Matchbox Twenty Plus: All you need for Matchbox Twenty and Rob Thomas

Those of you who read the last post about the new Rob Thomas and Carlos Santana will be excited to learn, ITS ON!

Rock legend Carlos Santana is readying the release of a Supernatural-style all-star album, according to an interview published by Billboard on June 24. The album will include covers of iconic rock songs by The Beatles, AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, and more.

A release date and final track list have not yet been announced, but Santana told Billboard that he had collaborated with “Smooth” partner Rob Thomas on Cream’s “Sunshine of Your Love,” Joe Cocker on Jimi Hendrix’s “Little Wing,” Scott Weiland on The Rolling Stones’ “Can’t You Hear Me Knocking,” Chris Daughtry on Def Leppard’s “Photograph,” Soundgarden’s Chris Cornell on Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love,” Papa Roach’s Jacoby Shaddix on Deep Purple’s “Smoke on the Wate

Attention ‘American Idol’ contestants: Rob Thomas could be your musical guru.

At a TimesTalks event at New York City’s TimesCenter Rob Thomas said he would be interested in mentoring on “American Idol” of they asked him!

“I had a time when I loved [the show],” he said “and then there was a time when I thought it was killing the music business. Now I have time where I realize there’s a lot of talented people out there and it’s giving them a chance to be heard.”

Thomas singled out his friend and former ‘Idol’ hopeful Chris Daughtry. “He’s the real deal. He’s got a great voice and he’s a really great songwriter,” Thomas said. “He has a voice that probably would have not been heard had it not been for that forum. If I was asked to mentor, I’m sure that I would.”

When asked by New York Times culture reporter Melena Ryzik if he would have auditioned for ‘American Idol’ had the show been around when he first began in music, Thomas said no.

“When [Matchbox Twenty] started,” he explained, “where we came from, that would have been the kiss of death. Real songwriters didn’t do that. [But] we are in a time now where the very bands that wouldn’t do commercials are the only bands doing commercials.

“Like Wilco and MGMT — they’re the bands that people like me love but don’t get their music heard enough, so that’s their outlet to do it,” he continued. “There was a time when I hear a Volkswagen commercial and hear Wilco on it, and my heart would sink. Now I hear it and I go ‘Right on! Good for you guys!’ So I think it all kind of changed around.”

[src: http://www.popeater.com/2010/04/12/rob-thomas-mentoring-american-idol-contestants/]

Hey Hey, as you all know, when Rob’s not writing music for his solo albums or Matchbox Twenty, he’s working with a plethora of other artists writing and collaborating .. probably most famous of which was his collaboration with Santana on his comeback hit Smooth - from Santana’s album Supernatural. Now, Rob has partnered with the guitar great again on the Cream classic ‘Sunshine of Your Love,’ which will be on Santana’s upcoming album.

Rob spoke to Music Spinner UK about the project:

“That was pretty amazing,” Thomas told the press at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony in New York this past Monday. “There’s always opportunities for us to work together again. We kind felt like it was going to seem disingenuous to anything that we did. I have since then written songs with him for his records [and] for Mary J. Blige, Seal and Musiq Soulchild, but it seemed like a good way for [Carlos and I] to work together. To hear [Santana drummer] Dennis Chambers jamming on Cream is an experience.”

Speaking of collaborations, Thomas also said, “I would consider working with a lot of people. I think it’s whether they want to work with us is really the rub. I consider working with [Bruce Springsteen] all the time.”

Thomas also revealed that he is going to be writing with hip-hop artist Common. “When I’m writing, the one thing is there is so many singer-songwriter kind of bands, but I never want to write outside of myself with people that do what I do,” he said. “When I’m writing with other people, I like to work with hip-hop guys, Latin guys and country guys because when I sit back and go to my own blank page I feel like it winds [up] with what that song is going to be.”

And when asked by a journalist about how the 2010 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees have been an influence on him, Thomas, who performed ‘Save the Last Dance for Me’ at the ceremony, mentioned that Genesis was the first band he caught live. “I went and saw them on the ‘Invisible Touch’ tour. I’m 38, so I guess that would be around the time when my mom would let me go,” he said. “I think it was the first time I smoked a joint too, so it all kind of worked together.”

[src:http://www.spinnermusic.co.uk/2010/03/18/rob-thomas-new-santana-collaboration/]