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Read MoreThe 20 best songs from the Tony Hawk's video game series
There aren’t many video game franchises with beloved soundtracks like the Tony Hawk’s series. Since the release of 1999’s Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, the franchise has introduced players to endless musical artists. To this day, many acts are still greeted by fans who discovered them through a five-hour gaming session. We look at 20 of the best songs to arrive in the Tony Hawk’s video game series.
20. Primus - "Jerry Was A Race Car Driver"
Released in 1991, "Jerry Was A Race Car Driver" became Primus' first major single in their 35+ year career. Taken from the band's sophomore studio album Sailing the Seas of Cheese, the track helped take over the airwaves with its eccentric funk metal vibes. Following its inclusion in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, the song would be featured in ATV Offroad Fury, Rock Band 3, and Rocksmith 2014.
19. Goldfinger - "Superman"
Los Angeles punk group Goldfinger earned their breakthrough single with "Superman," which was taken from sophomore studio album Hang-Ups. While it was featured in some movie soundtracks, the song took off like a rocket thanks to Tony Hawk's Pro Skater. In a recent interview with Kerrang, Goldfinger vocalist John Feldmann discussed how the track's inclusion changed everything for the band:
“We were at the Academy in Manchester opening for Bloodhound Gang and it was the second time Goldfinger ever went to England… I don’t think anyone really knew who we were. We even talked about not playing Superman (laughs). We hadn’t realised that the Tony Hawk thing had really taken off on a global scale, so it was just in the set halfway through and the crowd just went fucking ballistic. And that was the moment. After the show, I started talking to these kids and they’re like ‘Tony Hawk! Tony Hawk!’ and I was like ‘Oh shit, alright!’”
18. Anthrax & Public Enemy - “Bring The Noise”
In 1991, Public Enemy and Anthrax joined forces in one of rock music's most heralded collaborations. Taken from Public Enemy's 1988 studio album It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back, Anthrax got involved with reworking it after covering it at a 1989 show in NYC. While the track features a handful of samples, "Bring the Noise" would become a highly sampled song itself with artists such as Kanye West and Prince using it in their tunes.
17. Felix da Housecat - “Everyone Is Someone In LA”
With placements in SSX 3 and Need for Speed: Underground 2, electronic producer Felix da Housecat has no problem having their music in big video games. With Tony Hawk’s American Wasteland taking place in Los Angeles, “Everyone Is Someone In LA” fits perfectly. The track stems from Felix da Housecat’s 2004 concept album Devin Dazzle & the Neon Fever.
16. Sex Pistols - “Anarchy In The U.K”
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 decided to showcase of punk rock's iconic bands to a newer generation. Sex Pistols' "Anarchy In The U.K." has been used in endless skate videos in the U.K. Stemming from their sole studio album Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols, the track has been heralded as one of rock music's most important songs.
15. Frank Black - “Los Angeles”
While Frank Black's track "Los Angeles" had a following due to Zach Galifianakis' talk show Late World with Zach, the song was ideal for the Tony Hawk's American Wasteland soundtrack. Stemming from Frank Black's solo debut album, "Los Angeles" became Black's highest-charting solo single to date with a peak at number six on the Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart. Before the game's release, the track was featured in the 2003 skate video Yeah Right!, which was directed by Spike Jonze and Ty Evans.
14. Cannibal Ox - “Iron Galaxy”
NYC hip hop duo Cannibal Ox delivered one of the most lyrically appealing songs in the Tony Hawk's series with "Iron Galaxy,” which appeared in Tony Hawk's Underground. Stemming from their critically acclaimed debut album The Cold Vein, the single finds Vast Aire and Vordul Mega giving listeners a gritty view of their hometown (New York is evil at its core, so those who have more than them, prepare to be victims).
13. Bad Religion - "You"
The Tony Hawk's Pro Skater series can change how bands handle their live show. Before the release of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2, Bad Religion rarely performed "You" after they finished promoting their 1989 studio album No Control. According to Setlist.fm, there was a seven-year gap between two of its performances (1993 in Stuttgart, Germany and 2000 in New York City). Following the game's release, however, it became a set staple.
12. Run-DMC - “My Adidas”
With "My Adidas," iconic hip hop group Run-DMC wanted to showcase their love for their Adidas. Featuring in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4, the track stems from their 1986 studio album Raising Hell. 14 years after its initial release, the song surprisingly hopped on the Hot Rap Songs charts. While other acts have written songs devoted to shoes, no one can even come close to this hip hop classic.
11. From Autumn To Ashes - “Let's Have a War (Fear cover)”
Tony Hawk's American Wasteland changed things up by allowing a slew of bands to cover some of punk rock's most beloved tunes. As expected, this release had its fair share of lovers and detractors. One cover that stood out is From Autumn To Ashes' cover of Fear's "Let's Have A War." To shake things up, the band updated certain lyrics to make it feel more modern at the time.
10. Millencolin - “No Cigar”
Released in 2000, Pennybridge Pioneers was a major change for Swedish punkers Millencolin. After recording in their home country for years, the band packed their bags to record the album in Hollywood, California. The album's opening cut "No Cigar" became an instant staple in the band's setlist since being featured on Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2. Millencolin drummer Fredrik Larzon told Seeing Your Scene back in 2015.
