For nearly three decades, Joe Satriani has collaborated with a variety of exceptional guitarists during his iconic G3 tour. However, one legendary figure who never graced the stage alongside him was the late Eddie Van Halen. Satriani made multiple attempts to connect with Van Halen to invite him to join the tour, which he recalls in a recent interview on the UCR Podcast. “I called Eddie’s number, his office, and every contact I could think of,” he explained. “I didn’t want to be intrusive since I didn?t know him personally. Living in different cities made it challenging to reach out directly, so I tried every possible channel to communicate that we would handle all the logistics for the show, making it effortless for the artist.”

“Regarding Ed, we consistently offered to assemble a band for him. He could perform whenever he wished and for as long as he desired,” Satriani clarified. “This was the basic framework of the show, yet I never received a response. After several attempts over six or seven G3 tours, I came to terms with it. Not every musician feels comfortable performing next to two other guitarists every night. They might join for a unique event or a charity concert, but signing on for G3 entails a commitment to the audience, ensuring you show up and deliver a performance each night.”

Understanding Eddie Van Halen’s Reluctance to Join G3

Satriani speculates on the reasons behind Van Halen’s absence from the G3 lineup, noting that the guitarist traditionally focused on his own band. “Certain groups provide their guitarists with ample opportunities to explore their creativity independently,” he remarked. “For instance, The Edge from U2 has the freedom to pursue solo projects, just like Van Halen. Eddie didn?t need G3, as he had his own music to perform and didn?t have restrictions from his band. It’s important to recognize that this format isn’t for everyone.”

In addition to his aspirations to collaborate with Van Halen, Satriani has another dream project that fell through. “I was incredibly close to touring with Jeff Beck and Billy Gibbons. We were merely a week away from finalizing the details,” he reminisced. “It almost came to fruition, but then Jeff unexpectedly backed out. He humorously suggested that touring with Prince would be a better opportunity. I found that quite amusing; it seemed more like an excuse than a serious proposal.”

READ MORE: How Mick Jagger Prepared Joe Satriani to Perform Van Halen

“Although I met Jeff twice, I wouldn’t say we were close friends,” he continued. “I never had the chance to discuss the missed opportunity with him, so I often wonder, ‘What happened?’ I’ve always imagined calling up legends like Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck to gather our favorite guitarists for something monumental. However, it?s challenging because I belong to a different generation. Steve Vai and I find ourselves in an intermediary position; particularly at my age, I don?t fit into the classic rock category nor the wave of iconic players who emerged later, like Slash and Tom Morello. I can understand why they might think, ‘Who is this guy? He plays instrumental guitar; does it really matter?’ I never truly believed it would come to fruition, but I would ask anyway. Occasionally, someone would show interest or just show up wanting to jam, like Brian May, Neal Schon, or Robert Fripp. We’ve been fortunate in that regard, but those two, Jeff Beck and Eddie, are definitely the ones that got away.”

The original G3 lineup, featuring Satriani, Vai, and Eric Johnson, reunited in early 2024, marking their first performances together since the inaugural tour in 1996. The G3 Reunion Live album showcases full sets from these guitar legends during their recent tour. Presently, Satriani and Vai are concentrating on completing an album with their band, SatchVai, and are set to embark on another tour starting in June.

Listen to Joe Satriani and Steve Vai on the ‘UCR Podcast’