Ben-DutkaMany artists have made it plain that they're not big fans of the music/rhythm boom in video games.
The latest is Jack White of the White Stripes, who told NME that aspiring musicians should lay off the video games and "cut three strings off their guitar." When asked to name three things every new artist needs when first starting out, White's first piece of advice was to "quit playing video games;" this comes after last June's comment about how Guitar Hero is having a negative effect on the music industry. "It's depressing to have a label come and tell you that [Guitar Hero] is how kids are learning about music and experiencing music." The fact that the White Stripes certainly benefited from having their "Blue Orchid" song in Guitar Hero 5 is almost irrelevant; it just seems that such an argument is pretty darn narrow-minded. I seriously doubt most individuals are deluding themselves into thinking they can be professional musicians just because they're good at Guitar Hero or Rock Band . What I'm sure of, however, is that playing such games can instill a fresh love of music in a person, and that's a positive, yes?
I think the point, Jack, is that as time goes on, music changes and how we experience that music changes. There was a time when classical music was the only option and to this day, some still believe it to be the only true form of music. Things change. The only way Guitar Hero hurts the music industry is if all those who like the franchise in question are brain-dead and mentally challenged, and run around with their plastic guitars going, "I'm the next Eddie Van Halen!" Thanks for the insult, Mr. White.
How does MTV have anything to do with music?? I thought they just showed reality tv and old movies.
There was a time when they played music all day 365 days a year. Those days are gone.
I don't like Guitar Hero, but I don't see anything wrong with people playing it. It's sold and marketed as a game, not as a musical instrument. I personally would rather hear Jack White play Guitar Hero than the trash he calls music.
hahahaha
Tes come back to the PSN, it misses you.
I haven't gone anywhere LV. I've just been tired and should be back on this evening.
I play guitar, I dislike the Guitar Hero games. Jack White is pretentious, I do feel kids should learn about music through exploration not a video game however.
Maybe he's mad at the fact that his band sucks? If anything, guitar hero and rock band both help younger kids discover music like rock and metal. They might think 'Man, I wish I could really play that' and then pick up the instrument and start jamming. I'm not too sure what his problem is with video games, but whatever.
And who are the White Stripes? Exactly.
"And who are the White Stripes?"
Well they are well known enough to have songs on Guitar Hero, and be in an article written on the PSX, if that helps.
The only place I want to see white stripes is on the roadway in front of me.
Or on a skunk that's well over 500 yards away from my location(no offense to real skunks though).
Last edited by BikerSaint on 4/7/2010 11:22:40 PM
With Alicia Keys!
I know she's allowed to diss games :L
funny how these people are always dissing guitar hero and co for "wrecking music" but than their mind changes so quickly when there offered that check.
isent it amazing how many statements, and opinions can be changed with a flimsy piece of paper?
As long as a bank accepts that so called "flimsy piece of paper", and deposits the number written on said flimsy paper.
I have no problem with people playing those type of games. I have a problem with people playing those type of games and thinking they know a thing or two about music and instruments.
I don't claim to know about how to shoot a gun or fly a helicopter simply because of GTA.
Last edited by LimitedVertigo on 4/8/2010 2:21:34 AM
But I bet you would know how to slay a dragon if the need arose.
Harmonix (the makers of Guitar Hero 1 and 2 and then Rock Band) was created NOT to make video games but to encourage people to take an interest in music. The method they chose was to make video games.
While jamming on Guitar Hero doesn't equate to playing a real guitar, I don't think we can be entirely dismissive of Music games in terms of teaching people about music.
Jack White pretending to be an artist/musician is what is hurting the "industry".
Seven Nation Army's like the only thing I found catchy.
It's all you've got Jack.. and some nice guitar skillz.
Prince said similar things but, in a much better way in a rare interview he did with Tavis Smiley in 2009.
He was offered millions but, principle is always 1st for Prince and turned it down.
"I just think it's more important that kids learn how to actually play the guitar, It's a tough instrument – it's not easy. It took me a long time, and it was frustrating at first. And you just have to stick with it, and it's cool for people who don't have time to learn the chords or ain't interested in it. But to play music and create something from nothing is one of the greatest things and i wish it on every body." Prince said.
I would give my opinion but, i'd be here for a long time.
Last edited by Lotusflow3r on 4/8/2010 5:24:09 AM
You are Prince, can't fool me bro'.
Princes music isn't really my thing, but the man has more talent in his pinky finger then White has I'm his entire body. Good god the manshe can play guitar! 😉
no seriously though. Prince is an amazing guitar player.
Last edited by Jawknee on 4/8/2010 11:02:09 AM
And he can make love on a motorcycle. I have never done that.
I tried. It was a disaster. Love making on a motorcycle should be patented by Prince.
I only care about Anthony Kiedis of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and he gets stoned enough he doesn't have the time to make comments like this. I hardly hear musicians advising people to stay away from some form of entertainment.
Of course I get Jack's point, but who the hell should believe he's a legend playing with those plastic guitars unless they're deluded kids. All am saying is Jack, go get yourself busy in making some hits.
@Jawknee
Where can I here your music!! 🙂
I had two bands. One was a punk rock band that I played bass in and the other is more indie rock that I played bass in.
The first:
http://www.myspace.com/hittheswitch
The most recent:
http://www.myspace.com/thetitancourageous
or
http://amaze.fm/artist/RayRay/
we were supposed to play SXSW this year but the singer had some personal issues he had to deal with so we put the music on hold for now. The band I toured with was the punk band. We were signed by Nitro Records. That was when Dexter Holland cared more about music then making hot sauce and brewing beer. They are currently still active. I left the band cause I wanted to try other music. Hence The Titan Courageous was born.
a note: our guitar player in the Titan Courageous name is Jonathan Sonmore. That's not me. haha. My name is Ray.
