That time I asked Joe Satriani if it was risky getting Kenny Wayne Shepherd to replace Eric Johnson on the G3 Tour

By Steve Newton

I did the third of my eight interviews with guitar wizard Joe Satriani in August of 1997, when he had just finished up recording his seventh studio album, Crystal Planet.

At the time he was also performing with Steve Vai, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, and Robert Fripp as part of the 1997 G-3 North American Tour.

20-year-old Shepherd had taken over the spot on the tour previously held by tonemaster Eric Johnson, so at one point in the conversation I asked Satch if it was risky bringing a young guy like him into the fold.

Have a listen:

To hear the full audio of my 1997 interview with Joe Satriani–and my conversations with him from 1990 and 2018 as well–subscribe to my Patreon page, where you can eavesdrop on my uncut, one-on-one conversations with such famed guitarists as:

Jonny Lang, 2003
Dave Mustaine of Megadeth, 2004
Tak Matsumoto of B’z, 2003
Tab Benoit, 1998
Warren Haynes of Gov’t Mule, 2004
Rich Robinson of the Black Crowes, 2001
Rick Richards of the Georgia Satellites, 2001
Chris Duarte, 2000
Steve Morse, 1994
Al Pitrelli of Megadeth, 2001
George Thorogood, 2014
Buddy Guy, 2001
Jim Chrichton of Saga, 1987
Dave Alvin, 1991
Steve Howe of Yes, 1998
Joe Louis Walker, 1997
Ronnie Earl, 1998
Blues Saraceno, 1993
Rik Emmett, 1991
Zakk Wylde, 1996
Steve Vai, 1996
Bill Perry, 1996
Dick Dale, 1993
Dan Hawkins of the Darkness, 2015
Mark Fitchett, Cult of the Wrong Note, 1995
Sonny Landreth, 1995
Rick Miller of Southern Culture on the Skids, 1995
Duke Robillard, 1995
Paul Gilbert of Mr. Big, 1992
Ian Moore, 1995
Stone Gossard of Pearl Jam, 1991
Damian Darlington of Brit Floyd, 2023
Magic Slim, 1999
Marc Ford of Blue Floyd, 2001
Kim Mitchell, 1992
Mick Mars of Mötley Crüe, 1999
Steve Miller, 2022
Martin Barre from Jethro Tull, 2022
Popa Chubby, 1995
Ty Tabor of King’s X, 2001
Steve Morse of Deep Purple, 1998
Sue Foley, 1992
Joe Perry of Aerosmith, 2010
Slash of Guns N’ Roses and Slash’s Snakepit, 1995
Sonny Rhodes, 1999
Chris Whitley, 1991
Buddy Cage of New Riders of the Purple Sage, 2006
Bill Elm of Friends of Dean Martinez, 1995
Mick Ronson, 1989
Tom Morello, 2011
Roger Fisher from Heart, 1985
Luther Allison, 1995
J. Geils from the J. Geils Band, 2006
Dave Murray of Iron Maiden, 2012
Ellen McIlwaine, 2001
Derek Trucks of Tedeschi Trucks, 2012
Gary Holt of Exodus, 1985
Rudolf Schenker of Scorpions, 1992
Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick, 2001
Doyle Bramhall II and Charlie Sexton of Arc Angels, 1992
Marc Bonilla, 1992
Robbin Crosby of Ratt, 1989
Billy Duffy of the Cult, 1989
Dave Martone, 2020
Glenn Tipton of Judas Priest, 2005
Vivian Campbell of Def Leppard, 1992
Colin James, 1995
Kim Simmonds of Savoy Brown, 1998
Mike McCready of Pearl Jam, 2003
David Lindley, 2002
Marty Friedman of Megadeth, 1991
Nancy Wilson of Heart, 2006
Jeff Golub, 1989
Steve Hackett from Genesis, 1993
Steve Lynch of Autograph, 1985
Don Wilson of the Ventures, 1997
Gordie Johnson of Big Sugar, 1998
Trevor Rabin of Yes, 1984
Albert Lee, 1986
Yngwie Malmsteen, 1985
Robert Cray, 1996
David Gilmour from Pink Floyd, 1984
Jeff Healey, 1988
Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi, 1993
Colin Linden, 1993
Kenny Wayne Shepherd, 1995
Elliot Easton from the Cars, 1996
Wayne Kramer from the MC5, 2004
Roy Buchanan, 1988
Andy Powell of Wishbone Ash, 2003
Steve Stevens of Atomic Playboys, 1989
Robben Ford, 1993
Jason Isbell, 2007
Vernon Reid of Living Colour, 1988
John Sykes of Blue Murder, 1989
Dave Mustaine of Megadeth, 1998
Myles Goodwyn of April Wine, 2001
Mike Campbell of Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, 1999
Doyle Bramhall II, 2001
Dickey Betts of the Allman Brothers, 1992
Randy Bachman of the Guess Who, 2001
Little Steven, 1987
Stevie Salas, 1990
J.J. Cale, 2009
Joe Bonamassa, 2011
Rob Baker of the Tragically Hip, 1997
Tommy Emmanuel, 1994
John Petrucci of Dream Theater, 2010
Eric Johnson, 2001
Ace Frehley from Kiss, 2008
Allan Holdsworth, 1983
Tony Iommi of Heaven and Hell, 2007
Stevie Ray Vaughan, 1990
Steve Morse, 1991
Slash of Guns N’ Roses, 1994
Brian May from Queen, 1993
Dickey Betts of the Allman Brothers, 1991
Jake E. Lee of Badlands, 1992
Rickey Medlocke of Lynyrd Skynyrd, 1997
John Fogerty, 1997
Rick Derringer, 1999
Robin Trower, 1990
Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top, 1994
Buck Dharma of Blue Oyster Cult, 1997
Michael Schenker, 1992
Guthrie Govan of the Aristocrats, 2015
Carlos Santana, 2011
Walter Trout, 2003
Link Wray, 1997
Gary Rossington of Lynyrd Skynyrd, 1986
Lindsay Mitchell of Prism, 1988
Rik Emmett of Triumph, 1985
Sonny Landreth, 2016
Tosin Abasi of Animals as Leaders, 2016
Jeff Beck, 2001
Albert King, 1990
Johnny Ramone of the Ramones, 1992
Peter Frampton, 1987
Otis Rush, 1997
Leslie West of Mountain, 2002
Uli Jon Roth, 2016
Poison Ivy of the Cramps, 1990
Stevie Ray Vaughan, 1985
Malcolm Young of AC/DC, 1983
Steve Clark of Def Leppard, 1988
Roy Buchanan, 1986
Gary Moore, 1984
Ronnie Montrose, 1994
Danny Gatton, 1993
Alex Lifeson of Rush, 1992
J.J. Cale, March 15,1990
Yngwie Malmsteen, 2014
Allan Holdsworth, 1983
Kim Mitchell, 1984
Warren Haynes of the Allman Brothers, 1994
Derek Trucks, 1998
Susan Tedeschi, 1998
B.B. King, 1984
Albert Collins, 1985
Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath, 1984
Dick Dale, 2000
Dickey Betts, 2001
…with hundreds more to come

 

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