Satriani Explains Why He Was Hesitant About Alex's Eddie Tribute but Accepted Sammy's

[James in New York]

Joe Satriani Explains Why He Was Hesitant About Alex Van Halen's Eddie Tribute but Accepted Sammy Hagar's Offer:

'It Was a Friend Calling About a Retrospective'

"It did happen to involve anywhere from 15 to 20 Van Halen songs – and they were different from the songs that Dave and Alex wanted to do."


Joe Satriani explained why he accepted Sammy Hagar's offer to play on the "Best of All Worlds" tour after having second thoughts about participating in Alex Van Halen's ill-fated Van Halen tribute, noting how it was "a friend calling about a retrospective of his whole career."


Sammy Hagar, Michael Anthony, Jason Bonham, and Joe Satriani have been successfully scratching that long-unscratched Van Halen itch with their "Best of All Worlds" tour lately, even though the project was never meant to be an actual tribute.

Before The Red Rocker decided to take matters into his own hands, however, Alex Van Halen was brewing his own all-star tribute to his late brother Edward, which sadly fizzled out in the early stages of planning.

Joe Satriani, who was also supposed to be involved in Alex's ill-fated tribute project, tells Guitarist in a new interview that he had serious qualms about accepting:

"'No way. I can't do this. This is too hard'", Satriani recalls telling Alex Van Halen.

Nevertheless, the legendary drummer eventually convinced him to get involved:

"But he convinced me that I could do it, and then another couple of weeks later, it was the same kind of thing.

I thought, 'Man, some of these songs are… they're just not me.'

Eddie played in a completely different way. Where he put his timing… it's so different from what I cultivated in my playing for decades.

So that was the hardest part; I was just always pushing like Eddie did, and I was always trying to find the deepest pocket."

Instead, Satriani maintains that it should be Eddie's son Wolfgang playing the guitar, if a Van Halen tribute were to be staged in any official capacity.

"It was a friend calling about a retrospective of his whole career"


As for why he ended up taking Sammy Hagar's offer for the "Best of All Worlds" tour after getting cold feet with Alex's project, Satriani said:

"Because it was a friend calling about a retrospective of his whole career. It did happen to involve anywhere from 15 to 20 Van Halen songs – and they were different from the songs that Dave and Alex wanted to do. Dave was not going to do any Van Hagar stuff, anything from after he left the band."

"When Sammy joined, Eddie went through a real shift. He became far more progressive, a different world for me to jump into. But I also reminded myself, 'That’s not the show. This is not a Van Halen tribute. This is a tribute to Sammy's legacy that happens to include this huge chunk of music by Van Halen."

"I'm not the guy who says, 'I'm the only one who can do it'"
As it perhaps better suits the looser nature of "Best of All Worlds", Satriani notes how he never tried to outright copy Eddie's playing on those gigs. Similarly, he also notes how he's not the only guitarist on Earth who could've done the late and great Eddie Van Halen justice:

"I’m not the guy who says, 'I'm the only [one] that can do it.' None of that bullshit. I want to do it right. I spent all this money on gear and want to make it a great night to celebrate these songs. And I think everybody gets it."

"I'm throwing in all the stuff I normally would. But I've added some things I never really did because I thought, 'Well, that's Eddie. I'm not gonna copy that.' It doesn't come naturally to me, but I've made it work. Though I'm not copying the parts; that's not me, I'm not in a tribute band."


Reflecting on the overall atmosphere of the "Best of All Worlds" tour, Satch said:

"The vibe on tour has been great. It’s a party, but everyone expects everybody to play their best each night. There’s this beautiful anticipation before every show to celebrate the legacy. And the fans’ reaction has been heartwarming.”


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[Brett]

As if Al and Dave would ever have truly gotten their heads out of their asses to do any kind of tribute anyway. It was all just bullshit from the beginning.

Obviously, Joe made the right decision. Not that there was much of a decision to make.

[Van Squalen]

As if Al and Dave would ever have truly gotten their heads out of their asses to do any kind of tribute anyway. It was all just bullshit from the beginning.

Obviously, Joe made the right decision. Not that there was much of a decision to make.

It's interesting, because Joe's using language implying that he was more comfortable doing the Sam Halen catalogue than the Dave Halen catalogue. Sure, most of his decision was based on the fact he and Sammy are friends. But still. I'm pretty sure Joe could play the old stuff too, in his own way.

Blecch. There isn't a chance in hell I'd have attended a DLR-AVH-WVH-Newsted tribute. What a shit show that'd have been.

[Little Dreamer]

Jason Newsted, vocal wise, would be incapable of hitting any of Mike's notes. So you'd have no backing vocals at all??!?

It makes no sense.

Bottom line is Alex is a great drummer, but when it comes to organizing and putting something together, he's several leagues behind Sammy.

[Brett]

It's interesting, because Joe's using language implying that he was more comfortable doing the Sam Halen catalogue than the Dave Halen catalogue. Sure, most of his decision was based on the fact he and Sammy are friends. But still. I'm pretty sure Joe could play the old stuff too, in his own way.