I took Jawknee from a NOFX song called Jaw, Knee, Music. Just so no one gets us confused. 😉
HA!! I saw that name and thought it was you initially….thanks for the clarification.
Anyway, I like the sound of TTC better than HTS.
Also, I watched Food, INC in HD from streaming netflix last night. Picture quality was INSANE….thanks for the help yesterday.
Ha thanks. I like the TTC music more too but the HTS is too much fun to play.
And no problem. Anytime. 🙂
As someone who's played guitar for over twenty years, and played in a bar band for a dozen years, I think he makes a good point. There are thousands and thousands of kids out there who would like to get involved in music – they used to learn to play an instrument, but now a lot of them just play guitar hero. I don't think it has a negative effect on the industry, as the industry is s*** and musicianship is a thing of the past. But as far as kids growing up – they used to have fun learning an instrument, getting together with some friends and forming a little band, maybe playing at a party or two. One in a thousand of them went on to play in a bar band, maybe even made a living at it. One in a million went on to be a rock star. Now they all just sit in their room with their plastic toy.
Kind of sad.
Most people know that sales of Guitars went WAY up at Guitar Hero's peak. Let's give those that bought them a decade or so to practice. I'm betting that in about 15 years you'll be reading artist interviews that say these games got them interested in playing.
@Jack
Yea I don't agree with your assessment. After the Guitar Hero fad, older people I knew from work with kids always asked me for advice on what kind of guitar to buy their kid. I think most kids will come to understand it's just a video game and not a real guitar.
Bands like Mr. White and all these screamo bands are what's hurting music.
Sorry PirateDrunk, I know you like the White Stripes. 🙂
Last edited by Jawknee on 4/8/2010 10:58:22 AM
Haha no worries man. I can like the music without liking the person behind it.
On a hilariously unrelated note, I checked out the stuff you linked and dig the sound 😛
Especially Hit The Switch. That sound took me back having been in a couple punk bands.
Too true. I like Propagandhi and love hamburgers. haha. NOFX is my favorite band and Fat Mike is a great guy(living in LA it was easy to meet him, they played HollyWeird like once a month)but i don't agree with hardly anything he believes in. But his music is great.
Don't have to agree with their message to appreciate the music.
I gotta add that I do respect Jack's love of music. I'm betting this is getting blown up to sound more serious than he really meant it. If you want to learn an instrument it does take time, and if you are serious about learning, the more time you spend playing games is more time taken away from your instrument practice.
Every friend of mine that can actually play guitar would rather play the guitar when it's time to jam, not a game. Learning an instrument requires constant practice and experimenting.
But, Jack, I have a 6 year old in my house that knows all the words to "On The Road Again" and "Black Magic Woman", and he didn't learn them from listening to the radio. Maybe you should just be happy that they have found a new way for artists to make some money off of their talents. In this age of piracy, Guitar Hero may be onto something.
And people can pirate Guitar Hero games, lol. They're still coming out on the PS2, remember?
Last edited by DeathOfChaos on 4/8/2010 8:43:10 AM
Fair enough, but I'm pretty sure a lot of people steal mp3's that don't steal Guitar Hero or Rockband tracks. My point being that I have 2000 songs on my Blackberry. None of which I payed for by grabbing them through various ways. However, just by buying 3 Guitar Hero games and some optional songs (not including the plastic instruments, mind you) I spent well over $150 into the industry.
Not unless is the 360 version! MS isn't known for their security. Rather their lack of.
Well, I've met a few people who thought they could start bands because they play Guitar Hero. I know someone who thought you could learn chords and everything by playing it, too. It does delude people from the reality of things. Brenden Small, the creator of Metalocolypse, played their song Thunderhorse and could beat it, and he created that song, lol. Point being is that some may not see it, but Guitar Hero IS in a way brain washing people into thinking that picking up that plastic guitar means they can play guitar… and I've heard people say it.
But I've also seen people play guitar hero and be inspired to LEARN the guitar…which usually doesn't go well because they're used to the plastic guitar…
Snob.
Is he going to tell kids to "stop reading books" or "stop drawing" or "stop doing anything else you like and ONLY learn an instrument?"
-Arvis
I actually like Jack White and think he's a very talented musician. However, his opinion seems bass-ackward to me.
Long ago I used to play guitar, but it was more of a chore than anything, so I quit. Then Guitar Hero made it fun again, and actually inspired me to pick up a real guitar again. Now I'm playing daily and have the game to thank.
I didn't know Guitar Hero was supposed to teach people how to be a Rock Star. I thought it was just a game were you use an over-sized guitar-shaped controller to groove with the tunes of your favorite tracks while hitting corresponding buttons for combos. I guess I was wrong. :O
Oh well; Mr. White proves just how disjointed some views on videogames are.
Umm…I bought a real guitar just to learn "Possum Kingdom" from GH2. And now I play a real guitar 4X as much as I do Rock Band. Jack White needs to get a clue.
The first song i learned on the guitar was Come as You Are by Nirvana. That was when Cobain was still alive. 🙂
Last edited by Jawknee on 4/8/2010 11:26:04 AM
@ Jawknee:
Wow! Same here! Followed by "Smoke on the Water" … (Easy tunes make you feel like you are getting somewhere when you are starting out) …
Last edited by Lemon_Saint on 4/8/2010 2:02:43 PM
Going all Fergie huh?
Its a ridiculous claim why ditch video games? doesn't even make sense.
I suggest that his music is weak compared to Nightscape and Rhapsody but thats Power Metal.
How can video games damage you music career?