The Genuinely Bizarre Case Of The Satriani/Peavey Endorsement Deal’s Collapse
Until yesterday, Joe Satriani had what appeared to be a lucrative and positive situation working with Peavey as a spokeman and product endorser. In fact, the company had recently introduced a signature line of amplifiers bearing the guitarists name, leading to an appearance in April at a trade show in Frankfurt, Germany. As said, until yesterday. Here is a loose time line for what has turned into a strange story, seemingly overnight.
Monday June 22, 2009: Musicradio.com issues an article claiming Joe Satriani has abandoned Peavey for Marshall amplification for Chickenfoot’s European tour. The article is updated the following morning with a statement from Satriani, stating: “What can I say? I guess I’m crazy… But, I’m just looking to achieve the best guitar sound every moment I’m plugged in, and that brought me back to Marshall Amps.”
Tuesday June 23, 2009: At roughly 9:50AM (EST), images of Satriani are removed from the Peavey website, yet still mentions the company’s involvement with the recording of the band’s album and tour.
Within forty minutes, all mention of Satriani is erased from a leading article at the Peavey site regarding the company’s involvement with the group, with the text altered to reflect only the recording of the band’s album and bassist Mike Anthony’s switch to Peavey amplification.
Noon, June 23, 2009: No further word has been issued by either party.
So exactly what happened that lead Satriani to bail on an apparently mutually beneficial deal between he and Peavey? At this point, it is too soon to tell. Watch this page for details.
Filed under: Chickenfoot
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June 23rd, 2009 at 4:11 pm
Wow! Another nutty guitarist!
June 23rd, 2009 at 4:13 pm
i dont blame him, peavey doesn’t even come close to marshalls.
although the quick-ness of the whole thing is a bit strange.
June 23rd, 2009 at 4:38 pm
let’s wait for the JS guitar company!
he already sells sunglassess and accessories, but he doesn´t get bashed.
He will, when he fires Sam as his lead singer though. joking
June 23rd, 2009 at 4:39 pm
I don’t know Kevin, I own an original block logo 5150, and used to own a Marshall, and the 5150 has a ton more tone and versatility.
Unfortunately, this is typical of Peavey though. They get the rights to a really cool sounding signature amp, and then steal it from the artist later over some kind of “differences”. Ever heard of the 6505???
Anyways, I am sure we can expect the “Peavey JS”Q” in about a year or so…….
June 23rd, 2009 at 4:50 pm
at least he’s making decisions and playing live! can’t wait till this tour hits the states!
June 23rd, 2009 at 5:30 pm
I never thought his Peaveys sounded all that great anyway. His tone on the last couple of G3 tours was weird.
June 23rd, 2009 at 6:40 pm
Sound like he broke his contract with Peavey by switching brands. Peavey I’m sure was pretty pissed about that.
June 23rd, 2009 at 7:34 pm
peavey sucks i owned a peavey mace back in the late 70s, and it blew up, then i had a 5150 and that one blue up, good for joe
June 23rd, 2009 at 8:07 pm
I just checked Peavey’s website, they still have JS amps listed.Marshall’s website announced Joe switching to Marshall amps.I guess we’ll have to tune in tomorrow.
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:13 pm
Peavey’s are great but Marshalls are the Bomb!!!!
June 24th, 2009 at 1:26 am
>>I don’t know Kevin, I own an original block logo 5150, and used to own a Marshall, and the 5150 has a ton more tone and versatility.
Unfortunately, this is typical of Peavey though. They get the rights to a really cool sounding signature amp, and then steal it from the artist later over some kind of “differences”. Ever heard of the 6505???
