Yoda - lol... bro you beat me to it.... yes jam.... now I think that I'm in the UK for at least the next three or four weeks I'll talk to the C-in-C and make the appropriate arrangements...

well I gotta get famous for something

and this is the truth.. cos last night was the first time I hit my studio in a month.. lol lol.. so I pulled a bit of a fast one and made priorities that keep me in the UK for a while...

my CD is just taking eons to complete... the day job is getting in the way and sending me l over the place right now.... I'm going to try and avoid travelling abroad for as long as I can now...

Johnny Aimless... man that was a nasty review, certainly not favourable to Joe that's for sure... obviously the writer of this "filth" has no respect for real talent.. so without further delay here's the review from "The Palm Beach Post"

Satriani runs second to Vai again on G3 tour

By Bill Meredith, Special to The Palm Beach Post Sunday, November 2, 2003

Vai's set was also a welcome relief from that of Malmsteen, the dated-sounding 1980s overplayer that Satriani hand-picked to avoid finishing third this year. After the two opening tunes, Evil Eye and Baroque 'N' Roll, Malmsteen had proven to be the musical equivalent of a conversationalist obsessed with the sound of his own voice.

Plum - that review does seem to be a little harsh... but on the second and third reading it did seem to contain a little truth - although being a Satch fan, I'd have not been so blunt...

It don't surprise me that Satch was the most tastefull, Vai was the showman and Malm over-played...
but in all fairness to Malm, over-playing is what he's all about.. for many folks that is the very thing that attracts them to his playing...

IMHO, the 95 CD Joe Satriani was one of his best moments... very organic.. and a different angle..

as for picking Malm so not to come last???? jeez... how rediculous a comment is that... like saying: let's race the guy with the Skyline, he'll be easy meat, we can take him..lol lol ... DUUHH! ! ! !

I think that the guy that wrote that review is either not into instumental music or just not really into Satch... his review comes across almost being a little venomous..

So if that guys has all the great ideas and knows soo very much about music my challenging comment would be

"why did Satch not invite you to play at G3??? is it because you can't play?? oh yes sorry you are a reporter and not a musician and therefore have a highly qualified view on the subject do you not?"

I know what it's like... I've been reviewed myself.. and I've had everything from great praise to a complete slagging.. the one thing that came across to me as these guys reviewed the albums I played on and the gigs etc, is that dispite their 'words of great wisdom' from someone that gives off the impression that they are 'music experts', they actually know increadibly little about what it means to write and play.. They know nothing about music as a science and an art form.. they can't play for toffee [or else they'd be up there trying to get all the glory along with those that can]...

There are two types of music reporters that I've met:

1 - Avid fans - which is nice but they don't really give an un-biased review.. if I started playing a different song to the rest of the band they'd have hailled it as a master stroke... lol.. but I don't mind 'cos they love me to bits... lmao..

2 - vindictive trendies - that have a very narrow view based mostly around "what is currently hip" and hide behind a huge vocabulary pouring shit on those that can do it because they can't and wish they could.. they can't join in so they try to tear it down and look very clever in the process... critics and reporters indeed... lots of bullshit inter-leaved with big words, venom and trendy wit.. stick a guitar in his hand... throw him up on stage in front of a few thousand people... stand back and watch what this expert can do.. night after night on a 6 month tour... easy peasie...

please miss can I write the review... please... I'll be nice... no lie... please..

So Plum... read the review... forget the review.... note the name of the guy that wrote it... and forget him... 30% of what he wrote looks pretty true to me.. the rest is just venomous bull-shite to make him look clever at the expense of 'those that can and do'..

Ah the Pensacola show...what can I say in the aftermath that hasn't been said before? Oh yeah, how about this? THERE WASN'T A DAMN THING WRONG WITH THE SHOW!!!! I mean really. Where to start?...

Yngwie - I've been a fan since the first Rising Force album and last night he didn't disappoint. That is if you went to see him be Yngwie and not a Joe or Steve clone. He was the shreddin' pick flickin' and kickin' and guitar tossing 80's guitar god I knew he was and wanted to see. Yes all the things others have said are true but THAT'S WHAT MAKES HIM WHO HE IS!! He was totally enjoyable and some of the Baroque stuff he did solo with just an Echoplex and octave splitter were just beautiful. Also performing a piece from his orchestral album with the pre-recorded orchestra parts was good too. You just gotta know who and what he is, expect him to be that and nothing else and he satisfies. At least I was blown away by him and I know I wasn't the only one there who was.

