Santana Relieved He Went Public About Child Molestation Hell

Guitar great Carlos Santana hopes his 2000 revelation about the sex abuse he suffered as a youth has helped others overcome painful childhood memories.

The rocker shocked fans by revealing all about the darkest part of his childhood in a Rolling Stone magazine interview and is amazed going public about his trauma has helping put his demons to rest.

He says, "It was scary, but I had to share the information from a point of healing."

Santana recalls his molestation nightmare - at the hands of a friend's father - ended when he fell in love with his first girlfriend.

He states, "He saw me looking at her and slapped me so hard my ears were ringing. That's when I knew it was over.

"You want to kick his a** for robbing you of your innocence, but you have to let it go.

"If you've been molested or raped, go to the mirror, look yourself in the eye and say, 'I am not what happened to me. I am still pure and beautiful.'"