"It was totally by accident. I was playing in a trio called The Squares, and while on break I started a DIY record and publishing company and recorded some avant-garde music on an EP.

"One of the guitar magazines published a review�just a paragraph, but flattering. Suddenly I thought, 'I should just throw caution to the wind and follow this course.'"

Satriani went on to say he felt lucky it was Surfing with the Alien that put him on the map. "It was a stroke of great fortune," he said. "I love that record. Producer John Cuniberti and I did everything we thought no one would ever let us do.