The Top 10 Artists That Should Get Their Own Rock Band, But Won't
Now that The Beatles: Rock Band game has taken the world by storm, I’m sure other bands are going to follow suit given the opportunity to do so. Although most bands that would be a great choice for the game will probably never get the chance due to the taste of mainstream audiences. Bands like Led Zeppelin and U2 are sure to get their own edition of Rock Band, but what about some love for the band we know will never get the nod but should? That’s where we step in.
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10. Hall and Oates
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For those about to hate, you must realize that this could be the greatest party game ever created. Hall and Oates’ music offers enough jams to satisfy fans as well newcomers to the stupendous Philadelphia duo. Their songs are also a tad more technical than they come off. From the classy three-part harmonies that could utilize the new tech in Beatles Rock Band to G. E. Smith’s snazzy guitar chops, a Hall and Oates Rock Band game would be super f***ing fun as well as a legitimate challenge. Dressing up as the band would be a must. Come on, who wants to come over and jam out “Portable Radio” on the PS3 with me?!
9. Parliament/Funkadelic
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The chances of a James Brown Rock Band could maybe happen at some point down the road due to his iconic status in the mainstream, but a Parliament/Funkadelic-inspired game most certainly will never come to life. This is quite sad because it would be epic on levels that I can’t describe with the written word. Even though you would probably need an obscene amount of instrument controllers, you would hopefully have no problems finding an extra man-sized diaper to toss on for a go at “One Nation under a Groove.” Having a horn section and synthesizers brought into the mix would be such a great addition to the layout of the game. Being able to unlock Bootsy Collins and his Space Bass with slapping functionality would be a necessity for diehards as well. Lets jam some Maggot Brain!
8. Frank Zappa
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A Rock Band game dedicated to the works of Frank Zappa will never ever, ever happen in this lifetime. All I know is that it would be pretty rad if I could rip the "Muffin Man" solo at my leisure. I also know that I’m not alone here. Music games would be better if they attempted to venture out of the pop rock bubble and allowed players to experiment a bit. Imagine being able to do a freeform jam at certain points in a song. If it had anything to do with Frank, screwing up would probably get you more points than hitting the notes correctly. Being a conductor like Frank would be another interesting addition to the game. I have no freaking idea of how this would work, but it could be absolutely awesome. The only question left is if we want Steve Vai in the game. Well? That David Lee Roth crap was pre-tty lame.
7. Pavement
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Pavement is one of my favorite bands of all time and they are easily one of the best groups of the ‘90s. If it wasn’t for the internet and amazing reissues gracing acclaimed music blogs in recent years, most new indie-rock/alternative listeners may have forgotten about the Stephen Malkmus-fronted outfit. This is why having a Pavement-themed Rock Band game would be so perfect. It would introduce their work to younger audiences while also gratifying old school alternative heads. I’m sure most alternative rock fans from the early ‘90s haven’t retired their flannel and spam T-shirts just yet. Wowee Zowee in its entirety anyone?
6. Misfits/Samhain/Danzig
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Have you ever seen those black T-shirts with a huge, eerie skull face on them? That's the Misfits. These guys wrote dozens of catchy punk songs with irresistable hooks and a slasher film bent. If this game included the Evilive version of "All Hell Breaks Loose" s*** is getting smashed. Toss in Danzig's solo metal work and you've got a catalog of dozens of songs that would take almost 20 minutes to play through. It would be the greatest thing since Glenn got knocked out backstage. I wouldn’t even go out on Halloween if this existed. I would just grab a few of my best fiend friends, slick up our devilocks, and play all f***ing night long. Toss a few Samhain cuts in there while we’re at it to give it a darker edge. One! Two! Three! Go!
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