These are the artists rocking out in Guitar Hero 5

by David Hinkle on May 31st 2009 2:00PM

When Activision announced Guitar Hero 5, we knew little more than the game would include some notes, and possibly a popular ditty or two. Now, we know all sorts of stuff, like the proposed "Band Moments" and the game's release date (9/1/09). But, we still haven't seen anything on what we've all wanted to know: The included artists. Now, we're happy to report that would-be rockers and rockettes now have a definitive list of talent featured in Activision's latest ~~cash generator~~ music rhythm game. And, it's staggering. So much so that we were forced to place the info past the break, for fear of an avalanche on the front page.
Guitar Hero 5's featured artists:

3 Doors Down
A Perfect Circle
AFI
Arctic Monkeys
Attack! Attack! UK
Band Of Horses
Beastie Boys
Beck
Billy Idol
Billy Squier
Blink-182
Blur
Bob DylanBon Jovi
Brand New
Bush
Children Of Bodom
Coldplay
Darker My Love
Darkest Hour
David Bowie
Deep Purple
Dire Straits
Duran Duran
Eagles Of Death Metal
Elliott Smith
Elton John
Face To Face
Garbage
Gorillaz
Gov't Mule
Grand Funk Railroad
Iggy Pop
Iron Maiden
Jeff Beck
Jimmy Eat World
John Mellencamp
Johnny Cash
Kaiser Chiefs
King Crimson
Kings Of Leon
Kiss
Love and Rockets
Megadeth
Mötley Crüe
Muse
My Morning Jacket
Nirvana
No Doubt
Peter Frampton
Public Enemy Featuring Zakk Wylde
Queen & David Bowie
Queens Of The Stone Age
Rammstein
Rose Hill Drive
Rush
Santana
Scars On Broadway
Screaming Trees
Smashing Pumpkins
Sonic Youth
Spacehog
Stevie Wonder
Sublime
Sunny Day Real Estate
T. Rex
The Bronx
The Derek Trucks Band
The Duke Spirit
The Killers
The Police
The Raconteurs
The Rolling Stones
The Sword
The White Stripes
Thin Lizzy
Thrice
Tom Petty
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
TV On The Radio
Vampire Weekend
Weezer
Wild Cherry
Wolfmother

Source

Tags: activision, guitar-hero, guitar-hero-5, Microsoft, neversoft, Nintendo, Wii, Xbox-360

Reader Comments (197)

eeh, the only bands on there I really like, with the exception of Rammstien are likely already on Rock Band, I'd like an actual song list though, although in all fairness, I dont really see why they call it "Guitar Hero" anymore, it's mostly all Soft Rock, or stuff like Johnny Cash. (yeah he's a total legend, but it's not really what the Guitar Hero image represents)

Which is another thing, GH4 was just silly, it had devil horns, biker guys, ROCKING OUT, metal awesomenss painted all over it, and it was all pop/wuss/soft rock, with the exception of Bullet for my Valentine, Ozzy Osbourne, and Motorhead.

No Dream Theater, and still no Pantera. What a rip.

I WANT MRE COLDPLAY!!!!

NO MORE COLDPLAY!!!!
(I fixed your typo for you)

"You know how I know you're gay? 'Cause you like Coldplay."

Wow, I'm fucking underwhelmed. I can understand that GH tries to cater to every taste in guitar music, but a) there are too many bands we've seen already (and seriously, how many Muse songs do we really need?) and b) there's too little hard stuff on it. There's Children Of Bodom. Meh.

How about this: An "extreme metal hero"? With Dismember, Hate Eternal, Nile, Napalm Death, Opeth, Rotten Sound, Massacre, Obituary (need some old-school death metal!), Slaughter, Celtic Frost, Death, Assück, maybe At The Gates (for the melodies), Emperor, My Dying Bride, Krisiun...

There's so much epic stuff out there I'd like to do on my plastic instruments for a change...

You gotta understand that even if your appreciation of extreme metal is a defining feature of your life, this game is being made for profit and that wouldn't have very wide appeal.

What? I count 44 bands that have not been in Guitar Hero or Rock Band (I am factoring in DLC in this, I may be off one or two, since I do not know the DLC catalogs of each game perfectly, and I really don't want to spend an hour comparing songs.)

That's half of the game! Considering that we are 5 generations in now, it is really surprising that they are able to get 50% new artists.

GH:WT was about 10-20% New Artists, in comparison.

I believe 45% was RB2.

"how many Muse songs do we really need"

All of them if I had any say in it.

Nice addition of Children of Bodom

RAMMESTEIN AND RUSH!!

EPIC WIN.

Rush and Dire Straits, yay!

Now we just gotta wonder where Pink Floyd are.

I bet they'll get their own GH or RB pretty soon.

wolfmother, gorillaz, and rush? hell yes, day 1 purchase!

Queen & David Bowie? I can safely assume that the song "Under Pressure" is confirmed (upon looking back through comments, I see this was pointed out... great minds think alike). Also great to see Elton John getting in the mix. Now if they'd only get some Billy Joel in the mix, I'd actually purchase this product.

Brand new!

STILL NO FRANK ZAPPA.

GH5 might be a good game. They have some good artists on there (Darkest Hour, Muse, Thrice, Scars on Broadway, Gorillaz) and some bad artists (Children of Bodom, Vampire Weekend, Kings of Leon, The Sword, Garbage), but seriously WHERE IS THE METAL? If the Megadeth song isn't "Symphony of Destruction", I'll be pissed! Put in some Gojira, All That Remains, Chimaira, Dream Theater, Demon Hunter, Architects, Hatebreed, and PROTEST THE HERO! I'm really disappointed with the whole music game genre right now! At least get some Disturbed, Staind, Godsmack, Breaking Benjamin, A7X, Daughtry, Korn, Mudvayne, Papa Roach, and Submersed in the game!

