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> Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock
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Current revision (08:37, 10 June 2010) (view source)
 
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[[File:Festival du jeu video 20080926 033.jpg|thumb| Players using a dance mat to play ''Dance Dance Revolution'', one of the most successful rhythm games.]]
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{{Infobox VG
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| title = Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock
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| image = [[File:Guitar Hero Warriors of Rock.png|256px]]
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| caption = Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock logo
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| developer = [[Neversoft]] (360/PS3)<br/>[[Vicarious Visions]] (Wii)
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| publisher = [[Activision]]
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| designer =
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| series = ''[[Guitar Hero]]''
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| engine =
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| released = September 28, 2010 <ref>{{cite web | url=http://hub.guitarhero.com/games/overview/ghwor | title=Guitar Hero Website | date=2010-05-30 | accessdate=2010-05-30 | publisher=Activision }}</ref>
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| genre = [[Rhythm game]]
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| modes = [[Single-player]], [[Multiplayer video game|multiplayer]]
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| ratings =
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| platforms = [[PlayStation 3]], [[Wii]], [[Xbox 360]]
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| media = [[Blu-ray Disc|Blu-ray]] (PS3), [[DVD]] (Xbox 360), [[Wii Optical Disc]] (Wii)
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| requirements =
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| input = [[Guitar controller]], [[drum controller]], [[microphone]], [[gamepad]], [[Wii Remote]]
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}}
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{{VG Action}}
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'''''Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock''''' (initially referred to as '''''Guitar Hero 6''''') is an upcoming [[rhythm video game]] and the sixth main entry in the [[Guitar Hero|''Guitar Hero'' series]]. The game is expected to be released September 20, 2010 for the [[Xbox 360]], [[PlayStation 3]] and [[Wii]] consoles.  Due to significant issues with poor sales of rhythm games in 2009, [[Activision]], ''Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock''{{'}}s publisher has since dissolved [[RedOctane]]<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3177930 | title = Original Guitar Hero Publisher RedOctane Shut Down | first =  Chris | last = Pereira | date = 2010-02-11 | accessdate = 2010-05-26 | publisher = [[1UP.com]] }}</ref> and [[Neversoft]]'s ''Guitar Hero'' division;<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3177918 | title = Activision Confirms Studio Layoffs | first = Steve | last = Watts | date  =2010-02-11 | accessdate = 2010-05-26 | publisher = [[1UP.com]]}}</ref> however, ''Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock'' represents the last game in the series to be developed by Neversoft prior to the dissolution. [[Vicarious Visions]] developed the Wii port of the game which utilizes additional [[Nintendo DS]] functionality, though at present there is no stand-alone DS version of the game.
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'''Rhythm game''', or '''rhythm action''', is a genre of [[Music video game|music-themed]] [[Action game|action video games]]. Games in the genre primarily focus either on dancing or simulating the playing of musical instruments. Players must press buttons at a precise time corresponding to a sequence dictated by the game. Doing so will cause the game's protagonist or avatar to dance or play their instrument correctly, thus achieving a greater [[Score (gaming)|score]]. Many rhythm games include multiplayer modes in which players compete for the highest score or cooperate to simulate a band playing together. While conventional [[control pad]]s may be used as input devices, rhythm games often feature novel devices which emulate musical instruments. Dancing games sometimes require the player to physically dance on a mat, with pressure-sensitive pads acting as the input device.
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==Gameplay==
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{{See also|Guitar Hero#Gameplay|l1=Common gameplay elements in the Guitar Hero series}}
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As with previous games in the series, ''Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock'' will let up to four people play in a band on vocals, lead and bass/rhythm guitar, and drums, to successfully match notes as they scroll down the screen as appropriate for their instrument (or matching relative pitch, in the case of vocals), in order to perform well and complete each song. ''Official Xbox Magazine'' (UK) noted that the only change to the core gameplay appears to be the addition of a sustained open-string bass note that was lacking in ''Guitar Hero 5''.<ref name="oxmuk"/>
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The 1996 title ''[[PaRappa the Rapper]]'' has been deemed the first influential rhythm game, whose basic template forms the core of subsequent games in the genre. In 1997, [[Konami]]'s ''[[Beatmania]]'' sparked an emergent market for rhythm games in Japan. The company's music division, [[Bemani]], released a number of music games over the next several years. The most successful of these was dance mat game ''[[Dance Dance Revolution (1998 video game)|Dance Dance Revolution]]'', which was also the only one to achieve large-scale success outside of Japan. Imitators of the game began to flood the genre, until it was revitalized by [[Harmonix]]'s ''[[Guitar Hero (video game)|Guitar Hero]]''. The game was inspired by similar, earlier Japanese games, but Harmonix added [[rock music]] aimed at a Western audience. The success of the game revived the genre and spawned two hugely successful franchises in ''[[Guitar Hero]]'' and the later ''[[Rock Band]]''. The success of both expanded the console video game market and its demographics, as well as providing a new source of revenue for artists whose music appeared on the soundtracks. By 2008, rhythm games were considered to be one of the most popular video game genres, behind other action games. However, saturation of the market in 2009 by numerous spin-offs from the core titles led to a nearly 50% drop in revenue for music game published, causing them to scale-back plans for further expansion in 2010.
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The major game mode in ''Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock'' is called "Quest Mode", which will be narrated to the players by [[Gene Simmons]]. Quest Mode is a career mode where the players attempt to complete songs and challenges to advance the story and game. It is based on a story where the players of the band are attempting to release the "demigod of rock" and his guitar from his imprisonment by "the Beast", gaining strength through bringing new members aboard the band.<ref name="np preview">{{cite news | publisher = [[Nintendo Power]] | pages = 58–59 | date  = July 2010 | title = Hero's Quest | first = Justin | last  = Change }}</ref> Gaming journalists have noted thematic similarities between the story details of ''Warriors of Rock'' and ''[[Brütal Legend]]'', an action video game with a world based on heavy metal, developed by [[Tim Schafer]] and [[Double Fine]] which Activision, at one point, would have published but later dropped the rights.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/705025/Activision-Confirms-Guitar-Hero-Warriors-of-Rock.html | title = Activision Confirms Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock | first = Jake | last= Gaskill | date = 2010-05-28 | accessdate = 2010-05-28 | work = [[G4TV]] }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.vg247.com/2010/05/28/guitar-hero-warriors-of-rock-official-features-a-rock-n-roll-fantasy-story/ | title= Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock official, features a “rock ‘n’ roll fantasy” story | first = Nathan | last = Grayson | date = 2010-05-28 | accessdate = 2010-05-28 | publisher = [[VG247]] }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url  = http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=248749 | title = Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock detailed | work = [[Computer and Video Games]] | date=  2010-05-28 | accessdate = 2010-05-28 | first =  Tom | last = Pakinkis }}</ref>
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== Definition and game design ==
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[[File:Ghwow gameplay.JPG|left|thumb|In ''Warriors of Rock'', returning characters to the game will have Warrior forms that have additional scoring and gameplay benefits.]]
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[[File:Fretsonfire4.png|thumb|200px|Many rhythm games, such as ''[[Frets on Fire]]'', use a scrolling "note highway" to display what notes are to be played, along with a scoring and a performance meter.]]
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Due to ongoing legal issues with the likenesses of musician celebrities in ''[[Guitar Hero 5]]'' and ''[[Band Hero]]'', ''Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock'' will feature only fictional characters, those previously included in the series. As part of Quest Mode, players unlock these characters by completing specific songs for the characters, which can also unlock alter-egos for each character that have further influence on the game. One example is the character of Lars Umlaut, who can become "Warrior Lars" on completing his challenges, allowing for a maximum 6x scoring multipliers instead of a 4x one. In addition, all venues will be fictional except for the now-defunct [[CBGB]] Club in New York City.<ref name="oxmuk">{{cite news | title = Guitar Hero 6 | first = Ryan | last = King | pages = 56–57 | work = [[Official Xbox Magazine]] UK |date=June 2010}}</ref>
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Rhythm game, or rhythm action,<ref>[http://uk.playstation.com/games-media/news/articles/detail/item75867/Rhythm-action-games-on-PlayStation/ Rhythm action games on PlayStation], ''PlayStation.com'', July 30, 2007, Accessed Apr 3, 2009</ref><ref>Alexander, Leigh, [http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=18037 EA Announces DS Rhythm Action Exclusive Zubo], ''GamaSutra'', Mar 2, 2008, Accessed Apr 3, 2009</ref> is a subgenre of [[action game]] that challenges a player's sense of rhythm,<ref name="fundamentals"/> and includes dance games such as ''[[Dance Dance Revolution]]''<ref name="fundamentals"/> and other music-based games such as ''[[Donkey Konga]]'' and ''[[Guitar Hero]]''.<ref name="fundamentals"/> These games challenge the player to press the right button at the right time: the screen shows which button the player should press next, and the game awards points for accuracy and being on the beat.<ref name="fundamentals"/> The genre also includes games that measure both rhythm and pitch, in order to test a player's singing ability.<ref name="krev"/><ref>Frushtick, Russ, [http://www.ugo.com/ugo/html/article/?id=18042 Rock Band Review], ''UGO'', Accessed Apr 3, 2009</ref> In addition to rhythm, the occasional game may challenge the player to control their volume by measuring how hard they press each button.<ref name="madmaestro">Smith, David, [http://ps2.ign.com/articles/355/355561p1.html Mad Maestro], ''IGN'', Mar 14, 2002, Accessed Apr 3, 2009</ref> While songs can be [[sight reading|sight read]] without having performed them before,<ref>Brudvig, Erik, [http://ps2.ign.com/articles/814/814842p1.html GC 2007: Guitar Hero III Progress Report], ''IGN'', Aug 22, 2007, Accessed Apr 3, 2009</ref> players usually practice to master more difficult songs and settings.<ref>Cowan, Danny, [http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=11610 Critical Reception: RedOctane's/Harmonix's Guitar Hero II], ''GamaSutra'', Nov 8, 2006, Accessed Apr 3, 2009</ref> Other rhythm games offer a challenge similar to that of [[Simon says]], where the player must watch, remember, and repeat complex sequences of button-presses.<ref>Shoemaker, Brad, [http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/puzzle/spacechannel5specialedition/review.html Space Channel 5 Special Edition Review], ''GameSpot'', Dec 5, 2003, Accessed Apr 3, 2009</ref>
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In some rhythm games, the screen will display an avatar who performs in response to the player's button-presses.<ref name="fundamentals"/> However, these graphical responses are usually in the background,<ref name="madmaestro"/> and the avatar is less important to the player than it is to spectators.<ref name="krev">Gerstmann, Jeff, [http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/puzzle/karaokerevolution/review.html Karaoke Revolution Review], ''GameSpot'', Nov 10, 2003, Accessed Apr 3, 2009</ref> In single-player mode, the player's avatar will compete against a computer-controlled opponent, while [[multiplayer]] mode will allow two player-controlled avatars to compete head-to-head.<ref name="fundamentals"/> The popularity of rhythm games has created a market for speciality input devices.<ref name="fundamentals">Rollings & Adams, p. 442</ref> These include a variety of controllers which emulate musical instruments, such as guitars, drums, or maracas.<ref name="edge"/> A dance mat, for use in dancing games, requires the player to step on pressure-sensitive pads.<ref name="ashcraft523"/> More conventional inputs, specifically control pads, may be used however.<ref name="vib10"/>
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"Party Play", where the game will automatically play songs and allow for players to jump in at any time, remains in the game.<ref name="np preview"/> The game also includes an improved "Quickplay+" mode to play any of the songs in the game or from previous [[downloadable content]] directly; the Quickplay+ mode will include some of the features from ''Guitar Hero 5''{{'}}s Career mode, such as song challenges, that will otherwise not be incorporated into the Quest mode. Each song, both on-disc and from previous downloaded content, will have thirteen different challenges to be completed. Players will have the opportunity to use the unlocked Warrior form of the game's characters within Quickplay+ mode in order to take advantage of their gameplay benefits as necessary to complete some of these challenges.<ref name="eurog announce">{{cite web | url = http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/activision-unveils-gh-warriors-of-rock | title = Activision unveils GH: Warriors of Rock  | publisher = [[Eurogamer]] | first = Robert | last = Purchase | date = 2010-06-04 | accessdate = 2010-06-04 }}</ref> The competitive modes introduced in ''Guitar Hero 5'' will also carry over into ''Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock''.<ref name="oxmuk"/> The Wii version will improve the "Roadie" game version introduced in ''Guitar Hero 5''. In this mode, up to four additional players with their own [[Nintendo DS]] wirelessly connected to the Wii (the "Roadies") can assist the other players using instrument controllers. The Roadies can create setlists from the DS, or engage in gameplay through "spells" that improve the performance of the player they are assigned to. Alternatively, in Roadie Battle mode, the Roadies can attempt to distract another player while at the same time removing the distractions placed on their player by another Roadie.<ref name="np preview"/>
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== History ==
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==Development==
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=== Origins and popularity in Japan ===
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[[File:Gh-wow-guitar-controller.jpg|thumb|right|The new guitar controller for ''Warriors of Rock'' allows for the body of the controller to be swapped out, while all of the critical electronics remain within the main fretboard and neck of the unit.]]
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[[File:Gfv3anddmv3.jpg|thumb|Rhythm games employing electric guitar and drum input devices.]]
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A new guitar controller is being developed for the game to help with "shredding" and an art style to match the changes made in the game's visuals.<ref name="eurog announce"/> The guitar hardware has been significantly redesigned to locate most of the base electronics and wireless controls into the main fretboard of the unit, containing the colored fret buttons, strum and whammy bar, and other controls for interacting with the game console. As such, this allows the body of the guitar to be swappable with custom designs, allowing players to personalize the control to their wishes; one design will be exclusive to those that pre-order the game through [[GameStop]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://gizmodo.com/5556826/the-new-guitars-of-guitar-hero | title = The New Guitars of Guitar Hero | first = Mark | last = Wilson | date = 2010-06-07 | accessdate = 2010-06-07 | publisher = [[Gizmodo]] }}</ref> The new guitar controller remains backwards compatible with previous games.
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The genre has been traced back to the electronic game [[Simon (game)|Simon]],<ref name="edge">Graft, Kris, [http://www.edge-online.com/features/before-there-was-guitar-hero?page=0,0 Before There Was Guitar Hero...], ''Edge'', Nov 16, 2008, Accessed Apr 3, 2009</ref><ref>Ashcraft, p. 55</ref> invented by [[Howard J. Morrison|Howard Morrison]] and [[Ralph Baer]] (the latter also invented the [[Magnavox Odyssey]]) in 1978. Players take turns repeating increasingly-complicated sequences of button presses and the game implemented the "call and response" mechanic used by later music video games.<ref name="edge"/> ''[[Dance Aerobics]]'' was released in 1987, and allowed players to create music by stepping on Nintendo's [[Power Pad]] peripheral. It has been called the first rhythm-action game in retrospect.<ref name="block">Block, Gerry, [http://uk.gear.ign.com/articles/886/886870p1.html NES Power Pad Rocking Rhythm-Action Play], ''IGN'', July 7, 2008, Accessed Apr 10, 2009</ref> The later ''[[PaRappa the Rapper]]'' has also been credited as the first rhythm game,<ref name="block"/><ref name="gamespotparappa">Kasavin, Greg, [http://uk.gamespot.com/features/6142896/p-2.html The GameSpot Top 10 Rhythm Games: PaRappa the Rapper], ''GameSpot'', Jan 28, 2006, Accessed Apr 3, 2009</ref> as well as one of the first music games in general.<ref>Ashcraft, p. 52</ref> The game required players to press buttons corresponding to the order they appeared on-screen;<ref name="gamespotparappa"/> this basic mechanic would form the core of future rhythm games.<ref name="edge"/> The success of ''PaRappa the Rapper'' sparked an emergent popularity of the music game genre.<ref name="edge"/> Unlike most other games in the genre, the game also featured a completely original soundtrack and an acclaimed plot.<ref name="gamespotparappa"/> [[Konami]]'s ''[[Beatmania]]'', released in Japanese arcades in 1997, was a dj-themed rhythm game which featured buttons laid out like a keyboard along with a rubber pad emulating a record.<ref name="ashcraft54">Ashcraft, p. 54</ref> The game was a surprise hit, inspiring Konami's Games and Music Division to change its name to [[Bemani]] in honor of the game,<ref name="ashcraft54"/> and to then begin experimenting with other rhythm games over the next few years.<ref name="ashcraft56">Ashcraft, p. 56</ref> One of those successes,<ref name="ashcraft56"/> ''[[GuitarFreaks]]'', featured a guitar-shaped controller. While the franchise continues to receive new arcade versions in Japan, it was never strongly marketed outside of the country, allowing [[Harmonix]] to capitalize on the formula several years later with the Western-targeted ''[[Guitar Hero (video game)|Guitar Hero]]''.<ref name="edge"/> Similarly, ''[[DrumMania]]'' from 1999 used a drum kit controller and could be linked with ''GuitarFreaks'' for simulated [[jam session]]s, several years before the concept appeared in ''[[Rock Band]]''.<ref name="edge"/> 1998's ''[[Pop'n Music]]'', a game similar to ''Beatmania'', featuring multiple colorful buttons was also successful.<ref>Ashcraft, p. 58</ref>
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The game may include features using camera technology, such as [[Project Natal]], into the future game, according to the development team.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2010333810_brier23.html | title='Guitar Hero' founder excited about future | first=Brier | last=Dudley | date=2009-11-23 | accessdate= 2009-11-26 | work=[[Seattle Times]] }}</ref>
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''[[Dance Dance Revolution]]'', released in 1998, was a rhythm game in which players danced on pressure sensitive pads, in the order dictated by on-screen instructions.<ref name="ashcraft523">Ashcraft, p. 52-53</ref> The game was highly successful not only in Japan but globally, unlike games such as ''GuitarFreaks'', ''DrumMania'' and ''Beatmania'' (though the latter had some success in Europe).<ref>Ashcraft, p. 57</ref> Released the same year, [[Enix]]'s ''[[Bust a Groove]]'' revolved around similar dancing themes to ''Dance Dance Revolution'' but employed a more conventional input method. The game featured competitive one-on-one "battles" and also allowed the player a greater degree of freedom than normally found in rhythm games.<ref name="edge"/><ref>Gouskos, Carrie, [http://uk.gamespot.com/features/6142896/p-8.html The GameSpot Top 10 Rhythm Games: Bust a Groove], ''GameSpot'', Jan 28, 2006, Accessed Apr 3, 2009</ref>
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==Main setlist==
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The game's setlist features more than 90 songs.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/28831/Activision_Unveils_Quest_Mode_New_Guitar_For_Guitar_Hero_Warriors_Of_Rock.php?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GamasutraNews+%28Gamasutra+News%29&utm_content=Google+Reader | title =  Activision Unveils Quest Mode, New Guitar For Guitar Hero: Warriors Of Rock | publisher = [[Gamasutra]] | first= Leigh | last = Alexander | date=  2010-06-04 | accessdate= 2010-06-04 }}</ref> Project director Brian Bright stated that the soundtrack for ''Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock'' is "more focused on rock 'n' roll" than the variety of genres within ''Guitar Hero 5''.<ref name="oxmuk"/> The songs are more guitar-centric, as proven to be the most popular instrument choice based on ''Guitar Hero 5''.<ref name="np preview"/>
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''[[Vib-Ribbon]]'' was released by [[NanaOn-Sha]] (the creator of ''PaRappa the Rapper'') in 1999, and also eschewed instrument-shaped controllers. In this game, players had to maneuver the protagonist through an obstacle course by pressing buttons at the correct time. These courses were generated in a way that depended on the background music and players could load their own music to play along. While it was praised for its unique style and timeless artistry, its simple [[vector graphics]] proved difficult to market and the game was never afforded a release in North America.<ref name="edge"/><ref name="vib10">Calvert, Justin, [http://uk.gamespot.com/features/6142896/p-6.html The GameSpot Top 10 Rhythm Games: Vib-Ribbon], ''GameSpot'', Jan 28, 2006, Accessed Apr 3, 2009</ref> Bemani's ''[[Samba de Amigo]]'', released in 1999 and on [[Dreamcast]] in 2000, featured maraca-shaped, [[motion sensor]] controllers. The game made use of "social gaming", allowing two player gameplay and providing a spectacle for onlookers.<ref name="edge"/><ref>Gerstmann, Jeff, [http://uk.gamespot.com/features/6142896/p-3.html The GameSpot Top 10 Rhythm Games: Samba de Amigo], ''GameSpot'', Jan 28, 2006, Accessed Apr 3, 2009</ref> In 2001, ''[[Taiko no Tatsujin]]'' combined traditional Japanese drums with contemporary pop music, and became highly successful in Japanese arcades.<ref>Ashcraft, p. 59-60</ref> The game was later released on consoles in the West (as ''[[Taiko Drum Master]]'') and the franchise continues to receive new installments in Japan.<ref name="edge"/> ''[[Gitaroo Man]]'' featured a guitar-playing protagonist, 4 years before the release of ''Guitar Hero'', though the game employed a conventional rather than guitar-shaped controller.<ref name="edge"/> ''Gitaroo Man'''s creator, Keiichi Yano, further created ''[[Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan]]'', a rhythm game for the [[Nintendo DS]] utilizing its [[touchscreen]] features, which was a highly-demanded import title and lead to a sequel in Japan and a Western variation of the game in ''[[Elite Beat Agents]]''.<ref>Kohler, Chris, [http://www.1up.com/do/feature?pager.offset=0&cId=3153670 Cheer Squad: Why iNiS Wants to Make You Happier], ''1UP'', Sept 16, 2006, April 14, 2009</ref>
