Author: uylrjp

Santana is inseparably connected to the vibrant cultural fusion of San Francisco’s late 1960s music scene, where guitarist Carlos Santana assembled a dynamic lineup in 1966, setting the foundation for a groundbreaking fusion of rock, Latin rhythms, jazz, and blues. Originally known as the Santana Blues Band, the group’s early performances at iconic venues such as the Fillmore West garnered significant attention, positioning them for a defining moment at the 1969 Woodstock Festival. Their electrifying set, highlighted by an iconic rendition of “Soul Sacrifice,” catapulted the band to global recognition.

With a prolific discography spanning several decades, Santana has released twenty-six studio albums, along with numerous live recordings and collaborations, illustrating an unwavering commitment to musical innovation and evolution. Their eponymous debut album, released shortly after their Woodstock performance, established the band’s signature style and included standout tracks like “Evil Ways.” The following year, their landmark album “Abraxas” solidified their stardom, featuring chart-topping hits such as “Black Magic Woman” and the exuberant instrumental “Oye Como Va,” which remains one of their most celebrated tracks.

Throughout their impressive career, Santana achieved significant commercial and critical acclaim, amassing numerous awards and honors. Notably, the band earned multiple Grammy Awards, particularly in 2000 when their album “Supernatural” swept nine Grammy wins, including Record of the Year and Album of the Year. This landmark album, driven by the massive global hit “Smooth,” featuring Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty, introduced Santana’s timeless appeal to a new generation, reaffirming their unique ability to seamlessly bridge musical genres and generations.

Santana’s enduring popularity is deeply rooted in their authentic blend of diverse musical influences and virtuosic musicianship. Carlos Santana himself is widely revered for his soulful, expressive guitar style, characterized by fluidity and emotional depth, qualities that have made him one of rock music’s most admired guitarists. The band’s ability to continuously reinvent their sound while maintaining their musical integrity has cemented their status as both cultural icons and musical trailblazers.

Outside the recording studio, Carlos Santana and his bandmates have dedicated substantial efforts toward humanitarian and social activism. Carlos established the Milagro Foundation in 1998, committed to supporting underserved and vulnerable children around the world by funding educational, healthcare, and arts programs. The band’s commitment to social consciousness extends through benefit concerts and participation in various philanthropic initiatives, underscoring their belief in music’s transformative power beyond mere entertainment.

Santana’s legacy is thus characterized not only by their impressive catalogue and accolades but also by their profound influence across cultural and generational lines. Their passionate performances, commitment to innovation, and meaningful contributions to social causes illustrate why Santana continues to be cherished deeply within the global music community, respected for both their artistic excellence and dedication to humanitarian principles.

