Rock Band Weekly: The Clash, The Police and The Ramones

by Alexander Sliwinski { Feb 11th 2008 at 3:55PM }

The Rock Band servers are starting to take a pounding every Monday morning as the faithful desperately clamor to find out this week's DLC. This week we head to the late '70s for a triple dose of off-the-beaten-path hits from some major artists.

Three-song Pack (440 MS points/$5.50)

Complete Control - The Clash (160 MS points/ $2)
Truth Hits Everybody - The Police (160 MS points/ $2)
Teenage Lobotomy - The Ramones (160 MS Points / $2)

We've got videos of the songs after the break for purchasing assistance. We'll keep on poking Harmonix with a drumstick and try to get some actual in-game previews as soon as possible. Trust us, we're working on it.

[Thanks to all who sent this in]

Tags: clash, police, ramones, rock-band-weekly, rockband, the-clash, the-police, the-ramones

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Da iFonz @ Feb 11th 2008 4:00PM

this upsets me that they have a good pack coming out this week and my damn 360's optical drive cannot read any of my game disc :( and I don't feel like dropping $99 to get it fixed yet... I went broke with GH III and Rock Band... dang it... I would have loved to play the Ramones "Teenage Lobotomy"

XanthouS @ Feb 11th 2008 4:01PM

I'm not usually one to gripe about song choices, but this is two weeks in a row that I won't be picking up a single track.

Hopefully next week's releases make up for it.

Tiptup300 @ Feb 11th 2008 7:29PM

Guys, use this voting list for your favorite artists then maybe if it gets big enough, harmonix could actually start listening!

http://unspun.amazon.com/Most-Wanted-Artists-to-Be-DLC-in-Rock-Band/list/show/14562?

Its like the back-compat. list, so go and add your favorite artists!

Tiptup300 @ Feb 11th 2008 7:52PM

If you want to just vote without logging in, go here.

http://unspun.amazon.com/widget/list/variable/14562?ajax=1&width=448&height=360&amazon=0&assoc_id=uns-20

DeadJavelina @ Feb 11th 2008 4:04PM

I wish that Harmonix would release the songs individually more. iTunes has spoiled me.

baby sea tuna @ Feb 11th 2008 4:05PM

If it's anything like all the other packs, the songs will be available individually for 160 spacebucks a pop.

jsn @ Feb 11th 2008 4:05PM

since when were they not? Aren't all the 3 packs available individually as well? They seem to be when I go to purchase them.

stu @ Feb 11th 2008 4:20PM

um, to my knowledge, every song they've released to-date has been available as a single purchase IN ADDITION TO being able to purchase it as part of any song pack that it might be contained in (for a small cost savings)

Kevin @ Feb 11th 2008 4:04PM

Yeah, there's nothing there that really interests me...
Bummer. It seems like their catalogue of available artists is limited to bands that we've pretty much seen in the game already. Not terrible, but it dimishes the hope of seeing some of the bands that I want in there.

But at least they're still releasing stuff every week. That's never a bad thing.

jsn @ Feb 11th 2008 4:10PM

not really, they're not just randomly picking songs here, it's all planned. There are no issues with artist support.

copa @ Feb 11th 2008 4:36PM

"There are no issues with artist support."

I'm not sure why you're saying that, jsn. At this point, it's obvious that Harmonix is having problems licensing artists for DLC that haven't already appeared in the game.

Harmonix has a very knowledgeable team with a deep appreciation for music history, and there is no way that their first choice for content this week was going back to the well on three bands that have already been featured on the main disc and in previous DLC offerings.

Kyera @ Feb 11th 2008 9:25PM

Honestly, I think it's just the case that Harmonix had a ton of songs lined up prior to the release due to the licencing arrangements they secured then. Accordingly, it was probably dominated by bands that were already in the game, so they've had these charts ready to go for quite some time. I imagine as time goes on we'll start to see some diversity, but if the Police came up to them and said "here's a giant chunk of our catalogue, go to town" months prior to release, it only makes sense that there are a bunch of songs finished that they pump out while working on new stuff.

tmacairjordan87 @ Feb 11th 2008 4:04PM

jesus the garbage in this game is starting to pile up faster than a NYC landfill

baby sea tuna @ Feb 11th 2008 4:06PM

Spoken like someone who does not appreciate good music. There's been at least 1 awesome DLC song a week since they've started the spigot flowing.

Just no pleasing some people, I guess.

tmacairjordan87 @ Feb 11th 2008 4:14PM

no i dont appreciate punk, it's at the far bottom of the totem pole of rock to me. And seriously another police song?? that's like 8 songs for them now. They can't even choose good metal either because most of next month's metal songs are garbage too. Metallica is nice..but they pick fuel

iron maiden is nice..but it's another cover

ooh a thrash pack, nice...oh wait it's from 3 nobody 90s bands that aren't even really thrash. If i see thrash it needs to be stuff like old old metallica, megadeth, anthrax, testament or even slayer

Kizzle @ Feb 11th 2008 4:16PM

Wow, your taste in music is horrible. Go away now.

