Original Santana band reborn in Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS  —  It was a reunion 43 years in the making. The original Santana band officially stepped out Monday for a press event before a concert at Las Vegas' House of Blues.

It was 1973 when Carlos Santana, 68, (guitar, vocals) last played a concert with original-era band members Gregg Rolie, 68 (keyboards, lead vocals), Neal Schon, 62 (guitar, vocals), Michael Carabello, 68 (percussion), and Michael Shrieve, 66 (drums).

"I feel like Lazarus," Santana told USA TODAY before taking the podium for the press event Monday. "We came back from the other side after nearly 45 years."

Journey's Neal Schon returns to Santana roots

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band Santana formed in 1967, played at Woodstock in 1969 and went onto worldwide acclaim with hits like Evil Ways and Oye Como Va. Original group members from the Woodstock-era left in 1973 after the album Santana III, while the band continued with a changing cast of musicians.

These original Santana members have reformed for a 16-song album Santana IV (due out April 15) and a series of concert appearances. Monday night's concert was recorded for American Public Television for broadcast later in the year.

Percussionist Carabello went Biblical about the reunion at the press conference.

"This is a dream come true for us," said Carabello. "The prophesy has been fulfilled. We are again, one."

Carlos Santana said from the stage that "it means a lot to revisit and reunite with this frequency, this vibration."

He pointed out that the band "tore it up" at Woodstock when there was a lot of fear in the world. That fear is still there, Santana added in a swipe to Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump.

"There was the Vietnam war, Richard Nixon and LBJ (then)," said Santana of the Woodstock days. "Now we have Donald Trump and the same (expletive)."

Santana said the band sees itself as a peaceful force in turbulent times.

"We really believe the same thing as John Lennon and Bob Marley, that music in your heart and my heart, can transform fear," said Santana. "We are all the architects that will transform the fragments of fear in this nation."

Santana also gave credit to Schon, who went on to form the band Journey with Rolie after they left the group in the 1970s. Schon has been a catalyst in recent years, working to bring back the original Santana.

"It was one person who made this thing become what it is, it's Neal Schon," said Santana. "He stayed on me and kept riding me to do something together...Neal is the one who made us believe this was the perfect time for us to create this music one more time."

Schon pointed out how he joined the group just after the Woodstock splash when he was 15-years-old.

"This has been a long-time dream for me to make this happen," said Schon of the reunion. "They took me under their wings, they showed me the world, they showed me the ropes."

Schon also promised magic in the upcoming live performances during which he'll play double-duty on the bill with Journey.

"The coolest thing about playing with Carlos and the rest of the band is things happen onstage that are magical," said Schon. "We just kind of go with it."