Joystiq

So, Video Games Live is entering its third year. What are some of the success stories? Have you had any growing pains along the way? Is it fairly profitable by this point?

Actually, we're coming up on our 4th year of touring in 2009. If you include the 3 1/2 years it took to create the show, you could say we're already in our 7th year (we started in 2002). Each year we've continued to grow leaps and bounds thanks to the amazing support of the audience and media helping us to spread the word. Video Games Live is one of those things that you really need to see in order to completely understand what it is, kinda like Cirque de Soleil. In 2005 we did 3 shows, 2006 we did 11, 2007 we did 29 and this year we're doing over 50 shows with close to 70 planned for 2009.

"Playing the first game concerts in countries like Canada, Mexico, Brazil, New Zealand, Taiwan, Portugal, France, Spain, England, Scotland, was a big thrill and major achievement for us"

I would say some of our bigger success stories would be our very first show which was performed at the Hollywood Bowl with the LA Philharmonic to over 11,000 people. Everyone thought we were crazy in the beginning, but coming out of the gate strong at one of the most famous venues in the world really helped to solidify the concept. Playing the first game concerts in countries like Canada, Mexico, Brazil, New Zealand, Taiwan, Portugal, France, Spain, England, Scotland, etc. was also a big thrill and major achievement for us. Probably one of our biggest achievements, however, was seeing our album debut at #10 in the Billboard charts a few weeks ago. I think it really helps to show how culturally significant and artistic video game music has become, which is the reason why we started Video Games Live in the first place.

I think every new concept or business probably goes through a lot of growing pains in the early stages. Ours came in the first year of touring back in 2005 when Clear Channel (the tour promoters at the time) fell on some financially hard times and ended up splitting up their companies, letting go a bunch of people, and canceling a bunch of summer tours ... including ours. In the long run and looking back on it now, it actually really helped us because we were forced to figure everything out on our own after that and took more control of everything around us instead of relying on others. We've learned so much since then and I think the show continues to get better because of it.

You play a wide variety of music at the concerts. What's the process like in securing the rights for those? Is there anything you've really wanted to play but haven't been able to get the rights to?

Securing rights for the music and video in the beginning was tough because back in 2002 no one had ever done anything like what we were trying to accomplish (synchronized video, touring the world, etc.). With the success of VGL it's getting easier and now game publishers are coming to us to ask to include their new game or music into the show. The only company that doesn't allow us to include video (performing music is okay) is Square Enix, but we'll continue to keep asking for the video rights in hopes that someday they'll grant them. I believe we're starting to have a significant impact around the world on how people (gamers and non-gamers) view game music and our industry as a whole.

What's your favorite piece that you've played so far?

Overall, I think one of my favorite segments in the show is probably the Warcraft segment composed by Jason Hayes and arranged by me & my VGL partner Jack Wall. The way the music, colors, video, lights and special effects go together is really beautiful. I'm also fond of the Kingdom Hearts segment because I'm a big Disney fanboy and worked so long and hard on the video for that one. I also like performing my rock version of Castlevania. It's really amazing and fun to be able to play guitar on stage with a symphony.

What's the guitar you tend to use that doesn't have a head on it?

I've been using two guitars in the show this year. The first one which you refer to is called a Steinberger. It doesn't have a head on the top and you tune it down below the pickups. I painted a PONG screen on the back of it.


The other guitar is a rare custom limited edition Spider-Man Gibson Les Paul that they made awhile ago. It's officially called the Webslinger One and they only made 75 of them. Each guitar is personally signed by Stan Lee and includes inlaid mother-of-pearl web patterns up the neck.

What's been one of the best/favorite venues that you've played in? What about events? VGL has played at Comic-Con, E for All, BlizzCon, etc. And will you be back at BlizzCon this year?

I would have to say the Hollywood Bowl is my favorite venue partly because of the amazing history it holds. Being able to perform on the same stage as people like the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, John Williams, The Police, etc. is a huge dream come true.

