Sign on Options
Theme:
To Dark

Eddie Van Halen = next Guitar Hero?

  • By thorsen-ink, GameSpot
  • Posted Mar 5, 2008 12:34 pm PT

Source: A presentation made by Activision CEO Bobby Kotick at the Morgan Stanley Technology Conference in Dana Point, California. What we heard: Ever since Activision confirmed long-running rumors by announcing Guitar Hero: Aerosmith, gamers have wondered what the next band-themed title in the...

Source: A presentation made by Activision CEO Bobby Kotick at the Morgan Stanley Technology Conference in Dana Point, California.

What we heard: Ever since Activision confirmed long-running rumors by announcing Guitar Hero: Aerosmith, gamers have wondered what the next band-themed title in the franchise might be. Given Aerosmith's stature in the rock pantheon, it was suddenly possible that any supergroup could lend its name to the game. Metallica, The Rolling Stones, U2, Smashing Pumpkins, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers were among the bands most often mentioned by virtual axemen during basement speculation sessions.

Another of the most repeated names in the guess-the-next-Guitar-Hero-band metagame is Van Halen. After dropping out of the public eye during the beginning of the decade, the once-mighty quartet--which dominated the US record charts during the 1980s and 1990s--reunited with its second singer, Sammy Hagar, in 2003. After a 2004 tour fizzled out, the remaining members of the original group asked original frontman David Lee Roth to put aside decades of acrimony and re-up. The resulting successful tour is still ongoing, although recent postponements blamed on guitarist Eddie Van Halen's health woes have called its future into doubt.

But while Van Halen's real-life members are feeling the ravages of time, the band might see a second life in game form. At least that's the theory being bandied about on many a forum following comments made by Kotick at the Morgan Stanley Technology Conference yesterday. At the elite confab, analysts and financial mucky-mucks posited questions to the soon-to-be chief executive of Activision Blizzard about the future of the Guitar Hero series.

"So when you think about how we're going to grow, just getting to parity on the US business will add a significant amount of revenues this year," said Kotick. "Then you think about what we're doing in specialized programming, whether it is new platforms or Aerosmith, or other bands that are proprietary to our format." (Emphasis added.)

Later, Kotick discussed the sales bump each band featured in Guitar Hero receives. Kotick said "Every one of the artists included in Guitar Hero III saw their number one downloaded song on iTunes, within the month after the release of Guitar Hero III, being the Guitar Hero III song." He then continued, "So our attitude is, if we're breaking bands or creating this much enthusiasm, and you are reaching a whole new group of consumers, six to 11-year-old consumers, who are being exposed to Aerosmith for the first time or Van Halen for the first time, wherever it might be, we need to capture much more of that upside opportunity." (Emphasis added.)

The official story: While Kotick's mention of Van Halen riled up gamers old enough to remember "Hot for Teacher" being played on boomboxes at junior high cornfield keggers, it wasn't an official announcement of Guitar Hero: Van Halen. So was the comment a slip of the tongue or wishful thinking on the executive's part? Activision isn't saying, declining to respond to inquiries about Kotick's comments.

Bogus or not bogus?: Too little to go on. However, it is worth noting that, with Van Halen's volatile history, it might not be as easy to sort the royalty situation as it was for Aerosmith. Then there's the dilemma of choosing songs between the original lineup and the "Van Hagar" era--and won't someone think of Gary Cherone?

214 Comments

  • Bluestorm-Kalas

    Posted Sep 14, 2009 2:31 am GMT

    My fingers have been crossed for a long time now, waiting for a Guitar Hero (and now with Beetles Rock Band) or Rock Band Iron Maiden edition...That would be unreal.

  • arjayc

    Posted Jun 10, 2009 2:07 pm GMT

    Van Halen fans unite! I say all the REAL Van Halen fans that might be interested in this game boycott it until the likeness of original bassist, Michael Anthony, is added as one of the playable characters. We need to remind Eddie and the others that the Michael Anthony was the one that played bass on all great music they produced during their heyday in the late 70's and early 80's. Wolfgang may be a decent enough bass player, but he doesn't belong in this game. Or on tour for that matter.

