earsucker

The Guitar Hero franchise has become quite the staple of family gaming in my house. We love them, the kids love them, and seemingly, the rest of the music gamers out there do, too.

Alas, this is the only Guitar Hero game we’ve yet to purchase, but never fear, we will soon. We’ll play it until the disc dies, I’m sure.

What if you could choose which rock gods came out with a Guitar Hero game? Who would you pick? Here’s my favorite top eight choices, in no particular order.

8. KISS

Can you imagine jamming out to Love Gun or Strutter? How about rocking out to Detroit Rock City or Rock N Roll All Nite? I can’t figure out why Gene Simmons hasn’t capitalized on this idea yet. He’s got the Kiss name on everything else under the sun. Why not a video game?

7. LED ZEPPELIN

This one was just obvious for me. Who wouldn’t break out that Les Paul and wail along to some Led Zeppelin? I want to play Black Dog, Rock And Roll, Misty Mountain Hop, and some Kashmir. This band was a fixture in the 70′s, 80′s and they still are. I wish they would get back together already.

6. VAN HALEN

Jump, Why Can’t This Be Love, Hot For Teacher…I could go on. They could even add some of David Lee Roth’s solo stuff as an added bonus. I’d buy it. Van Halen rocks. Heck, they could probably throw in some Sammy Hagar for good measure, it’d still be alright.

5. ELVIS

There, I said it. Elvis Presley deserves a nod on this list, too. He was a great singer and did some guitar playing in his day. If the powers that be at Activision can add Cream into the mix, then why not some of the King? They could put in Don’t Be Cruel, All Shook Up, Heartbreak Hotel, and Blue Suede Shoes. If you haven’t heard of these, please consult the wonderful people at Wikipedia.

4. NIRVANA

Nirvana also deserves a mention on the list of bands that I would love Guitar Hero to make into a new version of the game. Why? Because THEY’RE NIRVANA. Courtney Love can’t take away what they’ve already done for the music industry, but she could probably give this one the go-ahead. Maybe one day in one of her drunken/druggie rants on MySpace, she might have a moment of enlightenment and think of Kurt’s fans. They could include the entire Nevermind album, along with In Utero. I’d eat it up. I always wanted to play Smells Like Teen Spirit, Come As You Are, Heart-Shaped Box, and Lithium, to name a few.

3. OZZY OSBOURNE

Enter in The Prince of Darkness, Ozzy Osbourne. I know that he wasn’t the guitarist on any of his albums, but how could you ignore the music that he made. Don’t you want to play Crazy Babies, Crazy Train, or any other “Crazy” stuff he can come up with? I do. He’s classic, for sure. I want to rock out to Mr. Crowley, Goodbye To Romance (even though that’s a slow one), Iron Man (this one would go without saying), and Suicide Solution. RIP Randy Rhoads.

2. GRATEFUL DEAD

A classic band if there ever was one. Even though the lead singer, Jerry Garcia has passed on, him and the Deadheads will always live on. I’d play Touch Of Grey, wouldn’t you? If you were born after 1980, then you’ve probably never heard of these guys. Truckin’ was also a good song to play the guitar to, along with Johnny B. Goode. I know it wasn’t there’s originally, but the Activision gods would probably get somebody to cover it anyways.

1. THE BEATLES

It was already rumored last October that Harmonix (which means it’s likely to go the route of Rock Band) was thinking about doing a video game for The Beatles catalog, so let’s hope that comes to fruition. I want to play Can’t Buy Me Love, Help, Let It Be, which is heavy on the piano playing, but would still make a good track to include. RIP George Harrison and John Lennon.

Who would you add?

Images Courtesy of Amazon.

This video is too funny. And the hat!! It’s hilarious. This guy’s definitely got some pipes. He sure does sound a lot like Aretha Franklin.

Think he was in the shadows on the big day, helpin’ out? I was digging Aretha’s $500 bedazzled hat, it was cute.

R&B singer Ne-Yo says that he’d love to do a duet with Lady Gaga. He is currently on tour with her and the Pussycat Dolls and says that he really wants to collaborate with her. Oh yeah, and he thinks she’s sexy, too. Just when we thought he was gay, too. (Not that there’s anything wrong with that.)

