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.
See main article: G3: Live in Concert. 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.[1]
G3 1996 setlist | |||
---|---|---|---|
Appearance As | Performer | Song | Musicians |
Opening Act | Kenny Wayne Shepherd | "Down to the Bone" |
|
"Born with a Broken Heart" | |||
"Shame, Shame, Shame" | |||
"Kings Highway" | |||
"Deja Voodoo" | |||
"While We Cry" | |||
"Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" | |||
Adrian Legg | "Celandine" |
| |
"Cool Cajun" | |||
"Crockett Waltz" | |||
"Mrs. Jacks Last Stand" | |||
"Tracy’s Big Moment" | |||
"Chicken Licken's Last Ride" | |||
Main Performer | Steve Vai | "There's a Fire in the House" |
|
"The Animal" | |||
"Deepness" | |||
"Tender Surrender" | |||
"Little Alligator" | |||
"Bad Horsie" | |||
"Answers" | |||
"For the Love of God" | |||
"The Attitude Song" | |||
Eric Johnson | "12 to 12 Vibe" |
| |
"Righteous" | |||
"Rock Me Baby" | |||
"Zap" | |||
"Manhattan" | |||
"SRV" | |||
"Good To Me" | |||
"Camel's Night Out" | |||
"Cliffs of Dover" | |||
Joe Satriani | "Cool #9" |
| |
"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" |
| |
"My Guitar Wants to Kill Your Mama" |
| ||
"Red House" |
|
Toured North America and Europe. Michael Cusson[2] played the first two shows in Quebec City and Montreal before Kenny Wayne Shepherd joined the tour.
G3 1997 setlist | |||
---|---|---|---|
Continent | Performer | Song | Musicians |
North America | Robert Fripp | Robert Fripp Soundscape Prelude to G3 |
|
Kenny Wayne Shepherd | "Down to the Bone" |
| |
"Born with a Broken Heart" | |||
"Shame, Shame, Shame" | |||
"Kings Highway" | |||
"Deja Voodoo" | |||
"Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" | |||
Joe Satriani | "Cool #9" |
| |
"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" |
| |
"My Guitar Wants to Kill Your Mama" |
| ||
"Red House" |
| ||
Europe | Adrian 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" |
| |
"The Animal" | |||
"Deepness" | |||
"Tender Surrender" | |||
"Aching Hunger" | |||
"Angel Food" | |||
"Answers" | |||
"Conducting & Ballerina?" | |||
"For the Love of God" | |||
"The Attitude Song" | |||
Joe Satriani | "Cool #9" |
| |
"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" |
| |
"My Guitar Wants to Kill Your Mama" |
| ||
"Red House" |
|
Toured Europe.
Patrick Rondat was also present on the G3 Tour dates in France.[3]
G3 1998 setlist | ||
---|---|---|
Performer | Song | Musicians |
Michael Schenker | "In Search of Peace of Mind" |
|
"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" |
|
"The Four Seasons Part I" | ||
"The Four Seasons Part II" | ||
"Hiroshima" | ||
"Polar Nights" | ||
"Beethoven's Fifth" | ||
Joe Satriani | "Up in the Sky" |
|
"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" |
|
"The Thrill Is Gone" |
| |
"Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" |
|
Toured Rentak Rhythm of Asia Festival (Bukit Jalil) – Kuala Lumpur, MY.[4] Featured a reunion of the first G3 Tour lineup on October 21, 2000 at the Rhythm of Asia Festival – Kuala Lumpur, MY.[5] Slide guitarist Eric Sardinas opened.
G3 2000 setlist | ||
---|---|---|
Performer | Song | Musicians |
Eric Johnson | "Zenland" |
|
"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" |
|
"The Reaper" | ||
"Juice" | ||
"Whispering a Prayer" | ||
"Bangkok" | ||
"I'm the Hell Outta Here" | ||
"For the Love of God" | ||
Joe Satriani | "Devil's Slide" |
|
"Flying in a Blue Dream" | ||
"Satch Boogie" |
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 | Musicians |
John Petrucci | "IBS" |
|
"Damage Control" | ||
"Lost without You" | ||
"Glasgow Kiss" | ||
"Paradigm Shift" | ||
Steve Vai | "Shy Boy" |
|
"Giant Balls of Gold" | ||
"Erotic Nightmares" | ||
"Blood & Glory" | ||
"The Animal" | ||
"Whispering a Prayer" | ||
"Incantation" | ||
"Jiboom" | ||
"For the Love of God" | ||
Joe Satriani | "Cool #9" |
|
"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" |
|
"Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" |
| |
"Little Wing" |
| |
"Going Down" |
|
See main article: G3: Live in Denver.