Complete List Of Santana Songs From A to Z

1. A Dios – Milagro – 1992
2. A-1 Funk – Lotus – 1974
3. Adouma – Shaman – 2002
4. Africa Bamba – Supernatural – 1999
5. Africa Speaks – Africa Speaks – 2019
6. Agua que va caer – Milagro – 1992
7. Ah, Sweet Dancer – Shape Shifter – 2012
8. All Aboard – Santana IV – 2016
9. All I Ever Wanted – Marathon – 1979
10. All the Love of the Universe – Caravanserai – 1972
11. America – Shaman – 2002
12. America for Sale – Blessings and Miracles – 2021
13. American Gypsy – Zebop! – 1981
14. Amoré (Sexo) – Shaman – 2002
15. Amor Correspondido – Corazón (Deluxe) – 2014
16. Angel Choir/All Together – Blessings and Miracles – 2021
17. Angelica Faith – Shape Shifter – 2012
18. Anywhere You Want to Go – Santana IV – 2016
19. Aqua Marine – Marathon – 1979
20. Aspirations – Borboletta – 1974
21. Aye Aye Aye – Shaman – 2002
22. Back in Black – Guitar Heaven – 2010 (AC/DC cover)
23. Bahia – Moonflower – 1977
24. Bang a Gong (Get It On) – Guitar Heaven – 2010 (T. Rex cover)
25. Batonga – Africa Speaks – 2019
26. Batuka – Santana III – 1971
27. Batukada – Lotus – 1974
28. Beijo de Longe – Corazón (Deluxe) – 2014
29. Before We Go – Freedom – 1987
30. Bembele – Africa Speaks – 2019
31. Besos de Lejos – Corazón – 2014
32. Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen – Abraxas – 1970
33. Blue Skies – Africa Speaks – 2019
34. Blues Magic – Santana IV – 2016
35. Body Surfing – Shangó – 1982
36. Borboletta – Borboletta – 1974
37. Break – Blessings and Miracles – 2021
38. Breaking Down the Door – Africa Speaks – 2019
39. Breaking Out – Beyond Appearances – 1985
40. Breathing Underwater – Blessings and Miracles – 2021
41. Brightest Star – Zebop! – 1981
42. Brotherhood – Beyond Appearances – 1985
43. Brown Skin Girl – All That I Am – 2005
44. Caminando – Santana IV – 2016
45. Can’t You Hear Me Knocking – Guitar Heaven – 2010 (The Rolling Stones cover)
46. Candombe Cumbele – Africa Speaks – 2019
47. Canela – Shape Shifter – 2012
48. Canto de los Flores – Borboletta – 1974
49. Carnaval – Festival – 1977
50. Castillos de Arena Part 1 (Sand Castle) – Lotus – 1974
51. Castillos de Arena Part 2 (Sand Castle) – Lotus – 1974
52. Changes – Zebop! – 1981
53. Choo Choo – Santana IV – 2016
54. Choose – Spirits Dancing in the Flesh – 1990
55. Come as You Are – Santana IV – 2016
56. Con Santana – All That I Am – 2005
57. Corazón Espinado – Supernatural – 1999
58. Cry Baby Cry – All That I Am – 2005
59. Da Tu Amor – All That I Am – 2005
60. Dance Sister Dance (Baila Mi Hermana) – Amigos – 1976
61. Dance the Night Away – Guitar Heaven – 2010 (Van Halen cover)
62. Dawn/Go Within – Moonflower – 1977
63. Dealer/Spanish Rose – Inner Secrets – 1978
64. Deeper, Dig Deeper – Freedom – 1987
65. Dios Bendiga Tu Interior – Africa Speaks (Bonus Track) – 2019
66. Do You Like the Way – Supernatural – 1999
67. Dom – Shape Shifter – 2012
68. E Papa Ré – Zebop! – 1981
69. Echizo – Santana IV – 2016
70. El Farol – Supernatural – 1999
71. El Fuego – All That I Am – 2005
72. El Morocco – Moonflower – 1977
73. El Nicoya – Abraxas – 1970
74. Eres La Luz – Shape Shifter – 2012
75. Eternal Caravan of Reincarnation – Caravanserai – 1972
76. Europa (Earth’s Cry Heaven’s Smile) – Amigos – 1976
77. Everybody’s Everything – Santana III – 1971
78. Every Step of the Way – Caravanserai – 1972
79. Everything’s Coming Our Way – Santana III – 1971
80. Evil Ways – Santana – 1969
81. Feel It Coming Back – Corazón – 2014
82. Feels Like Fire – Shaman – 2002
83. Fillmore East – Santana IV – 2016
84. Flame – Sky – Welcome – 1973
85. Flor d’Luna (Moonflower) – Moonflower – 1977
86. Flor de Canela – Borboletta – 1974
87. Foo Foo – Shaman – 2002
88. Forgiveness – Santana IV – 2016
89. Free All the People (South Africa) – Milagro – 1992
90. Free Angela – Lotus – 1974
91. Freedom in Your Mind – Santana IV – 2016
92. Full Moon – Spirits Dancing in the Flesh – 1990
93. Future Primitive – Caravanserai – 1972
94. Ghost of Future Pull / New Light – Blessings and Miracles – 2021
95. Ghost of Future Pull II – Blessings and Miracles – 2021
96. Gitano – Amigos – 1976
97. Give and Take – Borboletta – 1974
98. Give Me Love – Festival – 1977
99. Going Home – Welcome – 1973
100. Goodness and Mercy – Spirits Dancing in the Flesh – 1990
101. Guajira – Santana III – 1971
102. Gypsy Woman – Spirits Dancing in the Flesh – 1990
103. Gypsy/Grajonca – Milagro – 1992
104. Hannibal – Zebop! – 1981
105. Hard Times – Marathon – 1979
106. Here and Now – Borboletta – 1974
107. Hermes – All That I Am – 2005
108. Hold On – Shangó – 1982
109. Hope You’re Feeling Better – Abraxas – 1970
110. Hoy Es Adiós – Shaman – 2002
111. How Long – Beyond Appearances – 1985
112. I Ain’t Superstitious – Guitar Heaven – 2010 (The Jeff Beck Group cover)
113. I Am Somebody – All That I Am – 2005
114. I Don’t Wanna Lose Your Love – All That I Am – 2005
115. I Love You Much Too Much – Zebop! – 1981
116. I See Your Face – Corazón – 2014
117. I’ll Be Waiting – Moonflower – 1977
118. I’m Feeling You – All That I Am – 2005
119. I’m the One Who Loves You – Beyond Appearances – 1985
120. In the Light of a New Day – Shape Shifter – 2012
121. Incident at Neshabur – Abraxas – 1970
122. Indy – Corazón – 2014
123. Introduction — Bill Graham (Milagro) – Milagro – 1992
124. Iron Lion Zion – Corazón – 2014
125. It’s a Jungle Out There – Spirits Dancing in the Flesh – 1990
126. Jin-go-lo-ba – Spirits Dancing in the Flesh – 1990
127. Jingo – Santana – 1969
128. Joy – Blessings and Miracles – 2021
129. Jugando – Festival – 1977
130. Jungle Strut – Santana III – 1971
131. Just Feel Better – All That I Am – 2005
132. Just in Time to See the Sun – Caravanserai – 1972
133. Kyoto (Drum Solo) – Lotus – 1974
134. La Flaca – Corazón – 2014
135. La Fuente del Ritmo – Caravanserai – 1972
136. Leave Me Alone – Santana IV – 2016
137. Let It Shine – Amigos – 1976
138. Let Me – Amigos – 1976
139. Let Me Inside – Shangó – 1982
140. Let the Children Play – Festival – 1977
141. Let the Music Set You Free – Festival – 1977
142. Let There Be Light/Spirits Dancing in the Flesh – Spirits Dancing in the Flesh – 1990
143. Life Is a Lady/Holiday – Inner Secrets – 1978
144. Life Is Anew – Borboletta – 1974
145. Life Is for Living – Milagro – 1992
146. Light of Life – Welcome – 1973
147. Lightning in the Sky – Marathon – 1979
148. Little Wing – Guitar Heaven – 2010 (The Jimi Hendrix Experience cover)
