Guitar master and renowned teacher Joe Satriani – who gave lessons to the likes of Steve Vai, Kirk Hammett, Primus’ Larry LaLonde, Charlie Hunter, Testament’s Alex Skolnick, Exodus’ Rick Hunolt and more – remembered his teaching days, telling Newsweek:
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“When I moved to Berkeley, CA, I was teaching at a music store across the street from my apartment. I stopped being a teacher in January of ’87. I think the last lesson I gave was to Kirk.
“It’s always an interesting moment when a student progresses to the point where you realize that you’re equals. But the goal is to get to the point where the student is going to surpass the teacher somehow. Otherwise, it’s sort of like a bad reflection on you, right?
“I remember, I’m looking at someone like Charlie Hunter, who I knew as a little kid, and he plays something and I think, ‘Oh my God, this guy is a genius!’
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“I saw that happen with Steve Vai too, when I was still in high school. I realized, ‘He has more talent in his fingertips than I do, and I’d better not screw it up.’ Steve and I grew up together. We wound up causing trouble in the same high-school hallways.”
