Any artists enjoying "new" fame from Rock Band/Guitar Hero?

Cafe Society
1

With all the variations of Rock Band and Guitar Hero out there, there’s a ton of songs and artists being represented - old and new.

I know all of the classic rock songs but since I’m a big stick in the mud, there’s a lot of post-2000 songs I’ve never heard. Conversely, my teenage cousin had never heard of a lot of the older songs (even…Lenny…Kravitz…zomg!)

Has anyone read about any artists that are attributing new sales to Rock Band/Guitar Hero? Might Wings be making a comeback?

Mods: I know this question is about video games, sort of, but I’d assume answers would come from people more into music than video games. Please don’t move me to The Game Room!!

2

Here’s some information: http://www.usatoday.com/tech/gaming/2008-02-14-guitar-hero-effect_N.htm

Anecdotally I know my younger sister has downloaded many songs from bands well before her time solely because of their inclusion in Guitar Hero.

3

Great article Jas09, exactly what I was looking for!

Also interested in personal stories where people were turned on to new songs, like Jas’s sister.

4

Looking at the playlists for “Guitar Hero” (have only played a demo of “Rock Band”), here’s what I’ve downloaded from Napster or Amazon:

Guitar Hero (2005)
“Infected” – Bad Religion (1994)
“Take Me Out” – Franz Ferdinand (2004)
“Stellar” – Incubus (2000)
“Even Rats” – The Slip (bonus track, 2005)

Guitar Hero II (2006)
“Strutter” – KISS (1974)

Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s (2007)
"I Ran (So Far Away) – Flock of Seagulls (1982)

Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (2007)
“When You Were Young” – The Killers (2006)

I haven’t yet played World Tour or the expansions for Metallica or Aerosmith (which, I read on Wikipedia, has made more money off of GH: Aerosmith than any single album of theirs).

It’s very safe to say that I wouldn’t have downloaded any of these songs were it not for Guitar Hero. I’ve also downloaded additional songs from The Killers and Franz Ferdinand, based on my initial listens of those artists’ songs on Guitar Hero. It may have even changed my radio listening habits, as I’ve come to realize that all music released after 1992 isn’t crap.

5

I came in here specifically to mention Dragonforce, with their song Through the Fire and Flames. That band practically owes its entire existence to Guitar Hero.

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Why, '80s one-hit wonders Stephen and the Colberts and their classic Charlene (I’m Right Behind You, of course.

Oh, wait- you meant real bands?

7

Truth. :slight_smile:

8

Yup. I thought I’d become a Dragonforce fan after playing that song for the first time, until I went to their website and realized ALL their songs sounded exactly like Through The Fire And Flames.

I Ran (So Far Away) gets featured in something every few years and sells another couple of hundred thousand copies. Last time it was when it was the backing track for the GTA: Vice City commercials (and featured in the game).

I bet a buncha people discovered Strong Bad/Homestarrunner.com via the bonus tracks in GH I and II.