149. Look Up (To See What’s Coming Down) – Caravanserai – 1972
150. Los Invisibles – Africa Speaks – 2019
151. Love – Marathon – 1979
152. Love Is You – Freedom – 1987
153. Love Makes the World Go Round – Santana IV – 2016
154. Love of My Life – Supernatural – 1999
155. Love, Devotion & Surrender – Welcome – 1973
156. Luna Hechicera – Africa Speaks – 2019
157. Macumba in Budapest – Shape Shifter – 2012
158. Make Somebody Happy – Milagro – 1992
159. Mal Bicho – Corazón – 2014
160. Mandela – Freedom – 1987
161. Mantra – Lotus – 1974
162. Marathon – Marathon – 1979
163. Margarita – Corazón – 2014
164. Maria Maria – Supernatural – 1999
165. María Caracóles – Festival – 1977
166. Meditation – Lotus – 1974
167. Metatron – Shape Shifter – 2012
168. Mientras Tanto – Africa Speaks (Bonus Track) – 2019
169. Migra – Supernatural – 1999
170. Mirage – Borboletta – 1974
171. Mother Africa – Welcome – 1973
172. Mother Yes – Blessings and Miracles – 2021
173. Mother’s Daughter – Abraxas – 1970
174. Move – Blessings and Miracles – 2021
175. Move On – Inner Secrets – 1978
176. Mr. Szabo – Shape Shifter – 2012
177. My Man – All That I Am – 2005
178. Never the Same Again – Shape Shifter – 2012
179. Night Hunting Time – Shangó – 1982
180. No One to Depend On – Santana III – 1971
181. Nomad – Shape Shifter – 2012
182. Nothing at All – Shaman – 2002
183. Novus – Shaman – 2002
184. Nowhere to Run – Shangó – 1982
185. Nueva York – Shangó – 1982
186. Once It’s Gotcha – Freedom – 1987
187. One Chain (Don’t Make No Prison) – Inner Secrets – 1978
188. One of These Days – Shaman – 2002
189. One with the Sun – Borboletta – 1974
190. Open Invitation – Inner Secrets – 1978
191. Over and Over – Zebop! – 1981
192. Oxun (Oshūn) – Shangó – 1982
193. Oye 2014 – Corazón – 2014
194. Oye Cómo Va – Abraxas – 1970
195. Oye Este Mi Canto – Africa Speaks – 2019
196. Para los Rumberos – Santana III – 1971
197. Paraísos Quemados – Africa Speaks – 2019
198. Peace on Earth…Mother Earth…Third Stone from the Sun – Spirits Dancing in the Flesh – 1990
199. Peace Power – Blessings and Miracles – 2021
200. Persuasion – Santana – 1969
201. Photograph – Guitar Heaven – 2010 (Def Leppard cover)
202. Practice What You Preach – Borboletta – 1974
203. Praise – Freedom – 1987
204. Primera Invasión – Zebop! – 1981
205. Primavera – Supernatural – 1999
206. Promise of a Fisherman – Borboletta – 1974
207. Put Your Lights On – Supernatural – 1999
208. Reach Up – Festival – 1977
209. Red Prophet – Milagro – 1992
210. Revelations – Festival – 1977
211. Riders on the Storm – Guitar Heaven – 2010 (The Doors cover)
212. Right Now – Beyond Appearances – 1985
213. Rumbalero – Blessings and Miracles – 2021
214. Runnin – Marathon – 1979
215. Saideira – Corazón (Deluxe) – 2014
216. Saideira (Spanish version) – Corazón – 2014
217. Saja/Right On – Milagro – 1992
218. Samba de Sausalito – Welcome – 1973
219. Samba Pa Ti – Abraxas – 1970
220. Santana Celebration – Blessings and Miracles – 2021
221. Savor – Santana – 1969
222. Say It Again – Beyond Appearances – 1985
223. Se a Cabó – Abraxas – 1970
224. Searchin’ – Zebop! – 1981
225. Shades of Time – Santana – 1969
226. Shake It – Santana IV – 2016
227. Shangó – Shangó – 1982
228. Shape Shifter – Shape Shifter – 2012
229. She Can’t Let Go – Freedom – 1987
230. She’s Fire – Blessings and Miracles – 2021
231. She’s Not There – Moonflower – 1977
232. Sideways – Shaman – 2002
233. Since Supernatural – Shaman – 2002
234. Singing Winds, Crying Beasts – Abraxas – 1970
235. Smoke on the Water – Guitar Heaven – 2010 (Deep Purple cover)
236. Smooth – Supernatural – 1999
237. Song for Cindy – Blessings and Miracles – 2021
238. Somewhere in Heaven – Milagro – 1992
239. Song of the Wind – Caravanserai – 1972
240. Songs of Freedom – Freedom – 1987
241. Soul Sacrifice – Santana – 1969
242. Soweto (Africa Libre) – Spirits Dancing in the Flesh – 1990
243. Spark of the Divine – Shape Shifter – 2012
244. Spirit – Beyond Appearances – 1985
245. Spring Manifestations – Borboletta – 1974
246. Stand Up – Marathon – 1979
247. Stay (Beside Me) – Marathon – 1979
248. Stone Flower – Caravanserai – 1972
249. Stormy – Inner Secrets – 1978
250. Sueños – Santana IV – 2016
251. Summer Lady – Marathon – 1979
252. Sunshine of Your Love – Guitar Heaven – 2010 (Cream cover)
253. Taboo – Santana III – 1971
254. Take Me with You – Amigos – 1976
255. Tales of Kilimanjaro – Zebop! – 1981
256. Tell Me Are You Tired – Amigos – 1976
257. The Calling – Supernatural – 1999
258. The Facts of Love – Inner Secrets – 1978
259. The Game of Love – Shaman – 2002
260. The Nile – Shangó – 1982
261. The River – Festival – 1977
262. The Sensitive Kind – Zebop! – 1981
263. Touchdown Raiders – Beyond Appearances – 1985
264. Toussaint L’Overture – Santana III – 1971
265. Transcendance – Moonflower – 1977
266. Treat – Santana – 1969
267. Trinity – All That I Am – 2005
268. Try a Little Harder – Festival – 1977
269. Twisted – All That I Am – 2005
270. Una Noche en Nápoles – Corazón – 2014
271. Veracruz – Freedom – 1987
272. Verão Vermelho – Festival – 1977
273. Victim of Circumstance – Freedom – 1987
274. Victory Is Won – Shaman – 2002
275. Waiting – Santana – 1969
276. Warrior – Shangó – 1982
277. Waves Within – Caravanserai – 1972
278. We Don’t Have to Wait – Milagro – 1992
279. Well All Right – Inner Secrets – 1978
280. Welcome – Welcome – 1973
281. What Does It Take (To Win Your Love) – Shangó – 1982
282. Wham! – Inner Secrets – 1978
283. When I Look into Your Eyes – Welcome – 1973
284. While My Guitar Gently Weeps – Guitar Heaven – 2010 (The Beatles cover)
285. Whiter Shade of Pale – Blessings and Miracles – 2021
286. Who Loves You – Beyond Appearances – 1985
287. Who’s That Lady – Spirits Dancing in the Flesh – 1990
288. Whole Lotta Love – Guitar Heaven – 2010 (Led Zeppelin cover)
289. Why Don’t You & I – Shaman – 2002
290. Wishing It Was – Supernatural – 1999
291. Winning – Zebop! – 1981
292. Written in Sand – Beyond Appearances – 1985
293. Xibaba (She-Ba-Ba) – Lotus – 1974
294. (Da Le) Yaleo – Supernatural – 1999
295. Yambu – Santana IV – 2016
296. Yo Me Lo Merezco – Africa Speaks – 2019
297. Yo Soy La Luz – Corazón – 2014
298. You and I – Santana IV – 2016
299. You Are My Kind – Shaman – 2002
300. You Just Don’t Care – Santana – 1969
301. You Know That I Love You – Marathon – 1979
302. Your Touch – Milagro – 1992
303. Yours Is the Light – Welcome – 1973
304. Zulu – Moonflower – 1977

