Charlie Daniels damns Guitar Hero III's devilish climax

  • By Polybren, GameSpot
  • Posted Apr 7, 2008 3:14 pm PT

In a recent update to the Soapbox section of his official Web site, Charlie Daniels (pictured below, with band) rails against Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, the rhythm game that climaxes with a hard rock cover of his biggest hit, "The Devil Went Down to Georgia." But it's not the rock reworking...

In a recent update to the Soapbox section of his official Web site, Charlie Daniels (pictured below, with band) rails against Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, the rhythm game that climaxes with a hard rock cover of his biggest hit, "The Devil Went Down to Georgia." But it's not the rock reworking that bothers him; it's that the song appears in a climactic guitar duel with the devil (pictured at bottom).

"The song... is supposed to be a lighthearted novelty about a fiddling contest between a country boy and the devil and the devil always loses," Daniels wrote. "That is not the case with the Guitar Hero version which comes complete with a horned, guitar-playing devil who battles the player and very often wins. I want any of you parents out there whose children have this game to know that I did not grant these people my permission to pervert my song and am disgusted with the result."

Daniels said he lost the publishing rights to "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" years ago in a settlement with a former partner. He added that he never would have allowed such a use of it, and was upset with the rights' owners that allowed Guitar Hero III to "violate the very essence of the song."

Though Daniels may "vehemently disagree" with the content of Guitar Hero III, his advice for parents with children adopts a different stance than many gaming critics have in recent years.

"This game looks innocent enough but if you have a child who is playing it, take the time to sit with him or her while they're playing along and take a serious look at the images on the screen," Daniels wrote. "You may be surprised at the world they're being exposed to."

296 Comments

  • adarkervision

    Posted Apr 15, 2008 5:10 pm PT

    I would totally pay to take on Jack Thompson as the final boss of a game. And then Uwe Boll.

  • Yajarobi

    Posted Apr 14, 2008 8:59 am PT

    Yes. I full heartely agree, and was saying that myself. Yay Country music, yay god!

  • masterchief375

    Posted Apr 12, 2008 8:43 pm PT

    OK Mr. Daniels, its a song about dueling with the Devil with a musical instrument, you of all ppl should know, you wrote it!!! Who were you supposed to battle on the last boss fight...Jack Thompson or sumthin??? Im tired of musicians and lawyers crying about video games. GET OVER IT.

  • thegame1980

    Posted Apr 11, 2008 10:17 am PT

    I can't believe this guy! He's only trying to cover his ass if something WERE to happen. I mean the song could not have been recreated any better then with the "HERO" (you) battling against the Devil as mentioned and scripted in the song.

    Perhaps he's also scorned at not receiving any residuals from

  • KingSigy

    Posted Apr 10, 2008 8:37 am PT

    He's wrong in one point. There's nothing wrong going on with the images in the game, except maybe the product placement. The song isn't very light hearted either, since Johnny is calling the Devil an SOB after winning and has a very negative tone to the Devil to begin with.

  • adarkervision

    Posted Apr 10, 2008 6:38 am PT

    May I point out that the Devil is a MYTHOLOGICAL CHARACTER! Not everyone is a Christian, and last time I checked, The Devil Went Down to Georgia was not a hymn. I would also like to point out that Daniels wrote songs promoting marijuana use including "Long Haired Country Boy", and a metric butt load of his songs are about getting drunk and stoned. So maybe he isn't exactly the paragon of family frackin' values, and should shut his crusty bearded pie hole.

  • lorien665

    Posted Apr 10, 2008 12:25 am PT

    I think it is amazing to think that some people believe that kids get some of their moral and religious education from games!

    Parents and guardians have this responsibility not games makers, they should be researching games before they allow their kids to play. Now I know it would be hard to find out that the devil exists in gh3 but the game is rated a 12, so the kids are warranted with some degree of what is real and what is not.

    I think most people that play gh3 have a huge amount of fun.... and nothing else!

  • FrankenLife

    Posted Apr 9, 2008 9:28 pm PT

    I don't understand why people cling to the image of the devil with horns and hoved feet. That image came about in the middle ages, and was taken from the image of Pan. It is all silly. Lucifer was described a beautiful, not horned and with hoved feet. I don't understand people.

  • EnozmeH

    Posted Apr 9, 2008 7:31 pm PT

    Oh man! I feel bad for Daniels' losing the rights to this amazing song. Never knew this by the way, the song has not been "perverted" in any way though. Daniels' wants to assure and warn all those who might take any offense to the game and make sure that the whole world knows that he hasn't beaten the game yet

  • sdwhitby

    Posted Apr 9, 2008 1:43 pm PT

    but the aim is to beat him?

