Guitarists bash Guitar Hero

Geek Speak

[Comment Below]

By Ryan Burns

The success of the Guitar Hero series and games like it is undeniable; gamers love to rock out to their favorite songs. Recently, however, real-life legends of rock have said they're not fans.

Jack White of The White Stripes and Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin spoke out against the series during a press conference for It Might Get Loud, a documentary featuring the two rockers as well as U2's The Edge.

"It's depressing to have a label come and tell you that [Guitar Hero] is how kids are learning about music and experiencing music," White said. "If you have to be in a video game to get in front of them, that's a little sad."

As "sad" as it might be, White's songs will appear in Guitar Hero 5. Guitar Hero: Areosmith, Guitar Hero: Metallica and the upcoming Guitar Hero: Van Halen and The Beatles: Rock Band have shown some bands' willingness to join forces with the franchise, but it seems like fans can cross Guitar Hero: Led Zeppelin off the list of potential games.

Page stated that he didn't believe anyone could learn anything about real instruments from the games. A fair assessment, but if someone is playing Guitar Hero and hoping to learn to play an actual musical instrument, they have missed the point.

"You think of the drum part that John Bonahm did on Led Zeppelin's first track on the first album, 'Good Times Bad Times,'" he said. "How many drummers in the world can play that part, let alone on Christmas morning?"

This is not even close to the first time musicians have spoken out against the Guitar Hero franchise. Back in 2006, John Mayer talked to Rolling Stone about playing the games verses playing a real guitar.

"I don't ever want to be the kind of guy who rails against whatever progress has taken place," Mayer said. "But Guitar Hero was devised to bring the guitar-playing experience to the masses without them having to put anything into it."

"And having done both, there's nothing like really playing guitar. I mean, what would you rather drive, a Ferrari or one of those amusement-park cars on a track?"

Guitar Hero controllers have been called "Fisher-Price guitars" before, but "amusement-park cars" is a new insult. Actually, a Guitar Hero theme park would be one crazy sight.

Prince, the artist formerly known as "the artist formerly known as 'Prince,'" outright refused to license songs for Guitar Hero in May of this year. The reason? "Principle."

"I just think it's more important that kids learn how to actually play the guitar. It's a tough instrument - it's not easy," Prince said. "It took me a long time, and it was frustrating at first. And you just have to stick with it, and it's cool for people who don't have time to learn the chords or ain't interested in it, but to play music is one of the greatest things."

Originally Published: Issue 806 - July 1, 2009

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