, in the 1960s, comprised Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker. They have sold over 35 million albums worldwide.
Hits: I Feel Free, White Room,?Sunshine Of Your Love
Crosby, Stills, Nash And Young
Who: David Crosby (The Byrds), Stephen Stills (Buffalo?Springfield),?Graham Nash (The Hollies) and?Neil Young have played together off and on since the sixties. A new album, Unreleased Demos, is due out next month, accompanied by a tour.
Hits: Suite:?Judy?Blue Eyes, Teach Your Children
Traveling Wilburys
Who: A late 1980s supergroup consisting of George Harrison, Roy Orbison, Tom Petty, Bob Dylan and Jeff Lynne. They recorded two albums in two years.
Hits: She's My Baby, End of the Line, Handle with Care
Velvet Revolver
Who: Slash, Duff McKagan and Matt Sorum, of Guns 'N'?Roses; Scott Weiland (Stone Temple Pilots), and Dave Kushner (Wasted Youth). Formed in 2004, they broke up in 2008 after Weiland reformed the Pilots.
Hits: Slither, She Builds Quick Machines. (KF)
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