  • jimmulvaney

    Posted Apr 9, 2008 11:01 am PT

    I have to agree with the majority of comments below that it isn't really a big deal. The comment about GTA, Manhunt and Condemned just shows how much times have changed. If anything it reminds me of the rock-off between Satan and Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny, who just so happen to have another classic song featured in GHIII. If he is speaking of the last arena's set list? Then who made him an authority on music? Slayer, Iron Maiden, Metallica are all legends in my book. Besides The vast majority of the songs are not so lighthearted as they are rock and metal based. It works for the game and if he just wants to whine cuz he lost rights to it then whatever, he wouldn't be the first... but what's the friggin point?

  • Fable_fan88

    Posted Apr 9, 2008 10:03 am PT

    hahah Ol' Charlie is just mad because he can't beat it on medium so he is attack GH3 and says that the devil wins most of the time...who cares its a dam game. the only harm GH3 can do is make u look like a complete idiot when ur play a song on it and ur trying to show off to ur friends or something, ooo he is cool, he can play GH3. i would be kinda pissed to if i was charlie, but don't blame things on video games, that really pisses me off, their is no scientific reason saying playing GTA or CoD4 makes u want to shoot up a school or any public place, its not 100% the parents fault either... but it is somewhat to do with them.... but if u really wanna know what it is that makes people go crazy, its that POT that charlie is smokin' hahahahha

  • lakeerie_effect

    Posted Apr 9, 2008 8:27 am PT

    down with guitar hero. everyone hates them now. i bet if u asked anyone who has played previous guitar heros. they would say 3 was a mistake doesnt even compare to the original or gh2. but then again in my opinion anyone who plays a game where 5 colored dots roll by ur face for 4 mins is handicap mentally

  • Tylendal

    Posted Apr 9, 2008 7:43 am PT

    The original is definately better than the Guitar Hero version. Besides, Fiddle/Violin >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Any type of plucked guitar.

    However, he does seem to be overreacting a little to the game as a whole.

  • scorpi13

    Posted Apr 9, 2008 6:20 am PT

    Nothing to panic about. The song is about the Devil and you have to beat him in a one-on-one battle at the end of the game. So what's wrong with that?

  • theone86

    Posted Apr 9, 2008 12:56 am PT

    Ironically, the subtext of the game is rock producers trying to suck the life out of the industry by killing the artistic aspect in favor of marketing, and here we have someone who's mad because someone cared more about selling games than his creative vision. Still, no matter what he thinks he doesn't have the rights anymore, plus his logic is completely f'd up. And I think the thing that most people are missing is that this is one of the most obvious publicity stunts ever. When was the last time anyone heard from Charlie Daniels? Oh yeah, after 9/11 when he was going on his right-wing rants. This guy lives off stirring the pot. It's the only thing he's notable for besides DWDTG.

    "Why is everyone bashing Charlie Daniels, taking his side over GH3? Sure, I don't see a problem with it personally, but it IS his song, and a song he wrote, and if it's being interpreted differently from what he intended it to be he is more than entitled to state his discontent with it."

    So let me get this straight, if someone makes a work of art with a personal meaning but someone else interprets it differently then that person is entitled to b**** and moan to no end? Besides, it's not even about being entitled to an opinion, it's about that opinion being off-base.

  • Ozzie234

    Posted Apr 8, 2008 11:05 pm PT

    Violated every essence of the song? C'mon. If anything Neversoft/Red Octane put that song into the perfect crossroads-like context! Charlie Dee can't be serious, he's just pleasing some (screwed) part of his fanbase with a comment like this... lol.

  • LuiS-07

    Posted Apr 8, 2008 7:57 pm PT

    i thought charlie danels was dead.. but i think that if hes lost the rights to the song (hes most popular one might i add) he must be pretty mad.. though i never heard of the song (i might sound like a douche coz of that ) but when i played the game i looked up the original on youtube and it was .. boring, maybe coz it sounds so much better in guitar hero. he should be proud that his most popular song is still getting more popular ,,!

  • Shishio817

    Posted Apr 8, 2008 7:49 pm PT

    Charlie Daniels can feel however he wants to. Even though I'm somewhat religioius, it doesn't bother me and isn't offensive.

  • zombey1333

    Posted Apr 8, 2008 6:18 pm PT

    Oh cry me a river. It's a game, for the love of pete. Close minded and uncreative people deserve to have their stuff taken from them and twisted in such a way as to offend all five of their senses.