Steve - the consumate showman/musician. From the triple neck opening to the final special effects on For The Love Of God, I could not keep my jaw from dropping into my lap. This guy has more tools in his toolbox than a master carpenter. And he used every one. Granted as long as I've been playing I don't have much experience with a whammy bar equipped guitar so Steve's technique very inspiring. I won't soon forget this show.

Joe - This is the man with feeling. He doesn't shred over classical motifs like Yngwie...although he could. He doesn't use as many tricks as Steve (a la blowing a new harmonic or using his tongue)...although he could. He pretty much speaks his mind through his fingers. A total unique talent and an inspiriation to me. Thanks to him I started writing instrumental music. His tone was incredible and I enjoyed the sound of the Peavys. He was my favorite of the night but that's because out of the three, he's my favorite anyway.

The jam - Great stuff and you could tell they were having a lot of fun...all three of them. Yngwie did fit in, in his way and was accepted by Joe and Steve. You could tell though that Joe and Steve have a history together that Yngwie didn't. I could get nit picky about some of the stuff (the singing by all comes to mind) but if you have to sit and pick apart a show like this due to something as trivial as the vocals not being up to par by a full time guitarist then you had no business being at this show in the first place. Everything was wonderful.

To be continued...

Pensacola continued...

The meet and greet - This was interesting. Yngwie had a table while Joe and Steve just stood amongst their fans. I had a CD of Yngwie's Magnum Opus album for him to sign because I had been forwarned about the "play Fender" crap that he was doing. I didn't even take my guitar out of the case for him to sign...and I'm glad of that. One of our local shredders had him sign his chrome Ibanez and of course Yngwie signed "play Fender." Well needless to say our shredder was pissed off. Truth be told though, Yngwie did not sign that on every guitar. Maybe he only signs that on Ibanez's. He didn't sign someone elses Joe Turner "play Fender." Joe and Steve were very accessible. My JS1000 just quadrupled in value last night because I got both Joe and Steve to sign it in gold. I'm going today to a luthier and get it sealed so I can continue to play it. Joe was hesitant as to where to sign until I told him it would be sealed. Then he signed it real big right where my arm goes when I'm playing. Steve signed it right below the neck pickup. I thanked Joe for designing the most comfortable guitar I've ever played. He seemed genuinely pleased when I told him his guitar had made a convert of a lifetime Gibson player. Steve was also pleased when I informed him I had been a fan since the Zappa days. We exchanged a few words about his Flex-able album and I let the other fans have him. What a great guy. Every one made time for the fans...even Yngwie although he kept complaining about the air conditioning in the place.

Well, I've said my piece. All in all it was a night I'll never forget...and I have my signed JS1000 to remind me.

guitargurl: It was great meeting you and your husband. Hopefully I'll see you two again at other venues. Take care.

Thanks all for listening...keep them strings tight.

Hi all. Back from my weekend of madness playing in my band. The first night was a HUGE holiday camp near Clacton-Upon-Sea and was a riot as most of the 1000+ people were in haloween costumes and they were all off their heads. Good night in all. Second night was boring. Wont bore you with the details (working men's club - say no more). At least I should have earnt £200 for my trouble.

Clarky - That is the best description of reporters that I have EVER heard. You hit the nail (or reporter) right on the head.

Clarky - Awesome! The next two weeks are pretty full for me, what with gigs with my band and a couple of random sessions here and there (I literally just come off the phone - I've got a little job up in London on Friday night playing Bohemian Rhapsody with alternate lyrics... should be interesting!). But after that...

michelle: LMAO!!....I was thinking kinda like Jed Clampet's Traveling Orchestra....HAHAHA, Oops, didnt mean to laugh, it just has a nice ring to it!!....Ring....Get it!!....Awww shuck's!! ;-)

JS Clone 1: I'm giving him more (than $7) cause he deserves it.... ;-)

Bill Meredith (The guy who wrote that article) is an ignorant F*CK!! Yes, he is!!....Now I feel better....

UF Dean: Awesome bro!!....Thank's for the review!!....Also thank's for passing on the T2J loves ya, Joe!!.... Kuul as ICE bro!!....

quito: lol man, thank's for the correction brotha!! ;-)

Clarky: lol man, remember the carrying of the cross?!?!....You got a little more blood to bleed to make it just right!!....I am really looking forward to seeing what ideas you've got for a cover....Shredz At An Exhibition....hmmmm....I've got some great ideas, lol....BTW, great thought's there, and I refer to the old Don Henly Kick em when they up....Kick em when they down theory....That's the belief of the average reporter, lol....The good ones (far and few between) know better, and, they like SATCH....

steevlan1: Thank's for the review bro, and glad you had a great time!!....Were happy for ya and I understand your thought's on YJM....Congrats man!!....