Albums

Santana (1969): 9 songs

Abraxas (1970): 9 songs

Santana III (1971): 9 songs

Caravanserai (1972): 10 songs

Welcome (1973): 9 songs

Lotus (1974): 9 new tracks

Borboletta (1974): 12 songs

Amigos (1976): 7 songs

Festival (1977): 11 songs

Moonflower (1977): 8 new studio tracks

Inner Secrets (1978): 9 songs

Marathon (1979): 11 songs

Zebop! (1981): 12 songs

Shangó (1982): 11 songs

Beyond Appearances (1985): 10 songs

Freedom (1987): 10 songs

Spirits Dancing in the Flesh (1990): 10 songs

Milagro (1992): 12 songs

Supernatural (1999): 13 songs

Shaman (2002): 16 songs

All That I Am (2005): 13 songs

Guitar Heaven (2010): 12 songs (all covers)

Shape Shifter (2012): 13 songs

Corazón (2014): 15 songs (including deluxe edition tracks)

Santana IV (2016): 16 songs

Africa Speaks (2019): 13 songs (including bonus tracks)

Blessings and Miracles (2021): 15 songs

Check out our fantastic and entertaining Santana articles, detailing in-depth the band’s albums, songs, band members, and more…all on ClassicRockHistory.com

Cindy Blackman of Santana: The ClassicRockHistory.com Interview

Complete List Of Santana Band Members

Top 10 Santana Album Covers

Top 10 Santana Songs

Complete List Of Santana Studio Albums And Songs

Read More: Artists’ Interviews Directory At ClassicRockHistory.com

Read More: Classic Rock Bands List And Directory

Complete List Of Santana Songs From A to Z article published on ClassicRockHistory.com© 2025

Ted Nugent has long been known as the Motor City Madman, a title that he earned thanks to his penchant for wild live performances.

In his younger years, the guitarist was known for jumping off of speakers and hanging from the rafters during his shows. In a recent interview with Sirius XM’s Eddie Trunk, Nugent looked back on his outlandish onstage antics, specifically the stunts that could have gotten him killed.

“I mean, the running, the athleticism, the ramp — we created the whole ramp thing onstage because I was so hyper, so driven by the rhythms that my incredible band provided that you can’t stand there and play,” the guitarist recalled, before naming a memorable near-death experience. “Coming down out of the ceiling at Cobo Hall in the ‘80s, my hair got caught in the pulley 140 feet up in the air. And I had to literally violently yank out that big shard of hair from the pulley or I’d have plummeted to the ground and died.”

READ MORE: 24 of Rock’s Worst Onstage Injuries

Another one of Nugent’s life-risking moves? Mounting a 1,000-pound wild animal onstage.

“Riding the buffalo onstage at the House of Blues in Chicago, where we’re going up the elevator where the buffalo’s horns were up against my ass,” the rocker continued. “And if he would sneeze, I’d have been fixed for life.”

“I should have died, oh, maybe 30, 40 times,” the guitarist estimated. “But luckily I was really healthy and athletic.”

Nugent likened his extreme performance style to a racecar driver pushing to “dangerous near-death limits to come in first. … I couldn’t have told you that was my approach back then, but that was my approach back then.”

How Did Ted Nugent Start Riding Buffalo During His Concerts?

A chance encounter with a buffalo farmer led Nugent to study the impressive beasts. He slowly learned how to earn the animal’s trust and eventually trained one to ride onstage.

“I know some people don’t think you should domesticate wild animals, but we do, we can, we do,” Nugent noted. “And if it’s done with reverence and done with respect and taking real genuine care of these animals, then there’s a place for that.”

READ MORE: How Ted Nugent ‘Broke All of the Rules’ With ‘Stranglehold’

Of course, practicing on a farm and getting out on a stage in front of an audience were two very different things. Nugent admitted he was worried the buffalo would “kill me or the first four rows” if it got spooked by the noise or lighting. “But luckily I had spent so much time riding him that he came to accept me and even accept the chaos and the outrage of a rock ‘n’ roll concert. And people would witness me come out riding Chief onstage.”