  • aznballer91

    Posted Apr 8, 2008 5:39 pm PT

    An Endless Sporadic- Impulse ftw
    btw only noobs can't beat the devil.

  • ChickenHounk911

    Posted Apr 8, 2008 4:44 pm PT

    I agree with Charlie, that song and Devil battle should have been saved up for Fiddle Hero!

  • audioslave69

    Posted Apr 8, 2008 4:13 pm PT

    Its just a game, iN FPS u loose too all these other ppl from difrent countries and nobody says anything, why should it be difrent for loosing to a cartoonish devil

  • ChickenHounk911

    Posted Apr 8, 2008 3:56 pm PT

    I think i would rather kick the Devil's Butt in a Guitar Playing Contest on a Video Game, then really having him come down to Georgia and challenge me to a **GASP** fiddle playing contest! Ahh!

  • southparkWOW

    Posted Apr 8, 2008 3:44 pm PT

    whats so dumb is that "the kid" that plays it doesnt look at the characters and stage while playing the game, and, OOOH the devil has horns? never heard of that concept before...

  • dmish82

    Posted Apr 8, 2008 2:40 pm PT

    Why is everyone bashing Charlie Daniels, taking his side over GH3? Sure, I don't see a problem with it personally, but it IS his song, and a song he wrote, and if it's being interpreted differently from what he intended it to be he is more than entitled to state his discontent with it.

  • scubastevewilco

    Posted Apr 8, 2008 2:35 pm PT

    i knew something like this would happen......
    but i imagined it would be a church group or something

  • mattgm

    Posted Apr 8, 2008 1:52 pm PT

    wait a minet hes mad because you lose at a game what a tard

  • jaredcrazy3232

    Posted Apr 8, 2008 1:31 pm PT

    What about the "devil went down to Jamaica" song, bet he didn't say anything about that!

  • Crash225

    Posted Apr 8, 2008 1:04 pm PT

    O.K. Lets just get this straight Mister Charlie Daniels... You are NOT gonna' lose your soul to the devil if you can't play a toy guitar with multicolour buttons. You are NOT going to play GH3 with him in real life, EVER! And, IT'S A FREAKIN VIDEO GAME! If you lose you can TRY AGAIN!

    Jeez....

  • andalore

    Posted Apr 8, 2008 1:01 pm PT

    GH3 is Rated 12, So if Young Kids get Influenced By Images of the devil its the fault of the parent, The Age Limit Is Right There In Red and White, And If Parents choose To Ignore That Then It's their Fault, This Is Just another Idiot Having a Go at Computer Games, They're Designed To entertain and If You Took A Close Look At All Aspects of Tv, Music And Film Then You'd Get A Lot Worse Than Some Fictional Character

  • ELJUDEZ

    Posted Apr 8, 2008 12:46 pm PT

    Who?

  • Master_2K4

    Posted Apr 8, 2008 12:38 pm PT

    Dragonforce just sent out a statement:

    "we simpathyse with Charlie Daniels and have also been disspointed about our song.. "through the fire and flames" is about overcoming trials and tribulations ...it's about surpassing yourself... If people can't play 5 seconds into the song, the message is lost...our spirits are broken... ..."

  • Phazevariance

    Posted Apr 8, 2008 12:30 pm PT

    So, there is a picture that animates with the devil, who is the bad boss in the game. ... and for this reason he is disgusted? Because if you suck, the devil wins? WHO CARES! go back to the hills billy!

  • theone86

    Posted Apr 8, 2008 12:20 pm PT

    "look on the bright side he isnt sueing like most people would.......duhhh because he cant since he doesnt own the rights or he would like the moaning git he is!"

    Exactly, he's mad because he didn't get a nice big paycheck from GH 3 and he figures he can at least get some free publicity. Only problem is it'd be hypocrtical to criticize a game where someone duels the devil when the song is about someone dueling the devil. Oh well, he's appealing to far-right conservatives. They don't care if something makes sense or not, as long as there's some potential fo them to be mad about it.

  • theone86

    Posted Apr 8, 2008 12:12 pm PT

    "Neversoft/Activision have been slipping satanic imagery and themes into their games for years, with Tony Hawk's demon chick, pentagrams on everything. It doesn't bug me, but you know if those were a cross or a star of david, people would dog on it for no reason at all."

    That's cause crosses and stars of David just aren't cool.

