🔗 Share this article

Marking two decades after Guitar Hero debuted across the Atlantic, offering everyday gamers the means to feel like rock legends. Not in reality, though you'd be hard-pressed convincing someone who's mastered the epic four-minute guitar solo in front of an enthusiastic living-room audience.

Created by the developers, Guitar Hero gave players a plastic guitar peripheral to match coloured notes moving along the display synchronized to the music. Each riff mimicked specific notes, producing the feel of an authentic performance.

The studio had already tried its hand in the music genre before partnering with RedOctane, which was purchased by Activision during the mid-2000s. Collaboratively, they established the groundwork for a surprising billion-dollar franchise which made a remarkable impact for many musicians featured, introducing classic groups to a new generation of younger players.

A former executive, former COO of Harmonix, remembers the early financial challenges in securing the songs – even though the first two games primarily featured cover versions.

“We rerecorded every song because the dollar figure prohibitive,” he says. “Despite having the publishing rights alone, it was nearly impossible. We failed to secure bands like the Who – RedOctane was operating on a shoestring budget, and our team was pretty convinced the project would flop. But once Guitar Hero became a hit, and record sales and radio play were going up, everyone wanted to be in.”

He continues: “Among the amazing things was how many mothers and fathers reached out expressing gratitude for introducing their children to the songs they loved. It became an intergenerational phenomenon.”

Timeless Music Gains Younger Fans

Northern Irish group the Answer had Never Too Late on the 2008 game Guitar Hero World Tour. Guitarist Paul Mahon recalls the way the game brought classic rock to the forefront: “The game offered a bigger, new demographic. Typically this had been seen as outdated material, but then when it was included in the game young people discovered it, abruptly it was cool. That legitimised the genre, and got rid of the outdated tag. It provided all our music renewed popularity.”

At that time, the Answer’s debut album was still not available stateside, meaning the game was a key medium of discovery for the band during their a North American tour supporting AC/DC. “Their crew were playing Never Too Late during travel, and some of them recognized us thanks to the game,” he notes.

Major Band Titles and Lasting Impact

Music's biggest acts soon took advantage of the series’ popularity, including bands like Aerosmith, Metallica and Van Halen starring in specialized spin-off titles that focused on their music collections and associated stories, visuals and legendary status. For example, the Aerosmith edition, reportedly to have made the group more money than any of their records. It sold more than 500,000 units in its first week, while demand for their songs saw an increase significantly at a time as the industry was already collapsing.

The series still motivates quick-handed fanaticism within the community. Recently, a streamer achieved a remarkable feat featuring Through the Fire and Flames – an infamously tough anthem made popular by Guitar Hero – using a fan-made version, a no-cost alternative with almost identical gameplay but an array of personalization features. The song is difficult even in expert mode, not to mention performed at increased tempo and without missing every one of its near 4,000 notes. They stated it took months of practice of practice.

“Guitar Hero is a fun, fantasy thing. If you play other games, that doesn’t mean you should use actual weapons and enlist,” notes musician the artist.

The band previously wrapped up a profitable run before Through the Fire and Flames appeared on Guitar Hero III, yet he explains it made them widely recognized. “I remember the record label calling to tell me that we were selling albums rapidly,” he says. “It exploded on the subsequent tour, and we were playing right ahead of the headliners on the Mayhem festival.”

Indeed, DragonForce’s exposure from Guitar Hero proved so vast that it has risked overshadow everything else the band has done. Recently, the track featured in promotional material for a major film. “Previously I thought differently, but I’ve made peace with it,” Li says. “If you only hear one DragonForce song, it’s totally cool – each person has their own musical journey and I’m glad we’ve been part of people’s lives”.

The Lasting Impact from the Plastic Guitar

Top-tier marketing, whether it’s for automobiles, apparel or games, goes further mere transactions – it inspires a desire. Did Guitar Hero harness this? “Precisely what our team trying to create,” Dornbrook says. “That thrill of being a rock star on the stage. From day one, the creators felt that there’s an instinctive urge to create songs, and their goal was to use technology to enable everyone to participate”.

The majority installments were released in just a half-decade from 2005 to 2010, including spin-offs such as DJ Hero, including a turntable controller, and the band-focused game. After that, the publisher’s interest in plastic instruments died down, except for a brief comeback several years later.

Titles such as the fan project and newer releases have kept the community alive, with set to be a new product from the original publisher in development. A new studio has begun work on its debut music game. The initial creators are both involved as special advisers. Is the world ready to embrace another game in the spirit of the classic?

“We thought such titles might become like Madden where you can update every year,” Dornbrook says. “With abundant new music it could remain perennially popular, so I’ve always been optimistic. It's entirely possible for it to continue for future fans.”