Riding a buffalo would become something of a calling card for Nugent, who repeated the act many times throughout his career. As for what happened to his very first onstage buffalo, the avid hunter was direct: “I do believe that we sauteed some of him on my barbecue.”

Linkin Park have released their first new song since last year’s comeback album From Zero. Up From The Bottom is available on streaming platforms now, and will also appear on a deluxe edition of the album scheduled to arrive on May 16.

“We are so grateful for the incredible reception to From Zero,” says guitarist/vocalist Mike Shinoda. “This new chapter, our continuing journey, and the connection between the band and fans has been more than we could’ve hoped for. Thank you for listening.”

When asked about the single by Billboard last month, Linkin Park DJ Joe Hahn responded, “In my opinion, it’s the best song we’ve ever made,” while Shinoda called the accompanying clip “one of the best we’ve ever had.”

The band teased the release of Up From The Bottom in the second part of a short YouTube documentary about their upcoming world tour released earlier this month. The film ended with Shinoda and lead singer Emily Armstrong recording what sounded like a new song, which can now be revealed to be the new single.

Linkin Park’s 2025 schedule will kick off on April 26 at the Moody Center in Austin, TX, before heading to Europe in June. The band will return to North America for more shows at the end of that month, before South American dates in October and November. Full dates below.

Linkin Park: 2025 tour dates

Apr 26: Austin Moody Center, TX ^
Apr 28: Tulsa BOK Center, OK ^
May 01: Grand Rapids Van Andel Arena, MI ^
May 03: Baltimore CFG Bank Arena, ND ^
May 06: Raleigh Lenovo Center, NC ^
May 08: Greenville Bon Secours Wellness Arena, SC ^
May 10: Columbus Sonic Temple, OH *
May 17: Daytona Welcome To Rockville, FL *

Jun 12: Nisckelsdorf Novarock, Austria *
Jun 14: Hradec Kralove Rock For People, Czech Republic *
Jun 16: Hannover Heinz-Von-Heiden Arena, Germany ~
Jun 18: Berlin Olympiastadion, Germany ~
Jun 20: Bern Bernexpo, Switzerland
Jun 22: Clisson Hellfest, France *
Jun 24: Milan I-Days, Italy *
Jun 26: Arnhem Gelredome, Netherlands $
Jun 28: London Wembley Stadium, UK $&
Jul 01: Dusseldorf Merkur Spiel Arena, Germany ~&
Jul 03: Werchter Rock Werchter Festival, Belgium *
Jul 05: Gdynia Open’er Festival, Poland *
Jul 08: Frankfurt Deutsche Bank Park, Germany ~&
Jul 11: Paris Stade De France, France

Jul 29: Brooklyn Barclays Center, NY +
Aug 01: Boston TD Garden, MA +
Aug 03: Newark Prudential Center, NJ +
Aug 06: Montreal Bell Centre, Canada +
Aug 08: Toronto Scotiabank Arena, Canada +
Aug 11: Chicago United Center, IL +
Aug 14: Detroit Little Caesars Arena, MI +
Aug 16: Philadelphia Wells Fargo Center, PA #
Aug 19: Pittsburgh PPG Paints Arena, PA #
Aug 21: Nashville Bridgestone Arena, TN #
Aug 23: St Louis Enterprise Center, MO #
Aug 25: Milwaukee Fiserv Forum, WI #
Aug 27: Minneapolis Target Center, MN #
Aug 29: Omaha CHI Health Center, NE #
Aug 31: Kansas City T-Movile Center, MO #
Sep 03: Denver Ball Arena, CO #
Sep 06: Phoenix Footprint Center, AZ #
Sep 13: Los Angeles Dodger Stadium, CA !&
Sep 15: San Josa SAP Ceter, CA &
Sep 17: Sacramento Golden 1 Center, CA &
Sep 19: Portland Moda Center, OR &
Sep 21: Vancouver Rogers Arena, Canada &
Sep 24: Seattle Climate Pledge Arena, WA &

Oct 26: Bogota TBA, Colombia
Oct 29: Lima TBA, Peru
Nov 01: Buenos Aires TBA, Argentina
Nov 05: Santiago TBA, Chile
Nov 08: Rio De Janeiro TBA, Brazil
Nov 10: São Paulo TBA, Brazil
Nov 13: Brasilia TBA, Brazil
Nov 15: Porto Alegre TBA, Brazil

Festival performance *
With Queens Of The Stone Age !
With Spiritbox $
With AFI =
With Architects ~
With Grandson ^
With Jean Dawson #
With Jpegmafia &
With Pvris +

Tickets are on sale now.

Elton John has enjoyed a career spanning more than 60 years, and he’s learned many lessons along the way.

During a conversation with Rolling Stone UK, the legendary singer shared some of his wisdom, advising new artists to “keep trying to play live” as much as they can.

“That’s the way you improve as a musician and songwriter. It doesn’t matter if you’re playing to 40 people,” John explained. “The more experience you get playing to nobody, the better. Because when I played in Musicology (sic), we played to hardly anybody sometimes.”

Some may scoff at Elton’s suggestion, considering how the music industry has changed over the years. Nowadays, artists can build a following via social media and TV competition shows, largely skipping the process of playing small, near-empty clubs. Still, the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer insisted that experience is vital for any artist – not just for their musicianship, but for their confidence.

READ MORE: The Best Song From Every Elton John Album

“That experience stood me in great stead for when I became Elton John because I had backbone,” John noted. “And backbone is so important, because the worst thing that can happen to you in the industry are things like X Factor and instant fame on television, where you have no experience of playing live. You get put on stage, you go, and you can’t do it. That’s the worst thing. American Idol — just the worst.”