The BlizzCon & Blizzard Worldwide Invitation events are always great fun because the audience is so big and is so into the Blizzard music. When we put on these special Blizzard only music performances I think it really hits home with a lot of people in the crowd and there's a lot of great energy. So far we've played the last 3 events in Korea, Anaheim and Paris. Although nothing has been announced yet for BlizzCon 2008 in Anaheim, we are hoping to once again return with some new material.

[Editor's note: On the tour schedule, there's a mysterious TBA in Anaheim on October 11th ... right during BlizzCon. Hmm.]

VGL is aimed squarely at gamers, but have you noticed any interest in the non-gaming audience? Do people come not knowing what the music is, and appreciate the conducting/score anyhow?

"The reason we created Video Games Live is because we wanted to prove to the world, not just gamers, how culturally significant and artistic video games and their music have become."

Absolutely! The reason we created Video Games Live is because we wanted to prove to the world, not just gamers, how culturally significant and artistic video games and their music have become. We wanted to create a show for everyone. To do that, the presentation had to be very unique and very visual. What really separates Video Games Live from anything that's ever been done previously, is that everything is completely synchronized with huge video and special effects, synchronized state of the art lighting and productions, and interactivity with the crowd. I like to say that Video Games Live is all of the power and emotion of the symphony orchestra combined with the energy and excitement of a rock concert, mixed together with the cutting-edge visuals, technology, interactivity, and fun that video games provide.

What really makes Video Games Live and why it continues to grow, is that we're not just catering to hardcore gamers. We're catering to families, catering to grandparents just as much as to an 8-year-old or hardcore gamer. We wanted to create an experience that anyone can enjoy whether they're into video games or not - in fact a lot of the responses we get are from adults who have never played a game that see the show and tell us, 'Wow, we never knew video games were this powerful an art form, we now see why our kids are so into them, thank you." They understand it and we can present it in a form that they can appreciate.

Are you still actively composing for games? And what's the status with Reviews on the Run? You haven't hosted a show in quite awhile. Is it just that the time commitment to VGL has grown so much?

Growing VGL has been my main focus for over 5 years now. Now that it's grown to over 50 shows a year I've had to limit all of my other projects and companies. That being said, I've been working on some smaller DS & Wii titles along the way as well as Freaky Creatures on the PC. I've had to put the 3 TV shows I've been involved with on hold (Electric Playground, Judgment Day/Reviews on the Run and Championship Gaming Series) but I do try to shoot a few episodes here and there and just recently we shot 2 new Judgment Day/Reviews on the Run at Comic-Con in San Diego. I always enjoy doing television but music and live performing is really where my heart is at.

And, we just have to ask, do you know if your cousin Steven Tyler likes his new Guitar Hero: Aerosmith game?

Hahahaha ... yeah, he absolutely loves it! Joe Perry & Tom Hamilton are actually big gamers as well. Steven was telling me how originally they were going to have someone do his motion-capture, he said... "Nobody does Steven Tyler like Steven Tyler! I've been doing my moves my whole life so why would you want to get someone else to do me?" I think the development team was probably afraid to ask, but Steven wouldn't want it any other way. I think him and Joe spent a total of about 3 weeks doing all the mo-cap stuff.

I remember the first time I brought him and Joe a copy of the first Guitar Hero game when it originally came out ... their eyes lit up! Then they were disappointed to find out that Aerosmith wasn't in the game. My buddies at Harmonix & Red Octane tried to get an Aerosmith song in the first game but they couldn't come to terms with the record company (the band didn't even know about it). They knew my connection so I had them send me a bunch of copies and told them I would take care of it directly. Needless to say, by GH: 2 they had an Aerosmith song and the talks for their own game progressed from there.

Thanks for the great questions and helping to spread the word to your readers about Video Games Live. I've been a Joystiq fan, supporter and commenter for a long time. Keep up the great work!