JOE SATRIANI : I 'Came Close' To Playing NY's 'Homecoming Concert' With Alex & Dave

[James in New York]

BLABBERMOUTH.NET

JOE SATRIANI Says He 'Came Close' To Playing New York's 'Homecoming Concert' With ALEX VAN HALEN And DAVID LEE ROTH

December 5, 2022

During an appearance on the "Out Of The Box" show, which airs on the Q104.3 radio station in New York City, Joe Satriani spoke about being approached to reproduce Eddie Van Halen's guitar parts as part of an all-star VAN HALEN tribute project with Alex Van Halen and David Lee Roth.

Recalling how the proposed pairing came about, Joe said: "I get a call out of the blue from Alex Van Halen, who I'd never met until then, and he poses the unimaginable to me, which is to go out with a VAN HALEN tour, playing guitar.

And as I've told other people, I heard my voice saying, 'Yeah, I'll do that,' before my brain really thought, 'Don't say 'yes.'

That's an impossible thing to do; you can't replace Eddie Van Halen.

Nobody can.'

But I had such a good conversation with Alex, and just getting to know him on a few phone calls.

And he brought Dave into the loop, who I'd met before but I can't really say I know the man…

And we came close to doing that sort of coming out show that New York City was holding in Central Park last year," he said, apparently referring to "We Love NYC: The Homecoming Concert', which was held in August 2021.

"And that would have been frightening, 'cause it was only three weeks away. And I was still listening to the VAN HALEN stuff, but still working on my latest solo album.

So it wasn't like we were prepared. There was no bass player. They hadn't really told me who was gonna play bass.

And then there was the whole controversy about who should actually be in the band.

And I was on the outside; I'm just some new guy.

I was the one saying, 'Who's playing bass, by the way?'

And, 'Is Sammy Hagar gonna come by?'

And, 'Did you talk to Mike Anthony?'

So, conversations kept going on and on.

I met with Alex at one point when I went down to L.A. But I think there's some internal stuff that needs to get worked out with the family, and then the VAN HALEN band family, which is kind of big.

Again, I feel like I'm not close to the top of that queue.

And many times I've told Alex, 'Are you sure? Me?'

'Cause I don't perform like Eddie. I'm just a superfan. And I can certainly play the stuff.

But Eddie was such an original — just the way he ran around on stage and sang and played. It's amazing."

Satriani also once again said that Wolfgang Van Halen is a more natural choice to play Eddie Van Halen's parts than anyone else.

He made his comments three months after Wolfgang performed his late father's songs at the Taylor Hawkins tribute concerts.

The son of Eddie Van Halen played three VAN HALEN songs — "On Fire", "Hot For Teacher" and "Panama" — over the course of two concerts in September alongside Dave Grohl on bass, Josh Freese on drums and THE DARKNESS's Justin Hawkins on vocals.

"That was beautiful, wasn't it?" Joe said about Wolfgang's tribute to his father.

"That's the first thing I thought after. I was, like every other VAN HALEN fan, so relieved to see a very beautiful expression of a son playing his father's stuff.

And after all the weight that must be on Wolf's shoulders about this whole thing, and he's had to deal with Dave and everybody else commenting about this kind of stuff.

And he just went and settled it right then and there.

So I thought to myself, well, he should do it, and maybe just he and his uncle Al should just work this out.

And it would be nice if somehow Dave and Sammy could sort of kiss and make up and figure out a way to do it right.

I know Sammy quite well and we talk all the time, and he's always open to move forward and mend fences.

So I'm hopeful that maybe he can have a hand in it."

[Michaels]

I can’t get past AVH calling someone he doesn’t know, at all out of the blue.

Weird

I’m picturing Al on a rotary landline dialing his number.

[Little Dreamer]

One more date to add to the "it almost happened" Van Halen calendar, which already has many.

Kinda weird that Alex would call Joe, a guy he'd never met, only 3 WEEKS before show date. That's very last minute. Of course this being VH, anything is possible.