Cube Good news on the face bro', have a speedy recovery.

Plum Loco Man that's harsh bro and your employers sound like complete assholes - the worst kind of capitalism, pity they haven't realised that happy and motivated staff are more productive than brow beaten and oppressed staff. Hope you feel better soon man, I've had a sore throat for a week but I don't think I'll bother moaning about that ;-)

Dave Mail me your address man, I can't video DVD so I'll send you the disc and you can do it ? btw - I can't believe you don't know how the X files ends, I'd had you pinned as a huge fan. Hope your spirits are up man, later ;-)

Naty Hi !! I didn't know that you still lurked in here - hope you are well.

Trutina Nice to see you back Bil, sorry to hear about your emotional wrangles, I thought this might sum it up for ya
Ah, women. They make the highs higher and the lows more frequent.Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche - a classic quote from a man not know for his humour - keep playing bro, like Dave said, you should get some tracks out of this ;-)

Clarky lmao man, you ought to have that on you IUMA site an ill disciplined and self-indulgent shredder from South London heh heh.

later all ;-)

Crispin, what the others said! hehe. yeah Joe and Steve are excellent at palming the open strings while they tap. also, if youre using a Bad Horsie wah pedal and you hold it in the right place (somewhere around the middle) it seems to pick out the notes you're tapping and eliminate the ones you're not.

The other option is to do what Jenniffer Batten does which is to use a string damper.....it clamps on the neck behind the nut and you just flip it down when you're gonna start tapping. Or if you want to save money, you could use the sock trick! hehe. but that looks pretty pants on stage.

Try turning your tone down when you're using the wah pedal........full is probably not a good idea.

The PGM has 25 frets? crazy, I never knew that.

oh, excellent response to the palm beach review, by the way! good going

r6rocker: lol man, I'm looking forward to his cd!!....And I meant to say hi to Naty earlier too, lol ;-)

mikesb: Have you heard Richies Thang (Kotzen) from his Poison days??....He includes acoustic shred on his new stuff too, lol....BTW, VAI plays a mean acoustic also.... Brandos Costumes....Need I say more?? ;-)

962: Thanks for the YEEEEAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!.... Beautiful!!....Oh, and only the 10th has 25, because Pablo needs that for his Whole Lotta Sonatta, lol, and he has been releasing lot's of acoustic stuff lately....Including RacerX stuff in there!!....Scarified and stuff like that!!....It is unbelievable to hear it that way....He plays it the same as electric, lol!!....

ZZZZzzzzzz time, lol....

Clarky - Saturday's are better for me too.

ovation - the cover idea so far is an Ibanez headstock ripping through the face of the mona lisa from behind... a total disrespect for fine art... which is essentially where my often crass standpoint stands and points... lmao... trying to bring a little culture, learning and sophistication to the mosh pit... but only a little... lol..

on the whole I think that the majority of press I met came across as though they once had a passion for music... writing about it was about as famous as they could get.. which is nowhere neer as famous as doing it...

in many cases, those that can't cut it end up writing about it or becomng poor teachers - although I know some teachers that are genuinely fantastic and more interested in the furthering of the youth than making a living out of it [which is noble stuff]..

at the end of the day.. fans / record company guys / managers / promoters etc read what the reporters state.. so love 'em or hate 'em... you have to be nice to 'em.. you have to be proffessional when confronted by someone elses opinion about you own creations and performances.. it can be very tough.. but provided you're very honest about yourself... about the effort you put in to the writing or performance then you know deep down what the review should look like.. I tend to review my performance myself... look at what I did well and what I didn't.. how you feal within yourself is what really counts... the rest is just peripheral...

r6r - ill-disciplined, self indulgant, crass and mindless occupational shredder... lol..

also parental guidence: don't try this at home kidz... lol

Just found out yesterday that my son, TomJr, won backstage passes for us on Vai's website for the Glenside, PA event. When my son mentioned that his fiance is coming with us the moderator said that he would have 3 passes waiting for us. We are so psyched for this show on Wednesday evening.

BTW, my son wants to get his JEM signed by the guys. Do you just bring your guitar to the gig or leave it in the car for after the gig and just bring it in for the Meet and Greet?