Joe Satriani
Chickenfoot
G3 Tour
Chickenfoot
Chickenfoot is an American Hard rock supergroup formed in 2008. The group consists of vocalist Sammy Hagar, bassist Michael Anthony, guitarist Joe Satriani, and drummer Chad Smith. Due to Smith's consistent recording and touring commitments with the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Kenny Aronoff joined the group in 2011 as a touring replacement drummer. While the band has not formally announced a breakup, in June 2016 Chad Smith said that he had doubts about its survival due to their busy schedules. The group has released two studio albums, Chickenfoot, Chickenfoot lll, one live album, LV, and one box set, "I+III+LV".
Bassist Michael Anthony asserts that the name originated from initial jam sessions between Sammy Hagar, Chad Smith, and himself: "there are three talons on a chicken's foot and there are three of us." Michael Anthony later stated: "it was just supposed to be a bullshit name that we'd used for a while, and then when the rumors spread about the band, everybody used that name so we thought, 'fuck it, let's call it Chickenfoot' it all comes down to the music anyway." Chickenfoot's first album, Chickenfoot, was released on June 5, 2009 and the second studio album, Chickenfoot III, was released on September 27, 2011.
Chickenfoot (2008–2009)
According to vocalist Sammy Hagar: "Chickenfoot started off with me, Michael Anthony, and Chad Smith jamming at my club, Cabo Wabo, in Mexico. Then people started asking us when we were going to tour, make a record, etc. So I said if we're going to do this properly then we're going to have to get a guitarist, so let's talk to Joe Satriani. As far as I'm concerned he's the best guitarist in the world." Sammy Hagar, Michael Anthony and Joe Satriani had previously collaborated in 2002 under the name Planet Us.
The band also appeared in an episode of Aqua Teen Hunger Force. The band's first performance together was in February 2008 at a Sammy Hagar concert in The Pearl Concert Theatre at The Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. The show included a three-song set which included Led Zeppelin's "Rock and Roll", Traffic's "Dear Mr. Fantasy" and "Going Down", a song often performed by Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony in their other band, Los Tres Gusanos.
During breaks in Joe Satriani's touring schedule, the four-piece gathered in Hagar's home to record demos, and ultimately recorded a full-length album at Skywalker Sound. The band's eponymous debut album, Chickenfoot, was released on June 5, 2009. On its release date, Chickenfoot performed the single "Oh Yeah!" on The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien. Chickenfoot subsequently began touring in Europe and America.
In October 2009, Chad Smith reconvened with the Red Hot Chili Peppers to begin work on their tenth studio album, ultimately causing Chickenfoot to enter a temporary hiatus. Despite this, the band still appeared on television once more to perform "Sexy Little Thing" and "Oh Yeah" on the November 6, 2009 broadcast of Jimmy Kimmel Live! (taped November 5).
Chickenfoot III (2010–2012)
On May 6, 2010, Chad Smith confirmed that Chickenfoot would be recording their second album in late 2010 after he completes the recording of the next Red Hot Chili Peppers album. Around the same time, Joe Satriani confirmed that a number of songs had been written, including one called "Come Closer", which began simply as a piano and vocal number.
On September 3, 2010, Chickenfoot announced that they were preparing to record their second album. On January 21, 2011, Michael Anthony confirmed that the band would enter the studio on January 29, 2011, along with Chad Smith, who recorded the drums for the album. On March 11, 2011, Sammy Hagar confirmed that the band had been recording with Mike Fraser, a Canadian producer, engineer, and mixer. He also confirmed that they had 12 songs, and the official title for the new album is Chickenfoot III (three).
Sammy Hagar said "It's the working title, but I guarantee it'll stick." Chickenfoot III was announced to be released in fall 2011 with the album cover being in 3-D. Hagar also stated the band were planning to do a third, fourth, and greatest hits albums sometime in the future.
On July 6, 2011, it was announced that the band signed a new distribution deal with eOne Music in North America. On July 8, 2011, the band posted a teaser of one of their new songs online with this message: "Attention Foot Soldiers... Get Your Boots On".