Anyways, I am sure we can expect the “Peavey JS”Q” in about a year or so…….<<
A 5150 is better than a JCM900, but there are plenty of Marshalls that walk all over the 5150… and on the 5150/6505 note, EVH owns the rights to the ‘5150′ name, many rumours that he never even used a 5150 live (heard from old Marshalls to modded Soldano SLOs in the 5150 carcasses) and certainly once he’d stopped endorsing the PV5150 and decided to build his EVH/Fender 5150III, well the name was his and so Peavey had no choice but to rename their amp. I had a block letter 5150 as well, sounded great back in the 90’s when I bought it, but I think they’re horrible fizzy, buzzy things now…
June 24th, 2009 at 4:53 am
Nothing this fast happens without either a lot of forethought on the part of either party … or … a major communication breakdown. Speculating would be poor judgment on anyone’s part. If the story breaks, that’s great… then we’ll know more. Otherwise, its either Peavey’s decision or Joe’s and accepting that for the fans should be just fine. My own personal opinion is that Peavey starts by telling these artists that they can have anything they want as long as they endorse it 100% and then they strong arm them per their contract into some measure of concession. The JSX wasn’t exactly what I expected it to be and frankly, neither was the 5150 amp (except maybe the BLOCK LETTER version). Going with Marshall seems to be happening a lot lately (Satriani and Paul Gilbert being the two names I think of). There’s a legacy of great designs with Marshall and they’re not reinventing the wheel all the time. i think that says something.
June 24th, 2009 at 5:36 am
Makes you wonder if Eddie was strong armed into using the 5150 exclusively, and when he enjoyed his beloved Marshall Plexi, that’s when things broke down.
I agree with you 100% “Understood”
June 24th, 2009 at 7:47 am
This is just wild useless speculation on my part, but Joe’s playing, live and in studio, is pretty different with Chickenfoot than it is solo.
I wouldn’t be surprised if he still likes the Peavey stuff for playing solo instrumentals. But maybe something about the music with Chickfoot had him thinking ‘Marshall’.
Outside of that perhaps something happened regarding the European leg of the tour. How available are Peavey’s in Europe? Could he have been a situation of a dead amp or two and Peavey unable to help while in Europe? (Which would tick me off and almost certainly prompt a trip to Bletchley in double time)
As a fan, I am not really worried. I didn’t have plans on getting a JSX and as for Joe playing Marshalls again… well, he sounded great using Marshalls in the past so I doubt anyone will be griping about his tone on the tour.
Still curious what happened though. It seems when Peavey loses someone it happens in dramatic fashion. (I was there in Tucson at the end of the tour when Ed destroyed his Peavey… maybe there was a reason Ed was pissed off at Peavey)
June 24th, 2009 at 9:14 am
Interesting? I guess all those anti-EVH bashers have some egg on their faces!! Joe’s gone through the same BS as Eddie did with Peavey, yet Eddie got bashed for it by all the naysayers and anti-EVH idiots!! WFT?!! So there’s nothing wrong with Joe or Peavey right? It’s ok; shhhh keep it quiet, we’ll just let that through to the keeper!! Fuckin losers, you just don’t get it??!!! Eddie has been consistent and sincere with his view of events yet some of you still think he’s an out of control drunk and a liar!!! Who’s living a lie now?
Hey Joe! Since you’re looking for a new amp why not try the new EVH 5150 II amp? I hear it’s a monster!! Can’t afford it? Ask Sammy to buy it for you, he’s got plenty of that Tequila millions in his Cabo safe and besides now that your learning some Van Halen songs to be included in the Chickenfoot set, it would help with the sound. After all you did it for Hendrix!!
As for all you anti-EVH losers, back to normality shall we!! Remember? Eddie is supposed to be the bad man, evil, the liar. What a sorry sight you lot are!!!
June 24th, 2009 at 9:29 am
Woz wrote: “WFT?!!”
Dyslexics Untie!
June 24th, 2009 at 9:43 am
Again, purely speculation but I can’t see the 5150 Combo amplifier being EVH’s brainchild. That smells a lot like Hartley Peavey saying, “A combo would sell great. Tell Eddie we’re doing it!” A few too many times of Peavey telling EVH or Satriani stuff like that, and I can see the artist saying “See ya”. And Jeff is dead-on right about an artist feeling limited under contract. In the studio they can use anything they want but in the liner notes and on tour they have to say “I use X amplifiers. they’re the best” even though they could really be terrible. I’ve had loads of conversations with musicians and non-musicians alike about the 5150 amplifiers and frankly, even the non musicians wonder how it ever made it out of the factory in its stock format. Matt Bruck probably spent hours rewiring Ed’s personal amps to get rid of the buzz & hiss.
