Rush Guitarist Lifeson Sees Guitar Hero Saving Music

Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson said he sees Guitar Hero possibly saving music for the next generation. Rush recently released their Snakes And Arrows Live DVD, and many kids are familiar with the songs, not just from their parents, but from the Guitar Hero game and others like it. Kids are video gaming to songs like "Tom Sawyer," "YYZ," and others.

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Lifeson said that he is seeing more kids at the shows, and from his experience he said it looks like the game is igniting kids' interest in music. He said that can only be a good thing in to change the current pop and gossip dominated music landscape.

 Rush Guitarist Alex Lifeson Says Guitar Hero Good

"Well, it's a wonderful thing. Through the course of this tour I've noticed how many young kids there were out in the audience, 9, 10, 11 years old, and they were air drumming and air guitaring all these parts to not only to those songs, but to a lot of the songs. Through those games they've been introduced to our music, and from there their parents have just taken it to the next level. It's an amazing thing to view that from the perspective of standing on a stage playing those songs and looking at these young kids getting off on it in such a great way. I'm so hopeful for the future of music because we've gone through a very difficult period, where it's become a lot more poppy and there's been a magic taken out of music, and I hope it's starting to come back. I think a lot of these young kids that start out with Guitar Hero and Rock Band are developing an interest in music and learning how to really play the songs. That is a very hopeful thing for the future of music."

Lifeson was asked if he really feels the game will get people playing real guitar.

 Alex Lifeson On If Guitar Hero Spawns Guitarists

"Well, I think it's always great to be able to play a real instrument. These games, these are just controllers. But it sparks something. There's nothing that's quite as exciting as learning to play your first song or figuring out the chords to a song and taking it to the next level and then of course learning to play it well enough that you can start writing your own music. It's just such a wonderful way to express yourself and be creative."

There are musings that Rush are readying a Retrospective 3 collection that will wrap up their deal with Atlantic. Rumors are swirling that they'll take their music to Rounder Records who released the R-30 DVD collection.

Comments

[The_String_Man]

Mr. Lifeson is right, these games spark something

But to really get the new generation into music, give them albums, cd's/dvd's, get them to concerts, and give a REAL instrument.

Music naturally comes to all of us.

[HELLAWAITS88]

the thing is though is that he's not really talking about music in general... He is talking about his genre (rock and roll of course) and I think his is right it is introducing old as well as new rock songs to the new generations that have probably never given this music a chance thanks to the popularity of ultra mainstream pop/rap artists such as lil wayne and others. GUITAR HERO/ROCK BAND ROCKS...but REAL guitar is much better.

[Quicksand15]

HELLAWAITS88 wrote:
He is talking about his genre (rock and roll of course)

rush is rock n' roll? xD
you just made my day!

[James_Het_Rules]

And it's igniting just as many posers to pop up. I ran into a kid the other day wearing a Metallica shirt, and he was going off on how cool they were, you wanna know what one song he had heard? Me and my friend Jackson asked and he's like "The sandman song i've heard that one." That was a sad moment in my day. The same goes for Pink Floyd and AC/DC lots of people claiming they know them, and they don't know Angus Young from Elton John. While i appreciate that Guitar Hero attempted to make a game of instruments, i think that they should leave music to the people that are passionate about it, and i understand that's just my opinion. Anyways, Alex Lifeson is great i had to skip out on seeing them earlier this year due to work >

[lilboisX3]

James_Het_Rules wrote:

And it's igniting just as many posers to pop up. I ran into a kid the other day wearing a Metallica shirt, and he was going off on how cool they were, you wanna know what one song he had heard? Me and my friend Jackson asked and he's like "The sandman song i've heard that one." That was a sad moment in my day. The same goes for Pink Floyd and AC/DC lots of people claiming they know them, and they don't know Angus Young from Elton John. While i appreciate that Guitar Hero attempted to make a game of instruments, i think that they should leave music to the people that are passionate about it, and i understand that's just my opinion. Anyways, Alex Lifeson is great i had to skip out on seeing them earlier this year due to work >

So only musicians have the right to listen to music and buy band shirts?

I didnt realize that band shirts had discography requirements.

[1sheldon]

oh it def is

[totenkopfSG]

lilboisX3 wrote:

So only musicians have the right to listen to music and buy band shirts?

I didnt realize that band shirts had discography requirements.

No that's not what he's saying. he's saying there are a bunch of people (children or those with child like minds) who profess knowledge about certain bands but it's just blowing in one ear and out the other side

when you look at the majority of kids who wear band shirts today they just go pick them up at hot topic. they cant tell you about bands, band history, shit like that. what James Het is talking about is bandwagon fans that jump on for the hell of it or just say they are "fans" not real fans

he's talking about true dedication and the difference between musicians and these posers (which is what most of them are)

[randyaintdead82]

totenkopfSG wrote:

lilboisX3 wrote:

So only musicians have the right to listen to music and buy band shirts?

I didnt realize that band shirts had discography requirements.