He says, “I really hope Gaga and I can work together. I have never been so excited about an artist before. From her costumes – they’re not outfits, that would be an understatement – to her songs and sexy body, Lady Gaga has it all.”

He also adds, “Being yourself is what makes an artist. You should nurture what you’ve got. She epitomizes to me what artistry is. She is a strange one, but it’s refreshing. She makes no apologies for being who she is.”

Image Credit: Bauer-Griffin

This video that the Axis Of Awesome has put together is just plain funny and awesome. You have to check this out. It just goes to show you that all you need to be a rock star are these four wonderful chords.

They are so right, too. There are so many bands out there that are making use of the same sounds and we just don’t realize it. A lot of these are from the 80′s, but it’s enough for me to start paying attention now.

Fall Out Boy did their take on the theme from The Simpsons. I was waiting for the singer, Patrick Stump, to yell out, “The Simpppppppppssssssssssonnnnnnnnnnnsssssssssssss”, but to no avail.

It was a good version of their opening tune and I think they should get other bands to follow suit. How’s that for a different opening each time?

On the new version of the Guitar Hero franchise, comes “Guitar Hero: Metallica“. And the track listing has just been revealed. I know, like three days ago. I’m not a big fan of Metallica as much as I used to be. I’m still holding out for “Guitar Hero: Led Zeppelin” or “Guitar Hero: Songs That Don’t Suck“.

Here’s the track listing for the songs by Metallica as well as other bands. I’m stoked to see some older Metallica on the list, as well as Motorhead’s best song, “Ace of Spades”, Suicidal Tendencies, and Slayer.

Call me old school, but they can take their “No Leaf Clover” and stick it up Lars Ulrich’s assets.

Favorites: Battery, Creeping Death, Disposable Heroes, Master of Puppets, and Sad But True.
The Suck: Frantic, Fuel, All Nightmare Long.
My Beefs: Where’s “Gotta Kill Captain Stupid” by Suicidal Tendencies and “Angel Of Death” by Slayer?

Here’s the track listing:

Metallica Tracks

All Nightmare Long
Battery
Creeping Death
Disposable Heroes
Dyers Eve
Enter Sandman
Fade To Black
Fight Fire With Fire
For Whom The Bell Tolls
Frantic
Fuel
Hit The Lights
King Nothing
Master of Puppets
Mercyful Fate (Medley)
No Leaf Clover
Nothing Else Matters
One
Orion
Sad But True
Seek And Destroy
The Memory Remains
The Shortest Straw
The Thing That Should Not Be
The Unforgiven
Welcome Home (Sanitarium)
Wherever I May Roam
Whiplash

Other Artists

Alice In Chains – No Excuses
Bob Seger – Turn The Page
Corrosion of Conformity – Albatross
Diamond Head – Am I Evil?
Foo Fighters – Stacked Actors
Judas Priest – Hell Bent For Leather
Kyuss – Demon Cleaner
Lynyrd Skynyrd – Tuesdays Gone
Machine Head – Beautiful Mourning
Mastodon – Blood And Thunder
Mercyful Fate – Evil
Michael Schenker Group – Armed and Ready
Motorhead – Ace of Spades
Queen – Stone Cold Crazy
Samhain – Mother of Mercy
Slayer – War Ensemble
Social Distortion – Mommy’s Little Monster
Suicidal Tendencies – War Inside My Head
System of a Down – Toxicity
The Sword – Black River
Thin Lizzy – The Boys Are Back in Town

Image Credit: Bauer-Griffin

I don’t know how to take Kanye West when he talks like a normal person. I’ve never seen anything by him that doesn’t involved ALL KINDS OF THIS!!!!!!!!!!!! Anyone know what he just said up there? I mean, besides the arrogance when he spewed something about changing his name.

Bleh. He’s boring. And his shoes are ugly. I still think he wants to do pr0n. Just sayin’.

Here’s the low-down on what’s happening with one of my favorite guitarists, Slash. Apparently, him and his wife purchased a house in 2006 and sold it in 2007. They say that they were duped into thinking that they could throw insanely huge parties there, but was misinformed.

