How To Feel Like A Member of Bon Jovi…or Iron Maiden…or Rush
Thursday, January 24th, 2008So I had a few weeks off between leaving my old job and showing up at JACK. To keep myself busy I played drums in Bon Jovi, wailed on guitar with the dudes in Iron Maiden, and actually tried rapping as a member of Faith No More. Let me tell you, as a white boy from the mean streets of Thornhill I make a pretty crappy rapper.
Those are just a few of the bands featured in the new game Rock Band, which is taking the music and gaming biz by storm. Sure, the various Guitar Hero games are loads of fun, but Rock Band literally has you feeling like you’re in the band. In fact, I had a Rock Band birthday party a few weeks ago, and watched in pleasant awe as 30 people who didn’t all know one another took turns as bandmates. Video games, bringing people together. How about that.
Along with the 45 songs Rock Band comes with, you can also download content online. This is so fantastic. Over the last months I’ve grabbed songs from David Bowie, Rush (Limelight is awesome), and an Oasis 3-pack that brought me back to 1996. I’m not the only one downloading either. In the past 2 months there have been something like 1.5 million Rock Band downloads. Next week you’ll be able to download Rush’s Working Man for the game. I can’t wait to play the guitar solo!
Have you played Rock Band? Do you want to? Or do you think I’m uber-lame for loving the game? Let me know (but if you tell me I’m lame I don’t know if I’ll post your comment - it’s my blog. I have assumed control).
Here’s a bonus word for your troubles: ROCKBAND. It’s good until midnight tonight.