The Beatles in Rock Band; MTV & Apple Corps tease 'unprecedented project' [update]
by James Ransom-Wiley 
{ Oct 29th 2008 at 6:15PM }
Our highly tuned power of intuition tells us MTV has landed a deal to get The Beatles in Rock Band, either as a standalone product (à la the AC/DC Track Pack) or as DLC -- heck, why not both? In June, FT.com reported that MTV and Activision were both dangling bags of money before Apple Corps for The Beatles rights. Guess who had the bigger bag?
Update: The Wall Street Journal's sources say it's true: "The Beatles have licensed songs to MTV Networks' Rock Band video game series." Details mañana.
[Thanks, oolz]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
syrik zero @ Oct 29th 2008 6:20PM
I don't think I would get that... Seems like it would get boring?
Don't kill me please
oolz @ Oct 29th 2008 6:24PM
boring for score chasers and people who play alone? yah, probably. Most of it at least. Boring for parties and people who like their massive catalo of good music, hardly.
Jakka @ Oct 29th 2008 6:25PM
I see someone getting run over by a Yellow Submarine.
syrik zero @ Oct 29th 2008 6:34PM
I never play the game for high scores or alone. Always with friends. Just doesn't seem like it would be fun to me. And I am a fan of The Beatles
kihadat @ Oct 29th 2008 7:51PM
yeah you gotta give more explanation, if you're going to give an opinion. otherwise you're just being a troll.
why would songs from a band you like not be fun?
oolz @ Oct 29th 2008 6:23PM
this is no longer a rumor. A WSJ article confirmed it.
SaNcTuS @ Oct 29th 2008 6:34PM
Yup, you're right. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122531701276881747.html
Travis @ Oct 29th 2008 6:25PM
Helter Skelter plz
MasterCKO @ Oct 29th 2008 7:20PM
oh man, that would be awesome...I can think of a ton of stuff that I would absolutely love to play and that's definitely up there.
NoHitHair @ Oct 30th 2008 5:52AM
Rubber Soul and on ONLY. Please Harmonix, do not release the soulless garbage that is Plesae Please Me through Help.
Listening to Beatles pre-1965 is almost like snorting powdered glass through your ears.
Fernando Rocker @ Oct 29th 2008 6:26PM
Too bad that The Beatles are not good musicians. Way overrated.
Lonin @ Oct 29th 2008 6:29PM
Kind of like the Wii?
(Sorry, had to do it.)
MowDownJoe @ Oct 29th 2008 6:29PM
You realize you now have people that AREN'T Sony fanboys putting a price on your head, right?
OMGOMG @ Oct 29th 2008 6:32PM
Because playing fast=better.
oolz @ Oct 29th 2008 6:32PM
lol, you're an idiot. Writing and composition have more to do with good music than all the technical skill in the world. You probably think Yngwie is "good music".
cuso26 @ Oct 29th 2008 6:33PM
You don't have to be a GOOD musician to be a revolutionary one.
Fernando Rocker @ Oct 29th 2008 6:34PM
I know I will receive a lot of bash for this, but I really don't think that The Beatles were good musicians.
There were better bands at the time, with better musicians. It was the controversy who made The Beatles a popular band.
Jake11- Born and raised in W. Philly @ Oct 29th 2008 6:35PM
you're overrated Fernando
Sora @ Oct 29th 2008 6:35PM
What?
Fernando Rocker @ Oct 29th 2008 6:35PM
I'm not saying that you need to be a very fast guitar player or a virtuoso on an instrument, is just that the music or lyrics is nothing extraordinary.
Jakka @ Oct 29th 2008 6:37PM
The Yellow Submarine has picked it's next target.
Ayrkain @ Oct 29th 2008 6:38PM
This from the guy who admitted he likes Stryper. It's okay Fernando, you're too young to know any better. ;)
KeenCommander @ Oct 29th 2008 6:46PM
Well, he's correct that there were better musicians and better songwriters at the time - BUT that hardly means that The Beatles were bad. They're all very talented, and really pushed music forward at the time. Not to mention creating some of the most memorable and well-loved tunes in music history...and being one of the few bands to be popular among multiple generations of musicians. I hardly see how you can call that "overrated".
Victor @ Oct 29th 2008 6:47PM
Try writing songs, and then tell me The Beatles are overrated.
The Beatles were fucking geniuses, from the variety of instruments they played, to the way they incorporated them into their music. They simply kept getting better every time they released a record. Fernando, I may be wrong, but you seem to me like the kind of guy who mistakes technical skill with talent, and believe me, The Bealtes had both.
Fernando Rocker @ Oct 29th 2008 6:56PM
I guess you guys are the kind of people who likes Oasis, Nirvana, Radiohead and stuff...
MuToiD_MaN @ Oct 29th 2008 6:57PM
Your MOM's overrated.
Hala Madrid!! @ Oct 29th 2008 7:00PM
FUCK YOU FERNANDO!
THE BEATLES ROCK!
I'm downvoting you to hell!
In A World (XBL) @ Oct 29th 2008 7:01PM
Happiness is warm gun, Fernando. You've been warned.
Fernando Rocker @ Oct 29th 2008 7:02PM
I really don't see why should I get bashed or take personal attacks...
I'm not attacking anyone of you, just giving my opinion a band that I personally don't consider to be good...
giantenemycrab @ Oct 29th 2008 7:05PM
why even post that? I didn't think you were a troll, just a fanboy.
