I don’t play the Guitar Hero games, but I watch. When Rock Band comes out, I’ll bang on the drums all night. If I’ve had enough to drink I might be coaxed onto the microphone for a few songs, even. What I do know is that I have listened to a lot of songs that I otherwise never would have listened to, and listened to them repeatedly. And those games are more active listening, because you’re participating and focusing on them the whole time–it’s not like just having some music on in the background.
So I can only assume that some of these bands are finding new fans with new audiences they hadn’t previously reached. I was thrilled when I saw that Jethro Tull’s “Aqualung” is on Rock Band II, because they’re one of my favorite bands and I keep thinking "wow, there’s a whole bunch of high school kids out there listening to Tull for the first time–I wonder how many of them will think “hey, this is cool! wonder what the rest of their stuff sounds like…” and go listen to more? Tull gets fairly limited airplay even on classic rock stations, and I don’t think a lot of the young kids listen to those stations anyway. These games seem like a really interesting new marketing method for bands to reach new ears…
…so that brings up the question… are there any bands that YOU have started listening to because you got into them from one of these games? Either you’d never heard of them before or you’d heard of them but not really paid much attention or listened before, but since playing the game you’ve become a fan or at least a listener? Have you bought anybody’s album based on hearing them (or their cover) on one of these games?
I know there are several songs that I’ve gotten fond of in the game that are by bands I don’t normally listen to, (but I can’t think of what they are at the moment. I will come back and post when I do) but I haven’t actually gone out and looked for more of their music yet. But that is more due to lack of time than interest.
I haven’t actually gone out and bought yet, but I’m very interested in checking out more Eric Johnson based solely on the cover of “Cliffs of Dover” in “Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock”.
My 10-year-old son will occasionally pipe up with a question about some “new” band he has uncovered - everything from Cream to Megadeth. Very cool - I love how the games are re-introducing some GREAT music to kids that way…
I really liked Ruby by the Kaiser Chiefs and went and found more stuff by them. I also downloaded: Avalancha (by Heroes Del Silencio), I’m In the Band (by the Hellacopters) and Radio Song (by Superbus) just because they were so much fun to play in game.
I ended up picking up the Coheed and Cambria Albums thanks in no small part to “Welcome Home” on Rockband. That song was SO epic and crazy that I had to check out the rest of their stuff. And I think it’s not bad (The album that has Welcome Home on it at least). It’s very trippy and concept heavy, but it’s nice to see a band that into it.
But if it wasn’t for rockband, I’d never have paid them any attention.
I read that Motley Crue’s single “Saints of Los Angeles” single sold more Rock Band downloads than regular MP3 downloads through iTunes. I bought the RB version. It’s neat to check out a song that way. Even if I don’t love the song, maybe someone who comes over to play will want to play it.
I already have a lot of the songs on Guitar Hero and Rock Band, but I bought CDs from the Exies and the Donnas from RB 1 or 2.
I didn’t know until this weekend that Elvis Costello wrote “Pump It Up” (it’s on RB2). I loved this song in the movie “PCU”. Have to go by the record store today.