James Brown, AWB funk up Rock Band

Last month, MTV Games announced that Snoop Dogg would become the first non-Beastie Boy rapper to appear in Rock Band. Today, the publisher revealed that three of hip-hop's most-sampled funk acts will be shaking their booties in next week's update to Harmonix's game.Costing $5.49/M$440 on the...

Last month, MTV Games announced that Snoop Dogg would become the first non-Beastie Boy rapper to appear in Rock Band. Today, the publisher revealed that three of hip-hop's most-sampled funk acts will be shaking their booties in next week's update to Harmonix's game.

Costing $5.49/M$440 on the PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Marketplace, the "Get the Funk Out 01" three-pack will feature "Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine, Pt. 1" from James Brown, aka Soul Brother #1, aka the Godfather of Soul, aka The Hardest Working Man in Show Business. The late icon's dancefloor favorite will be accompanied by "Pick Up the Pieces," the horn-heavy anthem from the Scottish group Average White Band. Rounding up the trio is "Shining Star" from recent White House guests Earth, Wind, and Fire.

Funkophobes will also have several options in this week's Rock Band update, which contains "All the Things That Go to Make Heaven and Earth" and "Use It" by indie rockers The New Pornographers. Those suffering from iron deficiencies can get a taste of metal courtesy of "Last Resort" and the new single "Lifeline" from Papa Roach. Finally, "Thrash Unreal" from neo-punkers Against Me! will also be available. All tracks will be available a la carte for $1.99/M$160 on PSN and XBLM.

66 Comments

  • Wrathleader

    Posted Mar 17, 2009 1:10 am PT

    personnally i dont care if they add rap, country, classic rock, whatever. I listen to a wide variety of music, and i would like to see some charlie daniels band, some zz top, Flobots (they are considered rap), queen, and some more brad paisley.

  • drand24

    Posted Mar 16, 2009 1:40 pm PT

    one of the best weeks yet for DLC yet

  • BigDaddy973

    Posted Mar 16, 2009 10:50 am PT

    I want to snoop dogg titles!

  • XeonForce

    Posted Mar 16, 2009 8:32 am PT

    Ownsin - "We need more modern songs for Rock Band!..."

    Well, if you sort the music selection by release year, you'll find MORE than half of the songs are from the '00 decade. DLC that is half '70s and half '00 is pretty fair to me.

    Earth, Wind & Fire are going to be just like Boston, vocally challenging and very fun for all instruments, and who doesn't want that?

  • spasticus162

    Posted Mar 16, 2009 8:11 am PT

    I have to say i like the wide variety of music that is being made available for rockband.My family christmas was amazing because of rockband,my whole family could enjoy it because of th variety.My dad likes rush etc,my mum likes bang a gong,chilli peppers,my sister likes nivana and cheesy fun stuff,and im an eclectic when it comes to music.Also when i have friends round,theres nothing like getting a bit drunk and showing off my drunken down with the sickness dance while singin.
    Now with the addition of things like roy orbison etc my mother in law and nan can play.
    Frankly i would sell the game if nothing but metal was released for it,as i would have less people to play it with.
    WELL DONE HARMONIX FOR MAKING THE ONLY GAME THAT I CAN ENJOY WITH EVERYONE I KNOW. KEEP THE VARIETY COMING.

    Oh and i was just playing the legends of wrestlemania demo.How cool would Hogans Real american be.

  • bottomdollar

    Posted Mar 16, 2009 5:27 am PT

    WOW, I'm impressed. James Brown, Earth, Wind and Fire! This just add new depth to RB2. Glad to see that the DLC isn't afraid to take on anything, so we can pick and choose what we want to play and not buy what we don't want.

  • livibam

    Posted Mar 16, 2009 5:03 am PT

    we need joy division

  • Maxor127

    Posted Mar 16, 2009 12:36 am PT

    How about some Shout by Otis Day and the Knights?

