The key to all good Santana records has always been the music’s feel. As much as anyone can play the right notes on a Carlos Santana classic and get by, the true measure of the man’s talent is his ability to incorporate emotion into every single record he releases, usually allowing his guitar to say what words cannot. Carlos may rely on his heart most of the time. But he noticed that another band shared his enthusiasm for AC/DC.
It almost seems ridiculous to put Santana on the same musical level as AC/DC. Comparing regular rock bands is like comparing apples and oranges. Looking at the Latin rock icon with the straight-ahead rock Aussies is like looking at apples and shellfish. There’s a lot in common with them that meets the eye if you know where to look for it.
AC/DC and Santana are not musically inseparable. But both bands have relied heavily on their sense of groove to get them where they are today. When you listen to a Santana album, it feels like you’ve walked into a band rehearsal in the middle of a jam session. They transform what could be a collection of chords into a living entity.
Santana appeared on Supernatural alongside various guest stars, the structural foundation remained intact. You can criticize a song like ‘Smooth‘ all you want. But when Carlos’ guitar screams in, you know he still has the chops that propelled his career.
The same can be said for AC/DC. Their lead playing is significantly reduced in comparison to what Santana could do. It’s easy to imagine Angus Young having the same attitude when taking a solo. Albums like Highway to Hell are a little more compact than Santana’s output. But they still rely on the idea that if a song feels right, it’s ready for recording.
Santana may not be playing ‘Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap’ in the same way that Angus does. But he recognized that the Aussies had something special, telling MusicRadar, “I’m a big fan.” The grooves they lay down are incredible. Much of what they do is inspired by Chuck Berry. He almost dances like Chuck Berry!”
Whereas Carlos had a great deal of respect for what Angus does, he said the most important part of the group was Malcolm’s right hand, explaining, “His brother is the one, the rhythm guitarist. He’s holding the whole thing together. To me, the rhythm guitar is the real muscle of any band. To be a really good guitarist, you have to know when to play lead and when to stick to rhythm.”
Regardless of their occasional genre clashes, both Santana and AC/DC share the same musical roots, always drawing on a foundation of groove whenever they perform. Although a joint tour with both bands might be a bit much for both fanbases to take in, there’s a good chance that both acts would get along well together.
