I feel your pain, Yogibell.

I just found out the other day that my guitar teacher walked down the aisle (as in marriage, not the supermarket) to "Sisters" by Vai. How cool is that? It started me thinking... Are there any Satch (Or Vai) songs that have become inseperable from certain events in your lives?

OK, Major Tom, I've voted. Although it seems Satch can't compete with the "Home team" loyalty. :-)

Satch as a food? Hmmm... How about strong peppermints? Like many of Satch's songs, they start out cold as ice, and finish red hot!

Well, KB1. I think this is more or less the response you should have expected. I don't mind people having their opinions, but don't go trying to legitimate them by saying it's "What the fans want". Judging by what has been said about SBM so far, that is a load of bullshit. Sure, most of us voted for rock, but the alternatives at the time were "Blues", "Jazz", "Techno" and "Rap Metal", if I remember correctly. Now, even if you don't regard SBM as "Rock", I'm guessing it can't be crammed into these other catergories as easily. (People who have heard it might care to back me up.)

Well, I have finally heard SBM for the first time, and, summed up, it ROCKS. As soon as put it on, Oriental Melody totally sucked me in. Mindstorm, as sick of the word as I may be, was worthy of all the chanting. So refreshing to hear some Satch hard rock... kinda like something off "The Extremisr". The Traveller/ Journey odyssey is also cool... The latter reminding me a little of Vai's "Dyin' day". What Breaks a Heart, You saved my Life, Sleepwalk... Also right up there! ("You Saved my Life" is kinda like "You're my World") Yet to be honest, I did find a couple songs slightly less than amazing. I gotta admit I haven't really "got" Belly Dancer, and "Chords of Life" isn't what I thought it would be. Still, overall another Satch classic. There seems to be more emphasis on Melody in this album than on technique, but without any detrimental effects on the quality. (Of course, Satch, unlike Vai, has never let technical prowess interfere with melody, but on this album the ratio has shifted a little more.) About on a par with "Engines", but not quite as good as "Crystal Planet" or "The Extremist".

Wow, I had no idea I was so lucky to be an Aussie Satch fan with a copy of SBM! Pete, try JB HiFi, (If there are any in Sydney) they have always got the latest Satch and Vai albums in pretty quickly on special import.

Thanks, Nonsmoker, I'll check that out. But is that $3000 US? That's equivalent to just over $5000 Australian! I wouldn't want to milk my parents that much!

It seems some Aussies are still searching for SBM, so once again I'll recommend JB HiFi for ayone in reach of one. They had 7 copies of SBM on the shelves when I bought mine!

As for Metallica filling the shoes of Led Zep... Don't make me laugh! I'm a Metallica fan, but I don't for a moment think that Metallica's awesome Metal and Pain- ballads (If that's an appropriate term) can match the mind- blowing diversity and innovation that characterized Led Zeppelin over the years. I've just bought Led Zeppelin 1 through 4, and they are 100% killer, 0% filler! Folk, Blues, Metal, Hard Rock, even Neo- Classical - They did everything, and they did it all in style. Besides, As brilliant as metallica's albums from '83 to '91 are, they haven't produced anything new for over 5 years. As far as I'm concerned, they had it great until the Black album, then started slipping very fast. Just my opinion, though!

Peace, All!

Just come back from Hong Kong!!

Joe, are you saying you've just done a tour of the SE Asia/ Pacific area... And not come to Australia?!!!

Man, it's great to finally have a guitar with decent whammy action. Just to add that extra "bendy" dimension to your music.

What guitar would I buy? GIBSON LES PAUL Not because it's better than my current guitar, but because the one thing I'm lacking is a good, rounded double humbucker sound.

JSCLONE1 - Yeah, Yamaha Pacifica was my first guitar. They've got great diversity of sound and are quite good as an entry level guitar, but eventually the poor sustain and whammy action started letting me down.

The Yamaha RGX420 is better. I swear, hook this baby up to a POD effects unit and a Marshall amp, and you can do ANYTHING!

Trutina - Right on man. I think you posted that message at just the right time.

Neilsa - Don't hold your breath.

If anyone still has a chance to see SANTANA on their current tour, DO SO NOW!! You will rarely see a greater example of professional musicianship and stage production. Those who say ol' Carlos is a tad one- dimensional are right - but he's good at what he does. And with a band that awsome backing him up, who cares? This is the first time I've looked around the audience during a 10- minute drum solo and found them all on the edge of their seats. Brass, Keyboards... they're ALL that good.

I'm not sure if SILVERCHAIR are coming to the States on their current tour, but if they are, SEE THEM! Anyone who has heard "Diorama" will know the incredibly rich and textured sound this band has developed, and let me tell you it's every bit as good live.

My life is complete...

I got to write an article about my hero (Joe) and how great he is, and get it published in one of the biggest music mags in my city.

Other Victorians can check out the May edition of "Mixdown" magazine for a RAVE review of "Is there love in Space" by none other than yours truly.

Hey Joe... Remember when you came out the stage door at the Forum in Melbourne? Both times there was a guy just standing there applauding you while everyone else just swooped in for an autograph. That was me.

Seeing you live (especially twice) was a dream come true. Your technique is impeccable, of course. But what really strikes me is what a generous entertainer you are - you just get up there and give and give and give, and do whatever it takes to please the fans.

I was so proud to be an aussie fan on the Friday 18th show, when we started up that deafening 'Joe! Joe! Joe!' chant just two songs in... But I cringed when that tool came up on stage at the end of the Saturday 19th show and wrecked your bow. Sorry about that.

Remember how I got you to sign that interview I did with you last year? Well, one thing I didn't mention is that it was the front page story in a national music magazine - a real boon for my fledgling music journalism career. And some of the thanks for that goes to you - Thanks Joe.

After that story was published, I got a call from Sony asking me if I wanted to interview you in person when you toured, and naturally I almost jumped down the phone with enthusiasm! But then they never called back... Man that sucked.

HEY JOE... Remember when you came out the stage door at the Forum in Melbourne? Both times there was a guy just standing there applauding you while everyone else just swooped in for an autograph. That was me.

Seeing you live (especially twice) was a dream come true. Your technique is impeccable, of course. But what really strikes me is what a generous entertainer you are - you just get up there and give and give and give, and do whatever it takes to please the fans.

I was so proud to be an aussie fan on the Friday 18th show, when we started up that deafening 'Joe! Joe! Joe!' chant just two songs in... But I cringed when that tool came up on stage at the end of the Saturday 19th show and wrecked your bow. Sorry about that.

Remember how I got you to sign that interview I did with you last year? Well, one thing I didn't mention is that it was the front page story in a national music magazine - a real boon for my fledgling music journalism career. And some of the thanks for that goes to you - Thanks Joe.

After that story was published, I got a call from Sony asking me if I wanted to interview you in person when you toured, and naturally I almost jumped down the phone with enthusiasm! But then they never called back... Man that sucked.

Thanks Ataris 1 - Surprised you remember me, I haven't been here in so long. Shows were awesome. Were you at the Forum ones? Did you see that d!ckhead at the end of the Saturday night one? Man that shits me... We were so close to dispelling the reputation of aussie guys being drunken louts... SO CLOSE!!!

I know I'm jumping on this bandwagon a tad late but it's a real shame about Paul Hester... It's interesting because I only had two degrees of separation from him - twice he has played in bands with personal acquaintances of mine, but I never saw him play. I feel bad that now I will never get the chance... A friend of mine was involved in a band with him just this past year... I haven't talked to him yet, but I imagine this has got him pretty down.