JOE SATRIANI: How GLENN HUGHES Ended Up Playing Bass On 'What Happens Next' Album

World-renowned guitar virtuoso Joe Satriani will release his sixteenth solo album, "What Happens Next", on January 12, 2018 via Sony/Legacy Recordings. The disc features a power trio of legendary status; Satriani on guitar and Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductee bassist Glenn Hughes (DEEP PURPLE, BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION) and drummer Chad Smith (RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS),the latter reuniting with Satriani for the first time since their work in the supergroup CHICKENFOOT. Satriani is once again joined by producer/engineer/mixer Mike Fraser, his frequent collaborator over the last 20 years, on "What Happens Next". Fraser is well-known for recording/mixing every AC/DC album since 1990's "The Razors Edge" along with his classic works with Satriani going back to the release of "Crystal Planet" in 1998.

Asked by radio personality Eddie Trunk how Hughes came to be involved with the project, Satriani said: "Just before [Glenn] put out his last solo record, which is mind-blowingly amazing, I had it in my mind that he would be a great bass player [to play on my record]. But I just thought it was a crazy thing to think of, because maybe the first thing that popped into my head was why would he ever say yes to just play bass on an album, because he's just this incredible singer. But it was sort of circulating in my head as I was doing the tour and I was thinking, 'Yeah, that would be so cool, 'cause then, if he did that, I could do this.' And then Chad's drumming popped into my head, and then I realized, 'You know, they've played a lot together, they've recorded together. I wonder if they would be willing to be the rhythm section for an all-instrumental record.'

"I innocently sent out these invitations, and so that's basically what happened — I sent out the invitation and just waited to see what was gonna happen, but I got immediate response from both of them that they were totally into it," he continued. "And the scheduling was crazy, and that's why we finished it so early, because I was really working around the schedule of the CHILI PEPPERS and BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION and trying to figure out when I could get ten days. And it wound up being ten days, but I had to go to L.A. to do it."

Satriani recalled the recording sessions for "What Happens Next", saying that "being at Sunset Sound [studios] with those two guys in the room, that was so cool. I really got what I was looking for, which was a real celebration of rock and soul and groove. Because I really wanted to move forward from progressive elements, from jazz or fusion or other elements of production that I had been working with the last number of records. I thought, 'I wanna make it more focused, more physical, more guitar-player, two-feet-on-the-ground sort of playing and writing about human things — not science fiction and crazy alter egos and all sorts of stuff like that.'"

In the end, Satriani said, "I couldn't have picked a better rhythm section; they were just absolutely amazing. And they wound up being… You know, when you've got just three guys recording, everybody's the star, and that's what I got. And I'm so happy."

From the dynamic opening track, "Energy", which was released earlier in the week, to the majestic crunch of "Thunder High On The Mountain", and the easy, sensual chords of "Smooth Soul", this unparalleled rhythm section gives "What Happens Next" a depth of groove that sets it apart from Satriani's other work.

"The record's very diverse, but I think the lead track is probably the perfect one, 'cause it represents the energy of the three of us at that moment when we were down there at Sunset Sound," Satriani told Trunk.

"What Happens Next" track listing:

01. Energy
02. Catbot
03. Thunder High On The Mountain
04. Cherry Blossoms
05. Righteous
06. Smooth Soul
07. Headrush
08. Looper
09. What Happens Next
10. Super Funky Badass
11. Invisible
12. Forever And Ever