Some people don’t believe time travel exists, however I can not only prove it does, but I can transport you back 10 or 15 years by mentioning a few simple words.

Tony. Hawks. Pro. Skater.

You feel that? Now you’re back in your childhood bedroom, sat cross legged on the floor staring intensely at the TV trying to land a combo that you’ve smashed for the last two minutes. And the rage! Oh, the rage when you don’t land that final kick flip. Fun fact: My friend Arron dislocated his shoulder playing Pro Skater 3 when he punched his mattress in a post combo-fail rage!

Aside from the late nights playing “just one more round” until your mum comes into your room at 1am to remind you, you have school in the morning, one of the defining elements of the game, and our childhoods, were the sick soundtracks.

All Tony Hawks games have this magical or subliminal effect that, whenever you hear one of the songs from the soundtracks, you can automatically imagine what level you were playing, there’s not a game like it. For some, these games were the first exposure to certain bands and genres of music, so they’re just as important to people’s musical tastes as any other influences.

Here at The Pop Punk Days, we want to celebrate these influential and kick ass nostalgia bombs, so stick on your baggiest pair of Dickies, lace up your DC’s and prepare to be 14 years old again.

AFI – The Boy Who Destroyed The World

Millencolin – No Cigar

Body Jar – You’re Not The Same

Lagwagon – May 16

Guttermouth – I’m Destroying The World

Zebrahead – Check

Bad Religion – You

Powerman 5000 – When Worlds Collide

CKY – 96 Quite Bitter Beings

And the unforgettable classic song that defines the Tony Hawk Soundtracks

Goldfinger – Superman

We hope you enjoyed your trip back in time, did we miss out any of your favourite THPS tunes? Let us know which one takes you back the most (and what level you’re playing) and what bands and songs you’d include if you were putting together your own Pro Skater Soundtrack
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By Matt Henson

@matt_ppd