“He’s not used to not being the focus of the show. I’d say, ‘When Steve’s soloing, don’t throw your guitar up in the air right next to him’”: Joe Satriani on the unique challenges of having Yngwie Malmsteen on the G3 tour

From left, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, and Yngvie Malmsteen perform, Chicago, Illinois, October 24, 2003.

Yngwie Malmsteen is a certified member of the electric guitar elite, but his spot on the prestigious G3 tour in 2003 came with a few unique challenges for co-shredder and show leader, Joe Satriani.

Malmsteen was brought to the masses by a 1983 spotlight column by Guitar Player, which sought to unearth the world’s next hot shot guitar hero. The game-changing fireworks of his neo-classical debut, Rising Force, then saw his stock skyrocket.