G3 is a concert tour organized by guitarist Joe Satriani featuring him alongside two other guitarists. Since its inception in 1995 G3 has toured most years and has featured many guitarists, including Steve Vai (Satriani's former student), Eric Johnson, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Yngwie Malmsteen, John Petrucci, Robert Fripp, Paul Gilbert, Steve Morse, Steve Lukather, Uli Jon Roth, Michael Schenker, Adrian Legg, Phil Collen and many other special guests, including Tony MacAlpine, Johnny Hiland, Keith More, Chris Duarte, Andy Timmons, Neal Schon, Gary Hoey, Brian May, Billy Gibbons, Johnny A, George Lynch, Patrick Rondat, Guthrie Govan, Alejandro Silva, and Eric Sardinas.
1996
The first tour took place in 1996. The North American G3 tour featured Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, and Eric Johnson. Performances were held from October 11, 1996 to November 8, 1996. Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Adrian Legg were the opening acts.
There were special guests on this tour, who included Neal Schon in San Francisco, Gary Hoey in San Diego, Chris Duarte in Austin and San Antonio, George Lynch in Phoenix, and Andy Timmons in Dallas. Al and Janie Hendrix (Jimi Hendrix's father and stepsister) came backstage on the last date of the G3 Tour in Hendrix's home town of Seattle, WA.
G3 1996 setlist Appearance As Performer Song MusiciansOpening ActKenny Wayne Shepherd "Down to the Bone" Noah Hunt – vocals Kenny Wayne Shepherd – lead guitar Joe Nadeau – rhythm guitar Robby Emerson – bass Jimmy Wallace – keyboards Sam Bryant – drums "Born with a Broken Heart" "Shame, Shame, Shame" "Kings Highway" "Deja Voodoo" "While We Cry" "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)"Adrian Legg "Celandine"Adrian Legg – guitar "Cool Cajun" "Crockett Waltz" "Mrs. Jacks Last Stand" "Tracy’s Big Moment" "Chicken Licken's Last Ride"Main PerformerSteve Vai "There's a Fire in the House"Steve Vai – lead guitar Mike Keneally – rhythm guitar, sitar, keyboards Philip Bynoe – bass, percussion Mike Mangini – drums, percussion "The Animal" "Deepness" "Tender Surrender" "Little Alligator" "Bad Horsie" "Answers" "For the Love of God" "The Attitude Song"Eric Johnson "12 to 12 Vibe" Eric Johnson – guitar Roscoe Beck – bass Stephen Barber – keyboards Brannen Temple – drums "Righteous" "Rock Me Baby" "Zap" "Manhattan" "SRV" "Good To Me" "Camel's Night Out" "Cliffs of Dover"Joe Satriani "Cool #9" Joe Satriani – guitar, vocals Stu Hamm – bass Jeff Campitelli – drums "Flying in a Blue Dream" "Summer Song" "The Crush of Love" "The Extremist" "Always with Me, Always with You" "Satch Boogie" "Big Bad Moon" "Surfing with the Alien"G3 Jam "Going Down" Joe Satriani – guitar, lead vocals Steve Vai – guitar, backing vocals Eric Johnson – guitar Stu Hamm – bass Jeff Campitelli – drums "My Guitar Wants to Kill Your Mama"Mike Keneally – vocals Steve Vai – guitar, vocals Joe Satriani – guitar Eric Johnson – guitar Stu Hamm – bass Jeff Campitelli – drums "Red House"Eric Johnson – guitar, vocals Joe Satriani – guitar Steve Vai – guitar Stu Hamm – bass Jeff Campitelli – drums
1997 Toured North America featuring Satriani, Shepherd, Fripp and Europe, featuring Satriani, Vai, Legg. Michel Cusson played the first two shows in Quebec City and Montreal before Shepherd joined the tour.
