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A long while back you could count yourself to be quite the indie rock specialist if you spoke of Jack White and his band The White Stripes. But since 2003 and the song "Seven Nation Army" from the band's "Elephant" album, The White Stripes have become a favourite at dinner parties the world over. That's just the way it goes.
Jack White has moved on to tour with another band, The Dead Weather, but this summer The White Stripes will resurface in the rock-along videogame Guitar Hero 5. Last Friday Jack White seemed less than pleased with the new attention that's sure to come his way from teens strumming on fake guitars connected to games consoles.
During an LA press conference for the "It Might Get Loud" documentary, in which White features alongside Led Zeppelin legend Jimmy Page and U2's The Edge, the cheeky feller had the gall to get the blues about the youth of today.
NME journalists reporting from the event have White down as saying: "It's depressing to have a label come and tell you that [Guitar Hero] is how kids are learning about music and experiencing music." And, "If you have to be in a videogame to get in front of them, that's a little sad." We're sure he won't turn down the royalties though.
Jimmy Page also used the stage to continue his much publicised disapproval of Guitar Hero, Rock Band and their ilk. In summary, according the NME, Page believes that kids can't be learning anything worthwhile about musical instruments by playing videogames. He says: "You think of the drum part that John Bonham did on Led Zeppelin's first track on the first album, 'Good Times Bad Times'. How many drummers in the world can play that part, let alone on Christmas morning?" And then probably fell asleep with a Werther's Original in his gob, we don't know.
Guys, it's only a game! Or is it? No, it is. Isn't it?
Should we be tossing our plastic guitars and drums on the scrap heap for the sake of real rock 'n' roll? Do you think practicing for hours with a music videogame is a waste of time? Should Jack White have kept his mouth shut - will you boycott his songs in Guitar Hero 5? Is it past Jimmy Page's bedtime already?
Let us know your thoughts.
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Page is always right
Posted by: paulothelegend on Thu Jun 25 01:10PM | Report abuseHow can it be bad? If youngsters uncover classic music, who cares if it's via a game or on the radio?
Posted by: zzztest.authtierg on Thu Jun 25 01:22PM | Report abuseThis game has actually encouraged my children to take up musical instruments, if it wasn't for Guitar hero I don't think my son would have thought about it. He now plays Greenday brilliantly and yes we have had Seven nation army endlessly resounding around the house.
Posted by: jacqui.finch on Thu Jun 25 01:25PM | Report abuseWhat a pair of utter snobs. And Jack White? "Legend"? He's done ONE good song in his entire career.
Posted by: thrannis on Thu Jun 25 01:54PM | Report abusepage is alegend but for gods sake its just a game for anyone to play, heck my @#$%friend loves playing it, and as for jack white, the white stripes suck big time
Posted by: jonbonjovi19812003 on Thu Jun 25 02:00PM | Report abuseLets blame electricity,yeh that's the real culprit. HA ha ha ha ha. Ohhhhhhhh wait a minute, its called progress,I think,but not as we know it Jim........................................ WHO gives a toss of the coin and see were it lands of hope and glory and bullshit. Jimmy you should know better,are you not being your father/grand father. Something good will come out of IT.There's that word IT again.What exactly is IT.
Posted by: simonsout on Thu Jun 25 02:09PM | Report abusePage must be older than me! Why is he bothered what games people play? He's getting royalties.
Posted by: sslimandy on Thu Jun 25 02:29PM | Report abuseyes it could open kids up to new music and maybe make them want a real instrument ( sad that a game has to do this ) but the game is like haveing a bad guitar teacher, the timeing, rhythm,and the feel off playing games like "guitar hero" will only make is harder when trying to learn how to play a real guitar and from what i have seen will only put kids off in the the end.
Posted by: saffivort on Thu Jun 25 02:36PM | Report abuseI think, if this is the 'way-forward', then Gibson and Fender will have to re-design their products to account for the big coloured fret buttons!!!! I really think these video games have to be seen from the outset as 'fun', and not to be taken seriously at all!
Posted by: timbreshedstudio on Thu Jun 25 03:07PM | Report abuseWhite and Page are correct, these games shouldnt be viewed as educational and it is sad that the time spent learning to play guitar hero can't be spent playing a real instrument by these kids... And to Thrannis.. Jack White has only played one good song? Are you KIDDING me? He is one of the very few raw and natural talents in popular music at the moment.
Posted by: robynlouisetaylor on Thu Jun 25 03:15PM | Report abuse