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All previous downloadable content that was playable in ''Guitar Hero 5'' or ''Band Hero'' will be compatible with ''Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock'', allowing for more than 300 tracks to be available to players at launch.<ref name="oxmuk"/> Michael Tremonti, brother of [[Alter Bridge]]'s [[Mark Tremonti]], has confirmed that "Ties That Bind" will be downloadable content for ''Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock''.<ref name=MT>{{cite web | url=http://alterbridgeband.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=23831&p=638006 | title=Alter Bridge News 11/30/09 | first=Michael | last=Tremonti | date=2009-11-30 | accessdate=2009-05-17 |  publisher= }}</ref>
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===Popularity in the West===
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{|class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center"
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Harmonix, a company formed from a computer music group at [[MIT]] in 1995, released ''[[Frequency (video game)|Frequency]]'' in 2001. The game allowed the player to control multiple instruments and gave a greater feeling of creative control.<ref>Davis, Ryan, [http://uk.gamespot.com/features/6142896/p-9.html The GameSpot Top 10 Rhythm Games: Frequency], ''GameSpot'', Jan 28, 2006, Accessed Apr 3, 2009</ref> The game was critically acclaimed, but its abstract style did not allow the player to give a "performance" as in other games and thus proved difficult to market.<ref name="edge"/> Harmonix later released more socially driven, [[karaoke]]-themed music games in ''[[Karaoke Revolution]]'' and ''[[SingStar]]'' (2003 and 2004 respectively).<ref name="edge"/> ''[[Donkey Konga]]'', developed by [[Namco]] for [[Nintendo]] and released in 2003 (2004 in North America) achieved widespread success due to its use of Nintendo's ''[[Donkey Kong (series)|Donkey Kong]]'' franchise.<ref name="edge"/>
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! style="background:#ddddee;" width=300 | Song !! style="background:#ddddee;" width = 300 | Artist !! style="background:#ddddee;" width=50 | Ref
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|-
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|"[[Aqualung (song)|Aqualung]]" || [[Jethro Tull (band)|Jethro Tull]] || <ref name="mtv reveal"/>
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|-
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|"[[Bat Country]]" || [[Avenged Sevenfold]] || <ref name="mtv reveal"/>
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|-
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|"[[Been Caught Stealing]]" || [[Jane's Addiction]] || <ref name="opmuk reveal">{{cite news | title= Guitar Hero 6 Preview | date= June 2010 | publisher = [[PlayStation Official Magazine]]}}</ref>
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|-
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|"[[Bleed It Out]]" || [[Linkin Park]] || <ref name="mtv reveal">{{cite web | url = http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2010/06/04/guitar-hero-warriors-of-rock-track-list-fills-out/ | title= 'Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock' Track List Fills Out | date= 2010-06-04 | accessdate = 2010-06-04 | first = Brian | last = Warmoth }}</ref>
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|-
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|"Bloodlines" || [[Dethklok]] || <ref name="opmuk reveal"/>
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|-
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|"[[Bodies (Drowning Pool song)|Bodies]]" || [[Drowning Pool]] || <ref name="mtv reveal"/>
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|-
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|"[[Bohemian Rhapsody]]" || [[Queen (band)|Queen]] || <ref name="opmuk reveal"/>
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|-
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|"Chemical Warfare" || [[Slayer]] || <ref name="opmuk reveal"/>
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|-
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|"[[Children of the Grave]]" || [[Black Sabbath]] || <ref name="opmuk reveal"/>
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|-
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|"[[Dance, Dance]]" || [[Fall Out Boy]] || <ref name="mtv reveal"/>
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|-
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|"Dancing Through Sunday" || [[AFI (band)|AFI]] || <ref name="opmuk reveal"/>
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|-
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|"[[Fascination Street]]" || {{sort|Cure|[[The Cure]]}} || <ref name="opmuk reveal"/>
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|-
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|"[[Feels Like the First Time]]" || [[Foreigner (band)|Foreigner]] || <ref name="mtv reveal"/>
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|-
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|"Fury of the Storm" || [[DragonForce]] || <ref name="opmuk reveal"/>
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|-
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|"[[I'm Not Okay (I Promise)]]" || [[My Chemical Romance]] || <ref name="opmuk reveal"/>
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|-
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|"If You Want Peace... Prepare for War" || [[Children of Bodom]] || <ref name="opmuk reveal"/>
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|-
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|"Indians" || [[Anthrax (band)|Anthrax]] || <ref name="mtv reveal"/>
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|-
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|"[[Interstate Love Song]]" || [[Stone Temple Pilots]] || <ref name="mtv reveal"/>
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|-
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|"[[Love Gun (song)|Love Gun]]" || [[Kiss (band)|Kiss]] || <ref name="opmuk reveal"/>
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|-
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|"Modern Day Cowboy" || [[Tesla (band)|Tesla]] || <ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.bravewords.com/news/125663 | title=TESLA – “We Have Five Things In The Works” | date=2009-11-05 | accessdate=2009-11-26 | publisher=[[Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles]] }}</ref>
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|-
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|"[[Money for Nothing (song)|Money for Nothing]]" || [[Dire Straits]] || <ref name="mtv reveal"/>
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|-
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|"[[No Way Back]]" || [[Foo Fighters]] || <ref name="mtv reveal"/>
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|-
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|"[[Paranoid (song)|Paranoid]]" (Live) || [[Metallica]] & [[Ozzy Osbourne]] || <ref name="opmuk reveal"/>
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|-
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|"[[Pour Some Sugar on Me]]" (Live) || [[Def Leppard]] || <ref name="mtv reveal"/><ref name="opmuk reveal"/>
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|-
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|"[[Psychosocial (song)|Psychosocial]]" || [[Slipknot (band)|Slipknot]] || <ref name="mtv reveal"/>
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|-
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|"[[(You Can Still) Rock in America]]" || [[Night Ranger]] || <ref name="mtv reveal"/>
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|-
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|"[[Self Esteem (song)|Self Esteem]]" || {{sort|Offspring|[[The Offspring]]}} || <ref name="mtv reveal"/>
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|-
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|"[[Sharp Dressed Man]]" (Live) || [[ZZ Top]] || <ref name="mtv reveal"/><ref name="opmuk reveal"/>
 +
|-
 +
|"[[Stray Cat Blues]]" || {{sort|Rolling Stones|[[The Rolling Stones]]}} || <ref name="mtv reveal"/>
 +
|-
 +
|"Sudden Death" || [[Megadeth]] || <ref name="opmuk reveal"/>
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|-
 +
| "There's No Secrets This Year" || [[Silversun Pickups]] || <ref name="opmuk reveal"/>
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|-
 +
|"[[Tick Tick Boom (song)|Tick Tick Boom]]" || {{sort|Hives|[[The Hives]]}} || <ref name="mtv reveal"/>
 +
|-
 +
| "[[Uprising (song)|Uprising]]" || [[Muse (band)|Muse]] || <ref name="opmuk reveal"/>
 +
|-
 +
| "Waidmanns Heil" || [[Rammstein]] || <ref name="opmuk reveal"/>
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|-
 +
| "What Do I Get?" || [[Buzzcocks]] || <ref name="opmuk reveal"/>
 +
|-
 +
|"[[Wish (song)|Wish]]" || [[Nine Inch Nails]] || <ref name="mtv reveal"/>
 +
|}
-
[[File:RockBand2PAX.jpg|thumb|right|An impromptu group of ''[[Rock Band 2]]'' players]]
+
==Downloadable content==
-
''Guitar Hero'', developed by Harmonix, was released in 2005 by then relatively unknown publisher [[RedOctane]]. The game was inspired by ''GuitarFreaks'', but while the latter had used esoteric (to Westerners) Japanese pop music, ''Guitar Hero'' featured Western rock music. The game reinvigorated the rhythm genre which by this time had begun to stagnate, flooded with ''Dance Dance Revolution'' sequels and imitators.<ref>Navarro, Alex, [http://uk.gamespot.com/features/6142896/p-10.html The GameSpot Top 10 Rhythm Games: Dance Dance Revolution], ''GameSpot'', Jan 28, 2006, Accessed Apr 3, 2009</ref><ref>[http://www.ugo.com/games/best-of-e3/?cur=Best-Rhythm-Game-Rock-Band-2 Best Rhythm Game: Rock Band 2], ''UGO'', 2008, Accessed Apr 29, 2009</ref> The game spawned several sequels, with the franchise earning more than $1 billion in sales; the third installment was the best-selling game in North America in 2007.<ref>Staff, [http://www.edge-online.com/news/guitar-hero-breaks-1-bl Guitar Hero Breaks $1 bln], ''Edge'', Jan 21, 2008, Accessed Apr 3, 2009</ref> Harmonix's later ''[[Rock Band]]'' franchise, which also earned in excess of $1 billion, used multiple instrument controllers and cooperative multiplayer, allowing players to play as a full band.<ref name="fox">[http://www.foxbusiness.com/story/markets/industries/media/rock-bandr-franchise-officially-surpasses--billion-north-american-retail-sales/ Rock Band(R) Franchise Officially Surpasses $1 Billion in North American Retail Sales, According to the NPD Group(1)], ''FOX Business'', Mar 26, 2009, Accessed Apr 3, 2009</ref> The ''Guitar Hero'' franchise followed suit with ''[[Guitar Hero World Tour]]'', developed by [[Neversoft]] rather than Harmonix.<ref>Thomas, Aaron, [http://uk.gamespot.com/xbox360/puzzle/guitarheroiv/review.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=gssummary&tag=summary;read-review Guitar Hero World Tour Review], ''GameSpot'', Nov 11, 2008, Accessed Apr 3, 2009</ref> ''Guitar Hero'' installments based on specific bands, such as [[Metallica]] and [[Aerosmith]], were subsequently published.<ref name="bbc">Cochrane, Greg, [http://news.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/hi/music/newsid_7785000/7785158.stm Rock bands turn to Guitar Hero], ''BBC Newsbeat'', Dec 16, 2008, Accessed Apr 3, 2009</ref> Additional songs could be purchased via the internet and added to ''Guitar Hero'' and ''Rock Band'' games, generating further revenue.<ref name="fox"/><ref name="bbc"/> Artists whose works have been featured in the games have also benefited from royalties and increased publicity, in turn generating further sales of their work.<ref name="fox"/><ref name="bbc"/> The success of the ''Guitar Hero'' and ''Rock Band'' franchises widened the console video game market and its demographics, with the popularity of the music game driving increased sales of consoles.<ref name="overtakessports">Crossley, Rob, [http://www.edge-online.com/news/music-overtakes-sports-genre Music Overtakes Sports Genre], ''Edge'', Oct 21, 2008, Accessed Apr 3, 2009</ref> In 2008, it was reported that the music game had become the second most popular video game genre in the U.S. (behind action, having overtaken [[Sports game|sports]]), with 53% of players being female.<ref name="overtakessports"/>
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{|class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center"
 +
! style="background:#ddddee;" width=300 | Song !! style="background:#ddddee;" width = 300 | Artist !! style="background:#ddddee;" width=50 | Release Date !! style="background:#ddddee;" width=300 | Ref
 +
|-
 +
|"Ties That Bind" || [[Alter Bridge]] || TBA || <ref name="MT"/>
 +
|}
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===Saturation and fallout===
+
==References==
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Analysts for the video game market considered 2009 to be critical to further success of the genre.<ref name="independent gh influence">{{cite web | url = http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/rocktastic-how-guitar-hero-brought-stardom-to-the-masses-1669257.html | title =  Rocktastic: How Guitar Hero brought stardom to the masses | publisher = ''[[The Independent]]'' | date = 2009-04-16 | accessdate = 2009-04-16 }}</ref> Both the ''Guitar Hero'' and ''Rock Band'' franchises expanded in this year with new games on other gaming platforms including handheld gaming devices and mobile phones and with titles targeted towards specific genres or demographics, such as ''[[Band Hero]]'' for pop music and ''[[Lego Rock Band]]'' for younger players.  Sales of music games were down in the first half of the year, though part was attributed to fewer purchases of the instrument controllers which players had already purchased and could reuse for other games.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=24482 | title = Analysis: Guitar Hero/Rock Band Retail Sales Down By Half | first = Matt | last = Matthews | date = 2009-07-21 | accessdate = 2009-07-22 | publisher = [[Gamasutra]] }}</ref> However, though analysis had expected that United States sales of ''[[Guitar Hero 5]]'' and ''[[The Beatles: Rock Band]]'' to be high, close to or exceeding one million units each in the first month of their release,<ref>{{ Cite web|url= http://www.gamespot.com/news/6232261.html|title=Beatles: Rock Band outsold Guitar Hero 5 - Analysts|first=Brendan|last=Sinclair|date= 2009-10-08|accessdate=2009-10-08|publisher=[[GameSpot]]}}</ref> the resulting sales numbers were lower by nearly half of the projections.<ref name="npd sales">{{cite web | url = http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2009/10/beatles-rock-band-sales.html | title = The Beatles: Rock Band debuts to solid but not stellar sales | work = [[Los Angeles Times]] | first = Ben | last = Fritz | date = 2009-10-19 | accessdate = 2009-10-19 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=25739 |  title = Analysis: Guitar Hero Vs. Rock Band - Behind The Numbers | publisher = [[Gamasutra]] | first = Matt | last = Matthews | date = 2009-10-23 | accessdate = 2009-10-23 }}</ref> Though signs of the impact of the [[late-2000s recession]] on the video game markets were considered a factor in lower sales, it was also taken as a sign of the waning popularity of the titles, now considered to be saturating the market.<ref>{{cite web | url  = http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=25712 | title = Analyst: Mixed September NPD Means More Choppy Waters Ahead For Industry | publisher =[[Gamasutra]] | first= Leigh | last = Alexander | date = 2009-10-20 | accessdate =2009-10-20 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/89407-Guitar-Hero-Gets-Greatest-Hits | title = Guitar Hero Gets "Greatest Hits" | first = Logan | last = Fredrick | date = 2009-02-12 | accessdate = 2009-02-16 | publisher = [[The Escapist]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=208086 | title = Activision has three new IPs for 2009 | date = 2009-02-12 | accessdate = 2009-02-16 | publisher = ''[[Edge (magazine)|Edge]]''}}</ref> As a result, analysts have lowered expectations for future music games; projections for sales of ''[[DJ Hero]]'', a spinoff of ''Guitar Hero'' published by Activision, have been reduced from 1.6 million units in the first fiscal quarter of sales in the United Sates to only 600,000.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/dj-hero-demand-well-below-expectations | title = DJ Hero demand "well below" expectations | publisher = Game Industry | date = 2009-10-26 | accessdate = 2009-10-26 | first = Matt | last = Martin }}</ref> Further contributing to the decline is the lack of innovation in the genre, as such games have not changed their basic play model over their last several iterations, leading to consumers less likely to buy additional titles.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.wired.com/gamelife/2009/11/music-game-sales/ | title = Music Games Aren’t Dead, Just Waiting to Be Reborn | first = Chris | last = Kohler | date = 2009-11-16 | accessdate = 2009-11-17 | work = [[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] }}</ref> Total sales of rhythm games, having reached $1.4 billion in 2008, reached only $700 million in 2009, with analysts predicting the market will settle at the same "healthy" $500–600 million level seen by the [[Call of Duty (series)|''Call of Duty'' series]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2009/12/18/technology/tech-us-2009-games.html | title =  Sales Of Music Video Games Plummet In 2009  | publisher = [[Reuters]] | date =2009-12-18 |accessdate = 2009-12-20 }}</ref> Wedbush Securies analyst Michael Pachter concluded that 2/3rd of the 12% drop in total video game sales was due to the saturation of the rhythm game market.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1004058046 | title = Analyst: Music Genre Dragging Down Videogame Sales  | first = Antony | last= Bruno | date = 2010-01-11 | accessdate = 2010-02-18 | work = [[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] }}</ref>
+
{{Reflist|2}}
-
The weakening market for rhythm video games has created fallout effects impacting both game developers and distributors. Publishers and distributors have recognized that by 2010, most consumers likely have one or more sets of instrument controller hardware at their homes, and that further sales would be primarily driven by software sales and additional content.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.gamepro.com/article/news/213777/music-games-need-to-refocus-not-reboot/ | title = Music games need to refocus, not reboot | publisher = [[GamePro]] | date = 2010-01-29 | accessdate = 2010-02-18 | first = Joe | last = Rybicki }}</ref>
+
{{Guitar Hero series}}
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Activision scaled back its 2010 ''Guitar Hero'' release schedule to just two full games, reducing the number of [[stock-keeping unit|SKU]]s from 25 in 2009 to 10 in 2010.<ref name="vg247 2010 skus">{{cite web | url = http://www.vg247.com/2010/02/10/actibliz-full-year-financials-2009-60-million-guitar-hero-songs-download/ | title = Acti Bliz slashes music SKUs, 60 million Guitar Hero songs downloaded | first = Stephany | last = Nunneley | publisher = [[VG247]] | date = 2010-02-10 | accessdate = 2010-02-10 }}</ref> Activision has also closed some of its in-house developers, including RedOctane, Neversoft's ''Guitar Hero'' division, and [[Underground Development]], bringing the remaining employees and assets under their own control.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3177918 | title = Activision Confirms Studio Layoffs | first=  Steve | last = Watts | date = 2010-02-11 | accessdate = 2010-02-11 | publisher = [[1UP.com]] }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.gamespot.com/news/6250760.html | title = RedOctane closed by Activision? | first = Brian | last = Sinclair | date =2010-02-12 | accessdate = 2010-02-12 | publisher = [[Gamespot]] }}</ref> Viacom, which had previously paid Harmonix $150 million for their performance behind ''Rock Band'' in 2007, are now seeking to get a "substantial" refund on that amount due to the weak sales in 2009.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/27220/Viacom_To_Seek_Substantial_Refund_On_Harmonix_Rock_Band_Bonus_Dollars.php | title = Viacom To Seek 'Substantial' Refund On Harmonix Rock Band Bonus Dollars | first = Leigh | last = Alexander | publisher = [[Gamasutra]] | date = 2010-02-12 | accessdate = 2010-02-18 }}</ref> Viacom is also seeking to further reduce costs by negotiating new deals with music publishers to reduce the costs associated with music licensing for the ''Rock Band'' series.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/industry/e3ib5173b54f64bf8d208b13bce1a54d2cf | title = Viacom CEO: We Need To Pay Less For Music In Videogames | first = Glenn | last = Peoples | date = 2010-02-12 | accessdate = 2010-02-18 | work = [[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] }}</ref>
+
-
With the introduction of motion control to both the Xbox 360 (through [[Project Natal]]) and the PlayStation 3 (through [[PlayStation Move]]) in 2010 and 2011, some analysts believe there may be recovery for the market through a new wave of dance-based video games and band-based ones that use platform-agnostic controllers to replicate real-life actions.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE62S08Z20100329 | title = Music video games primed for new dance revolution | work = [[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] | first = Antony | last=  Bruno | date =2010-03-28 | accessdate = 2010-03-29 }}</ref>
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[[Category:2010 video games]]
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[[Category:Cooperative video games]]
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[[Category:Drumming video games]]
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[[Category:Guitar Hero| 06]]
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[[Category:Guitar video games]]
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[[Category:Karaoke video games]]
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[[Category:Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection games]]
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[[Category:PlayStation 3 games]]
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[[Category:Rock music]]
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[[Category:Wii games]]
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[[Category:Wii Wi-Fi games]]
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[[Category:Xbox 360 games]]
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== References ==
+
[[it:Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock]]
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+
-
{{reflist|2}}
+
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*Ashcraft, Brian, ''Arcade Mania! The Turbo-Charged World of Japan's Games Centers'' (Kodansha International, 2008)
+
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*Rollings, Andrew & Adams, Ernest, ''Fundamentals of Game Design'' (Prentice Hall, 2006)
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{{VideoGameGenre}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Rhythm Game}}
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[[Category:Video game genres]]
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Current revision


Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock (initially referred to as Guitar Hero 6) is an upcoming rhythm video game and the sixth main entry in the Guitar Hero series. The game is expected to be released September 20, 2010 for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Wii consoles. Due to significant issues with poor sales of rhythm games in 2009, Activision, Guitar Hero: Warriors of RockTemplate:Infobox musical artist Template:Portal Rush is a Canadian rock band originally formed in August 1968, in the Willowdale neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario, currently composed of bassist, keyboardist, and lead vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson, and drummer and lyricist Neil Peart. The band and its membership went through a number of re-configurations between 1968 and 1974, achieving their definitive form when Neil Peart replaced original drummer John Rutsey in July 1974, two weeks before the group's first U.S. tour.

Since the release of the band's self-titled debut album in March 1974, Rush has become known for the instrumental skills of its members, complex compositions, and eclectic lyrical motifs drawing heavily on science fiction, fantasy, and libertarian philosophy, as well as addressing humanitarian, social, emotional, and environmental concerns.

Musically, Rush's style has evolved over the years, beginning in the vein of blues-inspired heavy metal on their first albums, then encompassing hard rock, progressive rock, a period dominated by synthesizers and, more recently, modern rock. They have influenced various musical artists, including Metallica,[1][2] The Smashing Pumpkins[3] and Primus,[3] as well as progressive metal bands such as Dream Theater[1] and Symphony X.[4]

Rush has won a number of Juno Awards, and was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1994. Over the course of their careers, the individual members of Rush have been acknowledged as being some of the most proficient players on their respective instruments, with each band member winning several awards in magazine readers' polls. As a group, Rush possesses 24 gold records and 14 platinum (3 multi-platinum) records. According to the RIAA, Rush's sales statistics place them fourth behind The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Aerosmith for the most consecutive gold or platinum albums by a rock band. Rush also ranks 78th in U.S. album sales with 25 million units.[5] Although total worldwide album sales are not calculated by any single entity, as of 2004 several industry sources estimated Rush's total worldwide album sales at over 40 million units.

