<p>Drummer Michael Shrieve’s story reads like a rock-and-roll fairy tale — the kind of musical journey that blends youthful serendipity with restless creativity, and a lifelong appetite for pushing boundaries. </p><p>Before he was a name on Santana’s classic albums or a Rock &amp; Roll Hall of Famer, he was a kid with sticks and big dreams.</p><p>Born in California, Shrieve grew up deeply drawn to music. As a teenager he played in his first serious band and gigged around backing rhythm and blues acts — even sitting in with seasoned performers like B.B. King and Etta James.</p><p>At just 16, a pivotal moment came when he sat in during a jam at San Francisco’s famed Fillmore Auditorium. His playing caught someone&#39;s ear — Santana’s manager Stan Marcum — setting the stage for his astonishing ascent.</p><p>At 19, Shrieve met Carlos Santana in a studio and was invited to join the band <strong>on the spot</strong>. It was a leap that would change his life. </p><p>Almost immediately after joining, Shrieve found himself at the center of one of rock’s defining moments: <strong>Santana’s performance at Woodstock in August 1969</strong>. </p><p>Barely 20 years old, his explosive drum solo on “<em>Soul Sacrifice</em>” became one of the enduring visual and sonic highlights of the event’s documentary.</p><p>Between &#39;69 and &#39;74, Shrieve played on Santana’s first seven albums: <em>Santana</em> (1969), <em>Abraxas</em> (1970), <em>Santana III</em> (1971), <em>Caravanserai</em> (1972), <em>Welcome</em> (1973) and <em>Borboletta</em> (1974), plus the live album <em>Lotus</em> (1974).</p><p>He wasn’t just a timekeeper. On <em>Caravanserai</em> he <strong>co-produced and co-wrote four tracks</strong>, helping guide the band into more experimental, jazz-infused territory. His work helped broaden the possibilities of rock percussion, drawing on influences from jazz greats and Latin rhythms alike.</p><p>By the mid-&#39;70s, Shrieve was ready to expand his musical palette beyond Santana. He left the band to pursue solo projects and relocated to London. </p><p>One of his first ventures was <strong>Automatic Man</strong> , a group that blended rock with progressive and funk elements. </p><p>He then joined the avant-garde fusion supergroup <strong>Go</strong>, alongside formidable musicians like Steve Winwood, Stomu Yamashta, Klaus Schulze and Al Di Meola. The band released multiple albums and toured, diving deep into jazz, electronic and world music textures.</p><p>Throughout the late ’70s and ’80s Shrieve stayed busy, playing with <strong>Hagar Schon Aaronson Shrieve</strong> (with Neal Schon and Sammy Hagar) and contributing to albums by artists as diverse as The Rolling Stones (<em>Emotional Rescue</em>, 1980) and Roger Hodgson of Supertramp. He also collaborated on Richard Wahnfried projects with electronic composer Klaus Schulze and recorded his own electronic music.</p><p>After leaving Santana, Shrieve didn’t slow down — he <strong>reinvented</strong> himself again and again. Beyond rock and fusion bands, he became a <strong>composer and session player</strong> whose credits include work with Mick Jagger, George Harrison, Pete Townshend, Andy Summers, Jaco Pastorius and many others.</p><p>He also ventured into film music, composing scores for movies including <em>Tempest</em> and <em>Apollo 13</em>, and continued collaborations with musicians across genres.</p><p>In 1997 he reunited with former Santana members — Neal Schon, Gregg Rolie, José Areas and Michael Carabello — in <strong>Abraxas Pool</strong>, a project that revisited and re-imagined elements of the classic Santana sound.</p><p>Shrieve’s contributions were formally recognized when he was inducted into the <strong>Rock &amp; Roll Hall of Fame in 1998</strong> for his work with Santana, and later honored with Guitar Center’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005. He’s also been cited by <em>Rolling Stone</em> as one of rock’s greatest drummers.</p><p>In 2016, he briefly reunited with the original Santana lineup for the album <em>Santana IV</em>, again marking his deep connection to the music that made his name.</p><p>Today, Michael Shrieve remains a vibrant artist. His band <strong>Spellbinder</strong>, blends jazz and improvisatory rock; he works on ambitious solo projects like <em>Drums of Compassion</em>; and continues to collaborate with forward-thinking musicians across genres.</p><p>Michael joins us today to share his story.</p><p><br></p>