SPAIN: VETERAN GUITAREST CARLOS SANTANA MAKES HIS COMEBACK TO ROCK MUSIC WITH EUROPEAN TOUR

Record ID: 389347

  • Title: SPAIN: VETERAN GUITAREST CARLOS SANTANA MAKES HIS COMEBACK TO ROCK MUSIC WITH EUROPEAN TOUR
  • Date: 17th May 2000
  • Summary: SCU (SOUNDBITE) (English) CARLOS SANTANA ANSWERING QUESTION ABOUT HAVING YOUNG FANS NOW WHOSE PARENTS CHEERED FOR HIM AT WOODSTOCK "How old would you be, if you didn't know how old you were. It's an illusion anyway. I agree with The Artist, you know, Prince, that people put too much on the age. When you're in love, you don't feel like you're 70, or 17, or 7, you know usual
  • Embargoed: 1st June 2000 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: MADRID, SPAIN
  • Country: Spain
  • Topics: Entertainment,General
  • Reuters ID: LVA7C9184XSNCK2SUX3YMRU05KAF
  • Story Text: Nine grammies and record-breaking album sales later, Carlos Santana is back to celebrate one of the biggest comebacks in rock music history.The veteran guitarist, who hasn't lost his touch in thirty years, kicked off the European leg of his world tour in the Spanish capital of Madrid.
    After his sensational comeback this year, crowned with nine grammies, Carlos Santana is touring the world to perform live in front of thousands of fans.
    More than 2000 people went to see him in Madrid's biggest stadium where he kicked off the European leg of his tour.
    "It's an honour to be here in Spain because music here has such a long history.In America we accept it like...like a romance, romance is like food, if you haven't got romance, there is no light in your life" Santana said at a press conference the day before his concert.
    His extraordinary success this year didn't come as a surprise to him.A believer in angels, he says the angel Metatron already predicted his comeback in one of his meditations: "They told me that this was gonna happen.They didn't tell me at this volume but they did say we would definitely re-enter the radio frequency, that's how it was put to me.And I feel really grateful because it's really happening and it's a great opportunity.What I was trying to say in the press conference: this music is assigned and designed to bring unity and harmony and healing."
    But Santana had a lot of self-healing to do himself, before he could give his message to the world.He only recently revealed that he was molested as a young child by an American who brought him toys as a reward.
    The man would buy him clothes and toys and food and then abuse him.Santana's family moved to San Franciso where Carlos concentrated on his musical career.But the scars of the abuse did not fade.
    The anger he carried inside ultimately began to threaten his marriage, something he wasn't going to let happen: "In 1994- 95 I made a committment...just like a snake that gets rid of its own skin, to get rid of things that I was carrying for a long time since I was a child and I was requested my wife to seek therapy, and first of all I didn't believe in that stuff but I wanted to please her because I love her very much and I wanted to make sure that our matrimony would not end because I love her and my children very much and after the 6th, 7th time it was very clear to me that when you talk about something that hurts you you get to the light and you heal it."
    Santana's well known for his spirituality and messages of love, peace and compassion."I am dreaming to go to Africa one day and meet Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu because I think that there will only be one universal government in the world, chaired by men and women like Mother Teresa, Desmond Tutu or Nelson Mandela, people who have their hearts in the right places, who are very compassionate."
    And how does the 52-year-old feel performing for a young audience who cheer for him just as much as their parents at Woodstock in 1969? "How old would you be, if you didn't know how old you were.It's an illusion anyway.I agree with The Artist, you know, Prince, that people put too much on the age.When you're in love, you don't feel like you're 70, or 17, or 7, you know usually you're floating.So the most important thing is to stay passionately in love with life and everything and I think that you just have to keep going inside, make time to meditate, make time to put your mind aside.
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