Carlos Santana’s ‘Wild’ Admission About Playing at Woodstock ’69 Is Cracking People Up in Resurfaced Interview originally appeared on Parade.
Legendary singer and guitaristCarlos Santana, 78, was largely unknown to mainstream audiences when he took the stage at age 22 for his now-iconic Woodstock ’69 performance. In a resurfaced and wild interview with journalist Dan Rather, the “Black Magic Woman” musician revealed that a drug trip—courtesy of the Grateful Dead’s Jerry Garcia—nearly derailed his historic set.
Related: TV Star, 56, Says Bizarre ‘ER’ Audition Cost Him Career-Making Role: ‘I Thought I Nailed It’
“I don’t even know how I walked, and next thing I know we’re playing this set, and I think I’m going by what Shirley MacLaine calls muscle memory,” he confessed.
“When we got to ‘Soul Sacrifice,’ I noticed that the neck of my guitar was like an electric snake. It wouldn’t stand still, you know. So I’m making some seriously ugly faces trying to keep it from slithering so much.”
Santana’s 11-minute performance of “Soul Sacrifice” is widely considered the standout of Woodstock ’69. Featuring a jaw-dropping drum solo by then-teenage drummer Michael Shrieve, the set catapulted Santana to international fame.
Related: ‘Little House on the Prairie’ Star, 63, Reveals Her On-Set Crush
Fans relished Santana’s retelling of the moment in the comment section of the interview re-shared on social media, with one fan writing, “’Soul Sacrifice’ is the best performance ever. I will never tire of it.”
Many fans, however, found the humor in Santana’s confession with one writing, “aahahaha golden .”
🎬SIGN UP for Parade’s Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox🎬
Carlos Santana’s ‘Wild’ Admission About Playing at Woodstock ’69 Is Cracking People Up in Resurfaced Interview first appeared on Parade on Aug 3, 2025
This story was originally reported by Parade on Aug 3, 2025, where it first appeared.