Joe Satriani, Steve Vai and Yngwie Malmsteen toured North America.
G3 2003 setlist | ||
---|---|---|
Performer | Song | Musicians |
Joe Satriani | "Satch Boogie" |
|
"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" |
|
"Reaping" | ||
"Juice" | ||
"Whispering a Prayer" | ||
"I'm the Hell Outta Here" | ||
"For the Love of God" | ||
Yngwie Malmsteen | "Evil Eye" |
|
"Baroque n' Roll" | ||
"Guitar Solo" ("Trilogy Suite Op. 5"/"Krakatau"/"Red House") |
| |
"Fugue (Concerto for Electric Guitar & Orchestra in E Flat Minor Opus 1)" |
| |
"Keyboard Solo" |
| |
"Bass Solo" |
| |
"Drum Solo" |
| |
"Nylon String Acoustic Guitar Solo" |
| |
"Black Star" |
| |
"Adagio""Far Beyond the Sun" | ||
"Finale" | ||
"Blitzkrieg" | ||
G3 Jam | "Rockin' in the Free World" |
|
"Little Wing" |
| |
"Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" |
|
G3 toured Europe, Mexico and South America in 2004 with Joe Satriani, Steve Vai and Robert Fripp.
G3 2004 setlist | ||
---|---|---|
Performer | Song | Musicians |
Robert Fripp | "Soundscape Part 1" |
|
"Soundscape Part 2" | ||
"Soundscape Part 3" | ||
Steve Vai | "I Know You're Here" |
|
"Giant Balls of Gold" | ||
"Answers" | ||
"The Reaper" | ||
"Juice" | ||
"Whispering a Prayer" | ||
"Fire Garden Suite" | ||
"Bangkok" | ||
"Bull Whip" | ||
"I’m the Hell Outta Here" | ||
"For the Love of God" | ||
Joe Satriani | "Hands in the Air" |
|
"Satch Boogie" | ||
"Cool #9" | ||
"Gnaahh" | ||
"I Like the Rain" | ||
"Up in Flames" | ||
"Always with Me, Always with You" | ||
"Searching" | ||
"Is There Love in Space?" | ||
"War" | ||
"Flying in a Blue Dream" | ||
"Ice 9" | ||
G3 Jam | "Red" |
|
"The Murderer" |
Henrique Lourenço – guitar
| |
"Rockin' in the Free World" |
| |
"Going Down" |
"Alejandro Silva" – guitar
|
The 2005 G3 tour featured John Petrucci, Steve Vai and Joe Satriani touring Japan and the United States. It was recorded on May 8 at the Tokyo Forum, Japan.
See main article: G3: Live in Tokyo.
G3 2005 setlist | ||
---|---|---|
Performer | Song | Musicians |
John Petrucci | "Jaws of Life" |
|
"Glasgow Kiss" | ||
"Lost Without You" | ||
"Curve" | ||
"Wishful Thinking" | ||
"Damage Control" | ||
Steve Vai | "I'm Becoming" |
|
"The Audience Is Listening" | ||
"Building the Church" | ||
"K'm-Pee-Du-Wee" | ||
"The Crying Machine" | ||
"Lotus Feet" | ||
"I'm the Hell Outta Here" | ||
Joe Satriani | "Up in Flames" |
|
"Summer Song" | ||
"Hordes of Locusts" | ||
"Always with Me, Always with You" | ||
"War" | ||
"Searching" | ||
"Just Look Up" | ||
"Flying in a Blue Dream" | ||
G3 Jam | "Foxy Lady" |
|
"La Grange" |
| |
"Smoke on the Water" |
|
The first 2006 G3 tour featured John Petrucci, Eric Johnson and Joe Satriani. Performances were held from October 16, 2006 to October 29, 2006 across Latin America.
The second 2006 G3 tour featured John Petrucci, Steve Vai and Joe Satriani. Performances were held across Australia from November 29, 2006 to December 8, 2006.