Chad Smith did not take part in the promotion or touring of Chickenfoot III due to his prior commitments to the Red Hot Chili Peppers, whose album I'm with You was released on August 30, 2011, and the album's subsequent tour. Satriani later stated that Kenny Aronoff would likely take over the drumming duties from Chad Smith for the tour promoting the second album, and this was confirmed on August 27.
On September 27, for the release of Chickenfoot III, the band played a live concert via webcast from TRI Studios in California. A fan Q&A followed the performance. They also played a show at the Cabo Wabo Cantina in Mexico on October 9, 2011. The 2012 "Different Devil" summer US tour started on May 4 in South Lake Tahoe, and included at least 20 dates.
It was announced on August 28, 2012, that since Chickenfoot's former record label went out of business, and the debut album couldn't be found anywhere, they are re-releasing the debut album with eOne music with bonus live tracks "Lighten Up", "Big Foot", "Last Temptation", and "Something Going Wrong", recorded during the Different Devil tour of Spring 2012. On November 30, 2012, Chickenfoot's first live album LV was released as part of the limited edition box set "I+III+LV" paired with their first and second album in their Limited Edition releases. On December 7, 2012, LV saw a release on its own.
Hiatus and other projects (2013–2015)
In a Rolling Stone interview released in October 2014, Sammy Hagar stated that although he had enjoyed working with the group, disappointing album sales probably precluded a third Chickenfoot studio album. Joe Satriani also has made similar comments about album sales being a factor that has prevented them from continuing quickly.
In September 2015, Joe Satriani confirmed that the band were working on a new song with possibly more to come: "I think all my complaining and foot stomping really had an effect, because it was really bothering me and I still, philosophically, just felt like there was a really big disconnect there between me and some of the other members of Chickenfoot". He went on to add "and I can happily tell you now that there is a track that is circulating through the band". There was no time line given for the release of the new music, but according to Satriani "there's hope".
Reunion and possible third album (2016–present)
The band briefly reunited for two shows on May 7 and 8, 2016 at Harrah's Showroom at South Lake Tahoe. During the show, the band debuted a song titled "Divine Termination".
Chad Smith discussed the future of Chickenfoot in a June 2016 interview with Rolling Stone. He was asked if Chickenfoot was ever going to tour again, to which he replied "We just played a few weeks ago up in Tahoe, but everyone has different things going on. Sam has his own thing with Mike and Joe is on his own tour. We really enjoy playing together, but with my schedule I don't see us playing too much. I would love to make some new music with those guys, but we'd have to be in the same room at the same time. I just don't know. It's up in the air. I love playing with those guys, though. It's a real treat."
Sammy Hagar shared his plans for the band in November 2017, during an appearance on the "Trunk Nation" show on SiriusXM channel Volume: "Joe and I have been talking, when he finishes his solo tour next June, if he has enough time and if Chad's available, about doing another Chickenfoot record.
And if they can't do it, if we can't all get together, then I'm gonna do a Circle record. It's gonna be one or the other. Those are my two favorite bands in the world. And I would like to do a Circle record."
Albums
Members
Sammy Hagar – lead vocals, rhythm guitar (2008–2012, 2016)
Michael Anthony – bass, backing vocals (2008–2012, 2016)
Joe Satriani – lead guitar, keyboards, piano, occasional backing vocals (2008–2012, 2016)
Chad Smith – drums, percussion (2008–2011, 2016)
Touring members
Kenny Aronoff – drums, percussion, backing vocals (2011–2012)
Jason Bonham - drums, percussion (2024)
Source: Wikipedia
G3 Tour
G3 is a concert tour organized by guitarist Joe Satriani featuring him alongside two other guitarists. Since its inception in 1995, G3 has toured most years and has featured many guitarists, including Steve Vai (Satriani's former student),
Eric Johnson, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Yngwie Malmsteen, John Petrucci, Robert Fripp, Paul Gilbert, Steve Morse, Steve Lukather, Uli Jon Roth, Michael Schenker, Adrian Legg, Phil Collen and many other special guests, including Tony MacAlpine, Johnny Hiland,
Keith More, Chris Duarte, Andy Timmons, Neal Schon, Gary Hoey, Brian May, Billy Gibbons, Johnny A, George Lynch, Patrick Rondat, Guthrie Govan, Alejandro Silva, and Eric Sardinas.