Rather than looking for instant fame, John said new artists should “Take risks. Go and play in a pub.”

Elton John: ‘Music Keeps Me Alive’

Just days away from his 78th birthday, John remains as active as ever. Though he’s retired from touring, the singer-songwriter still delivers occasional performances at charity events and fundraisers.

“I can’t live without music. It nearly killed me, but it also kept me alive, and it keeps me alive today,” he explained. “But not the music of the past so much. Although I do listen to jazz and stuff like that, but it’s the music of the future that keeps me alive.”

John has an upcoming collaborative album with Brandi Carlisle titled Who Believes in Angels? The two will be musical guests on the April 5 episode of Saturday Night Live, the day after the album’s release.

READ MORE: Elton John Admits He Was a Nightmare for Brandi Carlisle

“I love her so much and not just as a person, but I love what’s inside of her musically and creatively,” John said of Carlisle. “And it hasn’t really touched the surface. I think it’s beginning to, but it’s got so much further to go. She’s like an embryo at the moment, and she’s done a hell of a lot to be an embryo, but she’s going to just burst.”

Ted Nugent’s “Stranglehold” almost found itself choked out by the record label before fans ever would get a chance to hear it. That’s the story that the legendarily outspoken guitarist and hunter is telling as one of his most classic songs hits the 50-year mark.

He begins to tell the tale by sharing some “Stranglehold” lyrics with us. “Here I come now, baby/ Like a dog in heat/ You tell it’s me by the clamor now, baby/ I like to tear up the streets/ Now, I’ve been smoking for so long/ You know I’m here to stay/ Got you in a stranglehold, baby/ Get the f–k out of the way!“

As one would expect, the original words are punched up a bit, punctuated with an F-bomb and with good reason, as Nugent shares. “Those lyrics were so pertinent because the record company didn’t think I should record it because it didn’t have a chorus,” he says now. “I went, ‘Really, you don’t think I should record the song that every night the people go the most crazy about? Does f–k you ring any bells? That defiant element is what [makes the song]. Even when I play it to this day, even as an old man, you feel it. [Nugent grabs his guitar and plays the “Stranglehold” riff to demonstrate] Get the f–k out of here!”

Listen to Ted Nugent Perform ‘Stranglehold’

The seeds of “Stranglehold” were initially sown long before Nugent got a chance to record it for his 1975 self-titled solo debut, beginning musical life as a jam. The moment, which happened in the twilight hours following an Amboy Dukes gig in 1968, stayed with the guitarist. “To turn just a spontaneous jam with no guidance — which is what a jam should be — to have it end up being a composition with arrangements and the F sharp / minor seventh bass solo, was an amazing moment,” he recalls. “[They told me] nobody wants a bass solo, Well, I want a bass solo! Give me one! Well, people don’t like bass solos. I think they do! I’m going with my hunches here.” [Nugent laughs maniacally]

READ MORE: Top 10 Ted Nugent Songs

The people, with Nugent as their advocate, got what they wanted. “That f–king bass solo is mystical. It’s lyrical, outrageous, bombastically soulful, its inescapable groove and grind [stays with you when you hear it],” he says. “I broke all of the rules, but that’s one of the planets that aligned. I have the evidence from every night on stage, people going nuts for this thing, this moment, this lick. It’s only two chords and 11 minutes long. What? You can’t just play two chords for 11 minutes. Yeah? Shut the f–k up! Since you said that, watch me do it. Don’t tell me I can’t do something, because the audience goes berserk and that’s all that matters.”

Nugent Steps Inside the Vault

While he’s done with touring on a lengthy scale, the guitar legend continues to play select concerts, including a series of dates in Texas and Michigan this summer to celebrate the 50th anniversary of “Stranglehold.” Fans can tune up for the upcoming dates by revisiting decades of history inside Nuge Vault, the new online archive spearheaded by Nugent’s own drummer, Jason Hartless, who has spent an extensive amount of time going through a voluminous amount of materials.

Among the concert highlights so far are previously unavailable gigs recorded in 1976 and 1980 and the 1987 edition of Nugent’s annual Whiplash Bash New Year’s Eve celebration. The video section of the Vault includes things like an ’84 jam with Sammy Hagar and a ’94 gig recorded at the Indiana-area Deer Creek Music Center. Additional audio treasures feature a pair of long out-of-print EPs, rough mixes for 1976’s Free-for-All and demos for Nugent’s last two albums, 2018’s The Music Made Me Do It and 2022’s Detroit Muscle.

“He did a swan dive into these eternal vats of memorabilia,” Nugent shares. “Inside my barn, there’s 100-feet walls stacked up 20 feet in the air with boxes from the Amboy Dukes, reel-to-reel tapes, photos, cassette jam sessions and every series of Ted Nugent band eras, including Damn Yankees. It’s fascinating. He whipped out a reel-to-reel of the rehearsal for the Free-for-All album and I was like, “Oh man, I remember that!”

Watch Ted Nugent Discuss the ‘Nuge Vault’

Some people say AC/DC have made the same album over and over again. The band would probably beg to differ, and as far as Angus Young is concerned, there is strength in consistency.

“Malcolm [Young] used to say, ‘Yeah, well, they said we sound the same, because we’re the same band. That’s what we are.’ We never aimed to be going into territory that was not ours,” he explained to Rolling Stone in 2021. “We know the style. We know what we’re looking for, so when people hear it, they go, ‘Well, that is them. They have their own stamp on who they are.'”

Though their lineup has changed multiple times over the years, AC/DC has continued to release albums and tour the world.

