Overheard@PAX: Harmonix talks Nickel-smack

by Griffin McElroy { Sep 6th 2009 at 3:00PM }

Harmonix's Caleb Epps: So, you guys probably heard about Nickelback saying negative stuff about music games ...

Crowd: (Boo!)

Epps: I just want to extend an olive branch to Nickelback, and say that if they want to put their music into the Rock Band Network ...

Crowd: (Emphatic boo!)

Epps: Well, guys, it's peer-reviewed, so you can just vote them way down.

Crowd: (Emphatic cheer!)

Tags: caleb-epps, ea, harmonix, mtv-games, music, nickelback, overheard, pax, pax-2009, rhythm, rock-band, rock-band-network

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

kojo87 @ Sep 6th 2009 3:02PM

this just made my day. Nickelback is terrible

DWells55 @ Sep 6th 2009 5:11PM

Nickelback is responsible for at least half the times I've had to change my car radio to another station.

Foetoid @ Sep 6th 2009 6:05PM

Wow, so much Nickleback hate. Is it generally a 'gaming' thing to do cause they dissed Guitar Hero or something. Personally i think a good dozen of their songs are excellent and "If Today Was Your Last Day" is one of my favourite songs of 2009, (the other being Second Chance by Shinedown). I know everyone is entitled to thier opinion, i'm just surprised to see so many people hating on a band that is hugely popular and definitely one of my top 20 artists of all time.

Foetoid @ Sep 6th 2009 6:15PM

Just to reclaim some credibility some of my other favourite bands include:

Disturbed (fav band)
Metallica
Pantera
Pink Floyd
John Farnham
Linkin Park
Stone Sour
Guns 'n' Roses
Dethklok
Bon Jovi
Eminem
Breaking Benjamin
Foreigner
Crossfade
Joe Satriani
Justin Timberlake
Jameriquai
Silverchair
Limp Bizkit
+ anything with Travis Barker in it.

Wow i dunno if i just helped my cause or dosed it in petrol and lit it up.

Levi @ Sep 6th 2009 6:28PM

ehh, Shinedown's first CD was literally life changing for me, but I don't like their second or third CD's. It's a shame. I thought their first CD was EXACTLY how a "post-grunge" band should be, mixing simple yet heavy and catchy guitar and drums, with actually talented and loud vocals. Then, they let their southern rock make them popular. Someone Save Me just marked the beginning of me not liking them anymore, and although "Second Chance" isn't a bad song, it confirms my not liking them anymore. It just fails so hard when compared to "Burning Bright," and "Fly From the Inside" is just an amazing song.

*Sigh*

OmegaVader @ Sep 6th 2009 6:44PM

damn Foetid, you have terrible taste in music. Everyone's entitled to their opinion, but that doesn't mean your opinion has to be respected. You need to expand your breadth if you really think Nickelback is one of the top 20 artists ever, they are as generic as rock gets. Here's a tip to help you in your future explorations: Nu-metal always sucks, avoid it like the plague.

And Justin Timberlake is just a monkey on parade. He can dance, but he's no musician. He should never be included on any top 20 lists. I predict half your list will be forgotten by you personally within 5 years; in 10 years you'll be saying 'that random asshole on Joystiq was right! What was I thinking..."

The Dark Wayne @ Sep 6th 2009 6:50PM

limp bizkit? lololollo In fact, that whole list is pretty lolworthy

bongoes the Black Lantern @ Sep 6th 2009 7:00PM

Justin Timberlake

Yeah, you doused in petrol AT LEAST.

Sergio @ Sep 6th 2009 7:37PM

holy crap Foetoid....you really do need to do something about your taste in music. I'm all for a varied interest but your is varied and awful. I think Pink Floyd may be your only saving grace from that entire list.

Slyphon Filter @ Sep 6th 2009 8:24PM

metallica, pantera, pink floyd, joe satriani, and GnR are the only good bands on his list. so foetoid, you did douse yourself in gasoline. and then you lit a match for us.

Foetoid @ Sep 6th 2009 8:37PM

Wow, voted into oblivion over expression of my opinion. Joystiq FTW. I wasn't saying those other bands were a part of what i would consider the best 20 ever, just listing some of the bands i listen to the most. Anyone else care to school me on what is "good".

@Dark Wayne. I was of course referring to thier early stuff, same with Silverchair.

@omegavader. Actually most of the bands on that list i've been listening to for over a decade, well over a decade, and i still listen to them daily.

If variety is the spice of life, i've got that nailed, i've also got a huge collection of dance and techno albums. Heck the only music on don't really listen to is Country. I'm really honestly surprised that everyone thinks my taste in music is terrible, i think it's all great music.

kojo87 @ Sep 6th 2009 9:05PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvujgcbaCF8

more proof

HippoHero @ Sep 6th 2009 11:43PM

Foetoid, you fool! You put out your musical tastes for the internet to see. Were you honestly expecting anything but ridicule?

Blah @ Sep 7th 2009 12:40AM

At least people can steal the tracks online safely, they wont be able to accuse anyone of stealing their music because of fear of being hypocrites.

squeehunter @ Sep 7th 2009 12:04PM

Their older stuff was a lot better.

clanboru15 @ Sep 7th 2009 12:59PM

So none of you guys think Disturbed is good at all? That's pretty startling to me actually. They are a really good band, and even better live. Stone Sour is also an incredible band. Maybe you guys are the ones that need to expand your horizons if all you listen to is older metal and rock. Not all metal is the same and just because you don't like it doesn't mean others don't enjoy it. You guys are basically spouting it as fact that recent metal is bad.

Oh and I dont like Nickelback. And if you have never watched Metalocalypse with Dethklok, watch it sometime on adult swim. Its hilarious.