No that's not what he's saying. he's saying there are a bunch of people (children or those with child like minds) who profess knowledge about certain bands but it's just blowing in one ear and out the other side

when you look at the majority of kids who wear band shirts today they just go pick them up at hot topic. they cant tell you about bands, band history, shit like that. what James Het is talking about is bandwagon fans that jump on for the hell of it or just say they are "fans" not real fans

he's talking about true dedication and the difference between musicians and these posers (which is what most of them are)

well its not a bad thing to get a band shirt at hot topic is it? or bobs? i mean, i got an AIC shirt there i own most of their catolog, the first song i heard by them was man in the box back in 2006. now im gonna have to tell people when i found out about what artist so i dont get the shit kickd outta me for liking GH or RB

[lilboisX3]

totenkopfSG wrote:

lilboisX3 wrote:

So only musicians have the right to listen to music and buy band shirts?

I didnt realize that band shirts had discography requirements.

No that's not what he's saying. he's saying there are a bunch of people (children or those with child like minds) who profess knowledge about certain bands but it's just blowing in one ear and out the other side

when you look at the majority of kids who wear band shirts today they just go pick them up at hot topic. they cant tell you about bands, band history, shit like that. what James Het is talking about is bandwagon fans that jump on for the hell of it or just say they are "fans" not real fans

he's talking about true dedication and the difference between musicians and these posers (which is what most of them are)

So you don't see how ridiculous the notion is that you have to know details about the band as well (to be a fan). I thought you could be a fan without knowing intricate details of that band, and simply like the music.

You can't exactly call them a poser becuase they actually do like that bands music. Now if they were pretending to be metallica (or any such band) then I guess you would have a point. But otherwise this "poser" talk makes no sense at all.

Finally, your last sentence "difference between musicians and posers....." Ummmmm what? Are you asserting that only musicians can wear band shirts?

[rush4life]

Some day, SOME DAY, I'd like to meet these "posers" that so many people speak of. I've been playing guitar hero with people since the first one came out, and I have yet to meet a single person (among dozens) who think they're hot shit because of a video game. Maybe us "real" guitarists are just ridiculously hostile...

Anyway, Alex is awesome, and right. I've said this before, if someone is encouraged in anyway to explore music, that's fine by me. I don't care about the means.

[napalm890]

rush4life :
Some day, SOME DAY, I'd like to meet these "posers" that so many people speak of. I've been playing guitar hero with people since the first one came out, and I have yet to meet a single person (among dozens) who think they're hot shit because of a video game. Maybe us "real" guitarists are just ridiculously hostile...

Anyway, Alex is awesome, and right. I've said this before, if someone is encouraged in anyway to explore music, that's fine by me. I don't care about the means.

+1

[David_Bowie=GOD]

rush4life wrote:

Some day, SOME DAY, I'd like to meet these "posers" that so many people speak of. I've been playing guitar hero with people since the first one came out, and I have yet to meet a single person (among dozens) who think they're hot shit because of a video game. Maybe us "real" guitarists are just ridiculously hostile...

I've met one, but only one. You don't see them as much as people make it out to be though.

[KingGohma]

James_Het_Rules wrote:

And it's igniting just as many posers to pop up. I ran into a kid the other day wearing a Metallica shirt, and he was going off on how cool they were, you wanna know what one song he had heard? Me and my friend Jackson asked and he's like "The sandman song i've heard that one." That was a sad moment in my day. The same goes for Pink Floyd and AC/DC lots of people claiming they know them, and they don't know Angus Young from Elton John. While i appreciate that Guitar Hero attempted to make a game of instruments, i think that they should leave music to the people that are passionate about it, and i understand that's just my opinion. Anyways, Alex Lifeson is great i had to skip out on seeing them earlier this year due to work >

You are the worst.

[jbswreckfest]

arent yyz and tom sawyer both on rock band, not guitar hero?

[Subcide]

nah YYZ was definately in guitar hero

[xxrushxxyyzxx]

i sorta agree, but i am 15 and i have several friends who play on guitar hero. It can be really annoying when they say "Do you know how to play tom sawyer or YYZ?...cos i just got 100% on expert last night". Ive never played on guitar hero but play guitar, mainly rush and i cant stand how arrogant some of them are about the music that many, including i, have a passion for and claim to know it all when in truth they don't.

[xxrushxxyyzxx]

i'd also like to point out there are several others of my age who play guitar and drums amazingly who have never played GH or RB

[Catchfrase]

Alex is right. I am fifteen years old, and played Guitar Hero 2 about two years ago, and as soon as I heard YYZ, I was hooked! It also got me into playing guitar. Now, I am playing at a grade 5 level, and I have every RUSH album to boot! And, to top it off, I can finally play YYZ for myself!

[Catchfrase]

Catchfrase wrote:

Alex is right. I am fifteen years old, and played Guitar Hero 2 about two years ago, and as soon as I heard YYZ, I was hooked! It also got me into playing guitar. Now, I am playing at a grade 5 level, and I have every RUSH album to boot! And, to top it off, I can finally play YYZ for myself!

I now hate Guitar Hero with a passion. I know that sounds rather boorish of me, but I agree with "xxrushxxyyzxx", it's just so annoying when people say things like "I can play this songs on expert!"