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Guitar Hero: AC/DC?
As a late-comer to the whole Guitar Hero craze (I got GH3 for my birthday in April), I have to admit it's a fun game. With the release of Guitar Hero: Aerosmith and a rumored/likely release of Guitar Hero: Metallica, it only seems logical that a Guitar Hero: AC/DC would be in the works. Think about it. You take one of (if not the biggest) guitar icons over the last 3 decades, a huge library of songs to choose from, the school boy outfit gimmick that would reflect well within a video game. It should be a huge hit, right? My question is, would AC/DC be selling out if they went with this idea? It would be a huge opportunity to hit yet another generation of fans (fans spanning from 10 yrs old to 60+ yrs old?). Both Aerosmith & Metallica have definitely changed from their respective starts, with Aerosmith going extremely pop (in my opinion) and Metallica trying a range of ideas and hopefully going back to what they do best (Master of Puppets era metal). Both bands have seemingly sold out already (again, in my opinion). Anyways, what do you think? It could be seen as selling out, but in this day and age with the digital medium taking over it would be another way to expand their empire. I know I'd be in line to buy it.
While it would be cool, I don't think AC/DC would go for it. But Aerosmith were never really "hard rock" in my opinion as much as "rock & roll". Metallica on the other hand were initially "heavy metal at its best". Now, I have played Guitar Hero songs, but through a free program called "Frets On Fire," with the '360 Xplorer controller. I don't think they would be selling out though, as much as reaching out to the newfound fanbase. Heck, that's why they did the whole thing with ACDC.com's recovery. ACDCrocks.com was ok, but they needed to make sure they weren't getting a bad rap due to a bad site that happened to share their name.
Would AC/DC be selling out? Let's narrow that question down to: Why do you start a rock and roll band? Because you want sex, money and fast cars. Rock and roll is about selling out and anyone who argues differently is delusional. A subtle layer to your question is the implication that AC/DC has not already sold out. Judging by the indifferent DVDs they have put out the last 10 years, along with the re-issues of remastered content which feature nothing new, not to mention the very recent news that AC/DC are determinrd to alienate even more of their fan base and suck up to a dying RIAA through the sole release of their new work through WalMart, that implication is a moot point. AC/DC sold out long ago and it doesn't matter if they go out on tour and play the same 20 tired songs they always play (rather than the 200-something they never or rarely play), it will still be a damn good show which will make a lot of money and cause a lot of people to grin ear to ear. Let's put it in another context. Some define selling out as censoring your true expression in the hopes of capturing a broader, more family friendly audience. Now, we all know from listening to the Towson 1979 concert that Bon had no qualms about pissing off people in his quest for expression and a good time. But when's the last time you've heard the Highway to Hell line as, "Nobody's gonna fuck me around" delivered in a joyful, threatening growl to the fascists who tend to run (ruin?) countries and record companies. How about "And I scared the shit out of everyone" in Bad Boy Boogie? Admittedly, Brian did sing it that way in 2001, but the word has become so ubiquitous and tame now that it hardly matters. I think there is only one thing that scares Malcolm and Angus and that thing is: RELEVANCE Hence, their derision for the Beastie Boys and Eminem's requests to sample their music, when those sample-enhanced tracks ended up on the Internet anyways and sounded pretty fucking good to boot. At this stage, it would be iconic to have a Guitar Hero: AC/DC, but that would also make them relevant again to a younger generation. Scary. I tell ya, looking at their media releases the last ten years has been the same as trying to explain new technology to aging baby boomers. If their press releases and crap website give some clue, though, if there is enough money to be made in selling more useless plastic crap to mindless consumers (how many of their press releases do not feature the main theme of "buy more stuff!!!!!" The answer: NONE), I think they could be convinced and they wouldn't be selling out - they'd be fulfilling their destiny.
i heard that they were trying to get AC/DC on the last game (obviously that didnt work out) but i dont think it would be selling out, i mean the Dead Kennedys are on that game and theyre not only another one of my favorites but also one of the biggest non sell out bands i can think of, but would it be selling out? how bad can it be for them to have their song on the game, especically if we cant call them sellouts now, cause think about it how easy is it to go out into the world away from our love from the band and not see AC/DC merchandise or hear their music on the radio, so yeah im all for it (even though i suck major ass at guitar hero)
and as a note since its a bit unclear (at least to my reading it) with the Dead Kennedys remark, i was just saying in general that is a band i never imagined wouldve been on that game
In "Frets On Fire" I've played a couple of AC/DC songs, and it was fun...so I'm all for it as well. But it'd be more likely that they'll allow some songs to be done as covers for Rock Band.
Follow-up question/comment: Is selling out even an issue anymore when you have licensed your music to sell Khaki's for The Gap?
The Gap ads and the black Motorola Razr ads are probably a label deal. But those in my opinion aren't selling out for a band like AC/DC because they are old enough of a band to allow their music to be used like that. Now a new band (like a band that started just three years ago) having their music in a car commercial, that's selling out. At least the black MotoRazr and Gap ads had some relevance to the song. The Back In Black album was all black, the khakhis were black, the phone was a second version of a phone, that many people wanted back. Also, AC/DC has had songs in movies. The Dukes Of Hazzard movie had "If You Want Blood" and "Shoot To Thrill" and Talladega Nights had "T.N.T." and (in trailers) "Shoot To Thrill." But overall, I think the usage of AC/DC's songs is more of a label deal now. AC/DC are signed to Sony/Columbia Records, and (at least) Talladega Nights was a Sony/Columbia Pictures release. Do I suspect that Sony/Epic/Columbia are flexing a bit of muscle?
So we've established that AC/DC are signed to a major label. And the purpose of a major label is to... 1. Sell soap (or khakis, cell phones, movies? 2. Promote music? 3. Sell soap to subsidize music? 4. Encourage artists to license their extensive and impressive back catalogs to sell soap while pressuring new artists to write more soap-selling friendly tunes rather than that dreary, depressing Radiohead stuff? 5. All of the above 6. None of the above 7. Some of the above, depending on who needs to buy a boat and when. We all know AC/DC had to work their asses off to get to the arena-filling levels they have, but were they ever really "indie" artists? They were signed to a major label very quickly, no doubt owing to (yes, their talent, but also) their connection to their highly-successful, well-connected-within-the-industry big brother. Travis, I need your considerable intellect to weigh in on this as everything you say drips with a deep knowledge and wisdom that I can only hope to achieve some time before I die.
I gotta say, you are right about AC/DC never really being an "indie" act. Harry Vanda and George Young were in the Easybeats. A pretty big band in their own right. Angus and Malcolm and the rest of the guys were able to really do what they wanted to in the studios in the mid-70s because of George's ability to get them cheap studio time. But I think when AC/DC signed to Sony, Sony almost immediately started to cash in on two things: the name AC/DC and the album Back In Black. Why else haven't we seen another DualDisc release of an AC/DC album? Cause the label knows that Back In Black can sell itself. But back to the topic of the thread...there could be a Guitar Hero edition dedicated to AC/DC, but AC/DC's own master recordings in theory couldn't be used. "It's A Long Way To The Top" and a few others are a 'composite track' and the master tapes to Back In Black were mixed down in 1980. Also, would AC/DC neccesarily like their songs being used to make a fake concert?
Hey Travis: I didn't realize you were a high school student still working on the book-learnin' and all. I apologize for my sarcasm and will try to be more tolerant of your posts from now on.
No problem. On the internet, I've learned that it's hard to judge exactly what someone means when they type something.