With the help of data from setlist.fm, we’ve collected the most and least-played songs live from just about every AC/DC album. For the purposes of this list, we’re not including songs that have never been played live ever, as well as the 1976 international release of High Voltage, which contained songs from the band’s two previous Australia/New Zealand-only albums.

Album: High Voltage (1975)
Most-played: “She’s Got Balls”
Least-played: “You Ain’t Got a Hold on Me”

AC/DC released their very first album, High Voltage, in 1975, though it only came out in Australia and New Zealand. Siblings Malcolm and Angus Young, along with singer Bon Scott, proved apt songwriters, writing nearly every track on the album with the exception of the traditional blues song “Baby, Please Don’t Go.” Every song from this album has been played live at one point or another, including the aforementioned cover. “You Ain’t Got a Hold on Me” comes in last place though with 11 plays. “She’s Got Balls” is No. 1 with 423 plays. Of course, most of those took place prior to Scott’s death in 1980, but the band did bring the song back around for a few performances in 1986.

Album: T.N.T. (1975)
Most-played: “The Jack”
Least-played: “Rock ‘n’ Roll Singer”

Before the year was out, AC/DC released a second album in Australia/New Zealand, titled T.N.T. Once again, every song from it has made a set list. Technically, the least-played song is “School Days,” a Chuck Berry cover, but in terms of originals its “Rock ‘n’ Roll Singer” with a little over 200 performances. The most-played is “The Jack,” which got its first play in 1975 and most recent play at AC/DC’s 2015 Coachella concert.

Album: Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (1976)
Most-played: “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap”
Least-played: Tie Between “Ride On” and “Big Balls”

Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap came out just about everywhere in the world apart from America in 1976. It would not be released there until 1981, the year after Scott’s passing. Only five out of the album’s nine songs have been played live, with “Ain’t No Fun (Waiting ‘Round to Be a Millionaire),” “There’s Gonna Be Some Rockin,'” “Squealer” and “R.I.P. (Rock in Peace)” never seeing a set list. “Big Balls” got performed once in 1976, and “Ride On” got one play in 2001, a tie for next least-played. At the top is the album’s title track with over 1,200 performances.

Album: Let There Be Rock (1977)
Most-played: “Whole Lotta Rosie”
Least-played: “Go Down”

“Whole Lotta Rosie” isn’t just the most-played song from Let There Be Rock, but also the second most-played song across AC/DC’s entire catalog with 1,678 plays, topped only by “The Jack.” It’s even been included on all three of the band’s official live albums. Meanwhile, “Go Down” got one play at the VH1 Studios in London in 1996, which is still more than the zero plays “Overdose” and “Crabsody in Blue” got.

Album: Powerage (1978)
Most-played: “Sin City”
Least-played: “Kicked in the Teeth”

Enter Cliff Williams on bass, who replaced Mark Evans following his 1977 firing. “Sin City” takes the cake for most-played from Powerage, an astute example of AC/DC’s talent for coming up with robust three-chord guitar riffs. Only two songs from this album, “Gimme a Bullet” and “Cold Hearted Man” haven’t got played, making “Kicked in the Teeth” the next least-played with two performances. Both of those were in September of 1977, literally one day apart from one another in San Francisco. It has not been heard since.

Album: Highway to Hell (1979)
Most-played: “Highway to Hell”
Least-played: “Beating Around the Bush”

If you happened to attend AC/DC’s taping of the music TV show Aplauso in Madrid, Spain on Feb. 9, 1980, then congratulations, you heard the one and only time the band has played “Beating Around the Bush.” Two songs from Highway to Hell have been neglected, set list-wise: “Love Hungry Man” and “Night Prowler.” The album’s title track understandably got the most plays — a little over 1,400 of them – and continues to rack up performances.

Album: Back in Black (1980)
Most-played: “Hells Bells”
Least-played: “Shake a Leg”

With Back in Black, we enter the Brian Johnson era of AC/DC. From this album, just one song has never made a set list, “Let Me Put My Love Into You.” “Shake a Leg” got one performance in 1980, but things only go up from there. In fact, the four most-played songs from Back in Black have all earned over 1,000 plays each, with “Hells Bells” claiming the top slot at 1,302 plays. “Back in Black” is not far behind at 1,295, followed by “Shoot to Thrill” (1,208) and “You Shook Me All Night Long” (1,199).

Album: For Those About to Rock (We Salute You) (1981)
Most-played: “For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)”
Least-played: “C.O.D.”

Sometimes, bands will struggle after releasing an album as successful as Back in Black. But that was not the case for AC/DC, who followed it up with another hugely successful release, For Those About to Rock (We Salute You). Only half of the album’s 10 total songs have been played live. There is, of course, the title track which has gathered 1,158 plays so far. On the lower end is “C.O.D.”  — “Care of the Devil” — with just 10 plays, all of which occurred in 1982.

Album: Flick of the Switch (1983)
Most-played: “Guns for Hire”
Least-played: “Landslide”

Flick of the Switch did not perform as well commercially as AC/DC’s previous two albums, but it did mark something else notable: it was the last album to include drummer Phil Rudd before his return on 1995’s Ballbreaker. “Deep in the Hole” and “Brain Shake” have never been played, while “Landslide” (not to be confused with the tender Fleetwood Mac song of the same name) got one play in 1983, the year Flick of the Switch came out. “Guns for Hire” has 71 plays to its name, which coincidentally was the A-side to “Landslide.”

Album: Fly on the Wall (1985)
Most-played: “Fly on the Wall”
Least-played: “Playing With Girls”

Beginning in October of 1984, AC/DC gathered in Mountain Studios, then owned by Queen, in Montreux, Switzerland to record Fly on the Wall. With Rudd gone, Simon Wright took over on drums and after approximately four months of work, the 10-track album was recorded. Only five of those tracks have ever been played live. The title track got a lot of attention in 1985 and 1986, while “Playing With Girls” squeaked in one play. (Props to the person who recorded it.)

