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Marking 20 years since the legendary game first launched in North America, providing players everywhere the opportunity to feel like rock legends. Not in reality, but try convincing someone who has mastered Free Bird’s lengthy guitar solo before a packed living-room audience.

Created by the developers, Guitar Hero provided users with a plastic guitar peripheral to follow on-screen cues scrolling down the screen in time with a song. Each riff corresponded to particular chords, producing the feel of an authentic live show.

Harmonix previously experimented in the music genre before partnering with the publisher, later purchased by the gaming giant during the mid-2000s. Collaboratively, they laid the foundations for a surprising massively profitable series which made a significant impact for many of the artists included, introducing decades-old bands to a new generation of younger players.

A former executive, former COO of Harmonix, remembers the early financial challenges in securing the recordings – even though initial releases mostly used cover versions.

“We rerecorded all the music since the dollar figure was so high,” he says. “Even with the publishing rights by themselves, it proved nearly impossible. We couldn’t get bands like the Who – the publisher was operating on a shoestring budget, and we were fairly certain the project would flop. However, when Guitar Hero took off, album purchases and radio play were going up, all artists desired to be in.”

He continues: “One of the amazing things was the number of mothers and fathers got in touch and thanked us for introducing their children to the songs they loved. It evolved into a multigenerational phenomenon.”

Timeless Music Finds Younger Fans

Irish blues-rock band one featured act had Never Too Late in the 2008 release the popular installment. Guitarist the artist recalls how the series revived classic rock back into vogue: “Guitar Hero offered a bigger, new demographic. Generally this had been considered outdated material, however once it got included in the title young people discovered it, abruptly it became trendy. That legitimised it, eliminating the outdated tag. It provided our catalog a new life.”

In 2008, the Answer’s debut album remained not available stateside, meaning Guitar Hero was a key medium for exposure for the group during their a North American tour opening for the rock giants. “The roadies were playing the song during travel, and some of them knew us from Guitar Hero,” he notes.

Rock’s Heavyweight Titles Enduring Impact

Music's heavyweight names quickly capitalised on the game's success, with Aerosmith, Metallica and Van Halen featuring in dedicated spin-off titles centered around their music collections and related lore, visuals and legendary status. In the case of, the Aerosmith edition, reportedly earned the band more money compared to their records. It moved more than 500,000 units upon release, and demand for their songs rose of up to 40% at a time when the music business was already collapsing.

Guitar Hero continues to inspire quick-handed fanaticism among its fans. Recently, an online personality completed an impressive attempt featuring Through the Fire and Flames – a notoriously difficult power-metal song made popular by Guitar Hero – on Clone Hero, a no-cost alternative with almost identical mechanics and extensive customisation options. This track is challenging enough on expert mode, not to mention played at increased tempo and without missing a single one of its near 4,000 notes. The streamer claimed requiring nine months of practice.

“Guitar Hero is a fun, fantasy thing. If you play other games, that doesn’t mean you ought to pick up a real gun and go to war,” says DragonForce guitarist Herman Li.

The band had already wrapped up a successful tour before Through the Fire and Flames was featured on Guitar Hero III, yet he explains it turned them into a household name. “I recall our distributors calling to tell me that our selling albums rapidly,” he shares. “It exploded when we next toured, and we were playing just before top acts on the Mayhem festival.”

In fact, the band's visibility from Guitar Hero was so immense that it has threatened to eclipsing everything else the band has done. Recently, the track was used in a trailer for a major film. “In the past I felt differently, but now I accept it,” he admits. “Should you just listen to one DragonForce song, it’s totally cool – each person has their own path in music and I’m glad we played a role of people’s lives”.

The Lasting Legacy of a Plastic Guitar

Top-tier promotion, be it for cars, apparel or video games, goes further mere transactions – it evokes a longing. Was the game able to harness this? “Precisely what our team aiming to achieve,” Dornbrook says. “The excitement of performing as a music icon on the stage. From day one, the creators believed humans have a natural human desire to create songs, and their goal was to use technology to enable everyone to participate”.

Most installments were released in just a five-year period from 2005 to 2010, including derivative titles like DJ Hero, including a turntable controller, and the band-focused game. Subsequently, corporate focus in plastic instruments waned, aside from a brief comeback in 2015.

Games such as Clone Hero and Fortnite Festival have maintained the community alive, and there’s set to be something from the founders on the way. Recently formed developers has begun production on their first rhythm-based title. 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 those games might become like Madden where you can releases,” he remarks. “With abundant new music it could remain evergreen, so I’ve always been optimistic. It's entirely possible for it to persist with new generations.”