June 24th, 2009 at 9:44 am
Meh, Joe used Marshalls back in the Surfing and Blue Dream days. Saw him three times on those early tours and it was always Marshalls. So his tastes change, big deal. Not his fault, not Peavey’s fault, it’s nobody’s fault (but mine… ;-)).
I’m a Ducati man myself but a buddy is selling his Honda RC51 so I’ve ridden it a few times and was very impressed. So much so, I’m seriously considering adding it to the stable. Will this convert me from spaghetti to rice? I dunno but I’m not really concerned.
The point is: the name on the cabinet, amp or headstock doesn’t really mean anything. It’s the sound and the tone the player dials in that’s important. The only people concerned about the name on the equipment are the ones whose name it is because they’re running a business!
June 24th, 2009 at 10:05 am
Just another crazy guitarist. LOL. There is chickenfoot drama already. Stops the stopwatch. That was even sooner than I expected.,,
June 24th, 2009 at 11:23 am
Hey guitarnerd, I have also heard a ton of “fizzy, buzzy” marshalls, with no bottom end whatsoever. They weren’t even good for the 90’s, as you put it. By the way, how does good tone change, just because the decade has??? Maybe it’s your ears that have changed a bit…….a good sound from electronics will not change just because the years have….provided that it is well maintained.
June 24th, 2009 at 11:27 am
Myron Philpot,
Well stated, and 100% true
June 24th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
I have some things I’d like to point out.
Eddie’s has been catchin a lot of heat for dissing
Mike, Sam in various ways.
Some of it might be warranted (taking Mike off the VH album
covers was rough) Did Mike quit? -probably not.
Should guitar hero VH have Mike and Sam -maybe?
Did Eddie have his issues with substance abuse- yeah.
Bottom line here is this…..
Without EVH and his guitar wizardry, song writing etc
neither Sammy, Mike would have been much of anything.
Montrose isn’t exactly a household name and Sammy couldn’t have bought his tequila off his solo career which was summed up as “I Can’t Drive 55″ and Mike wouldn’t be collecting cars and making hot sauce. For that matter no one would give a ChickenSH** about Chickenfoot if not for the EVH affiliation- lets be honest here.
Eddie is owed a certain amount of respect - he’s made everyone associated with him very wealthy.
Maybe they should have kissed his ass a little.
Everybody was loving EVH at the Rock hall induction but prior to that he was a belligerent drunk hearing Mike and Sam tell the story of the 2004 tour.
That should be rewarded ? Where was the love and support in 2004 and prior?
The website is Van Halen News Desk
Not the Chicknfoot news desk - am I the only one that feels this way?
June 24th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
Thanks, Jeff. I appreciate your props.
@ understood: Well, artists don’t *have* to feel constrained by manufacturers if they simply don’t endorse any equipment. Then they’re free to use whatever and change as often as they want without getting anyone’s undies in a bundle. As soon as they go for the CashGrab(tm) through an endorsement deal, they’re owned and must play ball for the “team.” I’m sure Ed and Joe pushed Peavey around as much as Hartley pushed back on them for “sellable” products (ie. the tone control on the Wolfgang).
As for me, I play guitars, effects and amps exclusively.
June 24th, 2009 at 1:57 pm
Oh, c´mon guys…
There is no mistery, nothing “genuinely bizzare” here.
It´s just a matter of $$$.$$$,$$.
June 24th, 2009 at 2:08 pm
@Jeff…
Yeah all in the ears, my sonic tastes have changed considerably since I bought the block letter and what did sound great to me once no longer does. Agree completely that there’s plenty of fizzy, bottomless Marshalls as well (DSL anyone?) but over the 25 years I’ve been playing I’ve heard some utterly incredible Marshalls… so would never dismiss all of them as toneless, no bottom end etc.
