Activision has just announced a tempting bonus for those of you who buy Guitar Hero 5 nice and early – a FREE copy of the as yet unreleased Guitar Hero: Van Halen Edition. Rocking good news!

This blink-and-you’ll-miss-it offer closes on October 31st – maybe earlier if demand outstrips supply – and you’ll need to pre-order through selected retail partners or keep an eye out for specially-stickered boxes in order to participate. Be sure to retain your receipt as proof of purchase too.

The Guitar Hero 5 official site provides links straight through to Amazon.co.uk and Play.com for pre-ordering purposes, although only to the bundle packs that come with the guitar peripheral. Given that many of you will already be well-equipped in that department we’re guessing that the Van Halen offer will also apply to the disc-only option, but you’ll have to double-check guitarhero.com or your local high street retailer to make sure.

Once you’ve jumped through those minor hoops, and waited out the specified six week delivery period with patience and good grace, a world of twiddly-diddly, spandex-powered eighties hair-metal awaits – 25 choons by the Van and a further 19 by other artistes. And that’s atop the 85 songs already included in GH5.

The fun – and offer-redeeming mayhem – starts on Xbox 360, PS3 and Wii from September 18th.