In a recent conversation with the UCR Podcast, Joe Satriani opened up about his efforts to collaborate with the legendary Eddie Van Halen, revealing that despite his repeated attempts, he never succeeded in getting Eddie to join the G3 lineup. Satriani explained that he reached out to Eddie through various channels, but never received a response. He recalled trying to contact Eddie’s office on several occasions, hoping to make it easy for him to join by handling all the technical details, but he never heard back.
Despite these efforts, Satriani eventually accepted that Eddie might not have been interested in the idea of performing regularly as part of G3. The structure of the G3 shows involved performing every night with two other guitarists, which may not have appealed to Eddie, given the commitment and responsibility involved. Satriani reflected on how some artists might be open to special events or charity shows, but the demanding schedule of G3 might not have been something Eddie was comfortable with.
In a 2022 interview, Satriani also shared his thoughts on Eddie’s unique playing style, explaining how Eddie would often play things that didn’t necessarily make musical sense but felt incredibly fun to listen to. He noted that while Eddie’s playing might seem unconventional when analyzed note-for-note, the overall result in the context of the band was always enjoyable.
Satriani did get the chance to honor Eddie’s legacy in 2024, when he performed Van Halen’s guitar parts during The Best of All Worlds tour with Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony. This allowed him to celebrate Eddie’s impact on music, even if he never had the chance to share the stage with him on a regular basis.