Education
In 1974, Satriani studied music with jazz guitarist Billy Bauer and with reclusive jazz pianist Lennie Tristano
In 1974, Satriani studied music with jazz guitarist Billy Bauer and with reclusive jazz pianist Lennie Tristano
Satriani was inspired to play guitar at age 14.In 1978, Satriani moved to Berkeley, California to pursue a music career. Soon after arriving in California, he resumed teaching.Satriani started playing in a San Francisco-based band called the Squares, where he continued to network and make musical connections.
In 1987, Satriani's second album Surfing with the Alien produced radio hits and was the first all-instrumental release to chart so highly in many years.In 1989, Satriani released the album Flying in a Blue Dream.In 1992, Satriani released The Extremist, his most critically acclaimed and commercially successful album to date. In late 1993, Satriani joined Deep Purple as a temporary replacement for departed guitarist Ritchie Blackmore during the band's Japanese tour. The concerts were a success, and Satriani was asked to join the band permanently but he declined, having just signed a multi-album solo deal with Sony, and Steve Morse took the guitarist slot in Deep Purple.
In 1996, Satriani founded the G3, a concert tour intended to feature a power trio consisting of three guitar virtuosos. In 2006, Satriani signed on as an official supporter of Little Kids Rock, a non-profit organization that provides free musical instruments and instruction to children in underserved public schools throughout the U.S.A. Satriani has personally delivered instruments to children in the program through a charity raffle for the organization and, like Steve Vai, sits on its board of directors as an honorary member.