  • hiryu3

    Posted Mar 15, 2009 11:24 pm PT

    great now add all of Earth, Wind and Fire's music then I will be happy

  • Zidaneski

    Posted Mar 15, 2009 7:48 pm PT

    Nice set of songs next week! I'll get Thrash Unreal, the funk pack, and the Papa Roach songs. I don't know if I'll get the Pearl Jam songs, still thinking about it.

  • Ownsin

    Posted Mar 15, 2009 7:12 pm PT

    We need more modern songs for Rock Band!...

  • msudude211

    Posted Mar 15, 2009 5:27 pm PT

    James Brown... lol. We need some "Living in America."

  • simonsworld

    Posted Mar 15, 2009 2:20 pm PT

    hell anything is better than snoop dog "kick la funk wooooo"

  • JoeSour

    Posted Mar 15, 2009 12:14 pm PT

    you know wut would be cool, "Soul Man" by Blues Brothers lol would love that!!!

  • Toad_Fart

    Posted Mar 15, 2009 12:02 pm PT

    Earth, Wind, and Fire!!!!????!!!!! World Tour Please

  • threedown

    Posted Mar 15, 2009 10:55 am PT

    sweet! cant wait to drum to some james brown! i havent bought any DLC in awhile, this will break my dry spell~!

  • Kenaue

    Posted Mar 15, 2009 10:35 am PT

    Pick Up the Pieces? Rock Band 2, here I come!

  • BahBuu2772

    Posted Mar 15, 2009 10:33 am PT

    I love funk, but WHERE ARE THE FREAKIN JAM BANDS

  • thewhorock

    Posted Mar 15, 2009 9:20 am PT

    kleeyook your thinking of james blunt

    James Brown is 5 millions times better.

    good tunes.

  • brotherofwill

    Posted Mar 15, 2009 12:41 am PT

    Ouch Kleeyok....you just dissed old school music.
    The songs are good but it's too expensive.

  • Kleeyook

    Posted Mar 14, 2009 11:32 pm PT

    James Brown = You're Beautiful's singer right?

  • Cherub_Rock

    Posted Mar 14, 2009 10:16 pm PT

    Wow, James Brown and Average White Band too? That's pretty good music. This is like a breakbeat history pack. These songs should be fun to play in the game.

  • score89

    Posted Mar 14, 2009 7:58 pm PT

    Once again RockBand has proved that their DLC is superior than GH,I bet that no one ever imagine a james brown song in this kind of games; and last resort I think is one of the most "expected" songs in the RB's wish list

  • LinKuei_warrior

    Posted Mar 14, 2009 6:29 pm PT

    James Brown owns!im getting this.

  • faceman420

    Posted Mar 14, 2009 4:10 pm PT

    o lordy GS do ur research. there was another rap song released by mc fat somethin I dunno I'm an early 90s baby so it's a tad before my time. I think theyve been corrected on this before too.. jeez

  • kruddman

    Posted Mar 14, 2009 3:07 pm PT

    yay New Pornographers
    They should get an entire albumn up there

  • trigun0006

    Posted Mar 14, 2009 3:05 pm PT

    I like how rock band keeps adding weird stuff to Rock Band, and to anyone who complains about it, just cuz its not rock doesn't mean it doesn't rock, and that is why its DLC, if you don't like rap or funk, don't buy it.

  • chrissp7

    Posted Mar 14, 2009 2:28 pm PT

    I urge everyone here who likes alt. rock to check out Use it. It's a great song.

  • High_Contrast

    Posted Mar 14, 2009 2:27 pm PT

    can't wait until 'Ten' comes out.

    Anyway, its good to give people choice. 'Pick up the the pieces' is a classic track

  • leafdj

    Posted Mar 14, 2009 1:05 pm PT

    Eh, let them release what they want to release.
    Rock Band is just a name, after all.
    It's not like Guitar Hero is solely guitar anymore.

  • MindTricked

    Posted Mar 14, 2009 11:27 am PT

    Hmmm... I wonder if they're testing the waters for a more official "Funk Band" release. Harmonix should know by now that yes, we want the funk, and that they should give us the funk.

