Featuring the likes of Rage Against the Machine, Primus, Goldfinger and Viagra Boys.
With the release of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 in September, we asked Brisbane punks DZ Deathrays – who themselves are featured on the video game’s soundtrack with ‘IN-TO-IT’ – to tell us four of the game’s songs that stand out to them.
Lead guitarist and backing vocalist Lachlan Ewbank and drummer Simon Ridley provided their faves, dropping a few classics and a hit from 2018.
Lachlan Ewbank
Viagra Boys – ‘Slow Learner’
Mainly picked this one because of the big driving bassline but really fell in love with it when that saxophone solo hits. It has the perfect tempo to skate around to. It reminds me of Devo (one of my favourite bands) which of course is a good thing.
An amazing band out of Sweden. Hopefully this influences people to make more of these post-punk bangers. Make sure you check them out!
Rage Against the Machine – ‘Guerilla Radio’
One of the songs and great bands that influenced me to play music. I remember hearing this and wanting to learn how to play it on drums. Such an influential band with each song having a powerful message. You could probably take any RATM song and it would fit right in on a Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater soundtrack.
Probably one of the best rhythm sections in the world and the sounds Tom Morello gets on that guitar are absolutely insane. Seeing them live is a whole other thing. I remember seeing them at Big Day Out and the ground was shaking from all the moshing. Terrifying but amazing at the same time.
Simon Ridley
Goldfinger – ‘Superman’
It’s hard to think of any of the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater games without this song immediately popping into my head. It encapsulates everything I love about the game. It’s high energy, fun and it’s hard to beat yourself up after losing that massive combo run score when this is playing in the background.
Considering how cringe a lot of ska music has aged (apart from a few Reel Big Fish tunes which I will always cherish with my now fading ‘90s memories) this song has done real well. Plus Goldfinger are just awesome.
Primus – ‘Jerry Was A Race Car Driver’
Hearing this on the soundtrack really fueled my interest in Primus. I think I had seen the film clip to ‘Tommy The Cat’ and heard a few of their other songs but listening to this countless times whilst playing the game really sold the band for me. I still don’t understand how Les Claypool can make his bass go from sounding like a cartoon fight scene to one of the heaviest bass lines around. Such an incredibly talented group of musicians just making the weirdest rock music. I love it.
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 is out now on PS4, Xbox and PC. Grab yourself a copy here.
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