Radio Metal has released an interview with CHICKENFOOT guitarist Joe Satriani and bassist Michael Anthony. An excerpt follows:

Q: The new Chickenfoot album is called III. Sammy (Hagar, vocals) has justified that title by saying that the songs are so tight that it felt like you guys have jumped one album. So what are the aspects of your music, or your approach of it, that have evolved?

Joe Satriani: (laughs) "First of all, the title really is a bit of a joke. That’s the way we are, we like to have fun and not take ourselves too seriously. The album was actually gonna be called IV, then we decided to make it even sillier and drop it to III. But I think in retrospect, it’s a comment about how we do feel like. From the very first record and going through the tour, we did go through a serious maturing process as a band. The way this album was recorded, over such a condensed period of time, made us feel like we did grow quite a bit as a band. So it seemed to make sense that we would skip the number II and go to some higher number. I think we wrote songs that complemented a lot more the good things that we do naturally as a band. When I was writing the demo for everybody, I was trying to write songs that would make Sam’s voice sound better, make Mike Anthony’s voice and bass playing come out more to the front, capitalize on Chad’s ability to not only go crazy, but also to provide a super heavy groove. And of course I was really hoping that I would write a lot of great grooves and interesting compositions that would give me an opportunity to play lots of different kinds of styles on the guitar. Once we got it all together and we wereable to really pull it off, it made sense that we should give it a higher number than II, because it’s like we’ve jumped ahead."

Q: Does that mean that, when composing for Chickenfoot, you have some specific parameters or requirements in mind that you don’t necessary have normally?

Satriani: "One thing I can tell you is that there’s nothing normal about making music with the guys in Chickenfoot! When you go in the studio everyday and play with a bunch of guys, you just have to be ready. Especially with Chickenfoot, all our recordings are based on live recordings. We don’t use click tracks or sequencers, so the performance is like that of a live band. We finish the songs by over-dubbing on top of the live performances. This includes vocals as well; so if Sammy’s got some vocal stuff going, he’s doing it. I don’t think we’ve ever tracked a song without Sam, he’s always singing along when we’re tracking. So the feel of the band is a very important thing in helping us determine if we’re on the right track. I think every song is an opportunity to grow. That’s the way I look at it."

Read the full interview at this location.

Chickenfoot recently announced a string of European dates for their Road Test Tour, in support of their new album, Chickenfoot III.

2011 Road Test tour dates include:

November

1 - San Francisco, CA - Warfield Theatre
2 - Los Angeles, CA - Avalon Hollywood
4 - St. Louis, MO - The Pageant
5 - Chicago, IL - Metro
8 - New York, NY - Webster Hall

January

12 - Manchester, UK - Academy
14 - London, UK - O2 Academy Brixton
16 - Paris, France - Olympia
17 - Tilburg, Netherlands - O13
19 - Dusseldorf, Germany - Mitsubishi Electric Hall

Chickenfoot III debuted on the Billboard album chart at #9. The band entered the Canadian Soundscan charts at #19.

The latest episode of US syndicated radio show Rockline, featuring Chickenfoot III, is now streaming online at this location. The original episode aired Wednesday, September 28th at 8:30 PM (PT) / 11:30 PM (ET).

Chickenfoot III tracklisting:

'Last Temptation'

'Alright Alright'

'Different Devil'

'Up Next'

'Lighten Up'

'Come Closer'

'Three And A Half Letters'

'Big Foot'

'Dubai Blues'

'Something Going Wrong'

As previously reported, Chickenfoot celebrated the release of Chickenfoot III with a special concert and Q&A; webcast, streamed worldwide on September 28th. Sammy Hagar commented on the event:

"OK Redheads, was that awesome or what? I am so excited to have shared all the new foot music with you worldwide and live!!! Last nights web cast was such a new experience for me and the whole band. We have never done something like this before and I had no idea how it would turn out, but the best way to share this music that I am so proud of is the way it was written….live and in the round. And now, like we can take a break- we are going to Cabo and then a foot road test in November.

OK, Let’s talk about my favorite time of year and my favorite place in the world, Cabo Birthday Bash - Big 64!!!! I have a few tricks up my sleeve this year, I am going to be able to do something I have never been able to do in Cabo this year for my birthday. We will announce the surprise in Cabo, but take note, the 13th will be bigger and badder than ever. All I can say is we will be playing a bit earlier on the 13th, so get your buzz on early and check out the details at the cantina. Will Call will start at 11am and you will want to get your wristbands early, because it’s going to be a special October 13th. All the other shows will be the same old system with will call opening at 2pm- 10pm, doors at 7pm and we will be on stage at 9pm. We are also working on streaming some of the shows on my website for those of you that can’t make it. See ya in Cabo baby!!!!

Performance footage from the webcast can be seen below: