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Gigs & Bytes: Bands Sign On For “Guitar Hero World Tour”
Not known for following tradition, Billy Corgan and Smashing Pumpkins will release their new single “G.L.O.W.” exclusively through Activision’s latest entry in the “Guitar Hero” series, marking the first time any band has recorded a new single specifically for the gaming franchise. The track will be bundled in a three-song download with two other Pumpkins’ tunes – “1979” and “The Everlasting Gaze.”
But the band’s participation doesn’t stop with a new song. Top Pumpkin Corgan will also appear as a character in the new video game. Players will be able to watch a digitized Corgan play and sing “Today,” or they can just shunt Billy aside and play the song themselves. After all, it is a game.
However, Smashing Pumpkins isn’t the only band of note recording music for “Guitar Hero World Tour.” The MC5’s Wayne Kramer, Motorhead and Sex Pistols have re-recorded their old songs for the game.
For Kramer, the obvious choice was the MC5 classic “Kick Out The Jams,” which he re-recorded with assistance from Jerry Cantrell of Alice in Chains and former Guns N’ Roses guitarist Gilby Clarke. Original “Kick Out The Jams” producer Bruce Botnick also helmed the re-record, which features the original 1968 vocal performance of MC5 singer Rob Tyner.
Other re-records on the new game include a recreation of the classic ‘70s punk anthem “Pretty Vacant” by the Sex Pistols, and Motorhead redoing the title track to its 1979 album, Overkill.
“We set out to deliver a soundtrack for Guitar Hero that envelopes as many genres, styles and artists as possible without limiting scope,” said Activision Blizzard VP of Music Affairs Tim Riley. “When highly respected artists such as MC5’s Wayne Kramer, Motorhead and The Sex Pistols are willing to go back in the recording studio and to re-record their music exclusively for the game, the fans win by getting a unique experience of old yet new legendary sounds.”
“Guitar Hero World Tour” is expected to hit store shelves during the last week of October.