Courtesy of AARP the Magazine

Courtesy of AARP the MagazineCarlos Santana is the subject of AARP the Magazine‘s latest cover story, and in a video segment that goes with the online version of the article, he shares his recollections of the 1969 Woodstock festival.

The guitar legend describes the event, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this month, as “three days of rain and mud and granola,” adding that it was “a divine disaster area.”

Santana says his favorite Woodstock performance was by Sly and the Family Stone, who, despite playing at 2:30 in the morning, “had the best energy, the best presentation.”

According to Carlos, number two was Jimi Hendrix, “and then everybody else had to fight for third place with Santana.”

He adds, “Woodstock was a door to walking into another dimension of our lives,” and says he feels “really, really grateful” to have taken part in it.

In the AARP magazine print interview, Carlos also discussed his new album, Africa Speaks, a collaboration with Spanish singer Buika that features songs inspired by modern African artists.

“I want to bring new African music to the mainstream because I think people need this nutrient, this ingredient, to learn how to dance differently,” he says about the project. “Music needs melody, rhythm and heartfelt sounds. There is too much synthesized music.”

Carlos also discussed his marriage to his second wife, Santana drummer Cindy Blackman Santana, whom he wed in 2010.

“When Cindy came in, we were so ready for each other,” he explains. “I’ve never had a partner where there are no issues ever, no drama mill, no issues about insecurity or someone with a laundry list of things I need to change…We’re like two kids in a sandbox, and she’s got the shovel and I’ve got the bucket.”

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