Rob Thomas Discusses New Santana Collaboration

Anyone who is familiar with Rob Thomas knows that he wears both hats as the frontman of Matchbox Twenty and as a solo artist. But he will also always be known for his other role as a songwriter and a collaborator with Carlos Santana on the latter's hit 'Smooth.' Now, Thomas has partnered with the guitar great again on the Cream classic 'Sunshine of Your Love,' which will be on Santana's upcoming album.

"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."