    But seriously, Satanism isn't really devil worship. It's more of an opposition to the predominant religions of the world. Think of it as someone being a vegetarian because they don't believe eating meat is right and they're opposed to the fact that eating meat is the norm in most post modern societies. Same deal here, certain people believe the predominant organized religions are spreading bad messages and they dislike the fact that Christianity is the norm. So I guess what I'm trying to say is that the rebellious nature of rock and Satanism go hand in hand. Also, as has been said before, it's kind of a parody of Rock's association with "the devil", which was originally imposed by conservatives. No one ever accused rock of spreading Judaic or Christian messages.

    "I think the game would rock without the satanic references not to mention be more family friendly. Despite what people may think, there are still Christians in the world who care what their kids are exposed to."

    There are still Christians in the world? Damn. Oh well, I guess we better roll over and cater our entire media to your beliefs. Seriously, if there's one thing I can't stand about Christians it's their innate desire to go around and wag fingers at everything. You know what, some people don't have a problem with this type of imagery. Some people can deal with it and teach their kids how to deal with it. Some people even like it. Frankly, I find the game's commentary and satire of the rock industry to be one of the best parts. And guess what, it's Christians that first associated rock with the devil. You want to blame someone for Satanic imagery, blame yourseles. Who made a huge deal saying that Beatles records played backwards had Satanic messages (even though they didn't), who went around spreading the rumor that Kiss called themselves that because of the acronym Knights In Satan's Service (even though they didn't). I swear, it's the most backwarsd logic ever. Bottom line, if you don't like it quit complaining because no one wants to hear it.

  • uhateit

    Posted Apr 8, 2008 12:08 pm PT

    The cover of the song is great! It's a pretty damn hard song to play on GH3. Since he lost the rights to the song years ago he has nothing to gain/lose from the use of the song, I see his point, but hell the song is good and fun to play. Rock on Guitar Hero 3!

  • cards

    Posted Apr 8, 2008 11:41 am PT

    Charlie Daniels is a idiot. Get a life.

  • TobiasFenrir

    Posted Apr 8, 2008 11:14 am PT

    As a musician, I can relate to how he feels in general. I know I'd never want anything of mine to be taken out of my control and presented in a fashion that I'm not comfortable with. Whether or not you agree that the game is harmful to children because the devil can win (I don't think it's harmful), he has every right to his opinion about what was done with what is probably his trademark song.

  • s4sutler100

    Posted Apr 8, 2008 11:07 am PT

    i think charlie has a point gh3 did abuse the song.
    i played the game and love his music.
    and gh3's was nothing like it.

  • theonerm2

    Posted Apr 8, 2008 10:48 am PT

    I understand what he is trying to say but at the same time it wouldn't be fun if you won automatically. In my opinion it's a nice way to use this song because eventually the devil does lose

  • comfnumb82

    Posted Apr 8, 2008 10:44 am PT

    he's joking right? there's no possible way this can be serious. am i on punked? how is a guitar duel with the devil differant from a fiddeling duel with the devil? charlie whould have known that this is guitar hero, not fiddle hero

  • corn999

    Posted Apr 8, 2008 10:28 am PT

    Mr. Daniels. With all due respect *************

  • MichaelMorbid

    Posted Apr 8, 2008 10:23 am PT

    there's a legitimate reason why no one knows another charlie daniels band song beside this one. they... suck...

    meanwhile, the devil is still turnin' out music like no bodies business.

    sit on that gold fiddle, johnny. satan's got a warlock. rock on.

  • DbleBassDrummer

    Posted Apr 8, 2008 10:20 am PT

    It's his song, and he's entitled to his own opinion, yes. However, it seems very hypocritical that he's concerned with the way the song is portrayed when all it does is play out the song. The computer plays the part of the devil, and you play the part of Johnny. The game intends for you, as Johnny, to win the battle. The fact that the devil (in most cases, for many players) usually wins in the game is circumstantial, for you could play through the song 50 times, and never lose.

  • gothamad

    Posted Apr 8, 2008 10:17 am PT

    I completely agree with what he says. I have loved the Guitar Hero series from the start, but never understood all the satanic overtones in the last 2 games (666 on the scoreboard, etc.. in GH2). I think the game would rock without the satanic references not to mention be more family friendly. Despite what people may think, there are still Christians in the world who care what their kids are exposed to.

  • Dug777

    Posted Apr 8, 2008 10:11 am PT

    I didn't like it either, but only cause the boss battles suck It wouldve been more fun (and realistic) if you played boss battles as a simple face-off like you can in 2-player, with the focus being on simply playing the guitar good. Dont want any of this stupid power-up/attacking business.

  • Haeravon

    Posted Apr 8, 2008 10:10 am PT

    Don't these people have anything better to do? Really?

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