G3 1997 setlist Continent Performer Song MusiciansNorth America Robert Fripp Robert Fripp Soundscape Prelude to G3Robert Fripp – guitar Mike KeneallyKenny Wayne Shepherd "Down to the Bone" Noah Hunt – vocals Kenny Wayne Shepherd – lead guitar Joe Nadeau – rhythm guitar Robby Emerson – bass Jimmy Wallace – keyboards Sam Bryant – drums "Born with a Broken Heart" "Shame, Shame, Shame" "Kings Highway" "Deja Voodoo" "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)"Joe Satriani "Cool #9" Joe Satriani – guitar, vocals Stu Hamm – bass Jeff Campitelli – drums "Ice 9" "Summer Song" "Flying in a Blue Dream" "The Mystical Potato Head Groove Thing" "Always with Me, Always with You" "Big Bad Moon" "Bass Solo" "Satch Boogie" "Surfing with the Alien"G3 Jam "Levee Break"Joe Satriani – guitar, vocals Kenny Wayne Shepherd – guitar Robert Fripp – guitar Stu Hamm – bass Jeff Campitelli – drums "My Guitar Wants to Kill Your Mama"Noah Hunt – vocals Kenny Wayne Shepherd – guitar, vocals Joe Satriani – guitar Robert Fripp – guitar Stu Hamm – bass Jeff Campitelli – drums "Red House"Robert Fripp – guitar, vocals Joe Satriani – guitar Kenny Wayne Shepherd – guitar Stu Hamm – bass Jeff Campitelli – drumsEuropeAdrian Legg "Celandine"Adrian Legg – guitar "English Cajun" "Kalahari Blues" "Ragged Nail" "L'Amour Manque" "Queenies Waltz" "Cool Cajun" "Mrs. Jack's Last Stand" "Tracey's Big Moment" "Chicken Licken's Last Ride"Steve Vai "There's a Fire in the House" Steve Vai – lead guitar Mike Keneally – rhythm guitar, keyboards Philip Bynoe – bass Mike Mangini – drums "The Animal" "Deepness" "Tender Surrender" "Aching Hunger" "Angel Food" "Answers" "Conducting & Ballerina?" "For the Love of God" "The Attitude Song"Joe Satriani "Cool #9" Joe Satriani – guitar, vocals Stu Hamm – bass Jeff Campitelli – drums "Ice 9" "Summer Song" "Flying in a Blue Dream" "The Mystical Potato Head Groove Thing" "Always with Me, Always with You" "Big Bad Moon" "Bass Solo" "Satch Boogie" "Surfing with the Alien"G3 Jam "Levee Break"Joe Satriani – guitar, vocals Steve Vai – guitar Adrian Legg – guitar Stu Hamm – bass Jeff Campitelli – drums "My Guitar Wants to Kill Your Mama"Mike Keneally – vocals Steve Vai – guitar, vocals Joe Satriani – guitar Adrian Legg – guitar Stu Hamm – bass Jeff Campitelli – drums "Red House"Adrian Legg – guitar, vocals Joe Satriani – guitar Steve Vai – guitar Stu Hamm – bass Jeff Campitelli – drums
1998 Toured Europe.
Patrick Rondat was also present on the G3 Tour dates in France.
G3 1998 setlist Performer Song MusiciansMichael Schenker "In Search of Peace of Mind" David Van Landing – vocals Gary Barden – vocals Michael Schenker – lead guitar Seth Bernstein – rhythm guitar, keyboards Jeff Kollman – bass Shane Gaalaas – drums "Assault Attack" "Into the Arena" "Another Piece of Meat" "Let It Roll" "Captain Nemo" "Written in the Sand" "Essence" "Lost Horizons" "Attack of the Mad Axeman" "Bijou Pleasurette" "Positive Forward" "Armed and Ready"Uli Jon Roth "G3 Overture" Liz Vandall – vocals Uli Jon Roth – guitar Patrice Guers – bass Don Airey – keyboards Clive Bunker – drums "The Four Seasons Part I" "The Four Seasons Part II" "Hiroshima" "Polar Nights" "Beethoven's Fifth"Joe Satriani "Up in the Sky" Joe Satriani – guitar, vocals Stuart Hamm – bass Jeff Campitelli – drums "House Full of Bullets" "Crystal Planet" "Time" "Raspberry Jam Delta-V" "Lights of Heaven" "Ice 9" "The Mystical Potato Head Groove Thing" "Summer Song" "Always with Me, Always with You" "Big Bad Moon" "Bass Solo" "Satch Boogie" "Slow Down Blues" "Surfing with the Alien"G3 Jam "Going Down" Joe Satriani – guitar, vocals Michael Schenker – guitar Uli Jon Roth – guitar Keith More – guitar Stu Hamm – bass Jeff Campitelli – drums "The Thrill Is Gone"Gary Barden – vocals Joe Satriani – guitar Michael Schenker – guitar Uli Jon Roth – guitar Keith More – guitar Stu Hamm – bass Jeff Campitelli – drums "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" David Van Landing – vocals Joe Satriani – guitar Michael Schenker – guitar Uli Jon Roth – guitar Keith More – guitar Stu Hamm – bass Jeff Campitelli – drums
2000 Toured Rentak Rhythm of Asia Festival (Bukit Jalil) – Kuala Lumpur, MY. Featured a reunion of the first G3 Tour lineup on October 21, 2000 at the Rhythm of Asia Festival – Kuala Lumpur, MY. Slide guitarist Eric Sardinas opened.
G3 2000 setlist Performer Song MusiciansEric Johnson "Zenland" Eric Johnson – guitar, vocals Chris Maresh – bass Billy Maddox – drums "Trail of Tears" "Forty Mile Town" "Trademark" "Nothing Can Keep Me from You" "Desert Rose" "Cliffs of Dover"Steve Vai "I Know You're Here" Steve Vai – lead guitar, vocals Dave Weiner – rhythm guitar Philip Bynoe – bass, percussion Mike Keneally – keyboards, sitar, additional guitar Mike Mangini – drums, percussion "The Reaper" "Juice" "Whispering a Prayer" "Bangkok" "I'm the Hell Outta Here" "For the Love of God"Joe Satriani "Devil's Slide" Joe Satriani – guitar Stu Hamm – bass Jeff Campitelli – drums "Flying in a Blue Dream" "Satch Boogie"
2001–2002
G3 2001 featured Joe Satriani and Steve Vai up with Dream Theater's John Petrucci, who wrote an entire set of new instrumental music for the tour, touring North America.
G3 2001–2002 setlist Performer Song MusiciansJohn Petrucci "IBS" John Petrucci – guitar Dave LaRue – bass Mike Portnoy – drums "Damage Control" "Lost without You" "Glasgow Kiss" "Paradigm Shift"Steve Vai "Shy Boy" Steve Vai – lead guitar Dave Weiner – rhythm guitar Billy Sheehan – bass, vocals Mike Keneally – keyboards, additional guitar Virgil Donati – drums "Giant Balls of Gold" "Erotic Nightmares" "Blood & Glory" "The Animal" "Whispering a Prayer" "Incantation" "Jiboom" "For the Love of God"Joe Satriani "Cool #9" Joe Satriani – guitar Stu Hamm – bass Jeff Campitelli – drums "Devil's Slide" "Satch Boogie" "Flying in a Blue Dream" "Until We Say Goodbye" "The Extremist" "Raspberry Jam Delta-V" "Always with Me, Always with You" "Surfing with the Alien"G3 Jam "La Grange" Billy Sheehan – vocals, bass Joe Satriani – guitar Steve Vai – guitar John Petrucci – guitar Stu Hamm – bass Jeff Campitelli – drums "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" Billy Sheehan – vocals, bass Joe Satriani – guitar Steve Vai – guitar John Petrucci – guitar Dave LaRue – bass Jeff Campitelli – drums "Little Wing"Steve Vai – guitar, vocals Joe Satriani – guitar John Petrucci – guitar Billy Sheehan – bass Jeff Campitelli – drums "Going Down"Joe Satriani – guitar, vocals Steve Vai – guitar John Petrucci – guitar Stu Hamm – bass Jeff Campitelli – drums
2003
Joe Satriani, Steve Vai and Yngwie Malmsteen toured North America.
G3 2003 setlist Performer Song MusiciansJoe Satriani "Satch Boogie" Joe Satriani – lead guitar Galen Henson – rhythm guitar Matt Bissonette – bass Jeff Campitelli – drums "The Extremist" "Crystal Planet" "Starry Night" "Midnight" "Flying in a Blue Dream" "The Mystical Potato Head Groove Thing" "Always with Me, Always with You" "Summer Song"Steve Vai "I Know You’re Here" Steve Vai – lead guitar, vocals Dave Weiner – rhythm guitar Billy Sheehan – bass Tony MacAlpine – keyboards, guitar Jeremy Colson – drums "Reaping" "Juice" "Whispering a Prayer" "I'm the Hell Outta Here" "For the Love of God"Yngwie Malmsteen "Evil Eye" Yngwie Malmsteen – guitar Mick Cervino – bass Jocke Svalberg – keyboards Patrick Johansson – drums "Baroque n' Roll" "Guitar Solo" ("Trilogy Suite Op. 5"/"Krakatau"/"Red House") Yngwie Malmsteen – guitar "Fugue (Concerto for Electric Guitar & Orchestra in E Flat Minor Opus 1)" Yngwie Malmsteen – guitar Mick Cervino – bass Jocke Svalberg – keyboards Patrick Johansson – drums "Keyboard Solo" Jocke Svalberg – keyboards "Bass Solo" Mick Cervino – bass "Drum Solo" Patrick Johansson – drums "Nylon String Acoustic Guitar Solo"Yngwie Malmsteen – guitar "Black Star" Yngwie Malmsteen – guitar Mick Cervino – bass Jocke Svalberg – keyboards Patrick Johansson – drums "Adagio" "Far Beyond the Sun" "Finale" "Blitzkrieg"G3 Jam "Rockin' in the Free World"Joe Satriani – guitar, lead vocals Steve Vai – guitar, backing vocals Yngwie Malmsteen – guitar Billy Sheehan – bass Jeff Campitelli – drums "Little Wing"Steve Vai – guitar, vocals Joe Satriani – guitar Yngwie Malmsteen – guitar Billy Sheehan – bass Jeff Campitelli – drums "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" Yngwie Malmsteen – guitar, vocals Joe Satriani – guitar Steve Vai – guitar Billy Sheehan – bass Jeff Campitelli – drums
2004
G3 toured Europe, Mexico and South America in 2004 with Joe Satriani, Steve Vai and Robert Fripp.
G3 2004 setlist Performer Song MusiciansRobert Fripp "Soundscape Part 1"Robert Fripp – guitar "Soundscape Part 2" "Soundscape Part 3"Steve Vai "I Know You're Here" Steve Vai – lead guitar, vocals