MTV, Harmonix (the guys behind the GuitarHero videogame) and Electronic Arts have teamed up to make real bands and real instruments a thing of the past. They are creating the videogame Rock Band.
According to the press release, “Rock Band will allow gamers to perform music from the world's biggest rock artists with their friends as a virtual band using drum, bass/lead guitar and microphone peripherals, in addition to offering deep online connectivity.”
As if the music being played on MTV wasn't already bad enough, they're now encouraging people to drop their Fender and replace it with a PS2. A surefire way of nurturing our next generation of musicians to be nothing more than push-button replicas of today's artists.
I'd prefer to see MTV supporting real musicians and real music. Sure it comes down to money, but who honestly wouldn't like to see MTV ditch their reality programs and video games and get back to music.
Maybe I'm overreacting? Maybe it's a good thing? Lots of people might go out and buy a real instrument after they have got bored jamming alongside Jet?
I just hope parents don't forget that giving their child a real guitar will offer them countless more benefits than a 4 button game guitar ever will.