MusicRadar

For the Wormhole Tour, you used a four-piece band. How did that change your playing?

"Having that group around me was a blast. I really felt like I was in the middle, which worked out great in the film sound-wise. We didn't have to stereo chorus my guitar or the rhythm guitar – there were no games being played there.

"Also, on stage, it really brought [rhythm guitarist] Galen [Henson] and Mike out, that whole dynamic. It elevated the sound of the band, the integration of our parts and the ways that we improvised together. The material from Black Swans And Wormhole Wizards was perfect for this kind of interplay.

"The band was terrific – each guy came from different musical walks of life, but we created something unique together. This might be a stretch, but it reminded me of Neil Young with Crazy Horse. It's a very charismatic band, and what comes out of Neil when he plays with them is very different and unique."

You, Steve Vai and Steve Lukather are bringing G3 to Australia and New Zealand. How did Luke get in the mix?

"It all started last July, when I was in Europe doing some shows. I shared the bill with Steve on a French guitar festival. Now, Steve and I run into each other all the time on the global circuit, but this was a unique opportunity to watch him play with his solo band. I thought he was great. His playing and singing blew me away. I said to my wife, Rubina, and my manager, Mick, 'Hey, we should see if he's into doing G3.'

"I asked him about it, and he said yes, so then I called up Steve Vai – I always go to him first – and as it turned out, he had a window in his recording schedule where it could work, too. So everybody was up for it, and now I've got Steve and Steve! [laughs]

"By the way, I saw Steve – Vai, I mean – at NAMM the other day, and he's got a new hairstyle - very short. I almost didn't recognize him. It's a whole new Steve Vai."

Do you think he'd ever copy your hairstyle?

"What hairstyle? And why would anybody want to do that by choice?" [laughs]

Have you and the two Steves plotted out what you're going to play on G3?

"No, not really. Everybody's been too busy. I've got four weeks off right now, so I'm going to start thinking about it. But everybody sort of knows the plan. Each guy has his own band and is given pretty much carte blanche to do whatever he wants. We'll be picking songs that celebrate the guitar in general. Within the next two weeks we'll probably start e-mailing one another and coming up with songs to do in the jam."

With something like G3, it's a friendly kind of musical exchange between the three of you. Nobody is out to blow the other guy off the stage.

"Actually, I'm hoping we will!" [laughs]

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