  • Mr_Wii_99

    Posted Apr 26, 2009 8:06 am GMT

    It's official now guitar hero: Van Halen is coming out Jul 28, 2009 thanks to Gamestop and a German Rating Board!

  • NbAlIvEr10000

    Posted Apr 1, 2009 2:04 am GMT

    If they do this they have to do both hagar and roth, for that matter you gotta have a game with Jump and Humans Being together; C'mon!

  • slimbeast

    Posted Mar 10, 2009 3:48 pm GMT

    lol guitar hero: green day, who actually likes green day
    I think van halen would be the best GH ever cause eddie van halen is the best guitarist in the world. also a GH on slipknot would be cool too.

  • zemonstar

    Posted Mar 6, 2009 10:22 pm GMT

    Many, including me, would drool over a Led Zeppelin GH game, but i don't think they will let it happen. I heard that they denied both RB and GH the right to use Stairway to Heaven. So if they won't let them use one song, a whole game is highly unlikely.

  • Ramix777

    Posted Nov 2, 2008 7:22 am GMT

    DOES ANY 1 CARE ABOUT LED ZEPPLIN!?

  • Ramix777

    Posted Nov 2, 2008 7:20 am GMT

    OMG there should so be a VAN HALEN GH!

  • letmeetran

    Posted Jul 12, 2008 8:24 am GMT

    omg i wish theres santana

  • Zeyta

    Posted Jul 5, 2008 6:51 pm GMT

    IF this is so, Eruption will be the hardest song in the game (i can imagine). I'm surprised nobody mentioned that song when they heard Van Halen may be in GH.

  • Brandon_Greene

    Posted Jun 24, 2008 2:27 pm GMT

    9480473

    they need to put...
    1. three days grace
    2.papa roach
    3.disturbed
    4.breaking benjamin 5.system of a down
    6.cradile of filth
    7.linkin park
    8.seether
    9.stained
    10.slipknot
    in my opinon that would be the best GH game ever

    Wow Emo-Hero everybody always wants stupid ass music like **** Out Boy and Bullet for my Blank On, all those bands suck so bad! The Guitar Hero Series started to suck when it moved to X360, now everyone wants their favorite cut em up music on the game! Stop with the **** requests! Oh yeah Guitar Hero: Green Day worst idea ever!

  • 9480473

    Posted Jun 12, 2008 11:32 pm GMT

    they need to put...
    1. three days grace
    2.papa roach
    3.disturbed
    4.breaking benjamin 5.system of a down
    6.cradile of filth
    7.linkin park
    8.seether
    9.stained
    10.slipknot
    in my opinon that would be the best GH game ever

  • alp1n3st4rz

    Posted Jun 4, 2008 5:30 pm GMT

    They need a Three Days Grace Guitar Hero with the "One X" album on it

  • CradleXX

    Posted Jun 2, 2008 6:13 pm GMT

    I'd love a Van Halen themed game. Just as long as it isn't Van hagar.

  • vanhalen761

    Posted May 27, 2008 6:24 pm GMT

    Iwanna see van halens' im the one, atomic punk, aint talkin bout love, and from the cradle well rock!!!

  • KILLSYOU123

    Posted May 19, 2008 4:30 pm GMT

    Yes that would be sick or Zeppellin or Hendrix!

  • KILLSYOU123

    Posted May 19, 2008 4:19 pm GMT

    Dude Van Halen/Hendrix/ or Led Zeppelin

  • mada362005

    Posted May 12, 2008 8:32 pm GMT

    van halen = my fave band so this is almost a reason for me to get into GH :-/ meh donno the other ones werent to fun tho

