'Guitar Hero,' 'Rock Band' soon playing Beatles?

Beatles music may soon be strumming a new tune via air guitar video games, according to a report in the Financial Times.

Apple Corps and EMI, which respectively represent The Beatles' business interests and ownership of its master recordings, have reportedly been in discussions with video game publishers Activision and MTV Games.

Under a possible deal that could be worth several million dollars, users could put their air guitar to use while listening to The Beatles and playing Activision's Guitar Hero or MTV's Rock Band games, according to the report.

The move to push The Beatles' music onto a new stage via video games could occur within the coming weeks, the Financial Times reported. Such a move would mark a change in embracing technology for The Beatles' music, given that digital-use licenses for Beatles recordings are not yet available.

The Beatles representatives, as well as the game publishers, declined to confirm whether a deal is on the horizon.

[benjaminstraight]

This will be great. Hopefully this will open the door for more classics.

[BeatleMegaFan]

I love The Beatles, but I don't like this idea. Personally, I don't want their albums to be released on iTunes, and neither would I like them to be on Rock Band or Guitar Hero. These video games are nice and can introduce some people to some of the classics, but in a way, playing these games to some of the best rock songs cheapens them. Having them available for mass download would also cheapen them in the sense that they can be listened to just like any other song.

I've played Rock Band and Guitar Hero III on many occasions, and when I "play" a few songs that I happen to like, the virtual characters and oncoming notes stick with me. When I turn on my iPod and try to listen to the exact same songs later on, I want to turn it off because I can't get the game out of my head. I turn to playing real guitars and instruments instead, which is much more entertaining than fake instruments. The Beatles, the greatest band of all time, do not need this to happen to their own music. Of course, this is my opinion, and if it happens, so be it, but I think that people need to realize that music is not a game, so to speak. Music is more than that. Perhaps that is just my belief as I am a musician. But, if it will showcase their music against some of that vile noise that too many people listen to today, then it could be a good thing.

-BMF

[jasonbryanmiller]

It is pop music - it already is cheapened! I like the Beatles, but just because I like them, doesn't make their music a collective masterpiece (which is often the rationale of so called "critics') or sacred music. They are part of pop culture and adding them to the Guitar Hero lineup is quite appropriate. Their faces have been on cartoons, lunch boxes, cards, keychains, etc.

[chrkeller]

I'd rather have some Led Zeppelin, but hey better than nothing. I also disagree that is cheapens the music. I personally have gained a lot of respect for some music after seeing how complicated it actually is via Guitar Hero.

[TheGearbox]

The Beatles are a great band, but playing them on Rock Band or Guitar Hero just screams LAME. Those games are made for rocking out, not classic light rock/pop. I think they are just going after the Beatles for the name, they aren't really thinking much about the niche of the gamers playing their games. just my 2 cents...

[trer24]

BMF, I believe you are short-changing video games by saying it "cheapens the music". On the contrary, as an artist, you must realize that art is all about interpretation and there is really no such thing as art being "right" or "wrong" (outside technical knowledge). I would look at video games as another way to interpret these classic songs. Video games have come a long way and I think it's more accurate to see them as artistic interpretations of the creator's subject matter, allowing for user interaction. If Guitar Hero allows a user to interpret The Beatles, how does that cheapen the experience? It's the exact definition of art!

Sure it'd be great if everyone learned how to play a real instrument, but everyone is good at different things and learning a musical instrument requires work and time that not everyone can invest in. When someone comes home from their 9-5, they just want to relax. Of course it's not the same as a real instrument, but video games allows for interpretation and fun, which is what art is all about.

[jasonbryanmiller]

Pop music is not "art" or high culture. The best compliment you can truly give rock and roll is that it has a good beat and you can dance to it. Seeing pop music as "art" is what led to its decline into stadium and art rock in the 70s. The Beatles eventually cheapened themselves. That is why it took the punk, powerpop, garage, etc. scenes of the 70s to set things straight. Loved the show Rotten TV where John Lydon took rock "memorabilia" and blew it up in some fashion. Activision - go get the Beatles!!

[DipsetBeast72]

It defintely won't cheapen the songs, and it will get it out to a briader audiance which is what it was ment to do in the firt place...Music isn't somehting to be hoarded away and sectioned off by generation the beatles definitely knew that, and aren't they buying the song from Michael Jackson anyway lol. And the demographic of guitar hero is EVERYONE lol, my mom plays, my chick friends in college play it, I play it, it's not just for rock junkies and metal heads so they need more than just that, just because they switch the style up doesn't mean they're betraying you. oh and Paint it Black, Kansas? the beatles aren't hurting anything.

P.S. All this means nothing until they make an entire Hendrix Guiatr Hero like the upcoming aerosmith(which I care nothing about) , because the wait is just pissing me off now...

[a10425]

Games are for entertainment. Music is for entertainment. This is a good marriage of the two that can expose new audiences to classic songs and draw together families with dissimilar interests. Not everyone can afford Magnaplaners or B&W 800 series speakers, Class-A monobloc amplifiers and redbook standard CD players. My mother grew up with the Beatles, and played them on a $5 record player. Some might say that you can't truly appreciate the Beatles if you've been using mind-altering substances either, but they sure did play to that crowd in their later days and didn't seem to mind.

I'm all for exposing youth to music that was groundbreaking, and if this can get them to listen, it may also get them to appreciate. Not to mention that I'd love to play Rock Band with my folks next holiday gathering. What a great memory that would be!

[shelli1973]

this is so awesome! i can't wait to play it! i'm a second generation Beatles fan......my daddy got married in his Beatle boots!! now my children will also enjoy the Beatles!! before it was just "old people" music, but to for them to get to experience this music in an almost participating way, it really gets them into it..they catch themselves singing old stuff from the other rockbands and guitar heros...i laugh and i love it..they enoy a broad spectrum of music in my household from rock to country, from metal to motown! and having another way to enjoy music besides listening, is great...especially when you're not musically inclined!! can't wait for many more of these games!!!!!