I'm first and foremost a Coldplay fan but my OH introduced me to Satriani when we first started going out and although his music isn't necessarily my usual taste, I find him fascinating to watch and have seem him live, he is a great performer and a brilliant writer. He is also an amazing teacher and it wouldn't surprise me if guitarists that Chris and the boys look up to or have looked up to in the past have themselves been taught by a line of previous Satriani pupils/admirers!
I think its quite pathetic that a lot of you are just willing to slam Satriani for what he is doing without even listening to a single one of his tracks?! If I had to choose it would be hands down Coldplay don't get me wrong, but this is a fucking massive industry and if at the end of the day Satriani is being advised to sue and earn money that he (partly) rightfully considers his then so be it, all we can do is sit back and let the judges decide.
Personally I do not think Coldplay would of obviously intended to steal the melody, neither do I even think they have unconsciously done it - I think it happens to be a coincidence, and if thats the case hopefully the court case will resolve it :) If not I'm sure the boys wont be too miffed, after all they have millions in the bank and plenty of fans who know otherwise ;)
I just think its a bit sad that people automatically jump to the conclusion that Satriani is a nobody with his "fingers in his ass" - he's an incredibly talented guy, who is respected and admired by millions across the globe... has been for decades - and afterall, if you had wrote something then a few years later a remarkably similar song was produced would you not have your doubts?
What if, down the line, a band is formed that has immense success - I'm talking along the lines of the Beatles... and one of their tracks has a chorus that sounds really similar to Clocks? Which fans will be stamping their feet in tantrum then?