Santana set to regroup with Schon and Rolie

Going back: Carlos Santana

Carlos Santana is aiming to reunite with classic-era members of Santana for his next album – including Journey founders Neal Schon and Gregg Rolie.

The lineup will include Michael Carabello and Michael Shrieve, and the veteran bandleader says the album will take up his music where Santana III left off in 1971.

He tells Noise11: “We have invited the members from the first three albums. It will be like Santana IV.”

“As well as Neal we have the two Mikes. I’m pretty sure Gregg’s going to do it – so that is pretty much everyone.” Founding bassist David Brown died thirteen years ago.

Schon, who spent a year in the band as a teenager before forming Journey in 1973, reports: “I’ve reconnected with Carlos and we have been talking about doing something together. I hooked up with him before Christmas – you never know what’s going to happen. Life’s full of surprises.”

Santana is looking forward to returning to the band’s roots. He explains: “We have been checking out a lot of African music, African patterns. Each artist has his own thing that he listens to. Led Zeppelin listened to Otis Rush, Cream listened to Freddie King and Albert King. We all had someone – it was a beautiful common ground for Santana to play African music.”

The project is due to commence later this year, with a release planned for 2014.