The Hindu Business Line : The `God of Guitar' is here

IT was almost 13 years ago that one saw a pale yellow cassette cover with the deep brown illustration of a long haired-guitarist on its front, tucked away in one of the shelves of Dua's music store in Connaught Place, Delhi.

The title, The Extremist, did little to dispel first impression of Joe Satriani's music being just another stew of morbid head banging rock. Still, there was something about the title, the lone figure on the cover and the relatively unknown name that made purchase inevitable. Could have been anything that tugged curiosity then - may be even the axe edge to the name.

What, however, emerged from that risky buy set the tone for a steady addiction. Satriani's style was totally different with delicious flicks that added subtlety to the rock guitar. Best of all it was not clichéd music, the sort that subordinated technical excellence to tradition.

This man had a mind all his own, and generally letting the guitar be a voice for his imagination. Meeting others on the then nascent Satriani circuit was rare, a year went by for the first serious discussion about his music with a friend doing his Ph.D at Bangalore's NIMHANS. Then there was another, who years later would call up from Detroit strumming Satch on his newly acquired Fender.

The disease was not surprising for the likes of Satriani, Jeff Beck or Steve Vai played at an altar beyond the domain of easily marketed rock bands. Their music took time getting used to (why, you sometimes even hated it) but over time they grew in one's collection. Bit like Star Wars - Luke Skywalker may have started the story but it was deep, dark Darth Vader who shaped the pilgrimage.

On Thursday, the journey came full circle as Satch gave his autograph (it looks like a guitar) but left much to mop about as a promised interview failed to materialise.

Besides, Satriani - in association with Speed, powered by indiatimes.com, supported by VH1, Air India for travel partner, ITC Grand Maratha Sheraton as hospitality sponsor, brought and managed by Opium Events and Septune and presented as an indiatimes.com exclusive — was no more the risky buy from Dua's shop. He had become predictable business, a brand — the `God of Guitar.'

On Friday, at Bandra, he did just that, a non-stop performance for three hours that included songs from his latest album, Is there love in space, and quite a few of his earlier works. But the real glory of the evening was Moroccan Sunset, a song that appeared in the 1995 self-titled album, Joe Satriani, and which had drawn mixed reviews for the guitarist's resort to the blues.

For the record, also in the list were Friends, Flying in a Blue Dream, Satch Boogie, Starry Night, Going Down (which raised hopes of a G3 visit) and several others. The only grudge one had against Satch was that occasional sugariness to some of his works, which made them a trifle too flat, and bereft of the multidimensional exploration his ability to synthesize musical styles (how about some Indian influence Satch?) achieve. But, then, each one has his style and the world of music is richer for that.

So, all you Satch fans in the East and South don't miss the `God of Guitar' in Kolkata on May 15 and Bangalore on May 17. Get yourself some strange beautiful music.

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The `God of Guitar' is here