E3 2008: Guitar Hero getting Hendrix experience

Neversoft's World Tour gets experienced with 'Purple Haze' and 'Wind Cries Mary' on the disc; more to come as downloadable content.

The shortlist of conspicuously underrepresented music acts in rhythm games is becoming shorter all the time. Led Zeppelin is still out there, but Rock Band this week laid claim to AC/DC, while The Eagles and Van Halen were snatched up by Guitar Hero. Chalk up another legend getting his due, as Activision today announced that it has secured a deal for multiple Jimi Hendrix master tracks for Guitar Hero: World Tour.

World Tour players can now have a Hendrix experience at home.

Neversoft's Brian Bright confirmed during an appearance on GameSpot's live E3 stage show that two Hendrix songs would be included on the initial set list, with more to be made available as downloadable content after launch. The two songs that will come on the disc are "Wind Cries Mary" and a live version of "Purple Haze."

This is not the notorious lefty virtuoso's first rhythm game appearance. A Hendrix composition--"Spanish Castle Magic"--appeared in the original Guitar Hero, albeit as a cover version with no vocals.

In other Guitar Hero news, Bright confirmed that World Tour will be compatible with all existing Rock Band and Guitar Hero instruments.

235 Comments

  • agent_skittles

    Posted Aug 21, 2008 11:08 am PT

    im a Canadian, so i hope for billy talent and alexisonfire, eh? (i know that they aren't the best bands for this game though)

  • madgamer11087

    Posted Aug 19, 2008 12:31 pm PT

    i hope that system of a down is on guitar hero world tour.

  • Lizardking006

    Posted Aug 16, 2008 3:42 pm PT

    just give me the doors dammit

  • MesterLuxord

    Posted Aug 9, 2008 9:37 am PT

    Sweet musics COMMING OUT

  • Darth_jacob22

    Posted Aug 2, 2008 11:17 am PT

    Jesus Christ, this is gonna be so awesome! Plus, I can get Rock Band 2 later down the line since the instruments will work with rock band.

  • 69Kameleon69

    Posted Jul 29, 2008 11:32 pm PT

    I hope Voodoo Chile comes out soon.

  • cheese4927

    Posted Jul 29, 2008 6:02 pm PT

    YEAH JIMI HENDRIX!!! Now if only they could get Led Zeppelin, but that probably will never happen

  • itneverends00

    Posted Jul 29, 2008 12:14 pm PT

    I guess somebody forgot Spanish Castle Music was on GH 1

  • bearsfan10883

    Posted Jul 29, 2008 9:15 am PT

    he is the best guitarist in history, my friend...

  • Sharvie

    Posted Jul 26, 2008 4:42 pm PT

    They should have put him in earlier, being one of the best guitarists in history... in a game using a guitar.

  • DryvBy4Ever

    Posted Jul 22, 2008 9:34 am PT

    Sweetable!

  • Jaric

    Posted Jul 22, 2008 9:19 am PT

    I saw a comment about rock band being better than Guitar Hero 3. In my mind, they are different enough games that they don't necessarily warrant a direct comparison. HOWEVER the guitar element of rockband is significantly easier than Guitar Hero 3 if that counts as 'better', its certainly more accessible.

  • sk8trux

    Posted Jul 22, 2008 6:44 am PT

    YES!! He's back!

  • AlucardsFate

    Posted Jul 22, 2008 5:40 am PT

    I haven't played a Guitar game since GH2. My friend keeps telling me that GH 3 is completely F****ed up in comparison. He says Rock Band is so much better. (Which makes sense...since a new team made GH 3 while the old team went to Rock Band)

    Well, I have no idea which one to get...I kinda wanna drum so I'm thinking Rock Band. But since I have to get the expensive as crap PS3 versions...I'd like to try them both first....

    But this is good. Jimi makes anything better right? (Or so I'm told)

  • Filaki

    Posted Jul 22, 2008 2:31 am PT

    All Along the Watchtower, pleaaaaaaaaaaaaaase!

  • omrikk87

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 9:29 pm PT

    i think that activision did a better job with the rights , zakk wylde,Ds,ozzy ,jimmy and hell of alot more is just better for me, the thing is that the guitar looks and sounds more easy for new comers like me with the new "difficulty" they showed in e3 thats just my type ,cant wait to play this game!

  • dahctorworm

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 7:57 pm PT

    Welcome back to GH Jimi! Here's just a few artists on my wish list:

    Dire Straits (Surprises me that these guys are never mentioned. Sultans of Swing has SOOOO many riffs. It would be terribly fun to play.), Alice in Chains, the White Stripes, TOOL, SRV, Clapton, Soundgarden, Michael Jackson (something like Beat It, which has a pretty sweet guitar solo played by Eddie Van Halen), Led Zeppelin, Korn, CAKE, Johnny Cash, Jeff Buckley, Beck and The Beatles.

    I know that some of these bands have already made appearances and that a lot of these guys are anti "sellout" so it leaves this "wish list" exactly that... a WISH list. But it would be nice. =D

  • Ad-2cool4u

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 6:28 pm PT

    Seriously, get some Underoath in there

  • masterchief375

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 6:26 pm PT

    WOOHOO sum more awesome songs for GH!!!

  • Sweendrix

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 4:52 pm PT

    OH...the New Halo game is sick

  • Sweendrix

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 4:51 pm PT

    What guitar hero needs to do...is check out my original versions of the Halo Theme...(a total of 75 minutes worth of original arrangements) as well as my band's original music...as part of an "inde download pack" on xbox live...and then...guitar hero players would finally have some sick f'ing songs to try to play on expert.
    Sweendrix ...just google me

  • Pipboy360

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 3:24 pm PT

    tyzwain-- did you even read the article? these tracks ARE going to be on GH:WT. friggin read something before you freak out.

