Revisiting The Iconic ‘Tony Hawk's Pro Skater’ Soundtracks

With the possible exception of Fallout’s smooth, jazz-heavy score or Grand Theft Auto’s monumental and eclectic soundtrack, few video game franchises have permeated culture with music in quite the same way as the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater series.

Even two decades on, the light-as-air guitar riff and clear-blue horns that prologue Goldfinger’s Superman help bring to light memories of a simpler time in life; when school holidays were several months long, summers were spent next to a pedestal fan and the sounds of skate punk, ska and hip hop rang throughout the living room or basement, as you customised your skater or built larger than life skateparks.

As the series nears its 23rd birthday, we’re taking a nostalgic skate down memory lane, and exploring some of the most memorable tracks used across the entire series, from 1999 to today - some of which may have made their way from mp3 player, to iPod, to Spotify and endured for far longer than your prized collection of Tony Hawk’s discs.

Gang Starr - Mass Appeal

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4

Despite having iconic tracks from their back catalog pop in up in everything from Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX 2, Grand Theft Auto and Thrasher, to DJ Hero and the NBA franchise, Tony Hawks Pro Skater 4 is the only video game soundtrack to feature Mass Appeal.

Goldfinger - Superman

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater

Goldfinger’s Superman, which is often cited as the unofficial song of the entire Tony Hawk’s franchise and appears frequently in any style of ‘Top Ten Songs From Video Games’ listicle, had an impact far beyond just scoring the gameplay. In an interview with Loudwire, the band's guitarist John Feldmann talked at length about the impact the song had on the band’s popularity, going far beyond what anyone could have ever predicted.

AC/DC - T.N.T

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4

Despite being included in what is arguably one the weakest of the core installments in the franchise, AC/DC’s timeless classic TNT remains one of the most iconic tracks from the series, included when the graphics were ramped up and the sound quality didn’t sound quite as rubbish.

Lagwagon - May 16

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2

While the iconic pop punk anthem is probably best known as one of the most upbeat and recognisable tracks from the second installment of the Tony Hawk’s series, its origin came from a sad moment in 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."

CKY - 96 Quite Bitter Beings

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3

If you were a teenager in the late ‘90s or early 2000s it’s likely that you’ll remember this track from one of only a few places; the first episode of Jackass, a Bam Margera skate video, the Cradle 2 The Grave soundtrack or more than likely, while play Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3.

Millencolin – No Cigar

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2

The release of Millencolin’s Pennybridge Pioneers marked a major change for the Swedish punk rockers. After recording in their home country for years, the band packed their bags to record the album in Hollywood, California.

It was the album's opening cut No Cigar which got them recognised by the music supervisor, and helped the band reach a global fanbase. 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.”

Rage Against The Machine – Guerilla Radio

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2
 
 On the one hand, Guerilla Radio is a statement about the worthlessness of democracy in the United States and about the 2000 US Presidential Election, (in particular the way media shaped the campaigns of the two competitors, George Bush and Al Gore). But on the other hand, it was one of the most important tracks added to the entire Tony Hawk’s franchise.

The Ramones - Blitzkrieg Bop

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3

What began as an homage to Saturday Night by The Bay City Rollers, before morphing into an inside joke about Mick Jagger singing the Stones’ version of Walking The Dog, went on to become one of the most popular and important punk songs of all time; eventually becoming one of the most iconic tracks of all of the Tony Hawk’s soundtracks.

Iron Maiden - The Number Of The Beast

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4

In addition to The Number Of The Beast featuring prominently in the fourth installment of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, Iron Maiden are one of the few artists to also feature a band-adjacent, playable character; for an in-game fee of $10,000 you could purchase ‘Eddie The Head’, the official mascot of Iron Maiden.

If you’re keen on taking a trip down memory lane and indulging in music and skateboarding, SPRINGTIME Festival on the Gold Coast is mashing the two forces for FREE this September 2-4. 

For more information, details on the line-up and a list of skaters attending, head to the SPRINGTIME WEBSITE.