a young Michael Shrieve

speaking starts @ 1:55 mark.

the famous Woodstock drum solo and full song below...




2:40 mark for the impatient...


One fateful night I decided to watch my favorite television channel, the History Channel, since I needed a well deserved break from a night of intense writing hoping to catch a program on conspiracy theories or UFO's. Instead, they featured a documentary titled "Woodstock Then & Now" on the festival's fortieth anniversary. I had seen the latter part of it on VH1 before, so I was thrilled it was on a different channel. Luckily, I was able to start the program from the beginning, thanks to a special feature with my cable company.

It was then they presented Santana's performance at Woodstock that truly got my attention. I have always loved their music, I mean who doesn't? What really captivated me was a drum solo by an innocent-looking, youthful, sweet guy who definitely did not look like a typical rock star. This was someone who looked much younger than his actual age. However, once the camera zeroed in on the start of his roughly two minute drum solo all of those presumptions I had about him went completely by the wayside. I sat there riveted as I watched and listened to his intense elaborate arrays of beats, cymbals, and rolls, followed by slowing it down, then back to his frenzied pace, and slowing it down once again, then the entire band literally starts playing in complete synchronization. What a way to end a drum solo.

I had no idea who this drummer was nor had I ever heard of him. They did interview him afterwards on the documentary, so I found out his name and saw what he looks like now. It was then I decided to find out more information on Michael Shrieve. To my utter surprise, not much was available online about him. How can this be? What little I did find was worth further investigating, because this is someone who truly deserves more recognition than what he is getting. Many people have stated their very same thoughts and feel the same way I do when they saw his drum solo at Woodstock. He is revered by fellow drummers and aspiring drummers all over the world By incorporating these various sources, plus my own personal interview I arranged by phone, here is Michael Shrieve.

His Early Years - San Francisco Bay Area

Michael Shrieve's (like in Shreveport) ancestry is Irish, French and German who was born on July 6, 1949 in Redwood City, California. He's the middle child in the family with two older siblings, one older sister, an older brother, and one younger sibling, a brother. Music was very prominent in the Shrieve household. His father was a lover of jazz and his mother a fan of the musicals. Both of his brothers shared a love of music and played instruments. Michael would stay up late in his early teens to listen to music late at night practicing to be a musician. He also wanted to become a priest, just like his older brother. His devotion was so strong he'd ride his bicycle to Mass every morning while in grade school.

However, while attending Goodwin (now John F. Kennedy) Middle school, his hyperactive behavior, now referred to as ADHD, sent him off to the principal's office. On his way back to class Michael came upon something that would literally change his life, drums. As he walked by the band room, watching through the door's window, he became fascinated by the sights and sounds of the snare and bass drums, along with the cymbals these percussionists were playing on. After school he had to get a pair of drumsticks and rug samples to practice on.

Michael attended two Catholic high schools: St. Francis in Mountain View and Junipero Serra or Serra in San Mateo. In 1966 while still in high school he was already a huge fan of jazz music. It was at a John Coltrane Group concert at Stanford University that would get him to meet his favorite drummer, Elvin Jones. Michael was excited to attend, but one thing stood in his way, money. Being known to have snuck into concerts before without money, he got inside some air vents at the venue, which lead to a ceiling that landed him right into the dressing room of his idol, Elvin Jones, and Jimmy Garrison. Needless to say, they liked him on the spot and invited him to a late night jazz workshop in San Francisco.

Santana - "I really want to play with these guys."

Everyone in the San Francisco Bay area knew of Santana. Michael and his brother attended one of their concerts in 1966 when they were just getting started. He told his brother while at their concert, unbeknownst to either of them, "I really want to play with these guys." At age 16 he wanted to go to the "Supersession" with Michael Bloomfield, Steven Stills and Al Kooper at the Filmore. His agenda was to be able to jam with them. It probably wasn't going to happen, but he would give it a try at least. To his utter amazement when he asked if he could sit in, they said "yes".

Also in attendance were Stan Marcum, the manager, and David Brown, the bass player for Santana. Both heard Michael play. They liked what they heard, and told him they have a band called Santana, and were thinking of getting a new drummer. Michael gave his phone number, but didn't hear from them.
Through an extraordinary coincidence one year later he went into a recording studio to try to get some studio time for his group. As he was coming in one of the drummers for Santana was heading out. Santana was there working on his first album for Columbia Records. There was a falling out with the drummer and they asked if he wanted to jam. Afterwards, Michael Shrieve was asked to join the band by Carlos Santana as their new drummer.

The German philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche, once said "Out of chaos comes order". That would be one way to describe Woodstock. Many of the established acts billed for the event complained of technical problems, the disorderly atmosphere both backstage and onstage, inclement weather on the third day, and erratic scheduling with many of the big name acts playing at night or early morning to an audience already asleep. One such act, Santana, was lucky to be at Woodstock, thanks to their promoter, Bill Graham, who negotiated with Stephen Lang, the event organizer, to let his band play.

Originally, Santana was to be on in the evening, but were bumped up to the afternoon instead on the second day of the festival. They had a lot to prove, because this band was virtually unknown throughout the east coast and most of the U.S., except in California. Out of the chaos Santana took to the stage at Woodstock and literally knocked it out of the park. Their closing number, Soul Sacrifice, with Michael's famous drum solo, was featured in the documentary film a year later titled "Woodstock". It would be shown around the world and bring instant success for its six members of the "Woodstock Era". The documentary film would eventually win "Best Documentary" at the Academy Awards. According to a recent New York Times poll on the favorite Woodstock songs, "Soul Sacrifice" came in at a overwhelming second to Jimi Hendrix's rendition of "The Star Spangled Banner" that was at number one. All the other listed songs were all evenly or below third.
via/more


and an alternate version here...
Santana
8/18/70
Tanglewood,
Lenox, Massachusetts

Co-Bill with Miles Davis