Ice 9

The Zoo Crew is spinning Joe Satriani's "Ice 9" from the iconic Surfing with the Alien album, and Zoo Freaks are in for a treat with this sci-fi-inspired instrumental banger! The track's title draws from Kurt Vonnegut's novel Cat's Cradle, where "Ice 9" is a fictional substance that can freeze the world—a nod to Satriani's love for science fiction themes. In a 2017 MusicRadar interview, Satriani explained that the song's mechanical drum machine beat, programmed by Bongo Bob Smith, was a deliberate choice to save money on the album's tight $13,000 budget, giving it a unique, Kraftwerk-inspired vibe. He noted, "We were enamored with the idea of using these machines with really loose guitar playing." This blend of rigid drums and fluid guitar riffs creates the song's distinct, otherworldly energy that Zoo Freaks are vibing to right now.

Another cool tidbit about "Ice 9" comes from its live performance impact. In a 2017 Ultimate Classic Rock interview, Satriani shared that "Ice 9" was a crowd-pleaser in small venues, saying, "If you play 'Ice 9' faster and longer and louder, it’s a success." The song's blistering pace and technical prowess make it a standout for guitar enthusiasts, with fans on Reddit comparing its jaw-dropping effect to hearing Van Halen's "Eruption" for the first time. The track also showcases Satriani's ability to mix clean and distorted guitar fills, as noted in a Classic Rock Review, making it a masterclass in dynamic composition that keeps the Zoo Crew's turntables spinning.

Joe Satriani, born July 15, 1956, in Westbury, New York, kicked off his musical journey as a self-taught guitarist, inspired by legends like Jimi Hendrix and Wes Montgomery. Growing up as the youngest of five kids, he credits his mother’s record collection and his sister Carol, who bought him his first guitar—a Hagstrom 3 for $126—with sparking his passion, as shared in a 2017 In The Studio interview. By his teens, Satriani was gigging in high school bands, but it was his move to Berkeley, California, in the late 1970s that set the stage for his career. There, he became a renowned guitar teacher, mentoring future stars like Steve Vai, Metallica’s Kirk Hammett, and Testament’s Alex Skolnick, as detailed on his Wikipedia page. His teaching gigs funded his early recordings, and after a stint backing Greg Kihn, he financed his debut album, Not of This Earth, with credit cards, paving the way for the 1987 breakthrough of Surfing with the Alien.

Satriani’s rise wasn’t just about technical skill; it was his knack for melody and fun that made him a guitar hero for the masses. His work with Mick Jagger on a 1988 solo tour and later with Deep Purple and Chickenfoot solidified his rep, as noted in his Amazon bio. With over 10 million albums sold and 15 Grammy nominations, he’s the bestselling instrumental rock guitarist ever. Zoo Freaks can keep up with Satch on his official website, where he shares tour dates and discography details, or follow him on Facebook, Instagram, and X for updates and throwbacks like his 2019 post celebrating 32 years of Surfing with the Alien. Fans also gather at sites like Guitar Nine and the Joe Satriani Fan Group on Facebook, where they swap stories and geek out over tracks like "Ice 9."