G3 2006 setlist | |||
---|---|---|---|
Region | Performer | Song | Musicians |
Latin America | Eric Johnson | "Summer Jam" |
|
"My Back Pages" | |||
"Trademark" | |||
"Brilliant Room" | |||
"Manhattan" | |||
"Morning Sun" | |||
"Columbia" | |||
"Desert Rose" | |||
"Cliffs of Dover" | |||
John Petrucci | "Jaws of Life" |
| |
"Glasgow Kiss" | |||
"Lost without You" | |||
"Curve" | |||
"Wishful Thinking" | |||
"Damage Control" | |||
Joe Satriani | "Flying in a Blue Dream" |
| |
"The Extremist" | |||
"Redshift Riders" | |||
"Satch Boogie" | |||
"Cool #9" | |||
"Super Colossal" | |||
"Just Like Lightnin'" | |||
"Crowd Chant" | |||
"Summer Song" | |||
"Always with Me, Always with You" | |||
G3 Jam | "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" |
| |
"Red House" |
| ||
"Rockin' in the Free World" |
| ||
Australia | John Petrucci | "Jaws of Life" |
|
"Glasgow Kiss" | |||
"Lost without You" | |||
"Curve" | |||
"Wishful Thinking" | |||
"Damage Control" | |||
Steve Vai | "Tender Surrender" |
| |
"Giant Balls of Gold" | |||
"Building the Church" | |||
"Answers" | |||
"Whispering a Prayer" | |||
"Freak Show Excess" | |||
"For the Love of God" | |||
Joe Satriani | "Flying in a Blue Dream" |
| |
"The Extremist" | |||
"Redshift Riders" | |||
"Cool #9" | |||
"Super Colossal" | |||
"Just Like Lightnin'" | |||
"Satch Boogie" | |||
"Crowd Chant" | |||
"Summer Song" | |||
"Always with Me, Always with You" | |||
G3 Jam | "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" |
| |
"My Guitar Wants to Kill Your Mama" |
| ||
"Rockin' in the Free World" |
|
The G3 2007 tour featured Paul Gilbert, John Petrucci and Joe Satriani. Shows were held from March 14 to April 14. At the last show of the tour during the song "Glasgow Kiss" Paul Gilbert's band came out wearing kilts and did a small dance.[6]
The G3 Jam featured Johnny A. at the Orpheum Theatre in Boston, MA.
G3 2007 setlist | ||
---|---|---|
Performer | Song | Musicians |
Paul Gilbert | "Get Out of My Yard" |
|
"Hurry Up" | ||
"Rusty Old Boat" | ||
"Radiator" | ||
"Scarified" | ||
"Scit Scat Wah" | ||
"I Like Rock" | ||
"Space Ship One" | ||
"Down to Mexico" | ||
John Petrucci | "Jaws of Life" |
|
"Glasgow Kiss" | ||
"Lost without You" | ||
"Curve" | ||
"Wishful Thinking" | ||
"Damage Control" | ||
Joe Satriani | "War" |
|
"One Big Rush" | ||
"Flying in a Blue Dream" | ||
"Cool #9" | ||
"Super Colossal" | ||
"Satch Boogie" | ||
"Circles" | ||
"The Mystical Potato Head Groove Thing" | ||
"Surfing with the Alien" | ||
"Always with Me, Always with You" | ||
G3 Jam | Foxy Lady Purple Haze Third Stone from the Sun Voodoo Child (Slight Return) |
|
"Going Down" |
| |
"Jumpin' Jack Flash" |
|
The G3 2012 tour featured Steve Lukather in Australia/Steve Morse in Europe, Joe Satriani and Steve Vai.
The G3 2016 tour featured Joe Satriani and Steve Vai and the Aristocrats. Shows were held in various cities in Italy and Germany from July 2, 2016 to July 13, 2016.
The G3 2018 tour featured John Petrucci, Uli Jon Roth in Europe/Phil Collen in the States and Joe Satriani.
Dream Theater, Scorpions, and Racer X are the only bands that have had two of their members on G3 tour: John Petrucci on guitar and Mike Portnoy on drums (2001, 2002, 2005, 2006 & 2007), John Petrucci on guitar and Mike Mangini on drums (2012,2018), Michael Schenker and Uli Jon Roth both on guitars (1998), and Paul Gilbert and Bruce Bouillet both on guitar (2007).
Alcatrazz has also had two members represented on the G3 tour: Yngwie Malmsteen and Steve Vai. The David Lee Roth Band has had four members touring with G3: Steve Vai, Billy Sheehan, Matt Bissonette and Greg Bissonette.
Robert Fripp, Eric Johnson, Steve Morse, John Petrucci and Uli Jon Roth are the only guitarists (excluding Joe Satriani and Steve Vai) who have played on the G3 tour more than once: