How To Feel Like A Member of Bon Jovi…or Iron Maiden…or Rush
So 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.
January 24th, 2008 at 12:08 pm
I’ve been playing guitar hero, haven’t played Rock Band, though from your description it does great.
January 24th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
Played R.B. in NYC over the Xmas holidays. Loved it! Kids would not let me get on it again, as I knew the words for the tunes and they couldn’t hit the notes. Man they could outplay me on guitar, tho. A bit more practice on GH3 and I’ll have the reflexes back.
Just damn hard to justify a 4-500 $ hit just to play in a band at home.
And the drum hit sounds are a huge distraction when playing guitar or bass, as when they hit it off tempo, I got thrown off too!
Hope some downloads come for GH3 on Wii soon, I’m getting tired of” thru the fire and flames”
PLAY!
January 24th, 2008 at 7:37 pm
Never played either game but I hear they are awesome!
Andrew you kinda look “uber-lame” in your blog pic hahaha, sorry.. but I guess that goes with the office politics status stuff . I rather like the pic with your drum sticks and velvet blazer .. that rocks!
January 25th, 2008 at 10:25 am
Hey, that’s my wedding tux! Sniff:)
January 25th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
IRON MAIDEN KICKS ASS.
IM DYING TO GET TO THE TORONTO SHOW THIS MARCH 16 BUT TICKETS SOLDOUT ALREADY. PLAYED JACK NATION FOR MAIDEN TIX TWICE BUT NO LUCK. ANY IDEA HOW CAN I GET TO THE SHOW? THANKS!
HAVEN’T HEARD ABOUT ROCKBAND BUT SOUNDS INTERESTING. ILL CHECK IT OUT. WOULD LUV TO PLAY AXEMAN BESIDE DAVE MURRAY & MR. ADRIAN SMITH.
UP THE IRONS!!!
HVE A GREAT WEEKEND ANDREW.