Guitar Hero is a hit ... even with real rock stars

by Blake Snow { Nov 7th 2006 at 7:55PM }

Confession: I avoided playing Guitar Hero for close to a year because I was too prideful as an actual guitarist to give it a shot. I'm now addicted to the game. But this post isn't about my amateur-self enjoying Red Octane's highly addictive rhythm title, it's about real rock stars enjoying the game. The Wall Street Journal reports: "Mr. Davis, Korn's lead singer, is part of an unlikely but growing fraternity: Rock stars who are also avid players of Guitar Hero ... From superstars like Korn to up-and-comers, Guitar Hero has quickly become a fixture on tour buses and in recording studios."

In addition to Korn, the article mentions Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails, country star Rascal Flatts, My Chemical Romance, The Donnas, and Incubus all as active players of the game. When bands are sacrificing studio and tour bus time to play a video game that mimics one enjoying studio and tour bus time, you know you've struck a chord (ba dum bum psh).

[via Slashdot]

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

obo @ Nov 7th 2006 8:05PM

Cue all the people who'll bash GH in the "Why play a plastic toy when you could learn the real thing" vein...

Eric Von Shpeel @ Nov 7th 2006 8:09PM

Guitar Hero 2 has better metarankings than Gears of War lol

Nick Sabalausky @ Nov 7th 2006 8:10PM

The second GH sucks, it doesn't work with my TAC wireless controller! I'm pissed

Nick James @ Nov 7th 2006 8:31PM

Guitar Hero II sucks.. because the difficulty is unbalanced. Seriously. I have more difficulty playing WOMAN than I do Beast And The Harlot on Expert.

And don't even get me started on Psychobilly Freakout.

Fuck. That. Song.

thunderleg @ Nov 7th 2006 8:29PM

#1, I think they'll avoid posting in light that other guitarists enjoy playing this game.

Probably something about the pot and the kettle...

Intellectualdiot @ Nov 7th 2006 8:32PM

I can't understand the pretention of actual guitarists who imply that playing this video game is somehow beneath them - it seems as idiotic to me as as basketball player refusing to play NBA Live because it doesn't feel as enthralling as playing in an actual game. I've never had a qualm about picking up the plastic guitar and rocking out with this brilliant piece of software, but then again, I never harbored any thinly veiled complexes about how impressive the ability to actually play half of these songs on the real guitar.

Guitar Hero is good for playing something another artist became famous for (something I rarely find myself doing on the guitar for whatever reason), while those who have aspirations of creating their own songs will obviously find themselves unfulfilled by the title. The two can co-exist quite well.

EdFanMH @ Nov 7th 2006 8:43PM

Guitar Hero might be used as a PC keyboard for Awesomeness.

Peter Davis @ Nov 7th 2006 8:47PM

lets keep in mind that Trent Reznor just likes video games in general. Quake one soundtrack anyone? 'NIN' on the nailgun textures? yeah, he like video games.

robotArn @ Nov 8th 2006 1:34AM

As a guitarist, I can say how ego breaking it is to not be able to play a song in the game, and easily play it on the guitar. That said, I played the game soon after it came out and loved it. It's just a matter of realizing its just a game.

FooAtari @ Nov 7th 2006 8:57PM

@1 You are right, someone always makes that comment, but lets see...

Why play sports games when you can do it for real...
Why play racing games, get to a track day or buy a race car and do it for real

With above attitude we should only be playing sci-fi FPS, as cant really do that for real.

EdFanMH @ Nov 7th 2006 8:56PM

I remember Andrew W.K.'s gaming habits... he played some of his games with the controler UPSIDE DOWN ON PURPOSE.

vidGuy @ Nov 7th 2006 9:11PM

I've found that real guitarists tend to like Guitar Hero MORE than your average person. I've played electric, acoustic, and classical guitar for 8 years. Love GH. Some of my friends have played for 5-10 years, and everyone loves GH. I don't see why any guitarists wouldn't like it - we like music, we like fun, and GH has both.

Intellectualdiot's example of a sports figure is spot on. Yes GH is dumbed down guitar playing (obviously). Yes you are playing on a plastic PlaySkool-esque guitar. But it is still damned fun.

Kenton Montgomery @ Nov 10th 2006 3:41PM

ok...i just think its kind of stupid that i cant use the wireless controllers on GH2...which prevents me from having ANY 2 player battles or whatev...and if i DO want to be able to use it i have to order an adaptor online...and that stupid website wont even let me do that!!!!!!! i hate this game!!!!!! yet i love it so...

oh...and btw...if you think you are too awesome to play guitar hero because you're in some local band...then your life is seriously out of whack...

get off your pedestal sir...

rock and roll is a savage animal!!!