Symphony of Destruction is definitely not the best example of a METUHL Megadeth song. Also, what the hell is wrong with Bodom? The vocals suck but at least the guitar work is fantastic and will definitely frustrate millions when the game releases.

I just never really liked CoB's music at all! And I never really liked Megadeth either. SoD is the only good song they have. It might not be METAL, but it's a good song!

i want to c SOAD and Hendrix !!!!!!

OMFG The Derek Trucks Band. Wowowowowow
Fav band right there, I dont even really play these games (RB or GH) anymore, but thats a ig deal if only because itll get them out in the public more.

They are some of the best, most talented musicians out there right now, and Derek Trucks has quite the pedigree, playing with The Allman Brothers (since he was 12! An actual member since '99) Eric Clapton, Dylan and many others. He truly is amazing.
Maybe not in the sense of what works on GH games though. Its just not that kind of music to start with and he's largely a slide guitarist. Could work, depends on the song. I wonder how thatll turn out.

Folks should check him out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBo_dZAnjoc
That man is my hero. Musically and beyond.

Oh, and Jeff Beck. Total Sweetness.

Ahahhahaha as always so many complains!
And most of you will actually end up buying it... even after crying about it here!
Ahhahaah!

I think thats a good list of bands, just hope there's no damn live songs (which I hate). And I'll buy this the day it comes out. I prefer GHWT over RB2, but GHM is by far the better of all these music games.

And I dont mind swapping disc, take a minute to do so (lazy people). Just glad that all the DLC I bought for GHWT will work with GH5.

I'll be honest -- looks like a good start.

I'll wait for gameplay reviews.

Man, no Dropkicks or Flogging Molly.. what the shit..

where is some linkin park, some "new divide", and i hope the santana song is into the night.

My Jack White fanboy inside is telling me to buy this game. Should I listen?

Activision rep : "Yes, yes you should."

No, I'm not one of them. :]

no metallica? Not buying

This list just made me re-think about spending my September money on The Beatles...

I don't care about visual upgrades. Seriously... stop releasing Guitar Hero games already.

After Guitar Hero hit PS3/360, why not just release songs as a DLC instead of a new game every time you want to add more songs. Stupid.

Rockband 1, Rockband 2, Rockband: The Beatles, Lego Rockband.

Guitar Hero, Guitar Hero 2, Guitar Hero 3, Guitar Hero Encore, Guitar Hero Aerosmith, Guitar Hero World Tour, Guitar Hero Smash Hits, Guitar Hero Metallica, Guitar Hero Van Halen, Guitar Hero 5, .... (Band Hero & DJ Hero).

You forgot: Rock Band Track Pack, Rock Band Track Pack 2, Rock Band Classic Rock Track Pack, Rock Band AC/DC, and Rock Band Unplugged.

DJ Hero (and possibly Band Hero) are not part of the Guitar Hero franchise. I'll even help you; you forgot to add the 3 GH: On Tour games.

Track packs are for people without the internet. Because it includes a code to copy the 10 songs to transfer to Rockband1/2.

AC/DC is the only exception, but even than, even it allowed you to copy the songs to RB1/2.

Don't get confused.

I'd rather be shot in the face than have to pay to endure 3 Doors Down (brought to you by the National Guard).

who even cares anymore.

The lack of the strokes makes me sad.. :(

Megadeth has finally made a return and I'm very excited for it.

Also, wtf Rammstein? I'm a huge Rammstein fan but that is certainly one of the last bands I would associate with the music-game genre. The guitar parts aren't very exciting, the drumming isn't anything new, and the songs are in German. I'm looking forward to it, though.

Yes! Children of Bodom, Bowie, Raconteurs, Iron Maiden, Wolfmother, Motley Crue, Megadeth, Kiss etc etc. All great music.

I hope it's "Broken Boy Soldier" by The Raconteurs, but it probably won't be.

YES! finally some Garbage.

CRAP i just sold my guitars and games... now i'm gonna have to buy this one

Great artist list. At least (we think) there's no exclusivity contratcs out there...

HEY since Harmonix is behind both games, wouldn't it be logical that the file formats be remotely identical? C'mon, flip the switch and make 'em compatible across both lines. You money grubbing bastards.

It's time for a 3rd party to serve up DLC. When is a record company going to jump on the cashwagoon and start making their own tracks?

Needs more Wishbone Ash

Not Enough Dream Theater.

Probably the best rhythm game artist line-up I've seen yet. It's like the creators read my mind for what artists I'd like to see. Sunny Day Real Estate, White Stripes/Raconteurs, My Morning Jacket, TV on the Radio, Blur/Gorillaz, Sonic Youth, Muse (and finally one of their good songs: "Plug In Baby"). Plus David Bowie as a playable character? Unbelievable!

Only disappointment is no Radiohead, but I'll get over it.

Where's Alter Bridge???!?!

The english ones are annoying.

I love how all the RB fans say "it takes more skill" or "the drums on GH suck." Oh, really? not only do the drums on GH feel more realistic, there's also mode skill involved in playing them. Ever tried 'Expert +' difficulty for drums on RB? Oh wait, no, it doesn't have that. Harmonix did a great job starting a franchise, and Activision and Neversoft are definitely keeping it strong.

It's funny how quick these RB fanboys are so quick to forget their roots.

Previous 50 Comments

These are the artists rocking out in Guitar Hero 5

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