1996
The first tour took place in 1996. The North American G3 tour featured Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, and Eric Johnson. Performances were held from October 11, 1996 to November 8, 1996. Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Adrian Legg were the opening acts.
There were special guests on this tour, who included Neal Schon in San Francisco, Gary Hoey in San Diego, Chris Duarte in Austin and San Antonio, George Lynch in Phoenix, and Andy Timmons in Dallas. Al and Janie Hendrix (Jimi Hendrix's father and stepsister) came backstage on the last date of the G3 Tour in Hendrix's home town of Seattle, WA.
1997
Toured North America and Europe. Michael Cusson played the first two shows in Quebec City and Montreal before Kenny Wayne Shepherd joined the tour.
1998
Toured Europe.
2000
Toured Rentak Rhythm of Asia Festival (Bukit Jalil) – Kuala Lumpur, MY. Featured a reunion of the first G3 Tour lineup on October 21, 2000 at the Rhythm of Asia Festival – Kuala Lumpur, MY. Slide guitarist Eric Sardinas opened.
2001–2002
G3 2001 featured Joe Satriani and Steve Vai up with Dream Theater's John Petrucci, who wrote an entire set of new instrumental music for the tour, touring North America.
2003
Joe Satriani, Steve Vai and Yngwie Malmsteen toured North America.
2004
G3 toured Europe, Mexico and South America in 2004 with Joe Satriani, Steve Vai and Robert Fripp.
2005
The 2005 G3 tour featured John Petrucci, Steve Vai and Joe Satriani touring Japan and the United States. It was recorded on May 8 at the Tokyo Forum, Japan.
2006
The first 2006 G3 tour featured John Petrucci, Eric Johnson and Joe Satriani. Performances were held from October 16, 2006 to October 29, 2006 across Latin America.
2007
The G3 2007 tour featured Paul Gilbert, John Petrucci and Joe Satriani. Shows were held from March 14 to April 14. At the last show of the tour during the song "Glasgow Kiss" Paul Gilbert's band came out wearing kilts and did a small dance. The G3 Jam featured Johnny A. at the Orpheum Theatre in Boston, MA.
2012
The G3 2012 tour featured Steve Lukather in Australia & Steve Morse in Europe, Joe Satriani and Steve Vai.
2016
The G3 2016 tour featured Joe Satriani and Steve Vai and the Aristocrats. Shows were held in various cities in Italy and Germany from July 2, 2016 to July 13, 2016.
2018
The G3 2018 tour featured John Petrucci, Uli Jon Roth in Europe/Phil Collen in the States and Joe Satriani.
G3 statistics
Dream Theater, Scorpions, and Racer X are the only bands that have had two of their members on G3 tour: John Petrucci on guitar and Mike Portnoy on drums (2001, 2002, 2005,
2006 & 2007), John Petrucci on guitar and Mike Mangini on drums (2012, 2018), Michael Schenker and Uli Jon Roth both on guitars (1998), and Paul Gilbert and Bruce Bouillet both on guitar. (2007)
Alcatrazz has also had two members represented on the G3 tour: Yngwie Malmsteen and Steve Vai. The David Lee Roth Band has had four members touring with G3: Steve Vai, Billy Sheehan, Matt Bissonette and Greg Bissonette.
Robert Fripp, Eric Johnson, Steve Morse, John Petrucci and Uli Jon Roth are the only guitarists (excluding Joe Satriani and Steve Vai) who have played on the G3 tour more than once:
John Petrucci – eight times, Eric Johnson – four times, Robert Fripp – twice, Steve Morse – twice, Uli Jon Roth - twice
Albums
G3: Live in Concert (1997)
G3: Live in Denver (2004)
G3: Rockin' in the Free World (2004)
G3: Live in Tokyo (2005)
Source: Wikipedia