June 24th, 2009 at 5:56 pm
Goodness, you guys have too muh time on your hands. Haven’t you heard “If you don’ like it, mike it!?” You can make anything sound like anything. Its all about the cabbage~!
June 24th, 2009 at 6:27 pm
i agree with ed’s comment.i couldn’t have put it better.mike hit the lotto with van halen and repaid them by choosing sammy over them.sammy got mega rich off eddie and repaid him by talking nonsense about them and taking mike.ed’s ex-wife spent his money for years while staying in his mansion then left him in his darkest hour and wrote a trash book about him for quick cash.to me it sounds like eddie got clean and needed to clean his life up starting with the people around him.i’m not saying eddie is an angel or without fault but he could probably write a tell all book about all of these people that would raise an eyebrow or two but he doesn’t.that says alot about him i think.
June 24th, 2009 at 7:07 pm
I use Engl all the way. It eats Peavey and Marshall for breakfast.
June 24th, 2009 at 7:24 pm
Marshall amps have always been and will always be the best amps on the market.
June 24th, 2009 at 9:41 pm
For what it’s worth, there are still plenty of references to Satriani on the Peavey website.
June 24th, 2009 at 9:42 pm
http://www.peavey.com/artists/featured/JoeSatriani/index.cfm
June 24th, 2009 at 9:59 pm
hmmmmm…went to the Peavey site. Plenty of Satch pics and products still there. then I went to Joes site…still Peavey stuff there. Could this just be a rumor?
June 24th, 2009 at 10:03 pm
As a guitarist myself I don’t buy the “this brand makes the best amps” BS. Certain amps sound good for certain songs and applications, some don’t. Some have reliability issues, but most modern amps, Marshall’s included, are pretty bullet proof.
Sounds like Joe didn’t want to be painted into a corner with using the Peavey’s exlusively, and I don’t blame him. Geez, I get bored of playing the same amp all time, but I don’t have the luxury off running out and picking up something different when the mood strikes. (That’s why modeling amps are so fun).
Maybe the Chickenfoot live vibe wasn’t that great with the Peavey’s? Peavey does make great stuff, and are an underrated company( though they have a habit of taking a good idea and running it into the ground). I just picked up a used American made Peavey bass at the local Geetar Centre for $120. Can’t beat that.
June 25th, 2009 at 1:39 am
Seems Weird. Peavy can’t hold an endorsement for over a year.
Now I owned Marshalls and still do. But I also own a block label 5150 and use that all the time over the Marshall I still own.
Don’t get me wrong, the 5150 still has it’s quirks but overall it has a better dynamic range and balls to blow any Marshall away on the market. If there was a better Marshall, I would own one.
Perhaps Peavy is modifing contracts after a certain amout of time. Or cutting royalties after a certain amount of time. Or plain just giving the shaft to the endorsing artist after some time so that Peavy can later market the Items without having to pay royalties and so forth to the developing artist.
I’m thinking of the later, It seemes to fit the trend
Peace!
Daran
June 25th, 2009 at 7:17 am
To me, it sounds like maybe Peavey is gonna keep Joe on board for Chickenfoot. However, maybe Joe is gonna use Marshall for his personal stuff. I don’t know. Either way,it doesn’t really matter.
I want a Soldano!
June 25th, 2009 at 8:59 am
guitarnerd, I never once said all marshalls were like that. I believe it was someone else who said all marshalls were better than the 5150, which simply is not the case. I have owned marshalls, and the ones I had sounded great, or else I would not have bought them. Friends of mine have other Marshalls that sound like a fart in the wind. I have read forums on 5150 owners, and have heard some say they are incredible, and others say they are very disappointed. I have also heard that the 5150 was also very incosistant from amp to amp……and especially dependant on which brand of power amp and pre amp tubes are used, as well as how it is biased. I too have been playing for over 30 years now, and I am left to assume that I was one of the lucky ones to come across one of the best and most versatile 5150’s made.I also take very good care of it which has alot to do with it.