JRM @ Nov 7th 2006 9:11PM

I admit that I was never interested in Guitar Hero for the very reason that I'd rather play them songs on a real guitar. Nothing could be more gratifying than playing your fav. songs your own way, or coming up with new ones. Guitar hero just looked like a practice in chromatic scales mixed with a game of "simon".
But millions of caonsumers can't be wrong--especially if they're musicians as well.

Though I'm waiting until Paul Gilbert gives GH a thumbs up, or breaks the game with his ridiculously fast skills.

JodyAnthony @ Nov 7th 2006 9:16PM

"With above attitude we should only be playing sci-fi FPS, as cant really do that for real."

Maybe YOU can't.

While I have never played either of the GH games and do play actual guitar (well, bass. and I guess 'play' might be too strong of a word..i more just goof around and hope something sounds halfway decent (shameless self promotion: www.myspace.com/wemakethunder ) I agree that it's stupid that people bash the game because 'you can just play the real thing'

but I think the most important question about this post is this:
People actually still give a damn about Korn?

Big Ed @ Nov 7th 2006 9:19PM

Korn, My Chemical Romance?! I thought you said REAL rock stars.

James @ Nov 7th 2006 9:36PM

My god, it is just a game, chill. I think that it is awsome that Red Octane is bringing playable-interactive music to your living room. Like Guitar Hero or not sales and reviews (from people review for a living) don't usually lie. Play it or don't, simple as that. I think the game is awsome but with the price tag and next gen consoles on the way, I'll wait.

playclever @ Nov 7th 2006 9:52PM

It's not pretention to avoid Guitar Hero because you can play guitar for real. All games, but particularly the GH games, are about wish-fulfilment. If you can already play then that's part of the appeal gone already. Sure, it's still fun, but it's reasonable enough if you feel less inclined to buy the game.

On the other hand, if you actually play for a living it's probably nice to take a break from the real guitars from time to time...

Personally, I love it. I played the original for the first time on the weekend (at Game On in London), and had an absolute blast. I've got my fingers crossed for Guitar Hero 2 to come to Wii :P

FuzzyPickles @ Nov 7th 2006 10:02PM

I never went out of my way to play guitar hero because I figure I can just play the instrument (I doubt the game is any easier whether or not you play guitar), but I didn't avoid it either. Perhaps if there had been fewer other games I was interested in when it came out... and if Advance Wars wasn't the most addictive game of all time... I'd have given it a shot by now.

Kid Chemical @ Nov 7th 2006 10:23PM

JodyAnthony has it right.

I used to think Korn was great. Then I stopped being 14.

obo @ Nov 7th 2006 10:26PM

"I used to think Korn was great. Then I stopped being 14."

And no other 14-year-olds ever existed after that.

vidGuy @ Nov 7th 2006 10:58PM

Hahaha, classic!

Lemm @ Nov 7th 2006 11:15PM

Rolling Stone had a thing on this too... Tool and some other band that i can't really remember also played Guitar Hero.

It also said they were really anxious for Guitar Hero II to come out...

32_Footsteps @ Nov 7th 2006 11:46PM

Out of all the real guitarists I know, only one isn't a huge Guitar Hero fan. And he just hasn't played it yet; he thinks the idea sounds fascinating.

Also, given that The Donnas, Tool, and Incubus all had songs in the first game, I think they're expected to like it. I want to hear more about artists who aren't (yet) in the game getting into it.

DT @ Nov 8th 2006 12:11AM

Cheers for an awesome awesome game! Jeers for my wireless controller not working with it. I'm super pissed at red octane they are really sticking it to their fans. This is from the people who make third party ddr pads...grumble.

halobreaker @ Nov 8th 2006 12:23AM

My girlfriend has a circuit city job while in college. Coporate called the store and told the managers to tell the employes that NO wireless guitars will work with guitar hero 2. "Make sure to warn customers that if they are just buying the game because they a wireless controller that it wont work.

that's what they said atleast, we already have one poster mentioning it.

Tarv @ Nov 8th 2006 8:33AM

just posting to state that i also have a home-made wireless mod controller (from an original sg) that will not work with guitar hero 2. F red octane right in the A.