[I Coulda Hada VH]

One more date to add to the "it almost happened" Van Halen calendar, which already has many.

Kinda weird that Alex would call Joe, a guy he'd never met, only 3 WEEKS before show date. That's very last minute. Of course this being VH, anything is possible.

With Van Halen, anything is possible and almost nothing is probable.

[Edword]

I just find it heartening that Al still wants to play. Granted, this was an "almost". But, still...Al still has to have some fire left in the furnace to have come this close. I'd just LOVE to see Al play again, whether it be VH-related, or an AVH Jazz Trio playing theaters or clubs.

[I Coulda Hada VH]

I just find it heartening that Al still wants to play. Granted, this was an "almost". But, still...Al still has to have some fire left in the furnace to have come this close. I'd just LOVE to see Al play again, whether it be VH-related, or an AVH Jazz Trio playing theaters or clubs.

Has Al ever played with anyone besides Ed?

[CaboChris]

Stop.

This is why we don't get shit cos guys Ike Satriani don't think they're worthy. It's just Eddie Van Halen. Every guitar player in the world plays his shit.

I'm so over this bullshit. Alex calls you. You're worthy. He knows your relationship to Sam and Mike.

[CaboChris]

Think about this. Of all the guitar players in the world. Alex called YOU.

He picked up the phone to call YOU.

[Raldo]

Another “what if” in VH land.

[bklynboy68]

I would love to know specifically what the beef is between Alex and Wolf. We have an idea with the breadcrumbs we’ve gotten lately, but not THE sticking point.

[ziggysmalls]

I think the beef with Wolf and Alex is more with Alex needing to make peace with Sammy. I think Wolfgang thinks more highly of Sam than Alex. Sam and Joe are close so everything Joe is hearing outside of any calls with Alex or Dave were going to come from Sammy,

Part of me thinks a reason why Alex called Joe is because Sammy is friends with him and it would chap Sammy's ass that Joe can do a VH Tribute but he can't.

[Scott]

I don't think there is a thing between Wolf and Al....I think Wolf just wants to avoid the baggage of VH until VH figures out their shit. Even Wolf has said there was some internal stuff that needs to be addressed....my guess is that Al is a mess emotionally right now...Dave is Dave; neither want Mike back in because both don't like Sam. Wolf (rightfully so) wants nothing to do with that.

Sorry, but I wouldn't pay a dime to see Al and Dave play w/ Satch and Jason Newsted pretending to be Van Halen. The way the Foos did it for Taylor was boss and classy. Two years later, Al and Dave don't have the nads to do what's right for themselves and the fans. It's a shame.

[jszfunk]

I would love to know specifically what the beef is between Alex and Wolf. We have an idea with the breadcrumbs we’ve gotten lately, but not THE sticking point.

Yeah, I hear ya. I know things have been said regarding DLR being difficult/ holding things up , which might be some of it, but I think there is something with Al and WVH as well. Who knows? They both lost someone pretty significant in their respective lives. Al , losing a brother first and foremost ,and a music companion through pretty much their whole lives. Playing, writing, touring together, etc. They probably spent more time around each other than anyone else going through life. Wolf, losing his father, friend, and also a musical companion. You could tell they were tight, which was obvious. I have ,and I am sure some of you out there lost an important figure in your life. I lost my father when I was 9 and he passed at 34yrs. It can and was devastating. I am sure it was for them watching Ed going through with what he had to deal with. Painful is an understatement. Everyone handles things differently. They probably have differing opinions as well regarding an EVH tribute . Does one trump the other as far as decisions regarding the band and ED?

[bklynboy68]

Al trumps Wolf obviously. As for publishing that’s probably Dave and Al. I know that since Dave came back it was Dave and Al working together on the artwork and presentation. That dance remix of Jump was decided by both of them as an example.

[jagerdave]

Wolf probably wants everyone to be involved as a celebration to his dad, including having Cherone. I'm guessing Dave and Al won't budge on having anyone other than Dave sing, and that's the issue.