Vegnagun bwf @ Sep 7th 2009 3:40PM

That list should be burned.

JDRE_124 @ Sep 8th 2009 6:50PM

Holy shit, Foetoid. You dropped a goddamn NUKE on your credibility.

FYI to the guy asking about Disturbed, those guys are so NOT fucking metal. They are nu-metal hiding behind shitty riffs masquerading as metal.

Broaden you're horizons guy. Turn off your fucking radio. Go out there and listen to stuff that's NOT on the top 100. Some stuff once in a while on the Hot 100 can be passable but it's almost never going to be stuff that you can listen to in 5 or 10 years time.

I'm all for liking SOME music just because you enjoy a particular hook, or you're into angsty shit but find some new bands. Like replace ALL of the ones you listed.

I'm not going to tell you what bands I listen to since music is subjective (except you seem to be more of a product of growing up with no real musical outlet) but you seem to be into nu-metal with angst and some pop.

Go listen to Nine Inch Nails. They are a industrial rock band, have some strong riffs, are QUITE angsty, and Trent Reznor knows a good hook when he hears one. And because NIN has several albums all start you off on a song that should draw you in to them

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erkT5zlDAuc

There, I covered all your assumed tastes in one band. Hopefully you'll gradually open up to other acts like Skinny Puppy and or maybe even switch genres and become a Radiohead fan or maybe even open up to Them Crooked Vultures or hell maybe you'll say FUCK GOOD MUSIC I WANNA BE APART OF THE UNWASHED MASSES, but you'll get there.

Leave Pink Floyd though. There good.

clanboru15 @ Sep 7th 2009 11:36PM

JDRE_124

Have you listened to any disturbed not on the radio? Just because you don't like it doesn't mean that it automatically has "shitty" riffs and mascarades as a metal band. And when you get into defining what a metal band is, you just start to sound like a tard. I just think it's horrible that you can sit there and say that no one else should like certain types of music because you think it's bad. I genuinely love the music I listen to and most of the bands are incredible musicians, but even if they aren't the most musically talented groups, you don't have to go around being superior because you think your music is better.

Deuce-MRP- @ Sep 8th 2009 12:14PM

eminem isnt a band

mars @ Sep 6th 2009 3:03PM

haha. that is all

mars @ Sep 6th 2009 3:03PM

by the way, sorry for the double post, but man is the lead singer ugly. he looks like the caveman from the geico commercials

the_pop @ Sep 6th 2009 3:43PM

I would like to add Richard Branson to the list of people who closely resemble neanderthal man.

Matthew @ Sep 6th 2009 9:29PM

100%! I see that commercial with the caveman walking down the street, and I don't know the music, but it sounds nickelbackesque. For the longest time, watching tv while playing a videogame, I wasn't paying much attention, so I just thought it was a commercial for some new shitty nickelback album.

kojo87 @ Sep 6th 2009 9:53PM

its 3 Doors Down. common mistake

ripslymemc @ Sep 6th 2009 11:07PM

his hairstyle doesn't go well with his face shape.

...and is he trying to give everyone the "look into my eyes, baby" look?

.................................

Leroy_Rocktopus [Planeteer: Power of Asian Disability] @ Sep 6th 2009 3:04PM

They just don't like Rock Band, because none of there songs are good enough to get into it.

dark_inchworm (stronger than never, ever before) @ Sep 6th 2009 3:07PM

+over9000

Special Agent Steve @ Sep 6th 2009 3:16PM

What do you mean by "good enough"?
Shouldn't it just be "not good at all"?

Spike @ Sep 6th 2009 4:18PM

@Special Agent Steve
well we DO have linkin park

WINterfang @ Sep 6th 2009 5:25PM

Linkin Park songs at least are different from each other.

DBuck_Eye @ Sep 6th 2009 7:12PM

Except New Divide and What I've Done. They're pretty samey.

IDUNNOLOL @ Sep 6th 2009 10:10PM

none of where songs?

mynk @ Sep 7th 2009 12:34AM

i think new divide was just lp's way of figuring out how to get more time with meggan fox than making songs, just reuse and old song.

tmacairjordan87 @ Sep 6th 2009 3:06PM

That's awesome. Nickelback is mind numbingly awful, and I wouldn't wish their music on anyone, not even Guitar Hero.

Spirit @ Sep 6th 2009 3:27PM

You know you've failed at music when Guitar Hero won't even take you.

Traceur_Ryuk (PSN: Ryuk_shinigami) @ Sep 6th 2009 3:31PM

The sad thing is how many albums they have sold. I sometimes am in awe at peoples' poor taste in music.

Kyera @ Sep 7th 2009 2:05AM

Wasn't there a Nickelback pack for GH:WT, though? Or am I crazy?

deaftly @ Sep 6th 2009 3:07PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7F3O6WYfHQ

Juno @ Sep 6th 2009 3:10PM

http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1828182

Nate Addison @ Sep 6th 2009 3:38PM

I never get tired out watching that one. Please excuse me I have to go watch this again.

bongoes the Black Lantern @ Sep 6th 2009 7:10PM

Caution: Your ears might bleed from suck

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qs4tNeGyTyI

rooshma @ Sep 6th 2009 11:55PM

I was actually able to listen to the second video longer than I can listen to Nickelback.

Babel @ Sep 6th 2009 3:08PM

As some wise soul previously declared on Joystiq:

Justice is the cat's pyjamas.

MowDownJoe @ Sep 6th 2009 3:12PM

I dunno in anyone on Joystiq posted this, but I remember hearing that, while in development, Rock Band Network was codenamed Rock Band: Nickelback so as to dissuade any interest from random visitors asking "What's behind these doors?"