Guitar virtuoso Joe Satriani has sung the praises of late Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain, hailing him as a skilled guitarist in a recent interview with Classic Rock.
“I was very happy with those Nirvana records,” Satriani shared. “He was a great guitar player. You go back and look at Nirvana clips, and you realize this guy is playing everything he’s supposed to play. He’s not looking at what he’s playing, so obviously he really knows the instrument.”
Satriani also highlighted how Cobain’s playing style meshed perfectly with Nirvana’s explosive sound, crediting Cobain’s abilities for helping anchor the band alongside “one of the greatest drummers of all time,” Dave Grohl.
The Grunge Era’s Impact
When asked if the rise of grunge and its departure from traditional guitar solos affected his approach to music in the early 1990s, Satriani reflected on the release of his 1992 album The Extremist:
“I didn’t pay any attention to that, I guess. The Extremist came out as my love letter to the classic rock era, so it was a throwback record anyway. But when I emerged from the studio, I realized, ‘Oh, it’s all Nirvana and Soundgarden.’”
What’s Next for Satriani
Satriani is keeping busy in 2025:
- He’s a member of Sammy Hagar’s Best of All Worlds band, with a Las Vegas residency set for the spring.
- Satriani has teamed up with fellow guitar legend Steve Vai for the “SATCHVAI Band,” embarking on a UK/European tour this summer.
- Later this month, he’ll release G3 Reunion Live, featuring performances from the 2024 G3 reunion tour alongside Vai and Eric Johnson.
For a taste of Satriani’s admiration for Nirvana, check out a video from 2016 of Satriani and Vai performing a medley that includes Smells Like Teen Spirit at a G3 concert.
Source: Consequence