Victor @ Oct 29th 2008 7:06PM
I'm not bashing you, or attacking you, it's just that saying The Beatles are overrated is like saying My Chemical Romance is underrated.
In A World (XBL) @ Oct 29th 2008 7:07PM
"I really don't see why should I get bashed or take personal attacks..."
It was a horrible thing to say and you're a horrible person for saying it... time to bring out my silver hammer.
Gavin @ Oct 29th 2008 7:09PM
Finally, proof that Fernando is a grade A moron.
cranium @ Oct 29th 2008 7:13PM
Fernando, every time i see your name in the comments you're being downvoted to Hell. I usually roll my eyes and move on but this time you've gone too far. I'd send the ninjas but I just don't think you're worth it.
how does it feel knowing you're the scum of the internet? that's only a little less awful than being a nazi
MasterCKO @ Oct 29th 2008 7:21PM
Seriously, what a stupid thing to say, Fernando. Or genius, if you're trying to win the "World's Most Effective Troll" award.
I guess you're entitled to your opinion, but I've never heard an opinion that was quite as wrong as that one. ;)
Haggard @ Oct 29th 2008 7:23PM
*slowly raises hands*
I don't really like them either..
MasterCKO @ Oct 29th 2008 7:23PM
@In A World (XBL):
GET 'IM MAXWELL!!
Shagittarius @ Oct 29th 2008 7:26PM
I leave for 10 minutes and all the good stuff happens damn.
Fernando the beatles pretty much created the modern music 'Album' with the white album. They made the blueprint that all of your favorite bands do their best to emulate to this day.
I think if you did a little research on them you would see how important to modern music they were. They wrote a lot of great stuff as well.
Victor @ Oct 29th 2008 7:29PM
@Haggard,
don't worry, you're allowed not to like The Beatles, you just can't say they weren't good musicians, because they were :P
Musical taste is still subjective :)
Monkeydog @ Oct 29th 2008 7:34PM
Fernando you obviously have a horrible concept in the theory of music.
MasterCKO @ Oct 29th 2008 7:42PM
Last point on this. You don't get to call the band that essentially defined what you, right now, think of as rock music 'overrated.' Especially when I've got shoes older than you in my house.
DAMN IT, but you're an effective troll. I will be voting you in for that award.
syrik zero @ Oct 29th 2008 8:53PM
It's okay buddy. I understand. I only asked a question and people hated me. Fuckers
ice~ @ Oct 29th 2008 10:00PM
Fernando, I don't understand how you get bashed to hell for your opinion on a band, everyone takes it so personally...
In my opinion, the beatles were good musicians, but I don't like them, But WHO CARES?does a person not liking a band change whether or not a bands good?? Personally, I don't think it matters. I love Led Zeppelin l, I think they were the greatest rock band of all time. If someone tells me they weren't good or they didn't like them, I'd say "oh, alright then", pop on my headphones and blast Houses Of the Holy or something.
just chill people, and give fernando a break, it's his freaking opinion
Sheppy (of the Fidlious Clan of Wong) @ Oct 30th 2008 12:06AM
To say you don't like them is one thing. To say they are overrated is an entirely different thing altogether. THAT's the issue that's slamming Fernando down. Although I will give credit where the credit is due, McCartney and Lennon were the primary drivers of the band. Fact of the matter is, those two made the best parts of the Beatles catalog. So MAYBE in that respect Beatles, as a band, is overrated. But then you have to slam every band ever because no super group where everyone is useful has ever been founded.
@Victor,
I wish I could be cool like you and slam My Chemical Romance. I could be nifty as all shit and brag on how Hendrix is a god and will never be surpassed. But here's the problem. I've listened to My Chemical Romance instead of instantly discrediting them because I saw their shirt in a hot topic. And of the many bands out right now, they are among the most musically accomplished out there. The Lead Guitar riffs in particular are epic and one of the few examples of a guitarist soloing using classical guitar methods rather than the "power chordian derivative" flow of other bands people like to praise. Their vocalist as well has an amazing range and not a single crack in his vocals on any of the albums. The other members aren't exactly slouches either. But it's cool. I understand. Lyrics are dark so it's emo and stupid and nobody in the band has talent. If only all bands could be Dashboard Confessional or Weezer, but alas. Few bands in the world I'll defend... My Chemical Romance is one of them. They catch a lot of shit despite being near godlike.
Alex McKee @ Oct 30th 2008 1:52AM
@Fernando
In my personal opinion, John Lennon's voice is really grating and f**king annoys me. But... that doesn't mean the Beatles aren't good musicians. Like Shaggitarius said, they basically invented the album and that's something that they should be applauded for. However, I think I will make my first DLC purchase if they release London Calling (by the Clash) for Rock Band. That album deserves to be put before all the crap that is currently out on the store. My 2 cents.
Courtney @ Oct 30th 2008 1:52AM
As a teenager, I couldn't stand the Beatles and I thought they were a crappy, annoying, overrated band. It really wasn't until my late 20s that I began developing an appreciation for them and now quite enjoy listening to them.
Had I not gone through a rather major shift in the kind of music I listened to around 27 or 28, I would probably still have the same opinion of them as I did when I was a teenager.
SKI @ Oct 30th 2008 8:40AM
Screw the Beatles, I was a Beach Boys kind of guy.
sp @ Oct 30th 2008 9:31AM
greatest news ever?
LeMuRfArT @ Oct 29th 2008 6:30PM
OMGOMGOMG YAY!
OMGOMG @ Oct 29th 2008 6:31PM
I know, right!