I went to high school in the late 1980s. I was a musician. You can sum the whole situation up in two simple words: hair metal.
So yeah, I knew who Joe Satriani was. Even though I was a bass player at the time (and, given that I could read and write music, an overemployed one), I lived in the land of lead guitar players.
You see, there were “rhythm guitarists” and “lead guitarists.” Though lead guitarists were known at times to be seen playing rhythm, it was made quite clear that their purpose in life was to step up and cut loose after the second chorus with the obligatory guitar solo.
The guitar solo is a unique vehicle for proving the musician’s alpha-male status among other musicians, as well as ensuring that he would get laid like a madman (1).
Of course, there wasn’t much to it. Continued...