They’re suing the brokers who sold them the house, because it’s not suitable for parties. They’re claiming that the real estate agent and Sotheby’s misrepresented the house, saying that it was an ideal location for parties.

They say that the home was smaller than advertised and is located on a street with parking restrictions. They’re suing for more than $1 million and punitive damages.

Think they should get it? I do, especially if they can prove that their intent for purchasing the house was to party hard.

Only one thing comes to mind now:

Image Credit: Bauer-Griffin

The New Kids On The Block have announced their Spring concert dates. Will you be going to any of their shows? I know they were huge back in the 80′s, but now, not so much.

Are you a fan? I was, for a hot minute back in the day, but not so much now. I can’t rag on them too much, though, except to say that maybe they should change their name? They’re not “kids” anymore.

Below is the full listing of the New Kids On The Block’s spring concert dates, along with when the tickets go on sale:

Thu 4/2/09 Moline, IA—iWireless Center (10 a.m., Saturday Jan. 31)
Fri 4/3/09 Columbus, OH—Nationwide Center (10 a.m., Saturday Jan. 31)
Sat 4/4/09 Grand Rapids, MI—Van Andel Arena (10 a.m., Saturday Jan. 31)
Sun 4/5/09 Champaign, IL—Assembly Hall (10 a.m., Saturday Jan. 31)
Mon 4/6/09 Des Moines, IA—Wells Fargo Arena (10 a.m., Saturday Jan. 31)
Tue 4/7/09 Green Bay, WI—Resch Center (Noon, Saturday Jan. 31)
Thu 4/9/09 Winnipeg, MB—MTS Center (10 a.m., Saturday Jan. 31)
Sat 4/11/09 Saskatoon, SK—Credit Union Centre (Noon, Saturday Jan. 31)
Mon 4/13/09 Kelowna, BC—Prospera Place (10 a.m., Saturday Jan. 31)
Tue 4/14/09 Victoria, BC—Sav-On Memorial Center (10 a.m., Saturday Jan. 31st)
Thu 4/16/09 Reno, NV—Reno Events Center (TBD)
Fri 4/17/09 Santa Barbara, CA—Santa Barbara Bowl (11 a.m., Saturday Jan. 31)
Sat 4/18/09 Los Angeles, CA—Palladium (10 a.m., Saturday Jan.31)

Image Credit: Bauer-Griffin

Brooke Hogan says that she thinks there’s nobody better to name her album, than her fans. So she came up with this nifty video asking you guys (not me, not a fan) to help her with naming her album.

I’d go with something like, “Garbage” or “Jesus GOD I need a record deal”.

What about you? What would you name her album? “$5.00 bargain bin”?

Lady Gaga decided to use her fame to send an open letter to our newest Commander-In-Chief, Barack Obama.

In the video, she says, “Dear Mr. President, congratulations! I wanna sing love songs, and breaking up with the jerk songs, and songs about having a good time and letting the chips fall where they may. I wanna sing tough songs, and songs that make you wanna just dance. I mean really dance. What I really wish is that I didn’t have to write a protest song. So my true hope for the future is that there is no need. Sincerely, yours truly, Lady Gaga, Manhattan, New York.”

What would you say to the president?

In other Lady Gaga news, Kiwibox.com is running a huge Lady Gaga Music Video Quiz Contest! One Grand Prize winner will win a $500 gift certificate to the Miss Sixty Store, an iPod and a signed copy of ‘The Fame’! Ten runner ups will also win signed copies of ‘The Fame’!

Click here for details on how to enter!

Lil’ Wayne is trying to do something different with this song, but I’m not sure what it is. Maybe drive fans away?

Are you digging this song? He sounds like he’s overusing the vocoder. Don’t you think? Not feelin’ it, maybe it’s time for Lil’ Wayne to rethink his strategy?

Oh my God, take me now. There really are no words for this kind of heinous nonsense.

Perez Hilton taped himself dancing along to Britney Spears’ “controversial” song, “If You Seek Amy”.

Seriously, some people don’t belong in video. And who else on this planet, has pictures of themselves all around their own house? Good Christ, where’s the eye bleach? Once you’ve seen it, you can’t unsee it, can you?