Guitarist Joe Satriani heads stellar lineup at B.R. Cohn Festival

“I accidentally fell into an instrumental career, which set me adrift on my own little island,” he said.

That feeling prompted the San Francisco guitar star to march into his manager's office one day in 1995 to complain.

“I remember saying, ‘Everything's great. I'm a solo artist. I'm selling millions of records. But how come I'm all alone? I never get to play with anybody!'”

Things have changed since then. Founded in 1996, the annual G3 concert tours have teamed Satriani with a long string of top rock guitarists, including Steve Vai and Eric Johnson. So he's not a lonely guy anymore.

In fact, Satriani will have plenty of company Saturday when he and former Van Halen singer Sammy Hagar sit in with the Doobie Brothers at the B.R. Cohn Fall Music Festival for the first of two days of all-star rock and roll at the Cohn Winery in Glen Ellen.

The rest of the weekend's roster includes Leon Russell, Jim Messina, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Little Feat and an old cohort of Satriani's — Greg Kihn.

“I was in Greg's band for a year, from late '86 to late '87,” Satriani said.

In fact, Satriani has worked with the Who's Who of rock, starting with his stint as lead guitarist on Mick Jagger's first solo tour in 1988.

The last time Satriani played the B.R. Cohn Fall Music Festival, some half-dozen years ago, the line-up included Jackson Browne and the Turtles.

“It's a just feel-good event,” Satriani said of the annual bash held by Bruce Cohn, longtime Doobie Brothers manager and Sonoma Valley winemaker.

“There's an informality about it. You can feel the good vibe from the audience, as well as the rest of the performers,” Satriani said.

“It's a beautiful setting,” he added. “From backstage, you look out and you see all the vineyards. And there's great wine and olive oil there.”

And after the Cohn fest, the former lonely guy will be touring with his current band, Chickenfoot, which also features Hagar, former Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony and Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith.

Their latest album, “Chicken Foot 3,” comes out Sept. 27.

You can reach Staff Writer Dan Taylor at 521-5243 or dan.taylor@pressdemocrat.com. See his ARTS blog at http://arts.blogs.pressdemocrat.com.