Even if you didn’t have a lick of skateboarding experience, Tony Hawk Pro Skater was a staple video game. The tricks, grinds, and mastering of the perfect manual brought joy to millions. However, what the franchise is most recognizable for are its bumping soundtracks. Here’s a look at some of the most memorable songs for the Tony Hawk Pro Skate franchise.
“Bring the Noise”—Public Enemy & Anthrax
Arguably, Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2 has the greatest video game soundtrack of all time, considering there are multiple selections on this list. One such jam is “Bring the Noise” by Public Enemy and Anthrax.
While it’s not as revolutionary as “Walk This Way,” it certainly made an impression on the genre because it was far ahead of its time. Nothing locked you in more to nail that special grind with Bob Burnquist, headbanging along to this piece of musical history.
“Ace of Spades”—Motorhead
Although WWE legend Triple H didn’t use Motorhead as his theme song until 2006, the band earned some new fans when Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3 used “Ace of Spades” in the game.
The distinctive voice of the late Lemmy Kilmister and the powerful sound made you feel like you could nail a “900” or “Kickflip McTwist” at your local skate park. It’s almost sacrilegious not to listen to this song at full blast.
“When Worlds Collide”—Powerman 5000
Powerman 5000 might not have had a footprint in the early aughts if it wasn’t for Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2. If you played video games frequently, avoiding a Powerman 5000 song was nearly impossible, particularly “When Worlds Collide.”
Even without the song playing, many would ask themselves, “Are you ready to go?” while mimicking the hoarse, metal tone of the song as they strive for 100 percent completion of the game.
“Guerilla Radio”—Rage Against the Machine
Rage Against the Machine earned critical acclaim for their album “The Battle of Los Angeles” as it went double platinum, and “Guerilla Radio” being in THPS2 might have had something to do with it. “Guerilla Radio” is one of the handfuls of unforgettable Rage tracks of that time, and it hit different when you were landing a “Christ Air” from Rune Glifberg.
“Superman”—Goldfinger
While the previous song selections were from world-renowned bands and artists, Goldfinger’s popularity directly correlates with the game’s franchise. “Superman” had the sound of several genres thrown into a blender: punk, ska, upbeat drums, guitar riffs, and random brass number that late ’90s music seemed to adore. “Superman” is the perfect song to nod along with as you’re cruising on a longboard through the most skate-friendly cities.
The band was so unknown at the time that when they opened for Bloodhound Gang, many fans didn’t even know who they were until “Superman” emanated through the venue.
The game has had multiple changes throughout the years. Still, there’s no question that these songs are the most memorable songs for the Tony Hawk Pro Skater franchise.
