If you grew up in 2001, your brain is probably hardwired to start humming "Ace of Spades" the second you see a skateboard. It’s a pavlovian response. For a lot of us, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 soundtrack wasn't just a list of songs on a disc; it was our entire personality. It was the reason we bought baggy pants and spent weekends failing to kickflip over curbs.
When the 2025 remake finally dropped, everyone expected a perfect time capsule. We wanted the exact same songs from the original PS2 and GameCube era. But then the tracklist came out. People saw that only about 10 legacy songs made the cut, while over 50 new tracks were added.
The internet did what it does best: it panicked.
Honestly, the "where is my nostalgia?" crowd has a point. Losing the Ramones’ "Blitzkrieg Bop" or N.W.A’s "Express Yourself" feels like losing a limb. But if you actually sit down and play the 2025 version of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4, you realize Tony Hawk—the man himself—wasn't trying to just sell us our childhoods back. He was trying to do what the original games did in the first place: show us what’s next.
The Controversy of the "Missing" Classics
Let's address the elephant in the room. The original Pro Skater 3 had 20 songs. Pro Skater 4 had 35. Combined, that's a lot of licensing paperwork.
In the remake, heavy hitters like Alien Ant Farm's "Wish" and Bodyjar's "Not the Same" are still there, keeping the vibe alive. But then you look for System of a Down or the Sex Pistols’ "Anarchy in the UK," and they’re gone. Instead, you get "Holidays in the Sun."
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Tony Hawk explained this to the BBC and on his Instagram. It wasn't just about money or expiring licenses (though Activision's budget definitely played a role). It was a creative choice. Tony basically said he wanted to keep things fresh. He didn't want the remake to be a museum. He wanted it to be a discovery engine.
"I'm not the only decider in these soundtracks, but I did manage to throw a couple of bands in there that I was stoked on... let's keep it fresh and also help people discover other music." — Tony Hawk
It’s a bold move. Most remakes play it safe. They give you exactly what you remember because that’s what sells. By swapping out "The Number of the Beast" for "2 Minutes to Midnight," the team at Vicarious Visions and Neversoft's spiritual successors forced us to actually listen again.
Why the New Era Songs Actually Fit
If you're skeptical about 100 Gecs or Denzel Curry being in a Tony Hawk game, you haven't been paying attention to how skate culture has evolved.
Skating has always been about the "misfits." In the late 90s, that meant ska-punk and underground hip-hop. Today, it's hyperpop, hardcore, and experimental rap. The inclusion of Turnstile’s "Real Thing" or End It’s "New Wage Slavery" is a direct nod to the modern hardcore scene that lives and breathes at skateparks right now.
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The New Heavy Hitters
The 2025 soundtrack is split into "waves."
- Wave One gave us the staples: Motörhead, CKY, and Adolescents.
- Wave Two brought the weirdness: 100 Gecs, Fontaines D.C., and even some MF DOOM via De La Soul.
- Wave Three went deep: King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard and the legendary Bad Brains.
It’s a chaotic mix. One minute you’re grinding a rail to Iron Maiden, the next you’re gapping a halfpipe to Kendrick Lamar and Schoolboy Q. It shouldn't work. But because the game's energy is so high-velocity, the genre-hopping feels natural.
The "Tony Hawk Effect" on Music
We can't talk about the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 soundtrack without acknowledging the power this franchise holds over the music industry. Back in the day, being on a THPS soundtrack was better than being on the radio.
John Feldmann from Goldfinger has said a million times that "Superman" wouldn't be the anthem it is without Tony. The same goes for CKY. "96 Quite Bitter Beings" is arguably the most famous riff in skating history.
For the new bands in the remake, like Drain or Starcrawler, this is their "Superman" moment. Sammy Ciaramitaro from Drain even mentioned in interviews how the original games altered his taste in music as a kid. Now, he’s on the soundtrack. That’s a full-circle moment that justifies the change in direction.
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How to Get the Most Out of the Soundtrack
If you’re a purist and you just can't stand the new stuff, the game actually gives you some control. You can go into the audio settings and toggle specific songs off.
Want a 100% 2001 experience? Uncheck everything that wasn't on the original PS2 disc. But honestly? Don't. You’ll be missing out on some of the best curation in modern gaming. The "Tony Hawk sound" isn't a specific genre; it's a feeling of momentum.
Actionable Tips for Players:
- Custom Playlists: Use the in-game menu to create a "Legacy" playlist for Career Mode and a "New Era" playlist for Free Skate.
- Check the Lyrics: Unlike the 2001 versions which were heavily censored for a "T" rating, the modern versions often feature more robust edits or the ability to hear the tracks as they were intended (within reason).
- Explore the Artists: If a song hits while you're nailing a 100,000-point combo, look them up. Most of these bands, like The Linda Lindas or Idles, have huge catalogs that fit the same energy.
The Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 soundtrack is a bridge between who we were and who skaters are now. It’s messy, it’s loud, and it’s a little bit controversial. Just like skateboarding.
If you want to dive deeper into the specific tracklists, check out the official Spotify playlists curated by the dev team. It’s the easiest way to see if your favorite underground punk band finally made the big leagues. Use the in-game "Skip Track" button (usually clicking the right stick) to cycle through until you find the rhythm that matches your skate style.