June 25th, 2009 at 9:41 am
I also believe that the first batch of 5150’s that were manufactured (like the one I own, 215th one made) were a helluva lot better made than the ones later on when there became such a high demand for them. Once you start mass producing, quality tends to go out the window, and certain corners that may not appear to be important to some guy on the line that has a quota to make, get cut. Like I said, I don’t believe that “all marshalls are buzzy, fizzy amps with no tone” but I sure as hell have heard some.
June 25th, 2009 at 2:15 pm
It’s not a rumor. Check the videos from Ireland. Backline is all Marshall. I wonder if Mike’s going to go back to Ampeg.
June 26th, 2009 at 4:16 am
@Jeff
Lol I know you didn’t, but in saying ‘I owned a Marshall’ without stating which one it could be read that you’re lumping all Marshalls in together with the one you had. It’s not important anyway, just me reading too much into things as usual…
For me, the original block letter was an awesome amp in it’s day, there really was nothing on the market that could make the sounds the PV could without various pedals or the prerequisite ADA MP-1 in front of it. Which is why both myself and my brother bought one. I just feel that the amp market has taken the lead from PV and pushed it further… there are so many modern, high-gain amps that do what the original 5150 does but, to my ears at least, better… leaving the 5150, again to my ears, sounding a little dated. Interestingly I don’t include any of the modern Marshalls in that category, lol, as I too have experienced more than my fair share of fizzy amps by them…
June 26th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
Looks like Joe is still associated with Peavey: http://www.peavey.com/products/JSX/
June 26th, 2009 at 2:07 pm
I saw Joe with Chickenfoot last night and noticed the Marshall’s as soon as i walked in.Did i notice a difference?You bet!It was a fuller sound for sure,less top end,better mids,tighter feedback.Go see them if you can.I can say i’ve seen all the Van Halen line ups(except Cherone).This was FAR superior.Laughing,joking and Chad threw a floor tom up in the air which hit Sammy on the head.As for VH covers,you aint gonna be getting any of those with this outfit,that i can guarantee.I love Eddie but this gig made VH’s tour look like a freak show.
June 27th, 2009 at 9:50 am
I never comment on any of the things.. but.. when I saw Satriani and Mountain together, Joe played a Leslie West model guitar during a jam with Leslie West later in the show. Both Leslie and Joe played identical guitars, but Leslie’s tone was way way better than what Joe was able to get out of the Peavy amps. Very noticable difference.
July 9th, 2009 at 7:51 pm
I’m a JSX and 5150 owner. Love both amps!!! I’ve never owned a Marshall but have played outta them plenty of times live using other peoples amps. Ive also recorded with Mesa’s and loved their tones as well. I was totally happy with the Marshalls, and Mesa’s I used. Honestly I don’t care what amp and/or guitar you use. And neither do the fans. Gimme a break guys. This is ridiculous! Ya know the thing about me is give me a DECENT tone live (clean or dirty) and me and the band will take care of the rest. The “this company is the best” argument is waste of everyone’s time. Just find one you like, shut up and play through it.
September 2nd, 2009 at 3:00 pm
@ed: It may be called the Van Halen News Desk, but it states that it is the “Net’s best source for Van Halen, David Lee Roth, Sammy Hagar & Chickenfoot news”. Face it, it’s impossible for a band to generate enough news to keep a website floating when they haven’t released a studio album in over 10 years and are only touring every five years or so! *yawn*
October 6th, 2009 at 8:31 am
All of this Peavey is crap, Marshall is the bomb business reflects the immaturity and irrational thought process of the inexperienced user. ALL companies that are successful build products for a specific price point and position in the market. Both companies have made some great stuff. Both make crap. You must be specific. Since neither company makes amps that are directly comparable, you might as well be saying that cars are better than trucks. It all depends on the specific model, the guitars, players and styles used.
The most sought after Marshall amps are no longer made. Marshall is not even Marshall anymore. The people that made that company great are long gone. Same with Fender.