Album: Blow Up Your Video (1988) 
Most-played: “Heatseeker”
Least-played: “Go Zone”

Just as quickly as Wright arrived on drums, he played his final album with AC/DC, 1988’s Blow Up Your Video, which was also the last album Johnson was listed as a co-writer on. A tour was launched in support of the album, marking the first time the band played dates in their native Australia in seven years, though only four of the album’s tracks were included: “Heatseeker,” “That’s the Way I Wanna Rock ‘n’ Roll,” “Nick of Time” and “Go Zone.” Actually, those are the only four songs to ever have been played from the album, with “Go Zone” at eight plays and “Heatseeker” at 284.

Album: The Razor’s Edge (1990)
Most-played: “Thunderstruck”
Least-played: “Are You Ready”

Even people who know nothing about AC/DC recognize “Thunderstruck,” which is understandably the most-played song from 1990’s The Razor’s Edge. “I’m a classic doodler, and every now and again I’ll pick up a guitar and knock out some classical-sounding or flamenco thing just for a stretch,” Angus Young explained in 1992. “That’s how the ‘Thunderstruck’ intro came about.” A number of songs from this album have never made a set list, with the least-played being “Are You Ready,” a No. 16 hit in the U.S.

Album: Ballbreaker (1995)
Most-played: “Hard as a Rock”
Least-played: “Cover You in Oil”

As mentioned, Rudd returned to AC/DC in time for 1995’s Ballbreaker. A new face entered the picture here in the form of producer Rick Rubin, a longtime fan of the band. As AC/DC grew older, they played less of their newer material, which stands to reason given fans wanted to hear their favorite hits at concerts. Thus, “Hard as Rock” has earned 295 plays, “Boogie Man” and “Ballbreaker” each have nearly `150 to their names, “Hail Caesar” has 100 and “Cover You in Oil” 75. The rest have never been touched.

Album: Stiff Upper Lip (2000)
Most-played: “Stiff Upper Lip”
Least-played: “Satellite Blues”

Stiff Upper Lip marked the last AC/DC album that George Young, the older brother of Malcolm and Angus, produced before his death. Only four songs from the 12-track album have been played live, so far at least. In order from most to least-played: “Stiff Upper Lip,” “Safe in New York City,” “Meltdown” and “Satellite Blues.” One of those performances of the title track was for an episode of Saturday Night Live on March 18, 2000.

Album: Black Ice (2008)
Most-played: “Rock ‘n’ Roll Train”
Least-played: “Anything Goes”

A whole eight years passed between Stiff Upper Lip and Black Ice, years in which not a lot of touring happened for AC/DC — it was also the longest gap between their studio albums in their entire career. Black Ice contains a whopping 15 tracks, but only five of them have made set lists: “Rock ‘n’ Roll Train” is at the top with 283 plays, followed by “Big Jack,” “Black Ice,” “War Machine” and finally, “Anything Goes” with 112 plays. Considering the extended gap, it was even more impressive when Black Ice was nominated for Best Rock Album at the 2010 Grammys.

Album: Rock or Bust (2014)
Most-played: “Rock or Bust”
Least-played: “Rock the Blues Away”

After Malcolm Young retired, his nephew Stevie Young joined the band in 2014, just in time to participate in Rock or Bust. “I’m not trying to imitate or copy him – but trying to keep the spirit of what he did in the band,” Stevie said then. This is AC/DC’s shortest album, but it still contains 11 songs, six of which have never been performed. The title track takes the No. 1 spot for most-played at 90 renditions, while “Rock the Blues Away” got in one play at a Los Angeles concert in 2015.

Album: Power Up (2020)
Most-played: Tie Between “Demon Fire” and “Shot in the Dark”
Least-played: Tie Between “Demon Fire” and “Shot in the Dark”

To be fair, Power Up is not even five years old yet, so it makes sense that only two of its songs have been played live so far: “Demon Fire” and “Shot in the Dark,” both of which were released as singles and have been played 25 times each. Of particular importance is the fact that all of the songs on Power Up were co-written by Malcolm Young prior to his 2017 death. The album was reportedly finished in the fall of 2018, but shelved while the band settled their lineup.

Tommy Shaw compared his investment in feeding birds to his former drug habits as he discussed upcoming Styx album Circling From Above.

The band plans to release the follow-up to 2021’s Crash of the Crown in the coming months – but Shaw explained they had to endure some nervous moments before telling their record label about the record.

During a Q&A on last month’s Rock Legends Cruise (video below), he revealed they’d just completed recording a concept record about a starling, inspired by the life he lives today.

READ MORE: When Styx Made Their First Album Without Dennis DeYoung

“My wife and I… live on a wildlife sanctuary,” Shaw told the audience. “You’re usually going to see me picking up a 60-pound bag of bird seed and filling [feeders] up. We spend as much money on bird seed as I used to spend on cocaine.”

While the crowd laughed he protested: “I’m serious! I think cocaine was cheaper than the bird seed!”

Bandmate James “J.Y.” Young added: “But the seed hurts when it goes in your nose!”

Styx Worried About Revealing New Album’s Concept

Shaw went on to say that, when he finally spoke to the label, the exec turned out to be equally fascinated by birds, telling the musician about a device that can be left to take photos, send them to the user and identify the species that’s been spotted.

He reported that there’d been “so much enthusiasm” from the company, adding: “Sometimes in life things just go your way. And this went our way at a time when we were… a little nervous about doing an album about a bird!”

Watch Styx’s Q&A on Rock Legends Cruise

Styx Albums Ranked

Come sail away as we rank Styx’s albums, from worst to best.

Gallery Credit: UCR Staff

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