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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
everyone's got their own opinion *shruggs*
Posted by: confused_as_charged on Thu Jun 25 09:52PM | Report abusepage a s made money from this as for the white strips who are they lol its classsic rock not the @#$% like the strips blacksabbath/ac/dc and many others
Posted by: conanbnorton on Thu Jun 25 09:52PM | Report abuseIt's a game, that's all it's supposed to be.
Posted by: kevisadonut on Thu Jun 25 09:53PM | Report abuseThere is nothing anywhere on the games that claim to be realistic, and it is purely for entertainment purposes. There i no difference between saying this and saying that the Fifa games give an unrealistic portrayal of football. Page is a legend and White is a terrible guitarist, but both of them need to lighten up. I have discovered many new musical artists from playing Guitar Hero, and it has rekindled my desire to pick up a bass and start teaching myself again.
Posted by: morphindel on Thu Jun 25 09:53PM | Report abuseIt's pretty rubbish really. The only good thing is that kids are listening to music, but it's a far cry from actually learning the instrument and creating music yourself. Just pressing buttons in time to the tunes is what Parappa The Rappa was doing years ago...
Posted by: lukeisluke on Thu Jun 25 09:53PM | Report abusePage IS always right. Playing Guitar Hero is like playing Subbuteo instead of actual football. Yeah, its just a game...but still...if you want to be a guitar hero, pick up a real guitar, take your time, learn some theory and rawk out that way. A low slung les paul is always going to look better than a sh*tty little bit of pastic with bright colours on it!
Posted by: colinjamespark on Thu Jun 25 09:53PM | Report abuseThey are right. It's very VERY sad when its done to excess,if they play the game eternally when they could devote their time to living their own life, playing the classics and creating their own tunes.
Posted by: samuelmanley on Thu Jun 25 09:54PM | Report abusepeople like jimmy page and jack white should be happy that rock has been brought into a video game knowings kids will play them, and getting classic rock music across to the younger generation, are people ever satisfied nowadays? NO it's all about money. at least classic rock music is being listened to by all generations whether it is by a videogame or by other means, jack and jimmy be happy that your music is being listened to!!!!
Posted by: bubbles221003 on Thu Jun 25 09:54PM | Report abuseIt's not just music kids are attempting to learn from the console, it's life.
Posted by: philsmith32 on Thu Jun 25 09:55PM | Report abuseI play the guitar and I use Guitar hero to help me practice and strengthen my fingers so its not all bad.
Posted by: dm_1782 on Thu Jun 25 09:55PM | Report abuse