Eggzie @ Nov 8th 2006 1:13AM

"country star Rascal Flatts" haha RF is 3 guys :P

Seroth @ Nov 8th 2006 1:11AM

I've read that TAC is releasing an "adapter" for their wireless guitars that allow you to use them on Guitar Hero II, and the newer models should work fine.

And I, too, am tired of the, "Play a real guitar instead" attitude. I was playing GH at Wal-Mart, and some punk kid came over, looked at me playing, and said, "That's nothing like a real guitar!" I'm like, "...yeah. I know. It's called a video game."

Overture @ Nov 8th 2006 1:17AM

The React wireless guitar I bought along side Guitar Hero II works just fine....

Count Zero @ Nov 8th 2006 1:46AM

@32 footsteps

Tool had a song in the First Guitar Hero? What game have you been playing?

gdub @ Nov 8th 2006 3:02AM

Shut up and listen to the wail of my banshee fingers!!!! - M.S.

Nathan @ Nov 8th 2006 3:27AM

Personally, I'd find Guitar Hero much more appealing if there was a bit more variety in the music used. There's way more to guitar based music than hair metal and stadium rock.

which brings me to one question that's been bugging me ever since the GH hysteria started - why Guitar Hero? Guitar Freaks has been around for years, and (in my opinion) has a much better and varied song list.

Plus, I'd much rather a little plastic telecaster or 335, than an SG or Xplorer. ;)

jesus_bon_jovi @ Nov 8th 2006 5:29AM

Anyone else find the thought of Trent Reznor rocking out to the Donnas with a plastic guitar with bright colored buttons funny? ...oh man

JGE @ Nov 8th 2006 6:13AM

I actually find GH more difficult at times because I know how to play some of the songs on guitar and my fingers seem to find themselves trying to play the actual guitar part and not the GH version. There, I admitted it, and I'm sure that's the problem for some of the guitarists out there that claim not to like the game. Yeah, I suck at the game, I am a guitarist, but I still like the game.

32_Footsteps @ Nov 8th 2006 10:20AM

Ah screw... for some reason, I had forgotten that Helmet and not Tool did Unsung. Really dumb mistake, I know. My only defense is that I wrote that post last night after taking on every song in GHII's Career mode in one run, and having to ice my arms after Free Bird.

Grover @ Nov 8th 2006 12:15PM

GH has next to no relationship with playing actual guitar. It's a pretty standard rhythm game with a great soundtrack. That's about all. The fact that you do or do not play a real guitar has no bearing on how good you may or may not be at guitar hero, nor any on how much you might enjoy it.

Shagi @ Nov 8th 2006 3:58PM

No amount of celebrity pimping for GH can make up for the fact that if your interested in music, rather than play a real instrument you decide to play air guitar to a video game, your a dork. Yup, nothing else to say about it, there is nothing cool about playing a fake guitar in fact I think that could easily rank up there in the 'biggest loser' competition.

I'm sure the only real bands I've seen listed are just giving lip service beacuse of the fact that they are in the game, besides what do they have to lose by endorsing this product to dorks everywhere since they've already been paid for their contribution.

Speaking of Trent Reznor and most of the other people on the list, they are not guitar players, Trent Reznor uses sequencers to make his music, so I dont think that playing a video game on a fake guitar is all that different for Trent.

However if you want to claim that they play guitars and therefore they are real guitar players you should think about this:

Just beacuse I plunge a toilet every now and then it doesn't make me a plumber.

Anyways you GH guys are still major dorks. Go learn to play a real guitar.

Mike @ Nov 8th 2006 5:02PM

I think Shagi is actually Fred Durst.

Bitter, bitter little man.

Abscissa @ Nov 8th 2006 5:29PM

Abscissa @ Nov 8th 2006 5:31PM

Regarding #37: Why do some people honestly believe that blanket name-calling from some anonymous internet poster is actually going to influence anybody's gaming habits? ("Oh no, some random person on the internet called me a dork!" -- filed under "Things nobody actually says")

@#37: Nobody claims to be a real guitar player by merely playing Guitar Hero, so your plumber analogy is irrelevant.

vidGuy @ Nov 8th 2006 6:09PM

@37

Yes, because we play video games to look cool.....

"However if you want to claim that they play guitars and therefore they are real guitar players you should think about this:"

Let's put a hypen in to help you:
"real-guitar players" - aka, players of non-plastic, non-five-button guitars

Hence, I am a real-guitar player. Those listed who play guitar are real-guitar players. Deal with it.