Since the release of their first album in 1994 I have ben a huge fan of Weezer. Brilliant geek rock tunes, (that are pretty easy to play along to on real guitar) have now even featured on the game to beat all games - Guitar Hero! However, it seems that Weezer's front man Rivers Cuomo isn't a big fan of Guitar Hero. In a recent interview he is attributed to have said:
" I just don't get these games at all..to me, "I mean, I haven't tried them. But they must be fun because people love them. But, to me, it seems like if you're going to put that much effort into playing something, you should just play a real instrument."
'Say it Ain't So' was always one of my favourite songs by Weezer and to get the chance to play this in Guitar Hero was great for me. More Weezer tunes in future versions please, and Rivers, have a go at it, you might be surprised at how much fun it is and who knows, it may encourage people to take up the guitar who might not have even considered it before!
I'm sure there is a little bit of fun in his comments particulalry in view of the video for their new single 'Pork and Beans' which parodies aspects of game and internet culture. The main game reference is in reference to the phrase 'all your base are belong to us' which became an internet phenomenon in 2001. It came about as a result of a mis-translation from Japanese to English of the game Zero Wing for the Mega Drive.
Here's their new single with lots of faces from the web that you'll no doubt recognise:
I'm sure there's an Onion story somewhere about an American teen becoming world champion at GH and reflecting on how he could have learned a real guitar... In the absence of that, try: http://www.theonion.com/content/news/activision_reports_sluggish_sales
I wish I was Rivers Cuomo. Sometimes.
Posted by: Ian U | May 24, 2008 at 10:29 AM
...and even better, "My Name Is Jonas" is on GH III on the Wii - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jRnS_eWt5Q
Posted by: Ian U | May 24, 2008 at 10:34 AM
Ian, I can actually play My Name is Jonas on the 'real guitar'! Love the look of Sousaphone Hero...class.
Posted by: Derek Robertson | May 24, 2008 at 11:42 AM
Surely the sousaphone must be an April Fool!!
Could just see a couple of people playing these in a living room. Do you think we would have the same effect with these as with guitar hero in a classroom?
Posted by: Margaret | May 25, 2008 at 08:14 PM
My Nephew Caelan(12) just completed GH at Expert level !!!- He is a total wizard, but I guess it took him at least 200+ hours practice to get so good. I bought him a short scale flyingV guitar (real) and a stomp box but he doesn't play it much. SO- I'm gonna buy him a short scale bass and a wee amp. Bass is easier to access and is more like GH (melodic with no chord shapes). GH is instant gratification and has a lot going for it, but it's really a memory/coordination game. I'm a good guitar player but I'm rubbish at GH. I can't help agreeing with Cuomo. The real question is how can we ween a GH addict off the plastic axe and onto a real one, this has to be looked at. My answer- play simple bass lines and jam with a drummer for fun. Start with anthems like "smoke on the water" - if you get good try "shake hands with beef" -NiRvAnA Rule!
Posted by: Barrie Barreto | August 19, 2008 at 05:16 PM
Shake hands with beef...class.
From my point of view I'm not really using Guitar Hero to get kids into music more to get them into writing, art & design and other curricular areas. However, if it does raise interest levels in playing the guitar or bass then great. By the way Barrie, have you heard the new Weezer CD? It's superb...particularly tracks 2 & 3. I think I can do them so any chance of a jam?!
Posted by: Derek Robertson | August 19, 2008 at 05:35 PM
Not heard the Weezer disk yet- too busy listening to "head' live by Prince c1981- awesome funk jam !- super rare -deleted from utube, but I have it archived. Dek-If you ever get a day off we have to get together and crank it up, i'll bring the big muff and the wah wah!
Posted by: Barrie Barreto | August 19, 2008 at 06:20 PM