  • cjog

    Posted Apr 27, 2008 11:19 am GMT

    I t should be guitar hero Number ones

  • kevin-cannon

    Posted Apr 26, 2008 3:27 pm GMT

    guitar hero 4 with longer career,van halen ,jimi hendrix,and tenacious d

  • switchblade21

    Posted Apr 12, 2008 3:30 pm GMT

    a good guitar hero game would be,

    GH: Jimi Hendrix Edition
    GH: Yngwie Malmsteen Edition
    GH: Led Zeppelin Edition
    GH: Joe Satriani Edition
    GH: Buckethead Edition or
    GH: Iced Earth Edition
    GH: Iron Maiden Edition
    GH: Def Leppard Edition
    GH: Queen Edition
    GH: Black Sabbath Edition or GH: KoRn eDiTioN!
    GH: Slipknot! Edition
    GH: SOAD Edition
    GH: Fear Factory! Edition
    GH: Type O Negative Edition

    but that's just my Opinion.

  • cjog

    Posted Apr 11, 2008 3:05 pm GMT

    Van halen=good i think they should put eruption on there because it takes about a decade to learn how to play it with out missing notes

  • missonrs

    Posted Apr 2, 2008 6:57 am GMT

    Aerosmith sounds cool, but if I was to choose between Van Halen and Aerosmith I got to say Van Halen because they have one of greatest guitar players ever.

  • Masterdj1992

    Posted Mar 31, 2008 10:13 am GMT

    I would love to see Eruption by Van Halen.

  • RollingRockBeer

    Posted Mar 30, 2008 4:57 am GMT

    A Guitar Hero RUSH would rock! Would definitely be challenging. They're still not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. What's up with that?

  • hypeathedikal

    Posted Mar 27, 2008 9:10 pm GMT

    Of course once again people forget about it being GUITAR HERO
    SO!
    JIMI HENDRIX [big fanbase, enough songs, legend]
    David Gilmour/Pink Floyd, Same thing
    Judas PRiest mabey

    But hendrix before all

  • chaos12391

    Posted Mar 18, 2008 12:33 pm GMT

    ok i understand that if your a fan of a band, that you'll want thier name to be made into a game. but it just doesn't give the gaem ANY vareity at all. if it was metallica my sister prolly would never play, but on all the gh game, there's songs she likes and songs i like. it just evens out for everyone. which is also why i think GH:aerosmith is a bad idea.

  • ironscoug

    Posted Mar 18, 2008 10:17 am GMT

    VAN HALEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • jamie30jamer

    Posted Mar 17, 2008 5:00 pm GMT

    They need to make a guitar hero: Big 4 of Thrash. With Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax. That would be the best one yet

  • hawk1180

    Posted Mar 17, 2008 12:58 pm GMT

    I am all for guitar hero aerosmith but i have to say they need to have more time put into guitar hero 3 maybe some new song packs with some of the old classics like a AC/DC pack, Metallica pack and then some new age stuff like Fall out Boy, Bullet for my Valentine mix it up alittle and make songs everyone will like or can download what they like. I would love to see some aera specific downloads for local bands that are coming up to that would be cool to see so of your town local bands on Guitar Hero 3 or 4.

  • Marciano315

    Posted Mar 14, 2008 11:01 am GMT

    IRON MAIDEN songs would be fun to play, all would be challenging unlike most of guitar hero 3, for example the first 6 sets out of the 8 are all easy on expert. who wants to play songs they already have a 100% on, not me. Iron Maiden is the best option for a band based guitar hero game. Guitar hero aerosmith is gonna be so easy and stupid, dream on is a automatic 100% and thats one of there best songs, i have a feeling all the songs will be easy.

  • Stellianos

    Posted Mar 14, 2008 7:08 am GMT

    GH: Chicago Terry Kath is better than hendrix , or how bout a hendrix gH?

  • wumbo17412

    Posted Mar 13, 2008 12:17 pm GMT

    Eric Clapton, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, AC/DC, Deep Purple, Any one of those would be good

  • McSpazzotron

    Posted Mar 12, 2008 6:08 pm GMT

    I would like to see a Guitar Hero: Buckethead, but it's probably not likely. Also, Yngwie Malmsteen should have a game.

  • uber1337ness

    Posted Mar 9, 2008 8:31 pm GMT

    GH:Rush anyone?