The band recently finished promoting their latest album, Snakes & Arrows with an intercontinental tour. The second leg began in San Juan, Puerto Rico on April 11, and ended on July 24, 2008 in Noblesville, Indiana.[6]

History

Template:Details

The early years (1968–1976)

Template:Sound sample box align right Template:Listen Template:Sample box end

The original line-up formed in the neighbourhood of Willowdale in Toronto, Ontario, by Lifeson, front man Jeff Jones, and drummer John Rutsey. Within a couple weeks of forming, and before their second performance, bassist and lead vocalist Jones was replaced by Geddy Lee, a schoolmate of Lifeson. After several lineup reformations, Rush's official incarnation was formed in May 1971 consisting of Lee, Lifeson, and Rutsey. The band was managed by local Toronto resident Ray Danniels, a frequent attendee of Rush's early shows.[7][8]

After gaining stability in the lineup and honing their skills on the local bar/high school dance circuit, the band came to release their first single "Not Fade Away", a cover of the Buddy Holly song, in 1973. Side B contained an original composition, "You Can't Fight It", credited to Rutsey and Lee. The single generated little reaction and, due to record company indifference, the band formed their own independent record label, Moon Records. With the aid of Danniels and the newly enlisted engineer Terry Brown, the band released their self-titled debut album in 1974, which was considered highly derivative of Led Zeppelin.[9] Rush had limited local popularity until the album was picked up by WMMS, a radio station in Cleveland, Ohio. Donna Halper, a DJ and music director working at the station, selected "Working Man" for her regular play list. The song's blue collar theme resonated with hard rock fans and this new found popularity led to the album being re-released by Mercury Records in the U.S.[10][11] Image:Starman.png

Immediately after the release of the debut album, Rutsey resigned in July 1974 due to his affliction with diabetes and a distaste for touring. Rush held auditions and eventually selected Neil Peart as Rutsey's replacement. Peart officially joined the band on July 29, 1974, two weeks before the group's first US tour. They performed their first concert together, opening for Uriah Heep and Manfred Mann with an attendance of over 11,000 people at the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on August 14. In addition to becoming the band's drummer, Peart assumed the role of principal lyricist as Lee and Lifeson had very little interest in writing, contributing to only a handful of song lyrics over the rest of the band's career. Instead, they focused primarily on the musical aspects of Rush. Fly by Night (1975), Rush's first album after recruiting Peart, saw the inclusion of the band's first epic mini-tale "By-Tor and the Snow Dog", replete with complex arrangements and multi-section format. Lyrical themes also underwent dramatic changes after the addition of Peart due to his love for fantasy and science-fiction literature.[13] However, despite these many differences some of the music and songs still closely mirrored the blues style found on Rush's debut.[14][13]

Following quickly on the heels of Fly By Night, the band released 1975's Caress of Steel, a five track hard rock album featuring two extended multi-chapter songs, "The Necromancer" and "The Fountain of Lamneth." Caress of Steel was reported by some critics to be unfocused and an audacious move for the band due to the placement of two protracted numbers back-to-back, as well as a heavier reliance on atmospherics and story-telling, a large deviation from Fly by Night.[15] Intended to be the band's first "break-through" album, Caress of Steel sold below expectations and the promotional tour consisted of small venues which led to the moniker the "Down the Tubes Tour."[16] In light of these events, Rush's record label pressured them into molding their next album in a more commercially friendly and accessible fashion. However, the band ignored the requests and developed their next album, 2112. It was the band's first taste of commercial success and their first platinum album in Canada.[17] The supporting tour for the album culminated in a three night stand at Massey Hall in Toronto, which the band recorded for the release of their first live album titled All the World's a Stage. Allmusic Guide critic Greg Prato summarily reminds listeners and fans of how the album demarcates the boundary between the band's early years and the next era of their music.[18][19]

The progressive rock era (1977–1981)

After 2112, Rush retreated to the United Kingdom to record 1977's A Farewell to Kings and 1978's Hemispheres at Rockfield Studios in Wales. These albums saw the band members expanding their use of progressive elements in their music. Trademarks such as increased synthesizer usage, extended-length concept songs, and highly dynamic playing featuring complex time signature changes became a staple of Rush's compositions. To achieve a broader, more progressive palette of sound, Alex Lifeson began to experiment with classical and twelve-string guitars, and Geddy Lee added bass-pedal synthesizers and Minimoog. Likewise, Peart's percussion became diversified in the form of triangles, glockenspiel, wood blocks, cowbells, timpani, gong and chimes. Beyond instrument additions, the band kept in stride with the progressive rock movement by continuing to compose long, conceptual songs with science fiction and fantasy overtones. However, as the new decade approached, Rush gradually began to dispose of their older styles of music in favor of shorter, and sometimes softer, arrangements. The lyrics up to this point (most of them written by Peart) were heavily influenced by classical poetry, fantasy literature, science fiction, and the writings of novelist Ayn Rand, as exhibited most prominently by their 1975 song "Anthem" from Fly By Night and a specifically acknowledged derivation in 1976's 2112.[20]

Permanent Waves (1980) shifted Rush's style of music dramatically via the introduction of reggae and new wave.[21] Although a hard rock style was still evident, more and more synthesizers were introduced. Moreover, due to the limited airplay Rush's previous extended-length songs received, Permanent Waves included shorter, more radio-friendly songs such as "The Spirit of Radio" and "Freewill", two songs which helped Permanent Waves become Rush's first U.S. Top 5 album; both songs continue to make appearances on classic rock radio stations in Canada and the United States to this day.[22] Meanwhile, Peart's lyrics shifted toward an expository tone with subject matter that dwelled less on fantastical or allegorical story-telling and more heavily on cerebral topics that explored humanistic, social, emotional and metaphysical elements. Template:Sound sample box align left Template:Listen Template:Sample box end Rush's popularity reached its pinnacle with the release of Moving Pictures in 1981. Moving Pictures essentially continued where Permanent Waves left off, extending the trend of highly accessible and commercially friendly pop-progressive rock that helped thrust them into the spotlight. The lead track, "Tom Sawyer", is probably the band's best-known song[23] with "Limelight" also receiving satisfactory responses from listeners and radio stations. Moving Pictures was Rush's last album to feature an extended song, the ten-and-a-half-minute "The Camera Eye". The song also contained the band's heaviest usage of synthesizers up to that point, hinting that Rush's music was shifting direction once more. Moving Pictures reached #3 on the Billboard 200 album chart and has been certified quadruple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.[24]

Following the success of Moving Pictures and the completion of another four studio albums, Rush released their second live recording, Exit...Stage Left, in 1981. The album delineates the apex of Rush's progressive period by featuring live material from the band's Permanent Waves and Moving Pictures tours. As with their first live release, Exit...Stage Left identified the margin of a new chapter of Rush's sound. The band underwent another radical stylistic transmutation with the release of Signals in 1982.[25]

The synthesizer period (1982–1989)

Image:Oberheim OBX.jpg

While Lee's synthesizers had been featured instruments ever since the late 70s, keyboards were suddenly shifted from the contrapuntal background to the melodic front-lines[26][27] as evidenced by songs such as "Countdown" and the lead-off track "Subdivisions". Both feature nimble lead synthesizer lines with minimalistic guitar chords and solos. Other previously unused instrument additions were seen in the song "Losing It," featuring collaborator Ben Mink on electric violin.[25] Template:Sound sample box align right Template:Listen Template:Sample box end Signals also represented a drastic stylistic transformation apart from instrumental changes. The album contained Rush's only U.S. top-40 pop hit, "New World Man",[28] while other more experimental songs such as "Digital Man", "The Weapon", and "Chemistry" expanded the band's use of ska, reggae, and funk.[29] Although the band members consciously decided to move in this overall direction, they felt dissatisfied with long-time producer Terry Brown's studio treatment of Signals and parted ways with him in 1983. These diverse styles would come into further play on their next studio album.

Image:DM Simmons SDS5.jpg

The style and production of Signals were augmented and taken to new heights on 1984's Grace Under Pressure. It was Peart who named the album, as he borrowed the words of Ernest Hemingway to describe what the band had to go through after making the decision to leave Terry Brown. Producer Steve Lillywhite, who gleaned fame with successful productions of Simple Minds and U2, was enlisted to produce Grace Under Pressure. However, he backed out at the last moment, much to the ire of Lee, Lifeson and Peart. Lee said "Steve Lillywhite is really not a man of his word....after agreeing to do our record, he got an offer from Simple Minds, changed his mind, blew us off,..so it put us in a horrible position." Eventually Rush hired Peter Henderson to co-produce and engineer the album in his stead.[30]

Musically, although Lee's use of sequencers and synthesizers remained the band's cornerstone, his focus on new technology was complemented by Peart's adaptation of Simmons electronic drums and percussion. Lifeson's contributions on the album were decidedly enhanced to act as an overreaction to the minimalistic role he played on Signals.[31] Still, many of his trademark guitar textures remained intact in the form of open reggae chords and funk and new-wave rhythms; "Distant Early Warning", "Red Lenses", "Red Sector A" and "The Enemy Within" serve as prime examples.

With new producer Peter Collins, the band released 1985's Power Windows and 1987's Hold Your Fire. The music on these two albums gives far more emphasis and prominence to Lee's multi-layered synthesizer work. While fans and critics took notice of Lifeson's diminished guitar work, his presence was still palpable on "The Big Money", (the album's modest-charting single) with spotlights on "Grand Designs", "Middletown Dreams" and "Marathon." Lifeson, like many guitarists in the late 1980s, experimented with processors that reduced his instrument to echoey chord bursts and razor-thin leads. Hold Your Fire represents both a modest extension of the guitar stylings found on Power Windows, and, according to Allmusic critic Ed Rivadavia, the culmination of this era of Rush.[32] Whereas the previous five Rush albums sold platinum or better, Hold Your Fire only went gold in November 1987, although it managed to peak at number 13 on the Billboard 200.[33]

A third live album and video, A Show of Hands (1989), was also released by Mercury following the Power Windows and Hold Your Fire tours, demonstrating the aspects of Rush in the 80s. A Show of Hands met with strong fan approval, but Rolling Stone critic Michael Azerrad dismissed it as "musical muscle" with 1.5 stars, claiming Rush fans viewed their favourite power trio as "the holy trinity".[34] Nevertheless, A Show of Hands managed to surpass the gold album mark, reaching number 21 on the Billboard 200.[35] At this point, the group decided to change record labels from Mercury to Atlantic. After Rush's departure in 1989, Mercury released a double platinum two-volume compilation of their Rush catalogue, Chronicles (1990).[36]

Returning to their roots (1989–1997)

Template:Sound sample box align right Template:Listen Template:Sample box end Rush started to deviate from their 1980s style with the albums Presto and Roll the Bones. Produced by record engineer and musician Rupert Hine, these two albums saw Rush shedding much of their keyboard-saturated sound. Beginning with 1989's Presto, the band opted for arrangements that were notably more guitar-centric than the previous two studio albums. Although synthesizers were still used in many songs, the instrument was no longer featured as the centerpiece of Rush's compositions. Continuing this trend, 1991's Roll the Bones extended the use of the standard three-instrument approach with even less focus on synthesizers than its predecessor. While musically these albums do not deviate significantly from a general pop-rock sound, Rush stuck to their creative approach of incorporating traces of more exotic musical styles. "Roll the Bones", for instance, exhibits funk and hip hop elements, and the instrumental track "Where's My Thing?" features several jazz components.[37] This return to three-piece instrumentation helped pave the way for future albums in the mid-90s, which would adopt a more straightforward rock formula.

The transition from synthesizers to more guitar-oriented and organic instrumentation continued with the 1993 album Counterparts[38] and its follow-up, 1996's Test for Echo, again both produced in collaboration with Peter Collins. Musically, Counterparts[38] and Test For Echo are two of Rush's most guitar-driven albums. Although the music in general did not meet the criteria for "progressive rock", some of the songs could be considered more adventurous than what one might expect from a standard modern rock band.[39] For instance, "Time and Motion" possesses multiple time signature changes and organ usage, while the instrumental track "Limbo", consists of several relatively complex musical passages repeated throughout. Musically, Test For Echo still retained much of the hard rock/alternative style already charted on the previous record. Lifeson and Lee's playing remained more or less unchanged; however, a distinct modification in technique became apparent in Peart's playing due to formal Jazz and Swing training under the tutelage of jazz instructor Freddie Gruber during the interim between Counterparts and Test For Echo.[40] In October 1996, in support of Test For Echo, the band embarked on an extensive and successful North American tour, the band's first without an opening act and dubbed "An Evening with Rush." The tour was broken up into two segments spanning October through December, 1996 and May through July, 1997 with the band taking a respite between legs.

Hiatus and comeback (1997–2005)

After wrapping up the tour promoting Test for Echo in 1997, the band entered a five-year hiatus mainly due to personal tragedies in Peart's life. Peart's daughter Selena died in an automobile accident in August 1997, followed by his wife Jacqueline's death from cancer in June 1998. Peart took a hiatus to mourn and reflect, during which time he traveled extensively throughout North America on his BMW motorcycle, covering 88,000 km (55,000 miles). At some point in his journey, Peart decided to return to the band. Peart wrote Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road as a chronicle of his geographical and emotional journey. In this book he writes of how he had told his bandmates at Selena's funeral, "consider me retired."[41] On November 10, 1998 a triple CD live album entitled Different Stages was released, dedicated to the memory of Selena and Jacqueline. Mixed by producer Paul Northfield and engineered by Terry Brown, it contained three discs packed with recorded performances from the band's Counterparts, Test For Echo, and A Farewell to Kings tours, marking the fourth officially released live album by the band. Template:Sound sample box align left Template:Listen Template:Sample box end After a time to grieve and reassemble the pieces of his life, and while visiting long-time Rush photographer Andrew MacNaughtan in Los Angeles, Peart was introduced to his future wife, photographer Carrie Nuttall. Peart married Nuttall on September 9, 2000. In early 2001 he announced to his band mates that he was ready to once again enter the studio and get back into the business of making music. With the help of producer Paul Northfield the band returned in May 2002 with Vapor Trails, written and recorded in Toronto. To herald the band's comeback, the single and lead track from the album, "One Little Victory" was designed to grab the attention of listeners due to its rapid guitar and drum tempos.[42] Vapor Trails marked the first studio recording not to include a single synthesizer, organ or keyboard part since the early 1970s. While the album is almost completely guitar-driven, it is mostly devoid of any conventional sounding guitar solos, a conscious decision made by Lifeson during the writing process. According to the band, the entire developmental process for Vapor Trails was extremely taxing and took approximately 14 months to finish, by far the longest the band had ever spent writing and recording a studio album.[42] The album debuted to moderate praise and was supported by the band's first tour in six years, including first-ever concerts in Mexico City and Brazil, where they played to some of the largest crowds of their career.

A triple CD live album and dual Rush In Rio DVD was released in late October 2003 featuring an entire concert performance recorded on the last night of their Vapor Trails Tour, November 23, 2002, at Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. To celebrate their 30th anniversary, June 2004 saw the release of Feedback, a studio EP recorded in suburban Toronto featuring eight covers of such artists as Cream, The Who and The Yardbirds, bands that the members of Rush cite as inspiration around the time of their inception.[43] Also in the summer of 2004, Rush hit the road again for the very successful 30th Anniversary Tour, playing dates in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Sweden, the Czech Republic, and the Netherlands. On September 24, 2004 a Frankfurt, Germany concert was recorded at The Festhalle for DVD (titled R30: Live in Frankfurt), which was released November 22, 2005.

Snakes & Arrows (2006–present)

Here is the complete setlist for Guitar Hero III, which will also include all downloadable content (when released).

Contents


Bold text indicates a master track, all other songs are covers.

Single Player Setlist

1. Starting Out Small

2. Your First Real Gig

3. Making The Video

4. European Invasion

5. Bighouse Blues

6. The Hottest Band On Earth

7. Live in Japan

8. Battle For Your Soul

Co-Op Setlist

1. Getting a Band Together

2. We Just Wanna Be Famous

3. Overnight Success

4. Getting the Band Back Together

5. Jailhouse Rock

6. Battle for Your Souls...

Bonus Tracks

Downloadable Content

Singles

Halo Theme MJOLNIR Mix - Released November 22, 2007 on XBL.

