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It has been two decades since the legendary game first launched in North America, providing players everywhere the means to become a rock star. Not in reality, but try convincing anyone who has mastered Free Bird’s lengthy guitar solo in front of an enthusiastic crowd of friends.

Created by the developers, the game provided users with a plastic guitar peripheral to follow coloured notes moving along the screen in time with a song. Each riff corresponded to particular chords, producing the sensation of a genuine live show.

Harmonix previously tried its hand in the music genre prior to teaming up with the publisher, which was purchased by Activision in 2006. Collaboratively, they laid the groundwork for an unlikely massively profitable franchise which made a remarkable impact for many of the artists featured, introducing classic bands to a new generation of gaming enthusiasts.

Michael Dornbrook, ex-chief operating officer of Harmonix, recalls the initial budgetary hurdles in securing the songs – despite the fact initial releases mostly used cover versions.

“We rerecorded every song 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 was operating on a shoestring budget, and our team was fairly certain it would fail. But once the game took off, and record sales airtime were going up, all artists desired to participate.”

He adds: “Among the amazing things was how many mothers and fathers reached out and thanked us for introducing their kids to the songs they adored. It became a multigenerational phenomenon.”

Timeless Music Finds a New Audience

Northern Irish blues-rock band one featured act had their track in the 2008 release Guitar Hero World Tour. Guitarist the artist recalls the way the game brought older hits back into vogue: “Guitar Hero offered a bigger, younger audience. Typically such music was considered music that was past it, however when it was featured on the title and teenagers discovered it, abruptly it was cool. That legitimised it, and got rid of the ‘dad rock’ tag. It gave all our music a new life.”

In 2008, the Answer’s debut album was still not available stateside, meaning Guitar Hero was a key medium of discovery for the group as they went on a North American tour opening for the rock giants. “Their crew were playing the song during travel, and several recognized us thanks to the game,” Mahon says.

Major Band Spin-offs and Lasting Influence

Rock’s biggest acts quickly took advantage of the series’ popularity, with Aerosmith, Metallica and Van Halen starring in specialized game editions that focused on their music collections and related lore, visuals and legendary status. In the case of, Guitar Hero: Aerosmith, reportedly earned the group greater revenue compared to their studio albums. It sold well over half a million copies upon release, and sales of their songs saw an increase significantly during an era when the music business faced decline.

Guitar Hero continues to inspire quick-handed dedication within the community. Earlier this year, a streamer completed an impressive attempt of DragonForce’s Through the Fire and Flames – an infamously tough anthem made popular by Guitar Hero – on Clone Hero, a freeware game with similar gameplay and extensive personalization features. This track is difficult enough on expert mode, not to mention played at double speed while hitting a single one of the thousands of cues. The streamer claimed it took nine months to accomplish.

“The game is a fun, fantasy thing. Just as with other games, it doesn't imply you ought to pick up a real gun and enlist,” notes DragonForce guitarist the artist.

The band previously wrapped up a successful tour when Through the Fire and Flames appeared in the third game, but Li says it made them widely recognized. “I remember our distributors informing us that our records were moving like crazy,” he shares. “Popularity surged on the subsequent tour, and we performed right ahead of top acts at the event.”

In fact, the band's visibility via the game proved so vast that it has risked eclipsing everything else the band has done. Last year, the song was used in promotional material for a major film. “In the past I thought otherwise, but now I accept it,” he admits. “If you only hear one DragonForce song, that's fine – each person has their own musical journey and I'm pleased we played a role of people’s lives”.

The Lasting Legacy of a Iconic Controller

Top-tier marketing, be it for automobiles, apparel or video games, extends beyond mere transactions – it inspires a longing. Did Guitar Hero harness this? “Precisely what we were trying to create,” Dornbrook says. “The excitement of performing as a rock star in the spotlight. Since the beginning, the co-founders believed humans have a natural urge to create songs, and their goal was to use technology to allow people to participate”.

The majority of Guitar Hero games were released over a mere half-decade from 2005 to 2010, featuring derivative titles such as DJ Hero, including a spinning deck, and Band Hero. After that, corporate focus on peripherals waned, aside from a short-lived revival in 2015.

Games such as Clone Hero and Fortnite Festival have maintained the scene active, and there’s set to be a new product from the founders in development. Recently formed developers has begun work on its debut music game. Original co-founders are both involved as special advisers. Are gamers ready to embrace a new entry in the spirit of the classic?

“We thought such titles could be similar to sports games where you can releases,” he remarks. “With abundant fresh tracks that it could be perennially popular, thus I remain optimistic. There’s no reason why it can’t continue for future fans.”