Guitar Hero - Page 3

Someone In The Music Business Is Kind Of Making Sense

noah | August 18, 2008 1:30 am
noah | August 18, 2008 1:30 am

Harmonix audio director Eric Brosious on why you won’t see the makers of Rock Band making “exclusive” content deals with any bands: “We prefer not to sign exclusive deals with artists because while it seems like the competitive ‘business’ thing to do, in the long run, it’s really not good for… More »


Bronfman To Video Game Makers: “F U, Pay WMG”

noah | August 7, 2008 1:00 am
noah | August 7, 2008 1:00 am

During Warner Music Group’s earnings call today, chairman and CEO Edgar Bronfman darkened the bright mood set by his company’s narrower-than-expected quarterly loss when he poured cold water on the future of his company’s music existing on video games like Guitar Hero and Rock Band. More »


“Guitar Hero World Tour” Brings Together The Plastic Instrument-Players Of The Universe

noah | July 24, 2008 11:30 am
noah | July 24, 2008 11:30 am

guitarherooooo.jpgAnother day, another list of rumored songs for one of those games where you pick up a plastic guitar and try to be more proficient at recreating yesteryear’s hits than the guys in Rush. This time, the alleged list is for Guitar Hero World Tour, which is set to come out in October, and some of the songs seem like they’ll be fun to try and recreate, particularly “Hot For Teacher.” (Who else is looking forward to being America’s favorite game show host in the privacy of your own home?) While there are some dubious picks (“Santeria” by Sublime will make any Guitar Hero party approximately 62% more unbearable, for example), there are also a few songs that I would kill to try out (hint, hint)–like “Hold The Line” by Toto, which, as some of you might know, is one of my favorite songs of all time, and Stone Temple Pilots’ somewhat underrated “Vasoline.” The full list (via Joystiq) after the jump.

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The “Pretend To Be A Musician” Game Expansion Pack Of My Dreams

noah | July 15, 2008 2:00 am
noah | July 15, 2008 2:00 am

krs221.jpgI got a little excited yesterday by the news of Bikini Kill’s “Rebel Girl” being included in the next iteration of Rock Band, even if the idea of reissuing a song via video game is probably something my 1993 self would have sneered at. But I’m all about embracing the new millennium these days (or at least tryingto), so I came up with an expansion pack that draws on the Kill Rock Stars catalog of that era. It has a slight focus on the three fantastic “Kill Rock Stars”-themed compilations that the label put out in the mid-’90s, because all of those albums are 100% fire. (And yes, the first track on it is kind of absurd, given that the band in question wasn’t exactly the greatest live act. But that’s part of the fun, no?) My list is after the jump; I invite you to take a moment or two out of your All-Star Parade watching to create an expansion pack of your own, around whatever theme you’d like.

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“Guitar Hero” Creators: “Sure, Let’s Go Head To Head With iTunes”

Dan Gibson | July 11, 2008 11:30 am
Dan Gibson | July 11, 2008 11:30 am

stillscary.jpgAs probably could have been predicted, the folks behind Guitar Hero are looking for ways to make a bit more cash off their massive success catering to frustrated music fans. If people will buy a game dedicated to Aerosmith, surely they’re willing to buy anything with the Guitar Hero brand slapped on. So why not take on the most powerful music retailer in the country?

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Beatles Inching Closer To Their Own “Guitar Hero”

anthonyjmiccio | June 23, 2008 3:00 am
anthonyjmiccio | June 23, 2008 3:00 am

AP680228069.jpgSony honchos in charge of the Fab Four’s publishing first voiced their enthusiasm for a Beatles-specific Guitar Hero game back in March, and now Apple Corps and EMI are meeting with both Activision (makers of Guitar Hero) and MTV Games (makers of Rock Band). Since the death of unofficial CEO Neil Aspinall, Apple has lost some of its usual promotional hesitancy, finally giving American Idol the opportunity to perform Lennon-McCartney songs. If plans for the game come to fruition, it may only be a matter of time before the band invades the digital marketplace in a big way. Surely the other Apple would be happy to see them warm up to it.

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John Mayer: Less Guitar Hero, More “Hero Of The Day”

anthonyjmiccio | June 5, 2008 1:00 am
anthonyjmiccio | June 5, 2008 1:00 am

AP070906034643.jpgDespite recording that Michael Jackson cover with Fall Out Boy, John Mayer told Rolling Stone that “Guitar Hero was devised to bring the guitar-playing experience to the masses without them having to put anything into it. And having done both, there’s nothing like really playing guitar. I mean, what would you rather drive, a Ferrari or one of those amusement-park cars on a track?” See, guitars mean a lot to John. “It’s my flotation device, because I now exist in this celebrity sort of world. But I don’t feel like anybody’s been able to truly knock me off my legs, because I have a trade. You can’t just walk onstage and start playing guitar ’cause you thought it looked neat. With guitar, you get out what you put in, and it’s the ultimate shield for other people trying to fuckin’ take away your heart and soul. It’s a completely exposed craft. There is no facade.” When John stops getting to nail celebrities, he’ll still gonna be able to show up at a bar and wail for his pretzels. Can Guitar Hero players say that? Maybe someday he’ll be as awesome as Kirk Hammett, who recorded one of his “favorite guitar solos in the world.” On Load.

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Metallica Gets The “Guitar Hero” Treatment, And We Have A Few Suggestions

Dan Gibson | June 3, 2008 11:30 am
Dan Gibson | June 3, 2008 11:30 am

itllbejustlikethisexceptwithoutactualinstruments.jpgFollowing in the proud tradition of, well, Aerosmith, Metallica will be honored with its own version of Guitar Hero sometime in 2009. Of course, with Metallica’s recent track record, I’m a little concerned that the song selection might be a bit troublesome for the band, and by that, I mean the game might feature any of its recent material. As a helpful service, a few suggestions below the cut.

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Queens Of The Stone Age Bring Back Memories Of “MTV2 Video Mods”

anthonyjmiccio | May 16, 2008 5:45 am
anthonyjmiccio | May 16, 2008 5:45 am

The new Queens Of The Stone Age video, “3s & 7s,” their second for the track, finds the band replaced by Rock Band avatars considerably more skinny and twirl-prone than their human counterparts. Oddly, the previous video for the song, which attempted to swipe the Grindhouse zeitgeist, didn’t feature much more of the band (p.s. this track fucking smokes, but anyone who plays Guitar Hero III already knows that).

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“Guitar Hero”: Already Over?

noah | March 20, 2008 5:20 am
noah | March 20, 2008 5:20 am

Will getting together with your friends for the purpose of being in a plastic cover band be the first 2007 trend to fall by the wayside? The answer: Maybe! Our pals at MetalSucks have some anecdotal info: “Plastic guitars sit in corners of my friends’ apartments rarely used. More »