Ernten Was Wir Säen - Released December 20, 2007 on XBL & January 3, 2008 on PSN.

So Payso - Released December 20, 2007 on XBL & January 3, 2008 on PSN.

Antisocial - Released December 20, 2007 on XBL and January 3, 2008 on PSN.

We Three Kings - Released December 20, 2007 on XBL & PSN.

Dream On - Released Febuary 18, 2008 on XBL & PSN.

I am Murloc - Released June 26, 2008 on XBL and PSN.

Track Packs

Companion Pack - Released October 31, 2007 on XBL.

Foo Fighters Pack - Released November 8, 2007 on XBL & PSN.

Velvet Revolver Pack - Released November 8, 2007 on XBL & PSN.

Boss Battle Pack - Released November 15, 2007 on XBL and November 29, 2007 on PSN.

Warner/Reprise Track Pack - Released December 20, 2007 on XBL and January 3, 2007 on PSN.

Classic Rock Track Pack - Released January 24, 2008 on XBL and PSN.

No Doubt Track Pack - Released Febuary 28, 2008 on XBL and PSN.

Modern Metal Track Pack - Released March 6, 2008 on XBL & PSN.

Dropkick Murphys Track Pack - Released March 13, 2008 on XBL & PSN.

Def Leppard Track Pack - Released April 24, 2008 on XBL & PSN.

Guitar Virtuoso Pack - Released July 24, 2008 on XBL & PSN.

DragonForce Track Pack - Released August 21, 2008 on XBL & PSN

During promotional interviews for the R30 Live In Frankfurt DVD, the band revealed their intention to begin writing new material in early 2006. While in Toronto, Lifeson and Lee began the songwriting process in January 2006. During this time, Peart simultaneously assumed his role of lyric writing while residing in Southern California. The following September, Rush chose to hire American producer Nick Raskulinecz to co-produce the album. The band officially entered Allaire Studios, in Shokan, New York in November 2006 in order to record the bulk of the material. Taking the band five weeks, the sessions ended in December. On February 14, 2007, an announcement was made on the official Rush web site that the title of the new album would be Snakes & Arrows. The first single, entitled "Far Cry," was released to North American radio stations on March 12, 2007 and reached #2 on the Mediabase Mainstream and Radio and Records Charts.[44]

The Rush website, newly redesigned on March 12 to support the new album, also announced that the band would embark on a tour to begin in the summer. Snakes & Arrows was released 1 May 2007 in North America, where it debuted at #3 in the Billboard 200 with approximately 93,000 units sold in its first week.[45] To coincide with the Atlantic ocean hurricane season, "Spindrift" was released as the official second radio single on June 1, 2007, whereas "The Larger Bowl (A Pantoum)" saw single status on June 25, 2007. "The Larger Bowl" positioned within the top 20 of the Mainstream Rock and Media Base Mainstream charts, however, "Spindrift" failed to appear on any commercial chart.[46] The planned intercontinental tour in support of Snakes & Arrows began on June 13, 2007 in Atlanta, Georgia, coming to a close on October 29, 2007 at Hartwall Arena in Helsinki, Finland.[47]

The 2008 portion of the tour started on April 11, 2008 in San Juan, Puerto Rico at José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum and culminated on July 24, 2008 in Noblesville, Indiana at the Verizon Wireless Music Center.[48] On April 15, the band released Snakes & Arrows Live, a double live album documenting the first leg of the tour.[49] Those same performances featured on Snakes & Arrows Live filmed at the Ahoy arena in Rotterdam, Netherlands on October 16 and 17 of 2007 was released November 24 as a DVD and Blu-Ray set, which also includes footage from the 2008 portion of the tour, recorded at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Atlanta.[50][51] [52]

As the band neared the conclusion of their Snakes & Arrows tour, they announced their first appearance on American television in over 30 years. Rush was interviewed by Stephen Colbert and they performed "Tom Sawyer" on The Colbert Report on July 16, 2008.[53]

Musical style and influences

Rush's musical style has changed substantially over the years. Their debut album is strongly influenced by British-Blues rock: an amalgam of sounds and styles from such rock bands as Cream, Led Zeppelin, and Deep Purple. Over the first few albums their style remained essentially hard rock, with heavy influences from The Who[54] and Led Zeppelin,[9] but also became increasingly influenced by the British progressive rock movement.[55] In the tradition of progressive rock, Rush wrote protracted songs with irregular and multiple time signatures combined with fantasy/science fiction-inspired lyrics; however, they did not soften their sound. This fusion of hard and progressive rock continued until the end of the 1970s. In the 1980s, however, Rush successfully merged their sound with the trends of this period, experimenting with New Wave, reggae and pop rock.[56] This period included the band's most extensive use of instruments such as synthesizers, sequencers and electronic percussion. It is largely agreed that the culmination of this era of Rush was in 1987 after the release of Hold Your Fire.[57] With the approach of the early '90s and Rush's character sound still intact, the band transformed their style once again to harmonize with the alternative rock movement.[58] The new millennium has seen them return to a more rock and roll roots sound, albeit with modern production.[54]

Band members

Former members

  • John Rutsey – drums, percussion, backing vocals (August 1968 – July 1974)
  • Jeff Jones – bass, lead vocals (August 1968 – September 1968)

Template:Details

Reputation

More than 30 years of activity has provided Rush with the opportunity for musical diversity across their discography. As with many bands known for experimentation, such changes have inevitably resulted in dissent among critics and fans. The bulk of the band's music has always included synthetic instruments in some form or another, and this is a great source of contention in the Rush camp, especially the band's heavy reliance on synthesizers and keyboards during the 1980s, particularly on albums Grace Under Pressure, Power Windows, and Hold Your Fire.[59][60] Still, most fans saw this as nothing less than artistic growth and support for the band remained unwavering through each transitional phase.[57]

The members of Rush have themselves noted that people "either love Rush or hate Rush", resulting in strong detractors and an intensely loyal fan base. To the chagrin of fans, the band has not been nominated for entry into the American Rock and Roll Hall of Fame since their year of eligibility in 1998. The Hall's refusal to induct Rush may be a consequence of the band's insistence on remaining outside the mainstream of rock when it comes to self-promotion, in favor of maintaining a high degree of independence.[61] To this day fans earnestly clamor for the band's inclusion into the Hall by citing noteworthy accomplishments including longevity, proficiency, and influence, as well as commercial sales figures and RIAA certifications. However, Lifeson has expressed his indifference toward the perceived slight saying "I couldn't care less, look who's up for induction, it's a joke".[62] Rush has gained a degree of recognition in popular culture despite any official recognition from the Hall.[63]

As a band, Rush has been nominated for and received various awards throughout its career. Likewise, the individual members have received coverage in various modern music magazines with specific technocratic recognition for instrumental ability. See List of Rush awards for more details on this topic.

Geddy Lee

Image:GeddyLee.JPG

Geddy Lee's high-register vocal style has always been a signature of the band — and sometimes, a focal point for criticism, especially during the early years of Rush's career when Lee's vocals were high-pitched, with a strong likeness to other singers like Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin. Although his voice has softened over the years, it is often described as a "wail".[64][65] His instrumental abilities, on the other hand, are rarely criticized. An award-winning musician, Lee's style, technique, and ability on the bass guitar have proven influential in the rock and heavy metal genres, inspiring such players as Steve Harris of Iron Maiden,[66] John Myung of Dream Theater,[67] Les Claypool of Primus[68] and Cliff Burton of Metallica[69] among others. Lee is notable for his ability to operate various pieces of instrumentation simultaneously. This is mostly evident during live shows when Lee must play bass, supply lead vocals, manipulate keyboards, and trigger foot pedals during the course of a performance, as in the song "Tom Sawyer".[55] Because of this he is required to remain in one place during songs containing complex instrumentation. Lifeson and Peart are, to a lesser extent, responsible for similar actions during live shows.

Alex Lifeson

Image:Alex Lifeson6.jpg

Instrumentally, Lifeson is regarded as a guitarist whose strengths and notability rely primarily on signature riffing, electronic effects and processing, unorthodox chord structures, and a copious arsenal of equipment used over the years.[70][71][72] Despite his esteem, however, Lifeson is often regarded as being overshadowed by his bandmates due to Lee's on-stage multi-instrumental dexterity and Peart's status as a drummer.[73]

During his adolescent years, he was influenced primarily by Jimi Hendrix, Pete Townshend, Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page.[74] For versatility, Lifeson was known to incorporate touches of Spanish and classical music into Rush's guitar-driven sound during the 1970s. Taking a backseat to Lee's keyboards in the 1980s, Lifeson's guitar returned to the forefront in the 1990s, and especially on 2002's Vapor Trails. During live performances, he is still responsible for cuing various guitar effects, the use of bass-pedal synthesizers and backing vocals.

Neil Peart

Music

Peart is commonly regarded by music fans, critics and fellow musicians as one of, if not the greatest rock drummers.[75] He is also regarded as one of the finest practitioners of the in-concert drum solo.[76] Initially inspired by Keith Moon, Peart absorbed the influence of other rock drummers from the 1960s and 1970s such as Ginger Baker, Carmine Appice, and John Bonham.[77] Incorporation of unusual instruments (for rock drummers of the time) such as cowbells, glockenspiel, and tubular bells, along with several standard kit elements, helped create a highly varied setup. Continually modified to this day, Peart's drumkit offers an enormous array of percussion instruments for sonic diversity. For two decades Peart honed his technique; each new Rush album introduced an expanded percussive vocabulary. In the 1990s, he reinvented his style with the help of drum coach Freddie Gruber. Image:Neil Peart3.jpg

Lyrics

Peart also serves as Rush's primary lyricist, attracting much attention over the years due to his eclectic style. Known for penning concept suites and songs inspired by literature, music fan opinions of his writing have varied greatly, running the gamut from cerebral and insightful to overly pretentious and preachy. During the band's early years, Peart's lyrics were largely fantasy/science fiction-focused,[78] though since 1980 he has focused more on social, emotional, and humanitarian issues. Peart's lyrics continue to divide audiences today. For example, in 2007, he was placed second on Blender magazine's list of the "40 Worst Lyricists In Rock".[79]

Sales

Over the course of their career, Rush has come to release 24 gold records and 14 platinum records (3 of which have gone multiplatinum),[80] placing them within the top 4 for the most consecutive gold albums by a rock band.[81] Rush ranks 78th in U.S. album sales according to the RIAA with sales of 25 million units.[81] Total worldwide sales approximate 40 million units.[82][83][84][85]

Despite having completely dropped out of the public eye for five years after the gold-selling Test for Echo (which peaked at number 5 on the Billboard 200) and the band being relegated almost solely to classic rock stations in the U.S., Vapor Trails reached #6 on the Billboard 200 chart in its first week of release in 2002 with 108,000 albums sold. It has sold approximately 343,000 units to date. The subsequent Vapor Trails tour grossed over $24 million and included the largest audience ever to see a headlining Rush show — 60,000 fans in São Paulo, Brazil. Nevertheless, Vapor Trails remains their first album not to achieve at least gold status.

However, Rush's triple CD live album, 2003's Rush in Rio, was certified gold by the RIAA, marking the fourth decade in which a Rush album had been released and certified at least gold. Moreover, in 2004 Feedback cracked the top 20 on the Billboard 200 chart and received radio airplay. The band's most recent album, Snakes & Arrows, debuted at #3 (just one position shy of Rush's highest peaking album, 1993's Counterparts, which debuted at #2) on the Billboard 200 selling approximately 93,000 copies in its first week of release.[86] This marks the 13th studio album to appear in the Top 20 and the band's 27th album to appear on the chart regardless of position over the course of their career. The album also debuted at #1 on the Billboard's Top Rock Albums chart, as well as peaking at #1 on the Top Internet Albums chart when the album was released on the MVI format a month later.[87] Still, Snakes & Arrows has yet to accumulate sales that approach or eclipse Vapor Trails or Rush in Rio.

The two consecutive tours in support of Snakes & Arrows in 2007 and 2008 accrued $21 million and $18.3 million, respectively, earning Rush the number 6 and 8 spots among the top ten summer rock concerts.[88][89]

Live performances

The members of Rush share a strong work ethic, desiring to accurately recreate songs from their albums when playing live performances. Toward this goal, beginning in the late 1980s, Rush has included in their concert equipment a capacious rack of digital samplers which the band members use, in real-time, to recreate the sounds of non-traditional instruments, accompaniments, vocal harmonies, and other sound "events" that are familiarly heard on the studio versions of the songs.

In live performances, the band members share duties throughout most songs, with each member triggering certain sounds with his available limbs, while playing his primary instrument(s). Each band member has one or more MIDI controllers that enables him to use his free hands or feet to trigger sounds that have been loaded into the samplers for a particular song.[90] It is with this technology that the group is able to present their arrangements in a live setting with the level of complexity and fidelity that fans have come to expect, and without the need to resort to the use of backing tracks or employing an additional band member.[91]

The band members' coordinated use of foot-pedal keyboards and other electronic triggers to "play" sampled instruments and audio events is subtly visible in their live performances, especially so on R30: 30th Anniversary World Tour, their 2005 concert DVD.

A staple of Rush's concerts is a Peart drum solo. Peart's drum solos include a basic framework of routines connected by sections of improvisation, making each performance unique. Each successive tour sees the solo more advanced, with some routines dropped in favor of newer, more complex ones. Since the mid-1980s, Peart has used MIDI trigger pads to trigger sounds sampled from various pieces of acoustic percussion that would otherwise consume far too much stage area, such as a marimba, harp, temple blocks, triangles, glockenspiel, orchestra bells, tubular bells, and vibraslap as well as other, more esoteric percussion.

Philanthropy

Rush actively participates in philanthropic causes. The band was one of a number of hometown favorites to play Molson Canadian Rocks for Toronto, also dubbed SARStock, at Downsview Park in Toronto on July 30, 2003, with an attendance of over half a million people. The concert was intended to benefit the Canadian economy after the SARS outbreaks earlier in the year. The band has also sustained an interest in promoting human rights. They donated $100,000 to the Canadian Museum for Human Rights after a concert they held in Winnipeg on 24 May 2008.[92] Rush continues to sell t-shirts and donate the proceeds to the museum.[93]

The individual members of Rush have also been a part of philanthropic causes. Hughes & Kettner zenTeras and TriAmps have been endorsed and used by Lifeson for many years. A custom signature amplifier was engineered by Lifeson and released in April 2005 with the stipulation that UNICEF will receive a donation in the amount of $50 for every Alex Lifeson Signature TriAmp sold.[94] Lee, a longtime fan of baseball, donated 200 baseballs signed by famous Negro League players, including Willie Mays, Hank Aaron and Josh Gibson, to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in June 2008.[95]

The band is featured on the music album Songs for Tibet, appearing with a number of other celebrities as an initiative to support Tibet and the current Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso. The album was made downloadable on August 5 via iTunes and was released commercially August 12.[96]

Discography

Here is the complete setlist for Guitar Hero III, which will also include all downloadable content (when released).


