Here is my story with Satriani.
I studied classical guitar since I was 9 (mid 80s, in Hungary, the fence was still up between west and east) and I mainly listened to pop stuff at the time. I got into my first band and started playing electric guitar at 14, but no pedals only straight into friend's keyboard amp. So I was not into rock and only guitar instrumental music I heard was the Shadows.
At 15 I started to learn from a friend's book "Heavy Metal Lead Guitar"
I recognized that I love rock, but not the rock singing (at the time).
So I had an Idea: I wanted to create a new style (Yeah I know, I was 15...) some kind of instrumental rock music. I was so happy with that idea.
One day we went to shoot some pool and the owner put some music on.
I was about to shoot, when I heard a music, that I have never heard and it was exactly what I wanted to play.
I froze and I could not move. I was just listening (Surfing with the Alien).
I ran up to the owner and asked what this music was. He said Joe Satriani.
I didn't know anybody who had his music, so I lost him for a while.
Couple of years later I saw his new record in the local CD store. CD was a new thing back then and we could not afford it.
It was before Christmas and I kept going back to the store to "sample listen to the album"
When I heard the first song "Friends" it was like finding my Zen place.
I asked my parents to buy that expensive CD even though we didn't have a CD player
Since then we are very good "Friends". (he doesn't know)