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It has been 20 years since Guitar Hero hit the market in North America, providing everyday gamers the means to feel like a rock star. Figuratively speaking, though you'd be hard-pressed telling that someone who has mastered Free Bird’s lengthy guitar solo before an enthusiastic living-room audience.

Developed by Harmonix, Guitar Hero provided users with a plastic guitar peripheral to match coloured notes scrolling down the screen synchronized to the music. Every sequence corresponded to specific notes, creating the sensation of a genuine performance.

Harmonix previously tried its hand with rhythm games prior to teaming up with the publisher, later acquired by Activision in 2006. Collaboratively, they laid the groundwork for a surprising billion-dollar series which made a remarkable impact for many musicians included, introducing classic bands to a new generation of younger players.

Michael Dornbrook, former COO of Harmonix, remembers the early budgetary hurdles in securing the recordings – even though the first two games primarily featured rerecorded tracks.

“We rerecorded all the music since the dollar figure prohibitive,” he explains. “Despite having the necessary permissions alone, it was extremely difficult. We failed to secure acts such as the Who – RedOctane had virtually no money, and we were fairly certain it would fail. However, when the game became a hit, album purchases and radio play increased, all artists desired to be in.”

He adds: “One of the amazing things was how many mothers and fathers got in touch expressing gratitude for exposing their kids to the music they adored. It became an intergenerational thing.”

Timeless Music Finds Younger Fans

Irish blues-rock band one featured act included Never Too Late on the 2008 game the popular installment. Lead musician the artist remembers the way the game brought older hits to the forefront: “Guitar Hero provided a larger, new demographic. Generally this had been considered outdated material, but then once it got featured on the title young people were finding it, suddenly it became trendy. This validated it, eliminating the outdated tag. It gave all our music renewed popularity.”

In 2008, the band's first record remained not available stateside, so Guitar Hero was a key medium for exposure for the band as they went on a North American tour opening for the rock giants. “The roadies had on the song during travel, and several knew us from Guitar Hero,” he notes.

Rock’s Heavyweight Titles and Lasting Influence

Music's heavyweight names quickly capitalised on the series’ popularity, including bands like Aerosmith, Metallica and Van Halen starring in dedicated spin-off titles that focused on each band’s catalogue and associated lore, imagery and rock’n’roll mythology. For example, Guitar Hero: Aerosmith, reportedly to have made the group more money compared to their studio albums. It moved well over 500,000 copies upon release, and sales of their songs rose significantly during an era as the industry was already collapsing.

The series continues to inspire quick-handed fanaticism within the community. Recently, a streamer completed an impressive attempt of DragonForce’s Through the Fire and Flames – a notoriously difficult power-metal song popularized through the game – on Clone Hero, a freeware game with similar gameplay and extensive customisation options. This track is difficult enough on the hardest setting, not to mention played at double speed while hitting a single one of its near 4,000 notes. They claimed it took months of practice to accomplish.

“The game offers a, fantasy thing. If you play Call of Duty, it doesn't imply you should pick up actual weapons and go to war,” notes musician Herman Li.

DragonForce previously wrapped up a profitable run before their hit was featured in the third game, but Li says it turned them into widely recognized. “I remember the record label informing us that our records were moving rapidly,” he shares. “It exploded on the subsequent tour, and we were playing right ahead of top acts at the event.”

In fact, the band's visibility from Guitar Hero proved so vast that it has risked overshadow everything else accomplishments. Last year, the song featured in a trailer for Despicable Me 4. “In the past I thought differently, but now I accept it,” Li says. “If you only hear one DragonForce song, it’s totally cool – each person has their own path in music and I'm pleased we played a role in fans' experiences”.

The Lasting Impact from the Plastic Guitar

Top-tier marketing, whether it’s for automobiles, apparel or video games, goes further than selling something – it inspires a longing. Was the game able to harness this? “That’s exactly what our team aiming to achieve,” he confirms. “That thrill of being a rock star on the stage. Since the beginning, the creators felt that there’s an instinctive human desire to make music, and they wanted to leverage innovation to enable everyone to participate”.

Most installments came out over a mere five-year period from 2005 to 2010, featuring spin-offs such as the DJ version, complete with a turntable controller, and Band Hero. After that, the publisher’s interest on peripherals waned, aside from a short-lived revival in 2015.

Titles such as Clone Hero and newer releases have maintained the community active, and there’s expectations of a new product from the founders on the way. Recently formed developers has begun production on their first music game. Original co-founders are both involved as special advisers. Are gamers ready to embrace another game in the spirit of Guitar Hero?

“We thought such titles might become like Madden allowing annual releases,” he remarks. “With abundant fresh tracks it could remain evergreen, so I’ve always been hopeful. There’s no reason for it to continue with new generations.”