Musical video games have quickly become a way for artists to get exposure, whether its via downloadable tracks or entire games devoted to a particular group. Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page and The White Stripes frontman Jack White, however, aren't fans of the trend.
"It's depressing to have a label come and tell you that [Guitar Hero] is how kids are learning about music and experiencing music," said White to NME. He noted that isn't so picky about "which format people should get their music in…if you have to be in a video game to get in front of them, that's a little sad."
Page concurred, theorizing that instrument controllers were not at all comparable to the real thing. "You think of the drum part that John Bonahm did on Led Zeppelin's first track on the first album, 'Good Times Bad Times'," he said. "How many drummers in the world can play that part, let alone on Christmas morning?"
It's a shame to see that certain artists still don't get it. Do they honestly think there's a better connection with music by listening to it on the radio than playing it in a game? Besides, there are studies that show that Rock Band and Guitar Hero actually encourage people to play their real instruments more, not less. There are also a ton of kids that get exposed to music from the '80s, '70s and '60s by these games that they would otherwise never hear. Also: is it too much to ask for Stairway to Heaven in Rock Band?
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