In a world where R&B, hip-hop and pop rule the airwaves, legendary guitar virtuoso Joe Satriani continues to soar well above other instrumental acts of his day.

In town tonight to promote his 12th studio album Professor Satchifunkilus and the Musterion of Rock, this guitar magazine cover model is set to show the Jack Singer Concert Hall that shred is not dead.

Driven by the sounds of Jimi Hendrix's The Wind Cries Mary, Satriani has taken the craft of guitar playing to new levels.

Since his debut release in 1986, he has inspired countless guitarists. And it is those fans Joe credits with his success.

"There are lots of artists, like myself, that never get seen on mainstream television or heard on mainstream radio, but the fans find other ways to get to me and we sidestep the hurricane of hype that feeds the media."

On the album's kickoff single, I Just Wanna Rock, Satriani blends the raw power of the opening riff with his signature melodic leads and face-melting guitar solos.

In keeping with the outer space theme of his many previous albums, the song's video follows a robot trying to raise enough money to join Joe on tour by taking on the champ in a robot battle competition.

"It's a lot of fun to combine audio visual seriousness with total unseriousness and just play with the whole medium" he says.

As evident by the album's title and track, Professor Satchifunkilus and the Musterion of Rock, Satriani is not one to take himself too seriously.

Recruiting bandmates Jeff Campitelli, Matt Bissonette and longtime producer/percussionist John Cuniberti, Satriani entered the studio with no concept or album title in mind.

"I had this really crazy idea that if I didn't have an album title or a theme, I could elicit unusual performances from the guys -- and it worked.

"After the record was done, I came up with the title and thought 'wow', that could really mean something -- if you tried really hard."

From his semi-annual G3 concert tour to performing with Mick Jagger, Satriani has shared the stage with the world's top artists.

Rumour has it his next project will include former Van Halen members Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony, as well as drummer Chad Smith from the Red Hot Chilli Peppers.

Tentatively titled Chickenfoot, the band has recorded tracks for nine songs and hopes to have something completed by early next year.

"It's a really great band.We started out with just a little jam at a Vegas show that Sammy was doing and there was instant chemistry."

Opening the show for Satriani will be '70s rockers Mountain, featuring Leslie West.