Satch Boogie

Zoo Freaks, get ready to groove with the Zoo Crew as we spin "Satch Boogie" by Joe Satriani from his iconic album Surfing with the Alien! This track, the fifth on the 1987 release, is a hard-driving rock boogie in shuffle time that showcases Satriani’s virtuoso guitar skills. In a 2017 MusicRadar interview, Satriani shared that the song was pitched to Relativity Records president Barry Kobrin after a live performance in New York City blew him away. Kobrin asked if the album would be like that performance, to which Satriani replied, “Yeah, pretty much, with a couple of left turns here and there.” The song’s solo, ranked the 55th greatest by Guitar World readers, uses fast tapping, hammer-ons, and pull-offs, embodying Satriani’s signature Pitch Axis Theory with a central A note and a chord sequence of A, D, F#, A.

Another wild tidbit about "Satch Boogie" comes from its production. Recorded on a tight $13,000 budget at Hyde Street Studios in San Francisco, the track is the only one on the album to feature live drums by Jeff Campitelli, as most others relied on drum machines programmed by Bongo Bob Smith to save costs. Satriani noted in the same MusicRadar interview that the quick fade-out at the end was to mask the drum machine’s sound picked up by the amplifier. This “awkward charm” of blending loose guitar with mechanical drums became a defining trait of the album’s vibe. The song’s popularity soared, appearing in video games like Guitar Hero: World Tour and Rock Band 2 as downloadable content, where it’s notorious for being the toughest guitar track, especially at the Solo F section.

"Satch Boogie" also has a quirky on-stage story tied to Satriani’s love for Halloween. In a 2025 Guitar World interview, he recounted a gig where he donned an alien mask for a Halloween encore performance of "Surfing with the Alien," only to realize it was a bad idea. The mask caused him to overheat and lose control of his guitar, turning the shred-fest into a comedic moment. While this anecdote is about the album’s title track, it reflects the playful spirit Satriani brought to the era, likely influencing the high-energy vibe of "Satch Boogie." The song’s cultural reach even extended to a food fight scene in the 1991 film Problem Child 2 and was a staple in Deep Purple’s setlist during Satriani’s brief 1993 stint with the band.

Now, let’s dive into how Joe Satriani became the guitar legend we know today. Born on July 15, 1956, in Westbury, New York, Satriani’s journey began as a guitar instructor in the late 1970s. His students included future stars like Steve Vai, Kirk Hammett of Metallica, and Larry LaLonde of Primus, cementing his influence early on. Before going solo, he played in the band The Squares and briefly joined The Greg Kihn Band. His debut album, Not of This Earth (1986), laid the groundwork, but it was Surfing with the Alien in 1987 that skyrocketed him to fame, hitting number 29 on the Billboard 200 and earning platinum status.

Satriani’s career exploded from there, with over 10 million albums sold, making him the bestselling instrumental rock guitarist ever. In 1988, he joined Mick Jagger’s first solo tour, and in 1993, he briefly toured with Deep Purple. He founded the G3 tour in 1995, showcasing guitar virtuosos like Steve Vai and Eric Johnson. Satriani also formed the supergroup Chickenfoot with Sammy Hagar, Michael Anthony, and Chad Smith, releasing two albums. With 15 Grammy nominations, his technical prowess and melodic songcraft continue to inspire guitarists worldwide.

Connect with Joe Satriani on his official website, Facebook, Instagram, and X. Fans can also join the vibrant community at the Joe Satriani Fan Club on Facebook or check out the dedicated fan site Satriani.com Fans for news, forums, and more. So, Zoo Freaks, crank up "Satch Boogie" and let Satch’s six-string magic take you on a wild ride!