Blecch. There isn't a chance in hell I'd have attended a DLR-AVH-WVH-Newsted tribute. What a shit show that'd have been.

I would not have gone to that show. No interest in that at all.

Now, if you had Mike and Joe in there instead, yes I would’ve gone for sure.

And honestly, the biggest reason I would go is just to see Al and Dave play with Mike again. We saw the last Van Halen show. I don’t need to see a weird version without Ed that has Jason Newstead and Wolf.

[Van Squalen]

I would not have gone to that show. No interest in that at all.

Now, if you had Mike and Joe in there instead, yes I would’ve gone for sure.

And honestly, the biggest reason I would go is just to see Al and Dave play with Mike again. We saw the last Van Halen show. I don’t need to see a weird version without Ed that has Jason Newstead and Wolf.

Oh absolutely I’d have gone to see Dave Alex Joe and Mike. Not even a brief pause for that.

Always had to be Joe.

I saw 6 VH4 shows. I rarely paid attention to stage right. Only during that very first show in 07, and that sparingly. I was irked. Not enough to boycott as you did, you banner bearer you, but enough to forego almost all witnessing the replacement.

He brought that on himself.

[bklynboy68]

I would not have gone to that show. No interest in that at all.

Now, if you had Mike and Joe in there instead, yes I would’ve gone for sure.

And honestly, the biggest reason I would go is just to see Al and Dave play with Mike again. We saw the last Van Halen show. I don’t need to see a weird version without Ed that has Jason Newstead and Wolf.

Wolf did say he wanted no part of a tribute at that point so I don’t think he was part of it. Then he did the Taylor Hawkins tribute.

Never mind

[Nostalgia Act]

I would have bought tix's for Dave, Al, Joe and Jason, although the choice of Jason seems so out of left field to me. Is there as history with Al and Jason that I'm not aware of?

[atomicpunk5151]

I would have bought tix's for Dave, Al, Joe and Jason, although the choice of Jason seems so out of left field to me. Is there as history with Al and Jason that I'm not aware of?

Not really. They would have met during the MOR TOUR in 1988.

Jason has always been a "Metal" guy. Even after he left Metallica. The only rock stuff he really did was the Ozzy Tour for a brief time around 2003. And some reality Tv band or something...


LOL... I can't even imagine Jason singing backup on Dance the Night Away or Pretty Women. This is the guy that is most known for his backup vocals going DIE, DIE, DIE, MOTHER FUCKER DIE!!!!!

[Brett]

He was always a strange choice.

[Little Dreamer]

He was always a strange choice.

I imagine that Dave exited this ill-fated project early on.

"So, Al, let me get this straight, you want me to stand on stage and sing those songs with zero backing vocals?"
"Yes."
"Bozity bozity bop. See ya!"

[Heisenberg]

Joe Satriani explained why he accepted Sammy Hagar's offer to play on the "Best of All Worlds" tour after having second thoughts about participating in Alex Van Halen's ill-fated Van Halen tribute, noting how it was "a friend calling about a retrospective of his whole career."

"Because it was a friend calling about a retrospective of his whole career. It did happen to involve anywhere from 15 to 20 Van Halen songs – and they were different from the songs that Dave and Alex wanted to do. Dave was not going to do any Van Hagar stuff, anything from after he left the band."
[

I’m curious what song’s Dave & Alex wanted to do.

Of course it goes without saying the possible inclusion of Jason Newstead was mind boggling.

I’m guessing it was Alex’s idea which might possibly indicate some sort of reluctance including Michael Anthony. Which also doesn’t make sense since they were already confirmed & set up to tour with Mike before in 2018 or 2019 but but then of course unfortunately Edward’s condition prevented it from happening.

But the tour was a go. It was not an instantiated fake rumour. It was solidly confirmed. Dates were booked.The four originals. Alex had a brand new drum set made. There are pictures of it. I forget if he sold it in his auction or not but the fact is Alex was ready & on board to tour with Mike back then but now with this new idea they thought about doing he contacted Jason Newstead. So clearly something was up with that head scratcher.

[Naked Wake]

It's interesting, because Joe's using language implying that he was more comfortable doing the Sam Halen catalogue than the Dave Halen catalogue. Sure, most of his decision was based on the fact he and Sammy are friends. But still. I'm pretty sure Joe could play the old stuff too, in his own way.

Blecch. There isn't a chance in hell I'd have attended a DLR-AVH-WVH-Newsted tribute. What a shit show that'd have been.

If it was MA instead of Newsted, would you go?

[Van Squalen]

If it was MA instead of Newsted, would you go?

Nope. I have no desire to watch WVH clone his father's music.

The only reason the recent tribute worked is because Joe did it in his style.

I wouldn't have gone if Vai was doing it, either.

A tribute shouldn't sound like the person it's homaging.

[Jamie M]

Joe is a great bloke as i have said many times and Sammy gets things done, the proof is in the latest tour. Dave and Al are a waste of space and they could never have put anything like this together.