Kizzle @ Feb 11th 2008 4:17PM

Oh, and if you think the Clash and the Ramones are the "bottom of the punk totem pole," then you don't know what punk is.

Kizzle @ Feb 11th 2008 4:19PM

Ha, I read that wrong - you actually said "bottom of the rock totem pole," which is even MORE retarded. Ouch.

I agree that Fuel is a horrible Metallica choice, and I'd kill a man for some Testament.

...that doesn't mean this week's stuff is bad.

Norm @ Feb 11th 2008 4:06PM

I love the Ramones and I'm probably going to get this song, but I'd like to see some new/different artists in here.

I think If I see another police/rush/ramones song next week, I'm probably not going to be motivated to check up on the weekly releases in the future.

DCBlack @ Feb 11th 2008 11:37PM

I will definitely keep checking, just because it's great to have choices every week like this, but I agree that I'd like to see some new artists.

Scotto @ Feb 11th 2008 4:08PM

That Ramones video is from a TV show they played in Germany. I have the whole thing on videodisc - it isn't a music video, that is them actually playing their instruments, with their (then recently acquired) drummer Marky Ramone.

Anyway, any week with "Complete Control" and a Ramones song, is a good week to me. Especially when I think of all of the metal rock crap I won't be buying next month.

- Scott

Kizzle @ Feb 11th 2008 4:19PM

In for the Ramones track. They've been dull on guitar but quite fun on drums and vocals, which my friends and I enjoy doing more anyway.

ronald.raygun @ Feb 11th 2008 4:19PM

i dont know what clash songs are available to d/l but of the clash i would much prefer straight to hell, or clampdown, or death or glory.

JodyAnthony (death by snoo-snoo) @ Feb 11th 2008 4:22PM

death or glory would be amazing

ill trooper @ Feb 11th 2008 5:36PM

'Death or Glory' would be good, and I think 'Straight to Hell' is one of the best songs The Clash ever did, but I think I'd have more fun playing 'Clampdown,' 'Guns of Brixton,' 'Rudy Can't Fail,' 'Radio Clash,' or 'Rock the Casbah.' 'Police On My Back' and 'Know Your Rights' would be great too. Secret hope also lies in the fantasy that I would hear 'Bank Robber' or the Clash's version of 'Police and Thieves.'

As for the Police, I'd rather have 'Message in a Bottle' or 'Driven to Tears,' 'Rehumanize Yourself' or 'Walking on the Moon.'

And if you're gonna give us more Ramones, 'Teenage Labotomy' is cool but... Oh God, there's so many - what about 'Do You Remember Rock and Roll Radio?' or 'Beat on the Brat,' 'Sheena is a Punk Rocker,' 'Rock n' Roll High School' or the EPIC and ESSENTIAL 'I Wanna Be Sedated'?

Oh whatever, I guess. I'll buy 'em all and no doubt I'll enjoy them. We all have songs we'd like to hear in this game. But I've never seen 'Complete Control,' 'Truth Hits Everybody' or 'Teenage Labotomy' show up on posts like these.

Proto @ Feb 11th 2008 4:20PM

Such odd choices for Clash songs. I Fought the Law and Should I Stay or Should I Go are probably some of the worst songs they did besides Rock the Casbah.

Complete Control is a good start, but how about London Calling, Rudie Can't Fail, Guns of Brixton or Train in Vain? Actually, pretty much anything off of London Calling would be great. Straight to hell would be a great one too.

JodyAnthony (death by snoo-snoo) @ Feb 11th 2008 4:22PM

if they had Lost in the Supermarket or The Card Cheat I would go out and buy Rock Band right now.

Proto @ Feb 11th 2008 4:26PM

now that I think about it, maybe they are working on getting London Calling as full album DL. Fingers crossed!

baby sea tuna @ Feb 11th 2008 4:36PM

"Such odd choices for Clash songs. I Fought the Law and Should I Stay or Should I Go are probably some of the worst songs they did besides Rock the Casbah."

You've got to remember that most of the people that are going to be playing this game (outside of maybe the purchaser) are probably not going to know any other songs than the popular ones/radio singles unless they actually like the band. Now, if/when the full albums come out, then we'll get our niche songs.

I still want to know where my damned Social Distortion is...

Raikage Apple freaking DF (Wii FC 5508 0487 4434 0992) @ Feb 11th 2008 5:40PM

Lost In The Supermarket, Rudie Can't Fail, Train In Vain.

DOOOO IT NOW!

mietha CAG @ Feb 12th 2008 12:33AM

Lost in the Supermarket is not only the best Clash song, but easily one of the top 100 songs ever written. If you have never heard it, correct this NOW!