  • uber1337ness

    Posted Mar 9, 2008 8:28 pm GMT

    they should make a guitar hero for every subsection of rock and put like 1 or 2 songs from every decent band within the genre and then release full cds for like 10$

  • gunshot134

    Posted Mar 9, 2008 12:05 pm GMT

    i would really love to see a GH guns n roses, but my problem about the single band is what if the person doesn't like the band they choose ( but who doesn't like VH, aerosmith and GNR) either way they better have eruption if they choose van halen for later use, they better put in eruption.

  • brock77kb

    Posted Mar 9, 2008 10:29 am GMT

    with the new areosmith game coming out for gh, will it be available for rock band ? as well as all the other new games coming out. or make them compatible for both.

  • darksaw66699942

    Posted Mar 9, 2008 10:13 am GMT

    Aerosmith......NO good but not good enough for a game. G n' R umm no. the Axel Rose sucks bad now. And since slash was in the third one that be dumb. plus Axel is a greedy guy so we all be paying 90 bucks just for the game because he will want a fortune for his new album that will never come out. I think they should keep going on what they are already doing. Don't base an entire game off one band. Put tons of bands with tons of songs. because if its a Red Hot Chili Peppers based game i wont buy it because they don't have good enough music. I liked how there was some In flames, Killswitch, dragonforce. Now lets get more of them and some Iced Earth, Fear factory, Stratavaroius, Kamelot, Dream Evil, etc. speed metal and awesome and when i play i look for the fast songs with thousands of notes like Dragonforce.

  • Shishio817

    Posted Mar 8, 2008 4:06 pm GMT

    Guitar Hero:Smashing Pumpkins = awesome. Nuff said.

  • FreedomBYgaming

    Posted Mar 8, 2008 2:50 pm GMT

    true. a guns n roses gh would be so cool.

  • necronaux

    Posted Mar 8, 2008 9:17 am GMT

    VH GH, Makes sence. Just thinking of the "Eruption" solo makes my fingers hurt.

  • dirty55409

    Posted Mar 7, 2008 11:19 pm GMT

    If they start popping out a Guitar Hero: ___Insert band name____ every 3 months and expect us to pay 59.99 a pop they are gravely mistaken. Even classic bands like Aerosmith, Van Halen etc, only have maybe 5-10 epic songs. Not enough to warrant a heavy price tag for the "heavy metal" I would like to see albums to download, for big rock groups (and all this heavy metal bias is lame btw) Metallica is about as hardcore scream rock as it should get.

  • TriforcePieces

    Posted Mar 7, 2008 4:11 pm GMT

    Guns N' Roses, Blue Oyster Cult, Nirvana, AND Van Halen are all ones I'd buy

  • cheese4927

    Posted Mar 6, 2008 7:46 pm GMT

    Van Halen would be awesome for Guitar Hero, not to mention really challenging.

  • MikeDecz

    Posted Mar 6, 2008 7:08 pm GMT

    Led Zeppelin and Metallica please!!

  • Skreb-Masters

    Posted Mar 6, 2008 4:52 pm GMT

    Can we stick to before please? I know having a whole artist's worth of songs is nice but how many can you put on that A) are good to play and B) good to listen to? What I liked most about Guitar Hero was the variety of the songs. Sticking to one artist feels like a step backwards to me. There's only so many songs one can take from one artist before it loses its magic and allure.

    Rock Band at the moment are putting up Grateful Dead songs for DLC, GH should do more of that in future.

  • Bad_Ass_Dr_Funk

    Posted Mar 6, 2008 3:34 pm GMT

    Janes Addiction FTW!!!!!!!

  • bunsoffterm

    Posted Mar 6, 2008 3:18 pm GMT

    I want Linkin Park

  • Sacred-Snow

    Posted Mar 6, 2008 2:55 pm GMT

    I wouldn't mind seeing some spin-offs, but if they are just going to make ti a full band gig, then screw it, Guitar Hero is out of the picture and Rock Band is the big dog.

Subscribe to GameSpot's YouTube Channel

Hot Stories

Newsmakers

Featured Stories

Submit News

Got tips? Send them in!