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When asked about the development of the band, the guitarist simply states “We’re four very different musicians agreeing on a common goal: to make the best record we can!”


As a musician, Joe Satriani is often labeled as the ‘guitarists guitarist’. His technical prowess and flair for a catchy melody has made him a household name, as has his longstanding association with the Japanese guitar company Ibanez, which has been busily producing his signature JS models since 1988 and now has around eight different variations in his arsenal. ‘You can hear my Ibanez all over the place’ he said while talking about Chickenfoot III, continuing, “There are three primary guitars for the whole record,” Satch explains “my main white JS2400, there’s an orange prototype that’s basically the same, and there’s another white one that had a sustainer pick up in it.” Playing rock riffs on the new record was something Satriani claimed to have enjoyed most about the album making process. The full frontal beefed-up guitars sound contemporary whilst also tipping a nod to the past, and although the Ibanez is Satriani’s main weapon of choice, he has the capability to conjure many different tones from the instrument. “I also used a prototype of a three single coil


Satriani agrees, “We had less time to play together but the song writing process was more developed and concentrated.” As the record stands, ‘Chickenfoot III’ is a corporeal punch of hefty-hard riffs


and towering vocals paired with a new sense of melody. There are grooves and rusty rhythms scouring the underbelly of this record and ensembles peak their heads from below the filth of rock’s callous grin. While some may argue this added edge of melodica could deter from the density of classic rock, we’d have to disagree. ‘Come Closer’, for example, rings with the clarity of a true ballad, ‘Something Going Wrong’ is a comforting Delta blues, while ‘Bigfoot’, the first single to come from the record, struts like a proud peacock with appropriately gargantuan, city-sized guitars that could bring Gods to their knees. “One of the goals of the second Chickenfoot record was to make it so it didn’t sound like a bunch of superstars getting together riffing at the same time,” Satriani insists, “(Bigfoot) is a song where Mike, Chad and me can be totally united and Sam can float on top… It was one of those songs that really unified us and it didn’t sound like one of Sam’s records or one of my records, it had that sound that we can say is a Chickenfoot record. Its just a good rock song!” While time is of the essence for Chickenfoot, their friendship and emerging bond is testament to their musicianship. Chickenfoot III has rounded the edges of their first output and while nostalgia for classic 70s rock has played its part, the four individuals combined talents have successfully merged into one beating entity. “I don’t think they knew what they were getting in to!” Satriani laughs.


JS guitar that we spent maybe 8 years working on but it sounds really great and I used it for around three tracks. It’s got a really bold, Strat-like sound, its just bigger and stronger.” On the subject of guitars, Satch mentioned that he used his ’59 Gibson ES335 in some of the mixes. Pairing the Gibson with his JS2400, tones and sounds were able to merge and compliment one another while sounding like the band had two different guitarists in the mix. ‘The cool thing about it is they’re not duplicating their rhythms exactly, and what I find is more interesting over time as you play a record over and over, you can start to distinguish the textures.”


In common with most so-called ‘super groups’ the individual members other commitments mean that time in the Chickenfoot coop is limited. For example the Chili Peppers recently released a new LP, I’m With You and touring commitments will no doubt occupy Chad Smith over the coming year. This isn’t something that’s hindered Satriani and co.’s future plans, however. The pressing need to tour Chickenfoot III is still a top priority for all concerned and Satriani confirms that he has big plans… “I’ve been pushing Sammy to do a world tour. If we’re going to do it we’ve got to do it the right way. If we go to Europe not just six dates, the whole thing, South America, the works!” Satriani’s buoyant mood helps to quickly dispel any lingering doubts that Chickenfoot is not a ‘real’ band. At the end of the day, he says, it’s all about having fun and making records with your friends, harking back to the halcyon days of his early high school bands when youthful enthusiasm and the unbounded joy of making music were all that mattered. PM


48 3 www.playmusicpickup.co.uk


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