JodyAnthony (death by snoo-snoo) @ Feb 11th 2008 4:21PM

this is the first time i really wished i had rock band.

Garrett @ Feb 11th 2008 4:25PM

No complaints about "Complete Control" or "Teenage Lobotomy", but increasing the variety of available artists would be nice. Hopefully the next classic punk downloads will include any number of other groups not currently featured in Rock Band instead of more Clash or Ramones.

Speaking of which, "Marquee Moon" would be amazing on Rock Band. Hell, make it one of the full album downloads, whenever they actually start doing those.

stu @ Feb 11th 2008 4:27PM

I can't admit to being thrilled by this week's picks, but I'll probably buy the Clash and Police tracks - not really a fan of the Ramones. As for artist variety, there actually is a ton of artists now represented by at least one song in Rock Band. However, I can see how it doesn't feel that way when they release several songs from the same artists each week. To soften the blow a bit, it would be nice if Harmonix could release at least one new artist per week. I have no clue if they have the catalogue to do that though. I just hear so much from them about portfolio management and game balance. It's hard to see that balance week-to-week like this.

However the March info came out, at least you have a larger slice of content to examine at one time and you can see a larger strategy unfolding through the month. It would make a lot of us feel better (not their top priority, admittedly) to release, even tentatively, a bigger snapshot of what the DLC offerings will be - like monthly, or quarterly. If they could say "Hey, this quarter you'll be seeing stuff from great artists like X, Y, and Z, none of which are in the game, as well as new songs from artists like A, B, C, all of which are in the game" then it would alleviate the repeated slamming of the Rock Band site every Monday and perhaps the cries of dread from the masses that inevitable follow.

nerrrrrrd @ Feb 11th 2008 4:28PM

D. U. M. B. Everyone's accusing me!!!

i'll be getting that for sure.

also to all those arguing about what songs suck/rock... this is a video game blog, don't expect a majority of people here to have any music taste.

klitorisaurus @ Feb 11th 2008 5:14PM

Yeah because video games and music are mutually exclusive right? Your shining arrogance is inspirational.

snake @ Feb 11th 2008 4:31PM

pretty meh.., in my opinion

Korova @ Feb 11th 2008 4:36PM

This makes me want to buy Rockband.

deaftly @ Feb 11th 2008 4:43PM

The drums are worth it alone.

Hey Apples @ Feb 11th 2008 4:40PM

I was expecting the Clash's next DLC song to be Lost in the Supermarket since the song selection team mentioned it in an interview.

JakubK666 @ Feb 11th 2008 4:41PM

Is it just me or Clash & Ramones are the only songs in these bloody games?Either that or some bands that only Hardcore Rock Fans know about.

I'm not a big fan of RB/GH but if they had songs like Smoke on the Water or Smells like Teen Spirit, I'd go straight on Ebay to buy it!

Garrett @ Feb 11th 2008 4:43PM

Well, they have "Highway Star" and "In Bloom", which is about as much "like" "Smoke on the Water" or "Smells like Teen Spirit" as you can get. And I think both of those were in earlier Guitar Hero games, anyway.

deaftly @ Feb 11th 2008 4:45PM

The Queens of the Stone Age pack is amazing, plus the whole album Nirvana-Nevermind was already announced to be released whenever. Dave Grohl drums are going to own so much. Smoke on the Water is in guitar hero 3 I believe, one of those damn games.

JakubK666 @ Feb 11th 2008 4:58PM

hmmm...can't see it there.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_songs_in_Guitar_Hero_III:_Legends_of_Rock

Also I'm still more likely to buy GH as RB is only worth it when you split the costs between four of your best mates.

Current Number of Friends that are not scared to enter my house: 2. Some people have nasty mothers :(

MarkHawk @ Feb 11th 2008 5:30PM

Remember Hermonix made GH1 GH2 and the 80s pack. ;) Plus you can always buy the game by itself if you have a guitar.

Me and My girlfriend are the only ones who play and there is a lot to this game in all areas. And it's not as easy as it seems.

NBShermanator @ Feb 11th 2008 5:09PM

TOO MUCH POLICE

klitorisaurus @ Feb 11th 2008 5:16PM

agreed! Next week will be 3 tracks of Sting's solo work.

Thr3e2wenty8 @ Feb 11th 2008 5:32PM

IMO, none of the recent few weeks tracks are appealing. I did however have some family over last friday night and we played the game for hours. My aunt whose tastes are different than mine was surprised that alot of her favorite bands (Cars, Styx, Eagles) weren't available. I had to explain to her several times that there could eventually be but not as of then. So we went online and I let them pick a few songs that I'd skipped over (again due to my taste) and they had fun with them. Thats what the DLC is about right? - getting everyone involved.