Bold text indicates a master track, all other songs are covers.

Single Player Setlist

1. Starting Out Small

2. Your First Real Gig

3. Making The Video

4. European Invasion

5. Bighouse Blues

6. The Hottest Band On Earth

7. Live in Japan

8. Battle For Your Soul

Co-Op Setlist

1. Getting a Band Together

2. We Just Wanna Be Famous

3. Overnight Success

4. Getting the Band Back Together

5. Jailhouse Rock

6. Battle for Your Souls...

Bonus Tracks

Downloadable Content

Singles

Halo Theme MJOLNIR Mix - Released November 22, 2007 on XBL.

Ernten Was Wir Säen - Released December 20, 2007 on XBL & January 3, 2008 on PSN.

So Payso - Released December 20, 2007 on XBL & January 3, 2008 on PSN.

Antisocial - Released December 20, 2007 on XBL and January 3, 2008 on PSN.

We Three Kings - Released December 20, 2007 on XBL & PSN.

Dream On - Released Febuary 18, 2008 on XBL & PSN.

I am Murloc - Released June 26, 2008 on XBL and PSN.

Track Packs

Companion Pack - Released October 31, 2007 on XBL.

Foo Fighters Pack - Released November 8, 2007 on XBL & PSN.

Velvet Revolver Pack - Released November 8, 2007 on XBL & PSN.

Boss Battle Pack - Released November 15, 2007 on XBL and November 29, 2007 on PSN.

Warner/Reprise Track Pack - Released December 20, 2007 on XBL and January 3, 2007 on PSN.

Classic Rock Track Pack - Released January 24, 2008 on XBL and PSN.

No Doubt Track Pack - Released Febuary 28, 2008 on XBL and PSN.

Modern Metal Track Pack - Released March 6, 2008 on XBL & PSN.

Dropkick Murphys Track Pack - Released March 13, 2008 on XBL & PSN.

Def Leppard Track Pack - Released April 24, 2008 on XBL & PSN.

Guitar Virtuoso Pack - Released July 24, 2008 on XBL & PSN.

DragonForce Track Pack - Released August 21, 2008 on XBL & PSN

Studio albums


See also

References

Template:Reflist

Further reading

Books

Scholarly articles

External links

Template:Spoken Wikipedia Template:Commonscat Template:Wikiquote

Template:Featured article Template:RushTemplate:Link FA

ca:Rush cs:Rush da:Rush de:Rush et:Rush es:Rush fr:Rush (groupe) hr:Rush id:Rush it:Rush he:ראש (להקה) lv:Rush hu:Rush mt:Rush nl:Rush (band) ja:ラッシュ (バンド) no:Rush nn:Rush pl:Rush pt:Rush ro:Rush ru:Rush simple:Rush (band) sk:Rush (skupina) fi:Rush sq:Rush sv:Rush tr:Rush (grup) uk:Rush zh:匆促樂團s publisher has since dissolved RedOctane[97] and Neversoft's Guitar Hero division;[98] however, Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock represents the last game in the series to be developed by Neversoft prior to the dissolution. Vicarious Visions developed the Wii port of the game which utilizes additional Nintendo DS functionality, though at present there is no stand-alone DS version of the game.

Gameplay

As with previous games in the series, Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock will let up to four people play in a band on vocals, lead and bass/rhythm guitar, and drums, to successfully match notes as they scroll down the screen as appropriate for their instrument (or matching relative pitch, in the case of vocals), in order to perform well and complete each song. Official Xbox Magazine (UK) noted that the only change to the core gameplay appears to be the addition of a sustained open-string bass note that was lacking in Guitar Hero 5.[99]

The major game mode in Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock is called "Quest Mode", which will be narrated to the players by Gene Simmons. Quest Mode is a career mode where the players attempt to complete songs and challenges to advance the story and game. It is based on a story where the players of the band are attempting to release the "demigod of rock" and his guitar from his imprisonment by "the Beast", gaining strength through bringing new members aboard the band.[100] Gaming journalists have noted thematic similarities between the story details of Warriors of Rock and Brütal Legend, an action video game with a world based on heavy metal, developed by Tim Schafer and Double Fine which Activision, at one point, would have published but later dropped the rights.[101][102][103]

left|thumb|In Warriors of Rock, returning characters to the game will have Warrior forms that have additional scoring and gameplay benefits. Due to ongoing legal issues with the likenesses of musician celebrities in Guitar Hero 5 and Band Hero, Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock will feature only fictional characters, those previously included in the series. As part of Quest Mode, players unlock these characters by completing specific songs for the characters, which can also unlock alter-egos for each character that have further influence on the game. One example is the character of Lars Umlaut, who can become "Warrior Lars" on completing his challenges, allowing for a maximum 6x scoring multipliers instead of a 4x one. In addition, all venues will be fictional except for the now-defunct CBGB Club in New York City.[99]

"Party Play", where the game will automatically play songs and allow for players to jump in at any time, remains in the game.[100] The game also includes an improved "Quickplay+" mode to play any of the songs in the game or from previous downloadable content directly; the Quickplay+ mode will include some of the features from Guitar Hero 5Template:Infobox musical artist Template:Portal Rush is a Canadian rock band originally formed in August 1968, in the Willowdale neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario, currently composed of bassist, keyboardist, and lead vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson, and drummer and lyricist Neil Peart. The band and its membership went through a number of re-configurations between 1968 and 1974, achieving their definitive form when Neil Peart replaced original drummer John Rutsey in July 1974, two weeks before the group's first U.S. tour.

Since the release of the band's self-titled debut album in March 1974, Rush has become known for the instrumental skills of its members, complex compositions, and eclectic lyrical motifs drawing heavily on science fiction, fantasy, and libertarian philosophy, as well as addressing humanitarian, social, emotional, and environmental concerns.

Musically, Rush's style has evolved over the years, beginning in the vein of blues-inspired heavy metal on their first albums, then encompassing hard rock, progressive rock, a period dominated by synthesizers and, more recently, modern rock. They have influenced various musical artists, including Metallica,[1][2] The Smashing Pumpkins[3] and Primus,[3] as well as progressive metal bands such as Dream Theater[1] and Symphony X.[4]

Rush has won a number of Juno Awards, and was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1994. Over the course of their careers, the individual members of Rush have been acknowledged as being some of the most proficient players on their respective instruments, with each band member winning several awards in magazine readers' polls. As a group, Rush possesses 24 gold records and 14 platinum (3 multi-platinum) records. According to the RIAA, Rush's sales statistics place them fourth behind The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Aerosmith for the most consecutive gold or platinum albums by a rock band. Rush also ranks 78th in U.S. album sales with 25 million units.[5] Although total worldwide album sales are not calculated by any single entity, as of 2004 several industry sources estimated Rush's total worldwide album sales at over 40 million units.

The band recently finished promoting their latest album, Snakes & Arrows with an intercontinental tour. The second leg began in San Juan, Puerto Rico on April 11, and ended on July 24, 2008 in Noblesville, Indiana.[6]

History

Template:Details

The early years (1968–1976)

Template:Sound sample box align right Template:Listen Template:Sample box end

The original line-up formed in the neighbourhood of Willowdale in Toronto, Ontario, by Lifeson, front man Jeff Jones, and drummer John Rutsey. Within a couple weeks of forming, and before their second performance, bassist and lead vocalist Jones was replaced by Geddy Lee, a schoolmate of Lifeson. After several lineup reformations, Rush's official incarnation was formed in May 1971 consisting of Lee, Lifeson, and Rutsey. The band was managed by local Toronto resident Ray Danniels, a frequent attendee of Rush's early shows.[7][8]

After gaining stability in the lineup and honing their skills on the local bar/high school dance circuit, the band came to release their first single "Not Fade Away", a cover of the Buddy Holly song, in 1973. Side B contained an original composition, "You Can't Fight It", credited to Rutsey and Lee. The single generated little reaction and, due to record company indifference, the band formed their own independent record label, Moon Records. With the aid of Danniels and the newly enlisted engineer Terry Brown, the band released their self-titled debut album in 1974, which was considered highly derivative of Led Zeppelin.[9] Rush had limited local popularity until the album was picked up by WMMS, a radio station in Cleveland, Ohio. Donna Halper, a DJ and music director working at the station, selected "Working Man" for her regular play list. The song's blue collar theme resonated with hard rock fans and this new found popularity led to the album being re-released by Mercury Records in the U.S.[10][11] Image:Starman.png

Immediately after the release of the debut album, Rutsey resigned in July 1974 due to his affliction with diabetes and a distaste for touring. Rush held auditions and eventually selected Neil Peart as Rutsey's replacement. Peart officially joined the band on July 29, 1974, two weeks before the group's first US tour. They performed their first concert together, opening for Uriah Heep and Manfred Mann with an attendance of over 11,000 people at the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on August 14. In addition to becoming the band's drummer, Peart assumed the role of principal lyricist as Lee and Lifeson had very little interest in writing, contributing to only a handful of song lyrics over the rest of the band's career. Instead, they focused primarily on the musical aspects of Rush. Fly by Night (1975), Rush's first album after recruiting Peart, saw the inclusion of the band's first epic mini-tale "By-Tor and the Snow Dog", replete with complex arrangements and multi-section format. Lyrical themes also underwent dramatic changes after the addition of Peart due to his love for fantasy and science-fiction literature.[13] However, despite these many differences some of the music and songs still closely mirrored the blues style found on Rush's debut.[14][13]

Following quickly on the heels of Fly By Night, the band released 1975's Caress of Steel, a five track hard rock album featuring two extended multi-chapter songs, "The Necromancer" and "The Fountain of Lamneth." Caress of Steel was reported by some critics to be unfocused and an audacious move for the band due to the placement of two protracted numbers back-to-back, as well as a heavier reliance on atmospherics and story-telling, a large deviation from Fly by Night.[15] Intended to be the band's first "break-through" album, Caress of Steel sold below expectations and the promotional tour consisted of small venues which led to the moniker the "Down the Tubes Tour."[16] In light of these events, Rush's record label pressured them into molding their next album in a more commercially friendly and accessible fashion. However, the band ignored the requests and developed their next album, 2112. It was the band's first taste of commercial success and their first platinum album in Canada.[17] The supporting tour for the album culminated in a three night stand at Massey Hall in Toronto, which the band recorded for the release of their first live album titled All the World's a Stage. Allmusic Guide critic Greg Prato summarily reminds listeners and fans of how the album demarcates the boundary between the band's early years and the next era of their music.[18][19]

The progressive rock era (1977–1981)

After 2112, Rush retreated to the United Kingdom to record 1977's A Farewell to Kings and 1978's Hemispheres at Rockfield Studios in Wales. These albums saw the band members expanding their use of progressive elements in their music. Trademarks such as increased synthesizer usage, extended-length concept songs, and highly dynamic playing featuring complex time signature changes became a staple of Rush's compositions. To achieve a broader, more progressive palette of sound, Alex Lifeson began to experiment with classical and twelve-string guitars, and Geddy Lee added bass-pedal synthesizers and Minimoog. Likewise, Peart's percussion became diversified in the form of triangles, glockenspiel, wood blocks, cowbells, timpani, gong and chimes. Beyond instrument additions, the band kept in stride with the progressive rock movement by continuing to compose long, conceptual songs with science fiction and fantasy overtones. However, as the new decade approached, Rush gradually began to dispose of their older styles of music in favor of shorter, and sometimes softer, arrangements. The lyrics up to this point (most of them written by Peart) were heavily influenced by classical poetry, fantasy literature, science fiction, and the writings of novelist Ayn Rand, as exhibited most prominently by their 1975 song "Anthem" from Fly By Night and a specifically acknowledged derivation in 1976's 2112.[20]

Permanent Waves (1980) shifted Rush's style of music dramatically via the introduction of reggae and new wave.[21] Although a hard rock style was still evident, more and more synthesizers were introduced. Moreover, due to the limited airplay Rush's previous extended-length songs received, Permanent Waves included shorter, more radio-friendly songs such as "The Spirit of Radio" and "Freewill", two songs which helped Permanent Waves become Rush's first U.S. Top 5 album; both songs continue to make appearances on classic rock radio stations in Canada and the United States to this day.[22] Meanwhile, Peart's lyrics shifted toward an expository tone with subject matter that dwelled less on fantastical or allegorical story-telling and more heavily on cerebral topics that explored humanistic, social, emotional and metaphysical elements. Template:Sound sample box align left Template:Listen Template:Sample box end Rush's popularity reached its pinnacle with the release of Moving Pictures in 1981. Moving Pictures essentially continued where Permanent Waves left off, extending the trend of highly accessible and commercially friendly pop-progressive rock that helped thrust them into the spotlight. The lead track, "Tom Sawyer", is probably the band's best-known song[23] with "Limelight" also receiving satisfactory responses from listeners and radio stations. Moving Pictures was Rush's last album to feature an extended song, the ten-and-a-half-minute "The Camera Eye". The song also contained the band's heaviest usage of synthesizers up to that point, hinting that Rush's music was shifting direction once more. Moving Pictures reached #3 on the Billboard 200 album chart and has been certified quadruple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.[24]

Following the success of Moving Pictures and the completion of another four studio albums, Rush released their second live recording, Exit...Stage Left, in 1981. The album delineates the apex of Rush's progressive period by featuring live material from the band's Permanent Waves and Moving Pictures tours. As with their first live release, Exit...Stage Left identified the margin of a new chapter of Rush's sound. The band underwent another radical stylistic transmutation with the release of Signals in 1982.[25]

The synthesizer period (1982–1989)

Image:Oberheim OBX.jpg

While Lee's synthesizers had been featured instruments ever since the late 70s, keyboards were suddenly shifted from the contrapuntal background to the melodic front-lines[26][27] as evidenced by songs such as "Countdown" and the lead-off track "Subdivisions". Both feature nimble lead synthesizer lines with minimalistic guitar chords and solos. Other previously unused instrument additions were seen in the song "Losing It," featuring collaborator Ben Mink on electric violin.[25] Template:Sound sample box align right Template:Listen Template:Sample box end Signals also represented a drastic stylistic transformation apart from instrumental changes. The album contained Rush's only U.S. top-40 pop hit, "New World Man",[28] while other more experimental songs such as "Digital Man", "The Weapon", and "Chemistry" expanded the band's use of ska, reggae, and funk.[29] Although the band members consciously decided to move in this overall direction, they felt dissatisfied with long-time producer Terry Brown's studio treatment of Signals and parted ways with him in 1983. These diverse styles would come into further play on their next studio album.