"Tony Hawk’s is still one of the biggest games I’ve heard of, and no we definitely didn’t expect that exposure! It was a great thing for us to be a part of for sure and very fun since skateboarding has been important for this band.”
9. The Ernies - “Here & Now”
Defunct ska-punk band The Ernies made their way to Mojo Records for Meson Ray, which includes their most known track "Here and Now." Following Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, the song would find its way onto various TV commercials. In a 2013 interview with Journey of a Frontman, vocalist Will Hummel discussed how impactful the soundtrack was to their band:
"Part of our agreement with Mojo/Universal records included a publishing contract, and perhaps not very glamorously a deal was brought to the table by the record label to be a part of the game. This was by far the highest exposure opportunity we had, even compared to our appearance on the soundtrack to the film “BASEketball”. I mean, when you can virtually skate up to a screen in the game and see us rocking out at the X-Games… well I think I speak for all of us when I say that it’s an honor to have been forever digitized in 32 bit glory!"
8. Suicidal Tendencies - “Cyco Vision”
By the time Suicidal Tendencies were releasing their ninth studio album Freedumb, the band solidified themselves as one of crossover thrash's most respected bands. Featured in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, the track "Cyco Vision" caused many seated moshpits at your friend's home. If that's not enough, the album's artwork is featured in the School level.
7. Rocket From The Crypt - “Savoir Faire”
Rocket From The Crypt's "Savoir Faire," which was included in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4, is in a small class of tracks featuring skateboarders. While recording the 2001 album Group Sounds, the band gained a new member with drummer Ruby Mars joining the fray. Before playing music, Mars was a professional skateboarder for Team Alva.
6. Del the Funky Homosapien - "If You Must"
In 2000, Oakland rapper Del the Funky Homosapien landed another hit with "If You Must." Taken from the rapper's fourth studio album Both Sides of the Brain, the song lets us know it's important to wash up. The song's message was enough to have it included in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3.
5. The Distillers - “Seneca Falls”
2002 was a major year for punk rock group The Distillers. The band unveiled their sophomore studio album Sing Sing Death House and toured North America alongside No Doubt and Garbage. While touring, millions of gamers jammed to "Seneca Falls," which was featured in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4. The track is based on the first women's rights convention known as the Seneca Falls Convention.
4. The Mad Capsule Markets - “Pulse”
Before the release of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3, Japanese digital hardcore group The Mad Capsule Markets were making waves in their home country with classic albums such as Mix-ism and Park. "Pulse," which was taken from the band's eighth studio album Osc-Dis, became the track to introduce a new audience to digital hardcore. With the single, the band found themselves wowing crowds at Ozzfest and Download Festival.
3. Lagwagon - “May 16”
Punk group Lagwagon welcomed guitarist Chris Rest with their 1998 studio album Let's Talk About Feelings. The record includes one of the band's most beloved songs "May 16." While the track has been synonymous with the Tony Hawk franchise, its origin came from a sad moment in late singer Joey Cape's life. In a 2016 interview with Noisey, Cape discussed what caused him to write the song:
"You know, it was me, hungover in an apartment with some girl I went home with from the bar the night before. There was an acoustic guitar in the corner. I heard this ruckus happening in a park adjacent to the apartment complex, and it was just a wedding happening on this Saturday, May 16. And my heart just broke; this wedding that I hadn’t been invited to for someone I was so close to for so many years of my life, where a misunderstanding caused a falling out between us from some time before. That story is very long and I don’t want to revisit it, but I kind of picked up the guitar and the first thing that came to mind was: “It’s just another Saturday,” but obviously I was in denial. The melody and the song came together; by the time my new friend got out of the shower or whatever, I had this terribly sad song."
2. Dead Kennedys - “Police Truck”
Every time you popped in Tony Hawk Pro's Skater, you were greeted to Dead Kennedys' "Police Truck" in the intro video. Unfortunately, the song's inclusion drew criticism from longtime Dead Kennedys, who believed the band were selling out. Former vocalist Jello Biafra reportedly didn't want the track in the game. In an interview with Punknews back in 2003, Dead Kennedys guitarist East Bay Ray said:
"Then there is a Tony Hawk video that for years he says he never approved, yet there is a fax from Biafra's manager saying he saw it and approved it. So he's dropped that issue and counting on nobody noticing."
1. Refused - “New Noise”
When Swedish hardcore punk Refused broke up in 1998, they couldn't have fathomed how influential The Shape of Punk to Come would be years later. "New Noise," which was the album's sole single, became the band's unofficial anthem following their initial demise. With the song's inclusion in Tony Hawk's Underground, Refused's popularity skyrocketed. Fortunately, Refused reunited in 2012, and fans have been able to howl the emphatic question "Can I scream?" whenever the band rolled through their town.
Tomorrow (August 18), the video game documentary Pretending I'm a Superman: The Tony Hawk Video Game Story will be released digitally here. On September 4, a remaster of the first two games titled Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 will be released on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Microsoft Windows. Pre-orders can be made here.