Billy Joel DLC tickling Rock Band's ivories

With Rock Band 3 adding a keyboard to the rhythm franchise's full band setup, Harmonix is trying to highlight that new feature in the latest Rock Band downloadable content. When the game launches next week, it will do so alongside a number of tracks featuring the jazz organ from legendary rockers The Doors. Later this year, Rock Band's music store will also play host to another prodigious piano performer in the form of Billy Joel.

Harmonix has announced a deal that will see Joel's songs exclusively featured in Rock Band. The six-time Grammy winner (including a Grammy Legend award) will be represented in the Rock Band downloadable storefront starting December 14, with a selection of songs including "Big Shot," "Captain Jack," "It's Still Rock N Roll to Me," "Movin' Out," "Only the Good Die Young," "Piano Man," "Pressure," "Say Goodbye to Hollywood," "The Entertainer," and "The Stranger."

Unfortunately, the Billy Joel content (and all DLC released after the launch of Rock Band 3) will be incompatible with the first two Rock Band games. According to a Harmonix representative, "The new features in Rock Band 3 have necessitated a new file format that no longer works with Rock Band 2." However, Rock Band 3 will still work with DLC from the previous games, though those songs won't support new features like keyboards and Pro Guitar modes.

Rock Band 3 will feature 83 songs on the disc. To reward early adopters, Harmonix will also be offering three Doors songs featuring keyboards for free through the in-game music store from the game's October 26 launch through November 1. For the full on-disc setlist of the game, check out GameSpot's previous coverage.