Eagle Rock EntertainmentSantana recently released a home video capturing a March 2016 show in Las Vegas that featured a historic reunion of four of the group’s original members — Carlos Santana, Gregg Rolie, Michael Shrieve and Michael Carabello — plus ex-Santana guitarist Neal Schon. Santana IV: Live at the House of Blues, Las Vegas documents a show marking the first time those musicians played together live since 1973.
Shrieve, Santana’s founding drummer, tells ABC Radio that it was “an amazing feeling” to perform again with his old band mates after more than 40 years.
“It’s hard to describe,” Michael explains. “It’s kind of like going back to the old neighborhood, or your old childhood home, and recognizing where everything belongs.”
The concert featured classic early Santana tunes mixed with brand-new songs from the band’s 2016 reunion album, Santana IV, which debuted at #5 on the Billboard 200 in April.
Shrieve says the band did surprisingly little rehearsing to prepare for the show.
“We just got together for about four hours the night before, went through some of the new stuff, some of the old stuff and that was it,” Michael reveals. “But everybody did their homework and came in prepared.”
The concert includes a guest appearance by funk/soul legend Ronald Isley, who belts out the same two tunes that he sings on Santana IV.
“It was a pleasure to be working with him,” says Shrieve. “He’s an American icon.”
The Las Vegas concert was one of only a handful of gigs Carlos played this year with the other original Santana members. Shrieve says he hopes there will be more, but that will be up to the guitar legend.
Santana IV: Live at the House of Blues is available as a DVD/two-CD set, a Blu-ray/two-CD package and a digital download.
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