Joe Satriani steps into the new year with details of a brand new album and a rescheduled world tour. Released on April 8th, 2022, “The Elephants of Mars” marks the iconic guitarist’s nineteenth studio album in his some thirty-five year career in music.
The album also marks the debut of his new label partnership with earMUSIC, the international rock label of entertainment group Edel. Pre-orders are available now and include a special limited digi-pack cd release featuring seven double sided cards of original artwork by Satriani representing each song from the album. In addition, several coloured vinyl options will be available as well to pre-order including an orange, pink (D2C only) and purple version. The first single, “Sahara,” is now available with a video directed by ZZ Satriani. You can watch the “Sahara” video here – https://youtu.be/CMqn8h3kJzg
Joe Satriani had an admirably productive workingman’s holiday, with pandemic forced time away from the road, that ultimately gave him and his touring band, all recording remotely in separate areas of the world during lockdown, the ability to deliver an album length journey that never dulls. The Elephants of Mars crackles with an exciting new energy, briskly traveling through stylistic roads that feel freshly updated, viewed through new eyes.
The guitarist challenged himself to create a “new standard” for instrumental guitar albums to be measured against, one which would work from “a new platform of his own design,” as he terms it. “I want to show people that an instrumental guitar album can contain far more creative and entertaining elements than I think people are using right now.”
From the gripping, sci-fi madness of “Through A Mother’s Day Darkly,” to the isolation felt in a decaying urban landscape, as depicted in first single “Sahara,” to the general endorphin levels that peak as the elephants finally roar in the title track, The Elephants of Mars will stampede across your mind, leaving a sonic imprint that doesn’t fade.
In 2020 with all time constraints removed, “The Elephants of Mars” truly represents the album that Satriani himself hoped he could deliver with his band. “We did everything. We tried the craziest ideas. And we entertained every notion we had about turning something backwards, upside down, seeing what could happen.”
1. Sahara
2. The Elephants of Mars
3. Faceless
4. Blue Foot Groovy
5. Tension and Release
6. Sailing the Seas of Ganymede
7. Doors of Perception
8. E 104th St NYC
9. Pumpin’
10. Dance of the Spores
11. Night Scene
12. Through a Mother’s Day Darkly
13. 22 Memory Lane
14. Desolation
FORMATS:
CD Jewel case, Ltd. CD Digi sleeve (incl. 14 images created by the artist himself), 2LP Gatefold, Ltd. 2LP
Gatefold Orange, Ltd. 2LP Gatefold Purple, Ltd. 2LP Gatefold Pink, Digital
As previously announced, “The Elephants of Mars” tour begins in Europe with the rescheduled dates side tracked in 2020 and 2021. The newly rescheduled tour now opens on April 4, 2022, in the Netherlands with a 47-date European jaunt that currently winds up in early June with a string of dates in France, culminating in Paris on June 6th. More dates, including a U.S. run, to be announced soon. The set list for the live show will feature tracks from the new Elephants of Mars album in addition to many of his classic fan[1]favorites including “Surfing With The Alien,” “Always with Me, Always with You” and “Flying In A Blue Dream.” The 2022 touring band features celebrated drummer Kenny Aronoff (John Fogerty), bassist Bryan Beller (Aristocrats) and keyboardist Rai Thistlethwayte (Thirsty Merc) joining Satriani on guitar.
RESCHEDULED “SHAPESHIFTING” MAY 2022 UK TOUR
Tickets available from
http://www.alttickets.com and http://www.satriani.com/road
Bexhill, De La Warr Pavilion
Sunday 1 May 2022
Marina, Bexhill-on-Sea, TN40 1DP
London Palladium
Monday 2 May 2022
8 Argyll Street, Soho, London, W1F 7TF
http://www.lwtheatres.co.uk/theatres/the-london-palladium
Manchester, Bridgewater Hall
Tuesday 3 May 2022
Lower Mosley Street, Manchester, M2 3WS
http://www.bridgewater-hall.co.uk
Glasgow, O2 Academy
Wednesday 4 May 2022
121 Eglinton Street, Glasgow, G5 9NT
http://www.academymusicgroup.com/o2academyglasgow
Birmingham Symphony Hall
Friday 6 May 2022
Broad Street, Birmingham, B1 2EA
Gateshead, Sage Hall 1
Saturday 7 May 2022
St Mary’s Square, Gateshead Quays, Gateshead, NE8 2JR
Spirit of Progressive Rock 