Image:DM Simmons SDS5.jpg

The style and production of Signals were augmented and taken to new heights on 1984's Grace Under Pressure. It was Peart who named the album, as he borrowed the words of Ernest Hemingway to describe what the band had to go through after making the decision to leave Terry Brown. Producer Steve Lillywhite, who gleaned fame with successful productions of Simple Minds and U2, was enlisted to produce Grace Under Pressure. However, he backed out at the last moment, much to the ire of Lee, Lifeson and Peart. Lee said "Steve Lillywhite is really not a man of his word....after agreeing to do our record, he got an offer from Simple Minds, changed his mind, blew us off,..so it put us in a horrible position." Eventually Rush hired Peter Henderson to co-produce and engineer the album in his stead.[30]

Musically, although Lee's use of sequencers and synthesizers remained the band's cornerstone, his focus on new technology was complemented by Peart's adaptation of Simmons electronic drums and percussion. Lifeson's contributions on the album were decidedly enhanced to act as an overreaction to the minimalistic role he played on Signals.[31] Still, many of his trademark guitar textures remained intact in the form of open reggae chords and funk and new-wave rhythms; "Distant Early Warning", "Red Lenses", "Red Sector A" and "The Enemy Within" serve as prime examples.

With new producer Peter Collins, the band released 1985's Power Windows and 1987's Hold Your Fire. The music on these two albums gives far more emphasis and prominence to Lee's multi-layered synthesizer work. While fans and critics took notice of Lifeson's diminished guitar work, his presence was still palpable on "The Big Money", (the album's modest-charting single) with spotlights on "Grand Designs", "Middletown Dreams" and "Marathon." Lifeson, like many guitarists in the late 1980s, experimented with processors that reduced his instrument to echoey chord bursts and razor-thin leads. Hold Your Fire represents both a modest extension of the guitar stylings found on Power Windows, and, according to Allmusic critic Ed Rivadavia, the culmination of this era of Rush.[32] Whereas the previous five Rush albums sold platinum or better, Hold Your Fire only went gold in November 1987, although it managed to peak at number 13 on the Billboard 200.[33]

A third live album and video, A Show of Hands (1989), was also released by Mercury following the Power Windows and Hold Your Fire tours, demonstrating the aspects of Rush in the 80s. A Show of Hands met with strong fan approval, but Rolling Stone critic Michael Azerrad dismissed it as "musical muscle" with 1.5 stars, claiming Rush fans viewed their favourite power trio as "the holy trinity".[34] Nevertheless, A Show of Hands managed to surpass the gold album mark, reaching number 21 on the Billboard 200.[35] At this point, the group decided to change record labels from Mercury to Atlantic. After Rush's departure in 1989, Mercury released a double platinum two-volume compilation of their Rush catalogue, Chronicles (1990).[36]

Returning to their roots (1989–1997)

Template:Sound sample box align right Template:Listen Template:Sample box end Rush started to deviate from their 1980s style with the albums Presto and Roll the Bones. Produced by record engineer and musician Rupert Hine, these two albums saw Rush shedding much of their keyboard-saturated sound. Beginning with 1989's Presto, the band opted for arrangements that were notably more guitar-centric than the previous two studio albums. Although synthesizers were still used in many songs, the instrument was no longer featured as the centerpiece of Rush's compositions. Continuing this trend, 1991's Roll the Bones extended the use of the standard three-instrument approach with even less focus on synthesizers than its predecessor. While musically these albums do not deviate significantly from a general pop-rock sound, Rush stuck to their creative approach of incorporating traces of more exotic musical styles. "Roll the Bones", for instance, exhibits funk and hip hop elements, and the instrumental track "Where's My Thing?" features several jazz components.[37] This return to three-piece instrumentation helped pave the way for future albums in the mid-90s, which would adopt a more straightforward rock formula.

The transition from synthesizers to more guitar-oriented and organic instrumentation continued with the 1993 album Counterparts[38] and its follow-up, 1996's Test for Echo, again both produced in collaboration with Peter Collins. Musically, Counterparts[38] and Test For Echo are two of Rush's most guitar-driven albums. Although the music in general did not meet the criteria for "progressive rock", some of the songs could be considered more adventurous than what one might expect from a standard modern rock band.[39] For instance, "Time and Motion" possesses multiple time signature changes and organ usage, while the instrumental track "Limbo", consists of several relatively complex musical passages repeated throughout. Musically, Test For Echo still retained much of the hard rock/alternative style already charted on the previous record. Lifeson and Lee's playing remained more or less unchanged; however, a distinct modification in technique became apparent in Peart's playing due to formal Jazz and Swing training under the tutelage of jazz instructor Freddie Gruber during the interim between Counterparts and Test For Echo.[40] In October 1996, in support of Test For Echo, the band embarked on an extensive and successful North American tour, the band's first without an opening act and dubbed "An Evening with Rush." The tour was broken up into two segments spanning October through December, 1996 and May through July, 1997 with the band taking a respite between legs.

Hiatus and comeback (1997–2005)

After wrapping up the tour promoting Test for Echo in 1997, the band entered a five-year hiatus mainly due to personal tragedies in Peart's life. Peart's daughter Selena died in an automobile accident in August 1997, followed by his wife Jacqueline's death from cancer in June 1998. Peart took a hiatus to mourn and reflect, during which time he traveled extensively throughout North America on his BMW motorcycle, covering 88,000 km (55,000 miles). At some point in his journey, Peart decided to return to the band. Peart wrote Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road as a chronicle of his geographical and emotional journey. In this book he writes of how he had told his bandmates at Selena's funeral, "consider me retired."[41] On November 10, 1998 a triple CD live album entitled Different Stages was released, dedicated to the memory of Selena and Jacqueline. Mixed by producer Paul Northfield and engineered by Terry Brown, it contained three discs packed with recorded performances from the band's Counterparts, Test For Echo, and A Farewell to Kings tours, marking the fourth officially released live album by the band. Template:Sound sample box align left Template:Listen Template:Sample box end After a time to grieve and reassemble the pieces of his life, and while visiting long-time Rush photographer Andrew MacNaughtan in Los Angeles, Peart was introduced to his future wife, photographer Carrie Nuttall. Peart married Nuttall on September 9, 2000. In early 2001 he announced to his band mates that he was ready to once again enter the studio and get back into the business of making music. With the help of producer Paul Northfield the band returned in May 2002 with Vapor Trails, written and recorded in Toronto. To herald the band's comeback, the single and lead track from the album, "One Little Victory" was designed to grab the attention of listeners due to its rapid guitar and drum tempos.[42] Vapor Trails marked the first studio recording not to include a single synthesizer, organ or keyboard part since the early 1970s. While the album is almost completely guitar-driven, it is mostly devoid of any conventional sounding guitar solos, a conscious decision made by Lifeson during the writing process. According to the band, the entire developmental process for Vapor Trails was extremely taxing and took approximately 14 months to finish, by far the longest the band had ever spent writing and recording a studio album.[42] The album debuted to moderate praise and was supported by the band's first tour in six years, including first-ever concerts in Mexico City and Brazil, where they played to some of the largest crowds of their career.

A triple CD live album and dual Rush In Rio DVD was released in late October 2003 featuring an entire concert performance recorded on the last night of their Vapor Trails Tour, November 23, 2002, at Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. To celebrate their 30th anniversary, June 2004 saw the release of Feedback, a studio EP recorded in suburban Toronto featuring eight covers of such artists as Cream, The Who and The Yardbirds, bands that the members of Rush cite as inspiration around the time of their inception.[43] Also in the summer of 2004, Rush hit the road again for the very successful 30th Anniversary Tour, playing dates in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Sweden, the Czech Republic, and the Netherlands. On September 24, 2004 a Frankfurt, Germany concert was recorded at The Festhalle for DVD (titled R30: Live in Frankfurt), which was released November 22, 2005.

Snakes & Arrows (2006–present)

Here is the complete setlist for Guitar Hero III, which will also include all downloadable content (when released).


Bold text indicates a master track, all other songs are covers.

Single Player Setlist

1. Starting Out Small

2. Your First Real Gig

3. Making The Video

4. European Invasion

5. Bighouse Blues

6. The Hottest Band On Earth

7. Live in Japan

8. Battle For Your Soul

Co-Op Setlist

1. Getting a Band Together

2. We Just Wanna Be Famous

3. Overnight Success

4. Getting the Band Back Together

5. Jailhouse Rock

6. Battle for Your Souls...

Bonus Tracks

Downloadable Content

Singles

Halo Theme MJOLNIR Mix - Released November 22, 2007 on XBL.

Ernten Was Wir Säen - Released December 20, 2007 on XBL & January 3, 2008 on PSN.

So Payso - Released December 20, 2007 on XBL & January 3, 2008 on PSN.

Antisocial - Released December 20, 2007 on XBL and January 3, 2008 on PSN.

We Three Kings - Released December 20, 2007 on XBL & PSN.

Dream On - Released Febuary 18, 2008 on XBL & PSN.

I am Murloc - Released June 26, 2008 on XBL and PSN.

Track Packs

Companion Pack - Released October 31, 2007 on XBL.

Foo Fighters Pack - Released November 8, 2007 on XBL & PSN.

Velvet Revolver Pack - Released November 8, 2007 on XBL & PSN.

Boss Battle Pack - Released November 15, 2007 on XBL and November 29, 2007 on PSN.

Warner/Reprise Track Pack - Released December 20, 2007 on XBL and January 3, 2007 on PSN.

Classic Rock Track Pack - Released January 24, 2008 on XBL and PSN.

No Doubt Track Pack - Released Febuary 28, 2008 on XBL and PSN.

Modern Metal Track Pack - Released March 6, 2008 on XBL & PSN.

Dropkick Murphys Track Pack - Released March 13, 2008 on XBL & PSN.

Def Leppard Track Pack - Released April 24, 2008 on XBL & PSN.

Guitar Virtuoso Pack - Released July 24, 2008 on XBL & PSN.

DragonForce Track Pack - Released August 21, 2008 on XBL & PSN

During promotional interviews for the R30 Live In Frankfurt DVD, the band revealed their intention to begin writing new material in early 2006. While in Toronto, Lifeson and Lee began the songwriting process in January 2006. During this time, Peart simultaneously assumed his role of lyric writing while residing in Southern California. The following September, Rush chose to hire American producer Nick Raskulinecz to co-produce the album. The band officially entered Allaire Studios, in Shokan, New York in November 2006 in order to record the bulk of the material. Taking the band five weeks, the sessions ended in December. On February 14, 2007, an announcement was made on the official Rush web site that the title of the new album would be Snakes & Arrows. The first single, entitled "Far Cry," was released to North American radio stations on March 12, 2007 and reached #2 on the Mediabase Mainstream and Radio and Records Charts.[44]

The Rush website, newly redesigned on March 12 to support the new album, also announced that the band would embark on a tour to begin in the summer. Snakes & Arrows was released 1 May 2007 in North America, where it debuted at #3 in the Billboard 200 with approximately 93,000 units sold in its first week.[45] To coincide with the Atlantic ocean hurricane season, "Spindrift" was released as the official second radio single on June 1, 2007, whereas "The Larger Bowl (A Pantoum)" saw single status on June 25, 2007. "The Larger Bowl" positioned within the top 20 of the Mainstream Rock and Media Base Mainstream charts, however, "Spindrift" failed to appear on any commercial chart.[46] The planned intercontinental tour in support of Snakes & Arrows began on June 13, 2007 in Atlanta, Georgia, coming to a close on October 29, 2007 at Hartwall Arena in Helsinki, Finland.[47]

The 2008 portion of the tour started on April 11, 2008 in San Juan, Puerto Rico at José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum and culminated on July 24, 2008 in Noblesville, Indiana at the Verizon Wireless Music Center.[48] On April 15, the band released Snakes & Arrows Live, a double live album documenting the first leg of the tour.[49] Those same performances featured on Snakes & Arrows Live filmed at the Ahoy arena in Rotterdam, Netherlands on October 16 and 17 of 2007 was released November 24 as a DVD and Blu-Ray set, which also includes footage from the 2008 portion of the tour, recorded at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Atlanta.[50][51] [52]

As the band neared the conclusion of their Snakes & Arrows tour, they announced their first appearance on American television in over 30 years. Rush was interviewed by Stephen Colbert and they performed "Tom Sawyer" on The Colbert Report on July 16, 2008.[53]

Musical style and influences

Rush's musical style has changed substantially over the years. Their debut album is strongly influenced by British-Blues rock: an amalgam of sounds and styles from such rock bands as Cream, Led Zeppelin, and Deep Purple. Over the first few albums their style remained essentially hard rock, with heavy influences from The Who[54] and Led Zeppelin,[9] but also became increasingly influenced by the British progressive rock movement.[55] In the tradition of progressive rock, Rush wrote protracted songs with irregular and multiple time signatures combined with fantasy/science fiction-inspired lyrics; however, they did not soften their sound. This fusion of hard and progressive rock continued until the end of the 1970s. In the 1980s, however, Rush successfully merged their sound with the trends of this period, experimenting with New Wave, reggae and pop rock.[56] This period included the band's most extensive use of instruments such as synthesizers, sequencers and electronic percussion. It is largely agreed that the culmination of this era of Rush was in 1987 after the release of Hold Your Fire.[57] With the approach of the early '90s and Rush's character sound still intact, the band transformed their style once again to harmonize with the alternative rock movement.[58] The new millennium has seen them return to a more rock and roll roots sound, albeit with modern production.[54]

Band members

Former members

  • John Rutsey – drums, percussion, backing vocals (August 1968 – July 1974)
  • Jeff Jones – bass, lead vocals (August 1968 – September 1968)

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Reputation

More than 30 years of activity has provided Rush with the opportunity for musical diversity across their discography. As with many bands known for experimentation, such changes have inevitably resulted in dissent among critics and fans. The bulk of the band's music has always included synthetic instruments in some form or another, and this is a great source of contention in the Rush camp, especially the band's heavy reliance on synthesizers and keyboards during the 1980s, particularly on albums Grace Under Pressure, Power Windows, and Hold Your Fire.[59][60] Still, most fans saw this as nothing less than artistic growth and support for the band remained unwavering through each transitional phase.[57]

The members of Rush have themselves noted that people "either love Rush or hate Rush", resulting in strong detractors and an intensely loyal fan base. To the chagrin of fans, the band has not been nominated for entry into the American Rock and Roll Hall of Fame since their year of eligibility in 1998. The Hall's refusal to induct Rush may be a consequence of the band's insistence on remaining outside the mainstream of rock when it comes to self-promotion, in favor of maintaining a high degree of independence.[61] To this day fans earnestly clamor for the band's inclusion into the Hall by citing noteworthy accomplishments including longevity, proficiency, and influence, as well as commercial sales figures and RIAA certifications. However, Lifeson has expressed his indifference toward the perceived slight saying "I couldn't care less, look who's up for induction, it's a joke".[62] Rush has gained a degree of recognition in popular culture despite any official recognition from the Hall.[63]

As a band, Rush has been nominated for and received various awards throughout its career. Likewise, the individual members have received coverage in various modern music magazines with specific technocratic recognition for instrumental ability. See List of Rush awards for more details on this topic.

