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It has been 20 years since Guitar Hero hit the market in North America, providing players everywhere the tools to feel like rock legends. Not in reality, though you'd be hard-pressed convincing someone who's mastered Free Bird’s lengthy guitar solo in front of a packed crowd of friends.

Created by the developers, the game gave players a guitar-shaped controller to match on-screen cues moving along the screen synchronized to the music. Every sequence corresponded to particular chords, producing the sensation of an authentic performance.

The studio previously tried its hand with rhythm games prior to teaming up with RedOctane, later purchased by the gaming giant in 2006. Together, they laid the groundwork for a surprising massively profitable franchise which made a remarkable impact on numerous musicians featured, introducing classic bands to a new generation of younger players.

A former executive, ex-chief operating officer of Harmonix, remembers the initial financial challenges of licensing the recordings – even though the first two games mostly used cover versions.

“We rerecorded all the music because the cost prohibitive,” he says. “Even with the publishing rights alone, it proved extremely difficult. We couldn’t get bands like legendary groups – RedOctane had virtually no money, and we were fairly certain the project would flop. However, when Guitar Hero became a hit, album purchases airtime increased, all artists desired to participate.”

He continues: “Among the remarkable aspects was the number of parents got in touch expressing gratitude for introducing their kids to the music they adored. It became a multigenerational thing.”

Timeless Music Gains Younger Fans

Irish group one featured act included their track in the 2008 release Guitar Hero World Tour. Guitarist Paul Mahon recalls how the series revived older hits back into vogue: “The game offered a larger, new demographic. Typically such music was considered music that was past it, but then when it was featured on the title and teenagers were finding it, suddenly it was cool. This validated it, eliminating the ‘dad rock’ tag. It provided our catalog renewed popularity.”

In 2008, the band's debut album was still not available stateside, meaning Guitar Hero served as a primary platform of discovery for the group during their US tour supporting the rock giants. “The roadies had on the song on the tour bus, and several knew us from Guitar Hero,” Mahon says.

Major Band Spin-offs Enduring Influence

Music's heavyweight names quickly capitalised on the series’ popularity, including bands like Aerosmith, Metallica and Van Halen featuring in specialized game editions that focused on each band’s catalogue and related lore, visuals and rock’n’roll mythology. In the case of, Guitar Hero: Aerosmith, reportedly earned the group greater revenue than any of their records. It sold well over half a million copies in its first week, while demand for Aerosmith’s music saw an increase significantly during an era as the industry was already collapsing.

The series continues to inspire quick-handed dedication within the community. Earlier this year, an online personality achieved an impressive attempt featuring Through the Fire and Flames – a notoriously difficult power-metal song made popular by Guitar Hero – on Clone Hero, a no-cost alternative with almost identical mechanics but an array of customisation options. The song is difficult enough on the hardest setting, not to mention performed at double speed while hitting a single one of its near 4,000 notes. The streamer claimed requiring nine months to accomplish.

“Guitar Hero is a fun, fantasy thing. Just as with Call of Duty, it doesn't imply you ought to pick up actual weapons and enlist,” notes DragonForce guitarist Herman Li.

DragonForce previously completed a profitable run before their hit appeared in the third game, yet he explains it made them a household name. “I remember the record label calling to tell me that we were records were moving like crazy,” he shares. “It exploded when we next toured, and we performed just before the headliners on the Mayhem festival.”

Indeed, DragonForce’s exposure from Guitar Hero proved so vast that it has threatened to eclipsing everything else the band has done. Last year, the track featured in promotional material for Despicable Me 4. “In the past I felt differently, but now I accept it,” Li says. “Should you just listen to one DragonForce song, it’s totally cool – each person has a unique path in music and I’m glad we’ve been part of people’s lives”.

The Lasting Legacy from the Plastic Guitar

Top-tier marketing, be it for automobiles, clothes or games, extends beyond than selling something – it evokes a longing. Did Guitar Hero harness this? “Precisely what our team trying to create,” he confirms. “That thrill of being a rock star in the spotlight. From day one, the co-founders felt that there’s an instinctive urge to create songs, and they wanted to leverage innovation to allow people to participate”.

Most installments came out in just a half-decade from 2005 to 2010, including derivative titles like the DJ version, including a spinning deck, and Band Hero. Subsequently, the publisher’s interest on peripherals died down, except for a short-lived revival in 2015.

Titles such as Clone Hero and newer releases have maintained the scene active, with set to be something from the founders in development. Recently formed developers has begun work on their first music game. The initial creators are both involved as special advisers. Are gamers prepared to welcome a new entry in the spirit of the classic?

“We thought such titles might become like Madden where you can update every year,” he remarks. “With abundant fresh tracks it could remain perennially popular, thus I remain optimistic. There’s no reason for it to persist with new generations.”