The world-renowned guitar virtuoso JOE SATRIANI has announced that his new studio album, titled “Shapeshifting” is set for release on April 10, 2020 via Sony Music/Legacy Recordings. The first single, “Nineteen Eighty” is available now (see below)
Shapeshifting was co-produced by Satriani with Jim Scott (Foo Fighters, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers) and longtime associate John Cuniberti on board handling the mastering.
Satriani also mustered a broad range of mjusical collaborators for the recording that included the legendary drummer Kenny Aronoff (John Fogerty), bassist Chris Chaney (Jane’s Addiction) & keyboardist Eric Caudieux who formed the core of the studio band with additional contributions from Lisa Coleman (The Revolution) & Christopher Guest.
The vintage feel of the first single, “Nineteen Eighty” finds Satriani spiritually revisiting the period of time when he worked with his first band, the San Francisco-based outfit known as “The Squares” circa 1984. He remembers those early days vividly: “We dialed back the guitar solos and histrionics to try to create a cooler new wave vibe,” he says.
After joining the Baltimore Greg Kihn Band for a short while, he struck-out on his own to record his first solo album “Not of This Earth” in early 1985.
Staying true to the nature of that formula and those early sounds, he has even used a vintage MXR EVH phaser for the new recordings: “I’ve always been a huge fan of Eddie Van Halen,” Satriani says.
“In my mind, he just crystallized that era. The late ‘70s and early ‘80s, he kind of saved rock guitar. So that’s what I would have been doing.”
SATRIANI will embark on his “Shapeshifting Tour” in 2020. It kicks off on April 15 with a 42-date European leg that currently goes thru to mid-June. Additional dates, including the U.S. leg will be announced soon. The 2020 touring band features celebrated drummer Kenny Aronoff (John Fogerty), bassist Bryan Beller (Aristocrats) and keyboardist Rai Thistlethwayte (Thirsty Merc) with SATRIANI on guitar.
Link: https://www.facebook.com/joesatriani
Main image Photo Credit © Joseph Cultice
Shapeshifting by Joe Satriani can be pre-ordered now
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