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It has been 20 years after the legendary game hit the market across the Atlantic, giving players everywhere the tools to become a rock star. Not in reality, but try telling that someone who has mastered the epic four-minute instrumental break before a packed crowd of friends.

Developed by Harmonix, the game gave players a plastic guitar peripheral to follow on-screen cues moving along the screen synchronized to a song. Each riff corresponded to specific notes, producing the feel of an authentic live show.

The studio previously tried its hand with rhythm games before partnering with the publisher, later acquired by the gaming giant during the mid-2000s. Collaboratively, they laid the groundwork for a surprising massively profitable franchise which made a remarkable impact on numerous of the artists featured, introducing classic groups to millions of gaming enthusiasts.

Michael Dornbrook, ex-chief operating officer of Harmonix, recalls the initial financial challenges in securing the recordings – despite the fact initial releases mostly used cover versions.

“We rerecorded every song since the dollar figure was so high,” he says. “Even with the necessary permissions by themselves, it was extremely difficult. We couldn’t get bands like the Who – the publisher had virtually no money, and we were pretty convinced the project would flop. But once Guitar Hero took off, album purchases and radio play were going up, all artists desired to be in.”

He continues: “One of the remarkable aspects was how many mothers and fathers got in touch expressing gratitude for exposing their children to the songs they loved. It evolved into a multigenerational phenomenon.”

Classic Rock Finds Younger Fans

Irish group one featured act included their track in the 2008 release Guitar Hero World Tour. Lead musician the artist remembers how the series revived older hits back into vogue: “The game provided a bigger, younger audience. Typically this had been considered music that was past it, however once it got featured on the game young people were finding it, suddenly it was cool. This validated it, eliminating the ‘dad rock’ label. It gave our catalog renewed popularity.”

At that time, the Answer’s first record was still unreleased stateside, so the game was a key medium for exposure for the group as they went on US tour supporting AC/DC. “Their crew were playing the song on the tour bus, and some of them recognized us from Guitar Hero,” he notes.

Rock’s Heavyweight Titles and Lasting Influence

Music's biggest acts soon capitalised on the game's success, including bands like Aerosmith, Metallica and Van Halen starring in specialized game editions centered around each band’s catalogue and associated lore, visuals and legendary status. For example, Guitar Hero: Aerosmith, it was said to have made the band more money compared to their records. It moved well over 500,000 copies in its first week, while sales of Aerosmith’s music rose of up to 40% during an era when the music business faced decline.

The series continues to inspire quick-handed dedication among its fans. Recently, an online personality completed a remarkable feat of DragonForce’s the challenging track – a notoriously difficult power-metal song popularized through Guitar Hero – using a fan-made version, a freeware game with similar mechanics but an array of customisation options. The song is difficult enough on expert mode, not to mention played at double speed while hitting every one of the thousands of cues. The streamer claimed it took nine months to accomplish.

“The game is a fun, fantasy thing. Just as with Call of Duty, it doesn't imply you ought to pick up a real gun and enlist,” notes musician Herman Li.

The band had already completed a profitable run when their hit appeared on Guitar Hero III, yet he explains it made them a household name. “I recall the record label informing us that our records were moving like crazy,” he says. “Popularity surged on the subsequent tour, and we were playing right ahead of the headliners at the event.”

Indeed, the band's visibility from Guitar Hero was so immense that it threatened to overshadow everything else the band has done. Last year, the song was used in promotional material for a major film. “Previously I thought differently, but now I accept it,” Li says. “Should you just hear one DragonForce song, it’s totally cool – everyone’s got a unique path in music and I’m glad we’ve been part in fans' experiences”.

Enduring Legacy from the Iconic Controller

Top-tier promotion, be it for cars, clothes or video games, extends beyond mere transactions – it inspires a desire. Was the game able to harness this? “That’s exactly what our team aiming to achieve,” he confirms. “The excitement of being a rock star in the spotlight. Since the beginning, the creators believed humans have a natural urge to make music, and they wanted to leverage innovation to allow people to participate”.

The majority installments were released over a mere half-decade from 2005 to 2010, including spin-offs such as the DJ version, complete with a turntable controller, and Band Hero. Subsequently, the publisher’s interest on peripherals died down, except for a short-lived revival in 2015.

Games such as the fan project and Fortnite Festival have maintained the community alive, with set to be something from the original publisher on the way. A new studio has entered work on its debut music game. Original co-founders are participating as special advisers. Is the world prepared to welcome a new entry in the spirit of the classic?

“Our team believed such titles might become similar to sports games allowing annual update every year,” he remarks. “With abundant fresh tracks that it could be perennially popular, thus I remain optimistic. It's entirely possible why it can’t continue with new generations.”