The sweat pours off Travis
Barker’s poised face as he
guides his seasoned hands
strategically from one heartbreaking
beat to another,
mesmerizing the awed crowd
into a euphoric trance.
It’s not just the music resonating
from his abused
drum set that captures the
audience’s undivided attention;
it’s the manner in which
the artist creates his magic.
Playing as if his unique
hair style has been set on fire,
Barker runs the barrels with
such energy and enthusiasm,
his individual effort alone is
worth the price of admission.
It’s Barker’s talented display
which inspires millions
of Americans to take up the
most difficult instrument on
the stage.
But there is a reason not
everyone plays the drums, so
in lieu of learning a very complicated
art form, teenagers
and college students have settled
on a computer simulation.
On Nov. 20, 2007, EA
Games, in association with
Harmonix Music Systems
and MTV Games, released the
much anticipated virtual reality
simulation Rock Band.
This designed rival of the
popular guitar imitation,
Guitar Hero, Rock Band,
released first for Playstation 3
and Xbox 360, includes realistic
controllers that resemble a
guitar, drum set and microphone
with the capability to
add a fourth controller, a bass
guitar.
With the addition of three
other instruments, Rock Band
offers a musical variety which
is intriguing to those who
choose to play with family
and friends, as well as those
who enjoy other instruments
than guitar.
The microphone and drum
set alone have made this system
one of the best selling
video games of the year.
“When I play rock band I feel
like the lead drummer for
Led Zeppelin,” said LaSalle
University Student Brandon
Hargraves, 20.
Guitar Hero does have the
ability to include a second
guitar, but with the new
instruments involved Rock
Band offers a more group
friendly atmosphere and lots
of fun.
LaSalle University Student
Matt Harner, 19, has fallen in
love with this
new system that
he and his four
r o o m m a t e s
bought to distract
them from
their daily
stress and
aggravations as
both students
and athletes.
“More people
can play and it’s
got better songs
[Than Guitar
Hero],” said
Harner. “Plus, I
can download
songs on Rock
Band and I
don’t think you
can do that for
Guitar Hero.”
True, Rock
Band does offer
buyers the
opportunity to
purchase additional
songs for
the system on
their official
website.
At this time,
the website only offers trackby-
track buying, but the
future may include entire
albums as well as popular
bands such as Metallica,
debuting singles for upcoming
albums for the game
according to
RollingStone.com.
As of March 27, 2008, 70
songs were available for purchase
with prices ranging
from $1 to $5.
Rock Band will be released
for the Nintendo Wii system
on June 22, 2008.