I'm sorry but I have to contradict you here. I hold the same opinions but jesus man - you can't say that Satriani is a shredder. As far as I'm concerned, shredding is doing runs up and down one modal scale, to no degree of rhythm, or melodic harmony.

Go and listen to Satriani's solos, and you'll see that yes; occasionally they are stupidly fast but somehow he manages to retain his feel and emotion in the solos, and that's the reason I regard him as one of the best soloists of all time.

pah. Satriani a shredder. tut tut ;)