  • DevilDRIVER219

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 3:00 pm PT

    they should totally get Children of Bodom on Guitar hero world tour and have a guitar battle against Alexi Oleiho
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjZpqgeiGFQ = Favorite Song

  • -HaloHitman-

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 2:58 pm PT

    I like the guitar heros, and it certainly will give the franchise a new start, when you put hendrix in the series.

  • Sparktony

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 1:25 pm PT

    they should put a guitar battle against you and jimi hendrix playing purple haze or play the song with him like slash and morello

  • tyzwain

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 1:18 pm PT

    Why not put Aerosmith and Hendrix onto GH4? Or even make them into DLC? I really dont see the point of making GH: (Enter Artists Name). Only true fans would love it, I'd prefere they release one mega pack of songs.

  • UruhaTrigger

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 1:15 pm PT

    I wanted to get Rock Band 2....But Jimi Hendrix showed up in Guitar Hero World Tour!!!

  • pg89

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 12:19 pm PT

    pycho22solid
    Sublime is already confirmed to be in the game. So sweet that Hendrix is in the game

  • rockypuff

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 10:26 am PT

    They should put some Randy Rhoads in!

  • pycho22solid

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 9:59 am PT

    I want some KORN, Sublime, and some Rob Zombie!!! PLEASE!!

    also some bands will probably never be on Guitar Hero because they don't want to sell the rights-such as Led Zep. and TOOL

  • FrankenLife

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 9:40 am PT

    Smackedfortrust, you sir are a tool.

    Your right about one thing though. I do win.

  • neomorph03

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 6:43 am PT

    Guitar Hero is so much better than Rock Band in every way except that Rock Band excels with DC. When i breezed through Rock Band on Expert..I was like "Wow thats a shame". It's entirely too easy. If they decide to up the difficulty then i will be impressed.

  • Generic_Dude

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 6:00 am PT

    The question is why this took so long. My allegiances these days stand with Rock Band, but with compatible instruments, I'll probably end up checking this one out.

  • link631

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 2:53 am PT

    yay!

  • daveg1

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 12:09 am PT

    its about time really.

  • Sexy_Man_Guy

    Posted Jul 20, 2008 11:59 pm PT

    Move over Rover and let JIMI take over!

  • combatsoldier

    Posted Jul 20, 2008 10:38 pm PT

    This is going to be great. hendrix is the reason why this game is the game. oh ya brother.

  • DivinitySkate

    Posted Jul 20, 2008 7:32 pm PT

    I wish they would add Machine gun that would be a hell of a hard song to play but just having Jimi Hendrix on there is good enough.

  • narutoson666

    Posted Jul 20, 2008 7:07 pm PT

    yes jimi hendrix on guitar hero

  • Kevin_268

    Posted Jul 20, 2008 6:28 pm PT

    Awesome, I'm looking forward to slashing that opening riff in Purple Haze. Yet I still think they need The White Stripes in guitar hero.

  • Dawg9000

    Posted Jul 20, 2008 5:48 pm PT

    They should make a triangle hero. It would kick ass.

  • leofiregod

    Posted Jul 20, 2008 5:30 pm PT

    That's awesome to get to play some Hendrix.

  • combatsoldier

    Posted Jul 20, 2008 4:14 pm PT

    Hendix is a legend amongst legends. Enough said.

  • FrankenLife

    Posted Jul 20, 2008 3:37 pm PT

    I don't understand how people can go without older music as well as recent music. Yes music is always evolving, but not always for the better. Disco, New Wave, Emo among others were not positive changes in music. The older artists are the basis for today's music. Appreciating the older stuff will give you a greater appreciation for todays music. Broaden your musical horizons. There is so much out there. If GH only had music from the 90's till now, then I would never buy it.

  • ganon546

    Posted Jul 20, 2008 3:15 pm PT

    So awesome!!! Just wish Voodoo Child was there too . Looks like I'm going to have to also get this game along with Rock Band 2.

  • RDawg7

    Posted Jul 20, 2008 3:06 pm PT

    Where's the Zep? If anyone has heard Heartbreaker then you know that is one of the fastest and hardest solos ever played. Jimmy Page is fantastic, and I really want to try to play some of his riffs on a plastic instrument, because I know I will never be able to play them on a real guitar.

  • Greendrg654

    Posted Jul 20, 2008 2:59 pm PT

    well me being a fan of Hendrix, AC/DC, The Eagles, and Van Halen i couldn't be happier. But for some people this will just be another track for them to have to sit through while others will truly rock out. It's all about the rocker's preference. But for now, I'm more than thrilled to finally see these rock gods come to the game. However i am disappointed that they have failed to get some Led Zeppelin on there, then the history of rock would be complete

  • Armstrong09

    Posted Jul 20, 2008 2:39 pm PT

    xaovago
    its GUITAR HERO not power chord hero, i saw job for a cowboy live they are terrible, and 21655,smackfordust how can you not get into the amazing guitar solo's from back in the day like led zepplin,ac/dc,hendrix,rush and thats only a few

  • 21655

    Posted Jul 20, 2008 2:26 pm PT

    smackedfortrust, I know what you mean. Only one of the songs in my entire iTunes library predates the 90s.

    YoshiRancher:
    3 and 4) I must disagree with the heavy metal thing. Of course, you have your tastes, but I am a huge fan of many kinds of metal (the line is drawn at Suicide Silence, however). Also, TTFAF is speed metal, not alternative.
    8 ) Funny how no one can spell anymore, huh? (This is, of course, in reference to Xana...Xeno...whatever.)

    21655

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