  • captainoflust

    Posted Mar 14, 2009 10:49 am PT

    make my funk the P-Funk, I wants my funk uncut!

    get parliament funkadelic on here with immediate effect.

    snoop dogg, james brown, earth wind and fire. P-Funk couldn't be more of an obvious direction to go in.

    Give up the Funk! Bootsy Baby!

    P.S. also sly and the family stone.

  • Homsar13

    Posted Mar 14, 2009 10:44 am PT

    glad to see more and more variety, but another week of 'meh' for me.

  • joshua6775

    Posted Mar 14, 2009 10:32 am PT

    Mez399- I completely agree with you on Prince. I'd like to see "Let's go crazy" at the very least.

  • shady_825

    Posted Mar 14, 2009 10:14 am PT

    I'm totally happy with this list.

  • mjc0961

    Posted Mar 14, 2009 10:05 am PT

    Okay, James Brown is good, but when the **** is Rock Band going to have some ROCK?! Seriously, change the ****ing title to "Everything-But-Rock Band" already.

  • Units420

    Posted Mar 14, 2009 9:54 am PT

    I am just curious as to what will make people happy seeing as I am continuously hearing conflicting trains of thought. On one hand, the mere mention of another game is lambasted and calls for "just focus on DLC" is screamed from the rooftops. Yet, the minute anything introduced that isn't considered "rock" in the traditional sense is introduced, then its "come out with a rap band, a country band, etc..." So which is it? Blow $60 on an entirely new game? Focus on releasing diverser DLC for RB2 or continue to find things to complain and moan about?

  • mez3999

    Posted Mar 14, 2009 9:52 am PT

    This is good finally some variety. They still need PRINCE though. A pack with Prince's guitar would be amazing

  • 22xl

    Posted Mar 14, 2009 9:10 am PT

    Good music is good music. Yes it's called Rock Band, but I think it will be awesome to play the new songs in the funk pack. Diversity is a good thing. And just another chance to expose someone to something that they might not normally listen to and find that they like it... That's a good thing!

  • moose3469

    Posted Mar 14, 2009 8:19 am PT

    More Earth, Wind, & Fire plz! I love their version of "Got to Get you Into My Life" by The Beatles, it has a killer guitar solo

  • goat_god_3

    Posted Mar 14, 2009 8:08 am PT

    swamp, swamp, swamp, swamp music

  • Yanquillero

    Posted Mar 14, 2009 6:27 am PT

    "Smells like teen spirit".... that's all i want for christmas!!!

  • UFO2012

    Posted Mar 14, 2009 5:46 am PT

    WANT MORE NIRVANA!

  • XeonForce

    Posted Mar 14, 2009 5:26 am PT

    Bass players will enjoy the funk, even drummers and singers. It's gonna be awesome. =)

  • FidelSarcastro

    Posted Mar 14, 2009 4:24 am PT

    Now all they will be missing is George Clinton and the Parliament Funkadelic.

  • joelgargan

    Posted Mar 14, 2009 3:07 am PT

    Pretty sure that rock band needs ELP, Yes, Genesis, Dream Theater and Marillion before I even consider buying it.

  • AwesomeIRL

    Posted Mar 14, 2009 2:15 am PT

    omg did that article really just imply papa roach is metal?

  • joshua6775

    Posted Mar 14, 2009 1:58 am PT

    I'm a devout metalhead and even I'm excited about Sex Machine. Diversity in RB is awesome. I played a littl RB earlier with a buddy and we went from Judas Priest to No doubt to Yngwie Malmsteen and topped it all off with Dixie Chicks and SRV in one set. Now we get James Brown, too. I'm in.

  • Jhego128

    Posted Mar 14, 2009 12:49 am PT

    last resort, hmmmm

  • MacBrother

    Posted Mar 13, 2009 11:20 pm PT

    Very happy to get James Brown in. Now bring some more David Bowie. Station to Station DLC please.

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