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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
its only a game people who cares if its sad? when it is raining and cold id rather play decent songs on a plastic guitar my lil bro loves the game but he has a permenantly dislocated shoulderblade sho he cannot strum a real guitar without hurting himself so i got him guitar hero world tour for him and he loves it ...cmon people its only a game and to be honest jimmy page can say what he likes but in the end its a game and he gets money for one or two of his songs to be put on it
Posted by: samdonovan61 on Thu Jun 25 05:43PM | Report abusetheir right it is bad.forget this kids,just go back to hanging out in parks drinking stella and smoking
Posted by: probablytherichestclubintheworld on Thu Jun 25 05:46PM | Report abuseSo, Jack White thinks it's sad that Guitar Hero is how young kids are learning about music but not so sad as to alow his compositions to be used and await the Royalty cheques. Hmmm... I agree with the other contributor. Jack's got a ways to go before he's a legend.
Posted by: splendidproductions on Thu Jun 25 05:47PM | Report abuseIt gives my kids the chance to find great music.
Posted by: sean272001 on Thu Jun 25 06:05PM | Report abuseok perhaps it is a little sad that they have to learn about music through a video game, but at least they pick somthing good up rather than how to shoot someone. As for Pages' comment...well its meant to be fun for the musicaly challenged - who cares if we cant hit the drums like Bonham. We already know were not actual Guitar Heros!!!! Men - get over yourselves!!
Posted by: fairytail_dreamer23 on Thu Jun 25 06:22PM | Report abuseHero and Rock Band are good and not so. For a video game - an almost perfect concept. I'm an actual guitar player, but when I played Hero at my sisters once I don't think I stopped laughing with my new-found incompetence. That's what Hero does, it creates a good time. HOWEVER! It ain't real guitar playing, and, to be honest, is it trying to be? If kids or anyone wants to learn to play guitar, they will pick up the real deal, wouldn't they? Hero's plastic axe controls are all different, you can't learn actual guitar on it. Anyone who can see the difference won't be phased by the presence of the game.
Posted by: bunterwilmot on Thu Jun 25 07:05PM | Report abuseWell, to be honest, I think it's good as it encourages to take up learning musical instruments, but if they don't take it up, it usually means it has the opposite effect on people, I'd say it's a bad game, although I've never played it, I still think it's bad. The opposite effect is usually when it messes around with your head and you learn nothing, and only gain stupidty points. And besides, there are plenty of other things like listening to music that encourage children - as well as adults, to play musical instruments. I think Guitar Hero should stay, but it's SAD, instead of wasting your time playing something completely fake, why not sit down and spend your time wisely? By playing a REAL musicl instrument. And Why sit around wasting away playing Guitar hero, when the life expectancy in the UK is 70 and we spend 20 years of that sleeping! So don't rot away playing Guitar Hero - My Advice, enjoy! :)
Posted by: tom.s.benson on Thu Jun 25 07:25PM | Report abuseits true that people who spend all day playing to learn a song on expert is a mad waste of time and they could learn a real instrument in that time but for some light hearted fun the games are perfect really
Posted by: thomassaminaden on Thu Jun 25 07:29PM | Report abuseGawds sake lighten up you ROCK GODS :) its only a flaming game
Posted by: mountainandmoorland on Thu Jun 25 08:50PM | Report abuseI think guitar hero is great. It is the best game i have been on. Also my oldest brother goes on it finds it ace.
Posted by: bayleyem on Thu Jun 25 08:51PM | Report abuse