The world is full of people who take themselves way too seriously, and guess what, that includes not only Rock n' Rollers trying to extend a "good gig," but apparently also some journalists looking to do the same.
Here's the backstory. It's pretty minor stuff so feel free to roll your eyes when the urge hits you, but it's a slow news day so here it goes. So, last Monday, power balladeers Nickelback gave an interview to MTV News where in frontman Chad Kroeger made what could be read as a disparaging remark related to playing Guitar Hero. The bulk of the interview was about what went into the making of the band's new album, Dark Horse. Anyway, with regard to the comment, in true 'if it bleeds it leads' form the MTV article put it right up front. Here it is followed by an additional quote:
'"Chad Kroeger wants you to stop playing Guitar Hero." Later going on to quote Kroeger as saying, "I feel like there's not enough rock bands out there, especiallyThis reads to me as Kroeger thinking that if more people played actual music versus music simulation games that there would be more bands, or perhaps more opening bands for Nickelback to choose from. As someone who has made a fool of himself once or twice on stage over the years and spent his share of time with Guitar Hero and Rock Band games, I'd say he's probably right. Sure it's ironic and funny so see the frontman for a band that is not exactly the hardest rocking unit out there put himself in the position to wag his finger at the "kids," but it's at least as equally funny to me that some in the game press, and perhaps some gamers, chose to take offense at this. If you love playing music for real, keep on keepin' on. If you love playing sim games keep on doing that. If you love music and can run Guitar Hero and/or Rock Band at expert, then let's hook up. I've got a notebook full of songs that will drive the kids wild, and you can use whatever guitar you want.
when we go on the road,"..."It's tough to find other bands out there, because either they're
making a record, or they just got done touring. So kids: Start rock
bands. Set down the Guitar Hero, learn how to play an actual guitar
and start a band, because it's hard to find more bands to put a solid
rock-and-roll package together, to get out there. It's getting harder
and harder, but I think we've done it."'
--Hobson's Choice
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On one hand, more power to three chord rockers from any genre, who are able to make a few bucks decades after the fact. If he/she happened to be part of the post-Ramones, pre-Nirvana and Green Day US punk scene, back in the day there was almost certainly never an inkling that there would ever be any money that came of it, just hopefully fun. All I can say is I hope that all parties involved with this DLC held on to the rights to their songs instead of signing them away to pay for some piddly debt to a crappy label. I'm pretty sure that the Dead Kennedy's have, although not necessarily happily. So, what's the other side of this?