🔗 Share this article

It has been 20 years since Guitar Hero hit the market across the Atlantic, offering players everywhere the means to feel like rock legends. Figuratively speaking, though you'd be hard-pressed convincing anyone who has nailed the epic lengthy guitar solo before an enthusiastic crowd of friends.

Created by Harmonix, the game gave players a guitar-shaped controller to match on-screen cues scrolling down the screen in time with a song. Every sequence mimicked specific notes, creating the sensation of a genuine performance.

Harmonix previously experimented with rhythm games prior to teaming up with the publisher, which was purchased by the gaming giant in 2006. Together, they laid the groundwork for a surprising massively profitable series that had a significant influence on numerous musicians featured, showcasing classic bands to millions of younger players.

A former executive, former COO of Harmonix, remembers the early budgetary hurdles in securing the songs – despite the fact initial releases primarily featured cover versions.

“We reproduced every song since the cost was so high,” he explains. “Despite having the necessary permissions by themselves, it was nearly impossible. We couldn’t get acts such as the Who – RedOctane was operating on a shoestring budget, and our team was fairly certain the project would flop. However, when Guitar Hero became a hit, and record sales and radio play were going up, everyone wanted to participate.”

He continues: “Among the remarkable aspects was the number of mothers and fathers reached out and thanked us for exposing their children to the music they loved. It evolved into a multigenerational phenomenon.”

Timeless Music Finds Younger Fans

Irish blues-rock band one featured act had Never Too Late on the 2008 game Guitar Hero World Tour. Guitarist the artist recalls the way the game revived older hits back into vogue: “Guitar Hero provided a larger, new demographic. Generally this had been seen as music that was past it, but then once it got featured on the title young people discovered it, suddenly it was cool. That legitimised it, eliminating the ‘dad rock’ tag. It gave all our music renewed popularity.”

In 2008, the Answer’s debut album remained not available stateside, meaning Guitar Hero was a key medium of discovery for the band as they went on a North American tour supporting the rock giants. “Their crew had on Never Too Late on the tour bus, and several recognized us from Guitar Hero,” he notes.

Rock’s Heavyweight Titles and Lasting Influence

Music's heavyweight names quickly took advantage of the game's success, with Aerosmith, Metallica and Van Halen starring in dedicated spin-off titles centered around each band’s catalogue and related lore, imagery and legendary status. In the case of, Guitar Hero: Aerosmith, it was said to have made the group greater revenue compared to their records. It sold more than 500,000 copies in its first week, and demand for their songs saw an increase significantly during an era when the music business was already collapsing.

Guitar Hero continues to inspire quick-handed dedication among its fans. Recently, an online personality completed a remarkable feat featuring the challenging track – a notoriously difficult power-metal song made popular by Guitar Hero – using a fan-made version, a freeware game with almost identical mechanics but an array of personalization features. This track is challenging enough on expert mode, not to mention performed at increased tempo while hitting every one of the thousands of cues. They stated requiring months of practice to accomplish.

“The game is a fun, imaginary experience. Just as with Call of Duty, that doesn’t mean you should pick up actual weapons and enlist,” says musician Herman Li.

The band previously completed a profitable run when their hit appeared in the third game, yet he explains it turned them into a household name. “I recall our distributors calling to tell me that our records were moving like crazy,” he shares. “It exploded on the subsequent tour, and we performed right ahead of top acts at the event.”

Indeed, DragonForce’s exposure via the game proved so vast that it risked overshadow all other the band has done. Last year, the track featured in a trailer for Despicable Me 4. “In the past I thought differently, but now I accept it,” Li says. “If you only hear one DragonForce song, it’s totally cool – everyone’s got a unique path in music and I'm pleased we played a role in fans' experiences”.

Enduring Impact from the Iconic Controller

The best promotion, whether it’s for automobiles, apparel or video games, extends beyond mere transactions – it inspires a desire. Did Guitar Hero harness this? “Precisely what our team aiming to achieve,” he confirms. “That thrill of performing as a rock star on the stage. Since the beginning, the creators felt that there’s an instinctive urge to make music, and they wanted to leverage innovation to enable everyone to participate”.

The majority installments came out in just a five-year period from 2005 to 2010, featuring spin-offs such as DJ Hero, complete with a turntable controller, and the band-focused game. Subsequently, corporate focus in plastic instruments waned, aside from a brief comeback several years later.

Games like the fan project and Fortnite Festival have kept the scene alive, with set to be a new product from the founders in development. A new studio has entered work on their first rhythm-based title. The initial creators are participating in advisory roles. Are gamers prepared to welcome a new entry following the classic?

“Our team believed such titles could be like Madden where you can releases,” Dornbrook says. “With abundant fresh tracks it could remain evergreen, thus I remain optimistic. There’s no reason why it can’t persist with new generations.”