Joe Satriani has opened up in regards to the time David Lee Roth tried to recruit him for a Van Halen cowl band – whereas Eddie Van Halen was nonetheless very a lot energetic.

Talking to Considering About Guitar in a current interview, Satriani reveals how Roth had known as him someday round 1995 or 1996 with an bold plan to carry out Van Halen materials outdoors the group.

“I bear in mind within the mid ‘90s, David Lee Roth known as me, and he needed to place collectively a band to do Van Halen songs,” says the guitarist. “He went on and on about how we have been the one guys who might actually do it proper, and he had all these loopy plans.”

Satriani, nonetheless, couldn’t get previous one apparent situation.

“I stated, ‘However Dave, Ed’s nonetheless alive! He’s nonetheless making superb information. He’s nonetheless on tour. What guitar participant would ever attempt to imitate him whereas he’s nonetheless working?’ I stated, ‘It is senseless.’ And, in fact, I stated, ‘Look, I’m not the man.’”

Whereas the proposal by no means received off the bottom, it wasn’t the final time Satriani’s identify could be linked to Van Halen. Following Eddie Van Halen’s demise in 2020, the guitarist was approached once more – this time by Roth and drummer Alex Van Halen – concerning the latter’s long-rumoured tribute challenge.

Even then, Satriani remained unconvinced he was the suitable individual for the job.

“Dave has loads of inventive concepts, and each from time to time, he’ll attain out, and also you simply should hearken to him. I imply, he actually is a superb performer and musician, and I sort of count on it, ,” says Satch.

“When he and Alex known as me after Ed had handed away, it made a little bit bit extra sense, although I attempted to persuade them I used to be not the one who might do it justice, as a result of I stated I’ve tried to keep away from enjoying like Ed for therefore lengthy that now I actually can’t.”

As a substitute, Satriani recommended different gamers he felt have been higher suited to the function, together with Nuno Bettencourt and Steve Vai. Finally although, the challenge by no means materialised.

Mockingly, Satriani would ultimately discover himself enjoying Van Halen songs onstage anyway. In 2024, he joined Sammy Hagar for the Better of All Worlds tour, celebrating the singer’s tenure with the band.

Trying again, Satriani additionally admits he was considerably relieved when Alex Van Halen’s tribute plans fell aside, largely as a result of they appeared set to miss a major chapter of the band’s historical past.

“When it fell aside, I used to be sort of relieved as a result of I used to be actually involved about how we have been going to do it justice as a present, high to backside, and never replicate Sammy’s interval within the band, which was large,” he says.

“I believe they received extra primary information and offered extra information generally than the Roth period. So it was complicated to me that they wouldn’t wish to replicate that in any respect. However that’s an entire different story. It’s not my place to get into.”