Ice Nine (Live 1988)

Zoo Freaks, get ready to groove with the Zoo Crew as we spin "Ice Nine (Live 1988)" from Joe Satriani’s Dreaming #11 EP! This blistering live track, recorded at the California Theater in San Diego on June 11, 1988, captures Satriani’s electrifying guitar prowess. A fan favorite, “Ice Nine” hails from his 1987 breakout album Surfing with the Alien and showcases his ability to blend melody with mind-bending technical skill. In a review on mikeladano.com, the track is praised for its explosive energy, with bassist Stu Hamm’s “impressive fingerwork” and drummer Jonathan Mover’s precise punctuation elevating the performance. The review notes Satriani humbly introducing his band before launching into the “thumping” rhythm, proving it’s not just a shred fest but a true song with a memorable melody.

Digging into the trivia, “Ice Nine” live is a standout on the Dreaming #11 EP, which hit No. 42 on the Billboard 200 and stayed charted for 26 weeks. A post from Satriani’s X account, @chickenfootjoe, celebrated the EP’s 36th anniversary in November 2024, highlighting how tracks like “Ice Nine” remain setlist staples. Fans on sortmusic.com rave about the live version’s intensity, with one calling it “a hundred times better” than the studio cut, thanks to Hamm and Mover’s dynamic interplay. The EP itself is a bit of an oddity, mixing one studio track, “The Crush of Love,” with three live cuts, but “Ice Nine” steals the show with its hypnotic groove. Guitar Nine calls it the EP’s best track, a testament to Satriani’s live musicianship.

Now, let’s rewind to how Joe Satriani became the guitar hero we know today. Born on July 15, 1956, in Westbury, New York, Satriani’s journey began as a teenager obsessed with Jimi Hendrix. He started playing guitar at 14, teaching himself by ear and diving into music theory. Before hitting the big time, he was a guitar instructor in Berkeley, California, mentoring future legends like Steve Vai, Kirk Hammett of Metallica, and Larry LaLonde of Primus. His teaching gigs funded early demo recordings, which evolved into his 1986 debut album, Not of This Earth. Satriani’s big break came with Surfing with the Alien in 1987, the first all-instrumental rock album to chart highly in years, cementing his status as a pioneer. His career exploded from there, with over 10 million albums sold, 15 Grammy nominations, and collaborations with Mick Jagger, Deep Purple, and his supergroup Chickenfoot.

For more Satch vibes, check out his official website at satriani.com, where you can explore his discography and tour dates. Connect with him on social media via Facebook, Instagram, and X for the latest updates. Fans can dive deeper at Joe Satriani Universe, a dedicated fan site with detailed album breakdowns. Join fellow Zoo Freaks in fan communities like the Joe Satriani Fan Club on Facebook to share your love for his galactic riffs. Keep it locked to THE ZOO for more shred-tastic tunes!