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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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User comments
tbh i think it is a game, get over it, games are fun and made for people to enjoy and that is what the game does - lets people enjoy it. so whats the problem? however it is fair to say although it may not be introducing kids to music but stopping them playing it cos they can get that 'rockstar' feeling from a game not the real thing....
Posted by: catherine.a10 on Thu Jun 25 10:03PM | Report abuseI think the person who wrote this article should show a lot more respect, thats the first thing. Second, these guys are raised on rock'n'roll, they know how it is, you dont get the feel of playing the guitar on a video game, i point blank refuse to play those types of game, i have from the start. But i feel the same about Busted, but they get people into othe types of rock as those games will get people playing guiter/drums.
Posted by: myst_eddy on Thu Jun 25 10:03PM | Report abuseit's only a game .. a bit of fun ...
Posted by: x_laura_x56 on Thu Jun 25 10:03PM | Report abuseIt's only game.It sure as Hell ain't playing a real guitar.That's a totally different game.It's pointess to even compare the two.
Posted by: jazzmanpaul on Thu Jun 25 10:03PM | Report abuseIt's about a little thing I like to call "FUN"
Posted by: neravair on Thu Jun 25 10:04PM | Report abuseEven though the game is sad, he should of not said that!
Posted by: themagicman15 on Thu Jun 25 10:04PM | Report abuseIts just a fun game, nothing more - people aren't "sad wannabes" they're just having fun lol. No-one actually gets serious with this sh*t haha
Posted by: hugobrook on Thu Jun 25 10:04PM | Report abuseYes totally agree although Jack White is one too talk, I don't rate him as a guitar player and from the sounds of it, for all we know he might of learned to play guitar from playing these sort of games - way of overrated as guitar player and also has gash awful guitar tone as well, these comments would have sounded better coming from someone else more respected like Zakk Wylde.
Posted by: macka3375 on Thu Jun 25 10:04PM | Report abuseInternet games are fine..i play them at 65.. now playing '''gears of war two'' doesn't mean to say I can be a combatent warrior overlord and survive in a hostil inviroment ...same applies to great music and the players themselves...Page,hendrix,clapton,walters,may,knopler etc.the list goes on...would they have achieved such monumental global status over many decades by playing pc games...a big NO i think
Posted by: water.sportz on Thu Jun 25 10:04PM | Report abuse...it's just a judgmental kind of comment...teens are having fun with guitar hero game, who cares what this dude thinks??!!
Posted by: dav_yogi on Thu Jun 25 10:04PM | Report abuse