Geddy Lee

Image:GeddyLee.JPG

Geddy Lee's high-register vocal style has always been a signature of the band — and sometimes, a focal point for criticism, especially during the early years of Rush's career when Lee's vocals were high-pitched, with a strong likeness to other singers like Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin. Although his voice has softened over the years, it is often described as a "wail".[64][65] His instrumental abilities, on the other hand, are rarely criticized. An award-winning musician, Lee's style, technique, and ability on the bass guitar have proven influential in the rock and heavy metal genres, inspiring such players as Steve Harris of Iron Maiden,[66] John Myung of Dream Theater,[67] Les Claypool of Primus[68] and Cliff Burton of Metallica[69] among others. Lee is notable for his ability to operate various pieces of instrumentation simultaneously. This is mostly evident during live shows when Lee must play bass, supply lead vocals, manipulate keyboards, and trigger foot pedals during the course of a performance, as in the song "Tom Sawyer".[55] Because of this he is required to remain in one place during songs containing complex instrumentation. Lifeson and Peart are, to a lesser extent, responsible for similar actions during live shows.

Alex Lifeson

Image:Alex Lifeson6.jpg

Instrumentally, Lifeson is regarded as a guitarist whose strengths and notability rely primarily on signature riffing, electronic effects and processing, unorthodox chord structures, and a copious arsenal of equipment used over the years.[70][71][72] Despite his esteem, however, Lifeson is often regarded as being overshadowed by his bandmates due to Lee's on-stage multi-instrumental dexterity and Peart's status as a drummer.[73]

During his adolescent years, he was influenced primarily by Jimi Hendrix, Pete Townshend, Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page.[74] For versatility, Lifeson was known to incorporate touches of Spanish and classical music into Rush's guitar-driven sound during the 1970s. Taking a backseat to Lee's keyboards in the 1980s, Lifeson's guitar returned to the forefront in the 1990s, and especially on 2002's Vapor Trails. During live performances, he is still responsible for cuing various guitar effects, the use of bass-pedal synthesizers and backing vocals.

Neil Peart

Music

Peart is commonly regarded by music fans, critics and fellow musicians as one of, if not the greatest rock drummers.[75] He is also regarded as one of the finest practitioners of the in-concert drum solo.[76] Initially inspired by Keith Moon, Peart absorbed the influence of other rock drummers from the 1960s and 1970s such as Ginger Baker, Carmine Appice, and John Bonham.[77] Incorporation of unusual instruments (for rock drummers of the time) such as cowbells, glockenspiel, and tubular bells, along with several standard kit elements, helped create a highly varied setup. Continually modified to this day, Peart's drumkit offers an enormous array of percussion instruments for sonic diversity. For two decades Peart honed his technique; each new Rush album introduced an expanded percussive vocabulary. In the 1990s, he reinvented his style with the help of drum coach Freddie Gruber. Image:Neil Peart3.jpg

Lyrics

Peart also serves as Rush's primary lyricist, attracting much attention over the years due to his eclectic style. Known for penning concept suites and songs inspired by literature, music fan opinions of his writing have varied greatly, running the gamut from cerebral and insightful to overly pretentious and preachy. During the band's early years, Peart's lyrics were largely fantasy/science fiction-focused,[78] though since 1980 he has focused more on social, emotional, and humanitarian issues. Peart's lyrics continue to divide audiences today. For example, in 2007, he was placed second on Blender magazine's list of the "40 Worst Lyricists In Rock".[79]

Sales

Over the course of their career, Rush has come to release 24 gold records and 14 platinum records (3 of which have gone multiplatinum),[80] placing them within the top 4 for the most consecutive gold albums by a rock band.[81] Rush ranks 78th in U.S. album sales according to the RIAA with sales of 25 million units.[81] Total worldwide sales approximate 40 million units.[82][83][84][85]

Despite having completely dropped out of the public eye for five years after the gold-selling Test for Echo (which peaked at number 5 on the Billboard 200) and the band being relegated almost solely to classic rock stations in the U.S., Vapor Trails reached #6 on the Billboard 200 chart in its first week of release in 2002 with 108,000 albums sold. It has sold approximately 343,000 units to date. The subsequent Vapor Trails tour grossed over $24 million and included the largest audience ever to see a headlining Rush show — 60,000 fans in São Paulo, Brazil. Nevertheless, Vapor Trails remains their first album not to achieve at least gold status.

However, Rush's triple CD live album, 2003's Rush in Rio, was certified gold by the RIAA, marking the fourth decade in which a Rush album had been released and certified at least gold. Moreover, in 2004 Feedback cracked the top 20 on the Billboard 200 chart and received radio airplay. The band's most recent album, Snakes & Arrows, debuted at #3 (just one position shy of Rush's highest peaking album, 1993's Counterparts, which debuted at #2) on the Billboard 200 selling approximately 93,000 copies in its first week of release.[86] This marks the 13th studio album to appear in the Top 20 and the band's 27th album to appear on the chart regardless of position over the course of their career. The album also debuted at #1 on the Billboard's Top Rock Albums chart, as well as peaking at #1 on the Top Internet Albums chart when the album was released on the MVI format a month later.[87] Still, Snakes & Arrows has yet to accumulate sales that approach or eclipse Vapor Trails or Rush in Rio.

The two consecutive tours in support of Snakes & Arrows in 2007 and 2008 accrued $21 million and $18.3 million, respectively, earning Rush the number 6 and 8 spots among the top ten summer rock concerts.[88][89]

Live performances

The members of Rush share a strong work ethic, desiring to accurately recreate songs from their albums when playing live performances. Toward this goal, beginning in the late 1980s, Rush has included in their concert equipment a capacious rack of digital samplers which the band members use, in real-time, to recreate the sounds of non-traditional instruments, accompaniments, vocal harmonies, and other sound "events" that are familiarly heard on the studio versions of the songs.

In live performances, the band members share duties throughout most songs, with each member triggering certain sounds with his available limbs, while playing his primary instrument(s). Each band member has one or more MIDI controllers that enables him to use his free hands or feet to trigger sounds that have been loaded into the samplers for a particular song.[90] It is with this technology that the group is able to present their arrangements in a live setting with the level of complexity and fidelity that fans have come to expect, and without the need to resort to the use of backing tracks or employing an additional band member.[91]

The band members' coordinated use of foot-pedal keyboards and other electronic triggers to "play" sampled instruments and audio events is subtly visible in their live performances, especially so on R30: 30th Anniversary World Tour, their 2005 concert DVD.

A staple of Rush's concerts is a Peart drum solo. Peart's drum solos include a basic framework of routines connected by sections of improvisation, making each performance unique. Each successive tour sees the solo more advanced, with some routines dropped in favor of newer, more complex ones. Since the mid-1980s, Peart has used MIDI trigger pads to trigger sounds sampled from various pieces of acoustic percussion that would otherwise consume far too much stage area, such as a marimba, harp, temple blocks, triangles, glockenspiel, orchestra bells, tubular bells, and vibraslap as well as other, more esoteric percussion.

Philanthropy

Rush actively participates in philanthropic causes. The band was one of a number of hometown favorites to play Molson Canadian Rocks for Toronto, also dubbed SARStock, at Downsview Park in Toronto on July 30, 2003, with an attendance of over half a million people. The concert was intended to benefit the Canadian economy after the SARS outbreaks earlier in the year. The band has also sustained an interest in promoting human rights. They donated $100,000 to the Canadian Museum for Human Rights after a concert they held in Winnipeg on 24 May 2008.[92] Rush continues to sell t-shirts and donate the proceeds to the museum.[93]

The individual members of Rush have also been a part of philanthropic causes. Hughes & Kettner zenTeras and TriAmps have been endorsed and used by Lifeson for many years. A custom signature amplifier was engineered by Lifeson and released in April 2005 with the stipulation that UNICEF will receive a donation in the amount of $50 for every Alex Lifeson Signature TriAmp sold.[94] Lee, a longtime fan of baseball, donated 200 baseballs signed by famous Negro League players, including Willie Mays, Hank Aaron and Josh Gibson, to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in June 2008.[95]

The band is featured on the music album Songs for Tibet, appearing with a number of other celebrities as an initiative to support Tibet and the current Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso. The album was made downloadable on August 5 via iTunes and was released commercially August 12.[96]

Discography

Here is the complete setlist for Guitar Hero III, which will also include all downloadable content (when released).


Bold text indicates a master track, all other songs are covers.

Single Player Setlist

1. Starting Out Small

2. Your First Real Gig

3. Making The Video

4. European Invasion

5. Bighouse Blues

6. The Hottest Band On Earth

7. Live in Japan

8. Battle For Your Soul

Co-Op Setlist

1. Getting a Band Together

2. We Just Wanna Be Famous

3. Overnight Success

4. Getting the Band Back Together

5. Jailhouse Rock

6. Battle for Your Souls...

Bonus Tracks

Downloadable Content

Singles

Halo Theme MJOLNIR Mix - Released November 22, 2007 on XBL.

Ernten Was Wir Säen - Released December 20, 2007 on XBL & January 3, 2008 on PSN.

So Payso - Released December 20, 2007 on XBL & January 3, 2008 on PSN.

Antisocial - Released December 20, 2007 on XBL and January 3, 2008 on PSN.

We Three Kings - Released December 20, 2007 on XBL & PSN.

Dream On - Released Febuary 18, 2008 on XBL & PSN.

I am Murloc - Released June 26, 2008 on XBL and PSN.

Track Packs

Companion Pack - Released October 31, 2007 on XBL.

Foo Fighters Pack - Released November 8, 2007 on XBL & PSN.

Velvet Revolver Pack - Released November 8, 2007 on XBL & PSN.

Boss Battle Pack - Released November 15, 2007 on XBL and November 29, 2007 on PSN.

Warner/Reprise Track Pack - Released December 20, 2007 on XBL and January 3, 2007 on PSN.

Classic Rock Track Pack - Released January 24, 2008 on XBL and PSN.

No Doubt Track Pack - Released Febuary 28, 2008 on XBL and PSN.

Modern Metal Track Pack - Released March 6, 2008 on XBL & PSN.

Dropkick Murphys Track Pack - Released March 13, 2008 on XBL & PSN.

Def Leppard Track Pack - Released April 24, 2008 on XBL & PSN.

Guitar Virtuoso Pack - Released July 24, 2008 on XBL & PSN.

DragonForce Track Pack - Released August 21, 2008 on XBL & PSN

Studio albums


See also

References

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Further reading

Books

Scholarly articles

External links

Template:Spoken Wikipedia Template:Commonscat Template:Wikiquote

Template:Featured article Template:RushTemplate:Link FA

ca:Rush cs:Rush da:Rush de:Rush et:Rush es:Rush fr:Rush (groupe) hr:Rush id:Rush it:Rush he:ראש (להקה) lv:Rush hu:Rush mt:Rush nl:Rush (band) ja:ラッシュ (バンド) no:Rush nn:Rush pl:Rush pt:Rush ro:Rush ru:Rush simple:Rush (band) sk:Rush (skupina) fi:Rush sq:Rush sv:Rush tr:Rush (grup) uk:Rush zh:匆促樂團s Career mode, such as song challenges, that will otherwise not be incorporated into the Quest mode. Each song, both on-disc and from previous downloaded content, will have thirteen different challenges to be completed. Players will have the opportunity to use the unlocked Warrior form of the game's characters within Quickplay+ mode in order to take advantage of their gameplay benefits as necessary to complete some of these challenges.[104] The competitive modes introduced in Guitar Hero 5 will also carry over into Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock.[99] The Wii version will improve the "Roadie" game version introduced in Guitar Hero 5. In this mode, up to four additional players with their own Nintendo DS wirelessly connected to the Wii (the "Roadies") can assist the other players using instrument controllers. The Roadies can create setlists from the DS, or engage in gameplay through "spells" that improve the performance of the player they are assigned to. Alternatively, in Roadie Battle mode, the Roadies can attempt to distract another player while at the same time removing the distractions placed on their player by another Roadie.[100]

Development

thumb|right|The new guitar controller for Warriors of Rock allows for the body of the controller to be swapped out, while all of the critical electronics remain within the main fretboard and neck of the unit. A new guitar controller is being developed for the game to help with "shredding" and an art style to match the changes made in the game's visuals.[104] The guitar hardware has been significantly redesigned to locate most of the base electronics and wireless controls into the main fretboard of the unit, containing the colored fret buttons, strum and whammy bar, and other controls for interacting with the game console. As such, this allows the body of the guitar to be swappable with custom designs, allowing players to personalize the control to their wishes; one design will be exclusive to those that pre-order the game through GameStop.[105] The new guitar controller remains backwards compatible with previous games.

The game may include features using camera technology, such as Project Natal, into the future game, according to the development team.[106]

Main setlist

The game's setlist features more than 90 songs.[107] Project director Brian Bright stated that the soundtrack for Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock is "more focused on rock 'n' roll" than the variety of genres within Guitar Hero 5.[99] The songs are more guitar-centric, as proven to be the most popular instrument choice based on Guitar Hero 5.[100]

All previous downloadable content that was playable in Guitar Hero 5 or Band Hero will be compatible with Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock, allowing for more than 300 tracks to be available to players at launch.[99] Michael Tremonti, brother of Alter Bridge's Mark Tremonti, has confirmed that "Ties That Bind" will be downloadable content for Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock.[108]

Song Artist Ref
"Aqualung" Jethro Tull [109]
"Bat Country" Avenged Sevenfold [109]
"Been Caught Stealing" Jane's Addiction [110]
"Bleed It Out" Linkin Park [109]
"Bloodlines" Dethklok [110]
"Bodies" Drowning Pool [109]
"Bohemian Rhapsody" Queen [110]
"Chemical Warfare" Slayer [110]
"Children of the Grave" Black Sabbath [110]
"Dance, Dance" Fall Out Boy [109]
"Dancing Through Sunday" AFI [110]
"Fascination Street" Template:Sort [110]
"Feels Like the First Time" Foreigner [109]
"Fury of the Storm" DragonForce [110]
"I'm Not Okay (I Promise)" My Chemical Romance [110]
"If You Want Peace... Prepare for War" Children of Bodom [110]
"Indians" Anthrax [109]
"Interstate Love Song" Stone Temple Pilots [109]
"Love Gun" Kiss [110]
"Modern Day Cowboy" Tesla [111]
"Money for Nothing" Dire Straits [109]
"No Way Back" Foo Fighters [109]
"Paranoid" (Live) Metallica & Ozzy Osbourne [110]
"Pour Some Sugar on Me" (Live) Def Leppard [109][110]
"Psychosocial" Slipknot [109]
"(You Can Still) Rock in America" Night Ranger [109]
"Self Esteem" Template:Sort [109]
"Sharp Dressed Man" (Live) ZZ Top [109][110]
"Stray Cat Blues" Template:Sort [109]
"Sudden Death" Megadeth [110]
"There's No Secrets This Year" Silversun Pickups [110]
"Tick Tick Boom" Template:Sort [109]
"Uprising" Muse [110]
"Waidmanns Heil" Rammstein [110]
"What Do I Get?" Buzzcocks [110]
"Wish" Nine Inch Nails [109]

Downloadable content

Song Artist Release Date Ref
"Ties That Bind" Alter Bridge TBA [108]

References

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Template:Guitar Hero seriesit:Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock

Discussion
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