Kroeger: Put down the Guitar Hero, start a real band like us

[AFireInside]

Nickleback is an awful band with terrible, terrible lyrics...


Maybe Kroeger should learn how to write more than one song and actually grow a little bit as an artist.

I've hated this band since the first second I heard them. Good for them that they've been able to carve out a huge career by playing the same 3 or 4 songs over and over again, more power to them. But don't come out criticizing others when it comes to music because they have no room to talk. When you really boil it down they are just ripping off other crappy bands like Creed.

Maybe Kroeger could write more than 3 songs if he spent less time drinking and driving...

[Muta]

I agree with Kroeger to a certain level that if people are super-keen on indulging themselves in music / starting a band, try the real thing. NO ONE says you have to succeed, but it's also a life skill that aids in the development of one's character. I've been playing musical instruments since I was 3. I think it's a fantastic pastime, and I've learned infinitely more about music, music reading, artists and muscial expression because of it. I wouldn't trade that for the world.

On the other hand, I'm simply happy that games like Guitar Hero and Rockband have made 'playing' music - no matter how synthesized it is - a popular choice for the young masses. I'm actually thrilled that kids pay attention to these types of games. Atleast it exposes kids to music and what music can be about. Doesn't necessarily mean they have to play these songs on real instruments; it's getting exposed to music and new types of music that's always a good thing.

Hell, I just bought Guitar Hero: World Tour for the sole fact that Tool has three songs on it, and since I cannot play the guitar, I can atleast jam to those tracks on a glorified controller.

To me, Guitar Hero is not even about the medium; it's about the music. I think lots of people think like this, too.

[photon]

So if someone likes the style of music that Nickelback makes (rock, not too hard, not screamy), what are some other bands that would be considered good?

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by photon

So if someone likes the style of music that Nickelback makes (rock, not too hard, not screamy), what are some other bands that would be considered good?

Creed, Theory of a Deadman, Default.

I often can't tell them apart. Fuel 90.3 played Default and Nickelback this morning. I'm worried; I stopped listening to CJAY when they became the all Creed/Nickelback station for a while.

[Russic]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

And how long has Guitar Hero actually been out? To suggest that the little fad is turning people away from music and having an impact on the number of bands available to tour is just simply idiotic.

I strongly agree. I of course have no way to back this opinion up, but I imagine there are far more instances of people learning to play a real instrument because of rhythm based games than there are people who completely abandon real instruments in favor of a video game.

I play both real instruments and rock band and I can tell you outright that the experiences are totally different. I would never say "I don't want to learn that song on guitar because I already have it in video game form" or "I don't want to play that in a video game because I can already play it on a real guitar". The experiences are simply night and day.

In my eyes someone who says that anybody who plays guitar hero or rock band should just learn the real songs is missing the point. If these games disappeared tomorrow does anybody actually believe that we'd all just look at each other, shrug our shoulders and all start learning how to play real instruments? I would say no.

There are kids that sit in front of me at the dome that because of these games have discovered bands such as The Who. Personally I don't care if it's an iconic rock band from the 70's or a smaller emo group from last year, if a game draws your interest towards music I fail to see how it can be a bad thing.

[Hack&Lube]

Having played both real guitar and guitar hero, I would say that playing guitar hero is HARDER than playing open-C tuning

Guitar hero takes 4 or 5 fingers. Open-C tuning TAKES ONLY ONE FINGER

[Burninator]

Originally Posted by Russic

Crap like this annoys me to no end. It's a ***damn video game, not real life. So many people manage to convince themselves that games like this are music simulator when in reality they are nothing more than a piece of entertainment.

Can you imagine if Jarome Iginla came out and announced that we should stop playing hockey video games and all start training to join the NHL? It isn't quite the same thing ...

I'm not even annoyed that it's chad kroeger saying it to be honest, I just can't stand that attitude.

But is anyone really claiming that they are the same thing? I thought it was common knowledge that a real guitar is far harder to play than guitar hero. I don't think anyone ever has claimed they know how to play the guitar, but are talking about guitar hero.

[Burninator]

I don't buy Kroeger's argument at all. Just because someone is playing a video game about a rock band doesn't mean they want to be in real band and learn how to play a real instrument. Are those people playing Call of Duty doing it instead of joining boot camp? Are those people playing Sim City wasting their time when they could studying to be city planners? No. His assumtion that everyone that plays rock band wants to play an instrument and start a band, but they are wasting that desire and are playing the game instead is baseless. Just fade away Chad, just fade away.

[Russic]

Originally Posted by Burninator

But is anyone really claiming that they are the same thing? I thought it was common knowledge that a real guitar is far harder to play than guitar hero. I don't think anyone ever has claimed they know how to play the guitar, but are talking about guitar hero.

I actually think a lot of people think the two activities are very similar. (perhaps not the same, but similar) I've heard many arguments that start off with a comment like "why would you play the game when you could do the real thing?". That says to me that says the individual thinks the two activities are interchangeable.

In my eyes that argument would be akin to if I approached somebody reading a John Grisham novel at a bus stop and proclaimed that the 10 hours they've spent reading that book would be much better served going to law school and becoming a real lawyer. The fact is some people don't want to actually go through the motions, sometimes they just want to be entertained.

I absolutely agree with your last point about how nobody claims to be able to play the guitar when they really mean guitar hero. In fact that point alone pretty much sums up my whole argument. Often times the discussions I have about this are with people who haven't played the games and don't understand that they aren't instrument simulators. People who play guitar hero know they aren't really playing the guitar.

[Clarkey]

Why micro analyze what was probably a thow-away comment.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by Russic

I actually think a lot of people think the two activities are very similar. (perhaps not the same, but similar) I've heard many arguments that start off with a comment like "why would you play the game when you could do the real thing?". That says to me that says the individual thinks the two activities are interchangeable.

In my eyes that argument would be akin to if I approached somebody reading a John Grisham novel at a bus stop and proclaimed that the 10 hours they've spent reading that book would be much better served going to law school and becoming a real lawyer. The fact is some people don't want to actually go through the motions, sometimes they just want to be entertained.

I absolutely agree with your last point about how nobody claims to be able to play the guitar when they really mean guitar hero. In fact that point alone pretty much sums up my whole argument. Often times the discussions I have about this are with people who haven't played the games and don't understand that they aren't instrument simulators. People who play guitar hero know they aren't really playing the guitar.

The two activities are quite similar and the type of actions you do are somewhat interchangable. I just think that a lot of the time people put into guitar hero, they can learn real guitar just as easily.

The thing is that they will never ever sound like the actual guitarists and rock bands in those games without a years of actual learning and playing afterwards. That's where it comes in and sometimes people just want the instant action and have a great time.

In the end, this thread is more about dissing Chad Kroeger and Nickleback more than anything.

[Engine09]

Just the fact that this guy is opening his mouth and offering his opinion on anything is hilarious.

He and his awful band are the epitome of disposable, generic, fake rock. Music for people who are not real fans of music and don't care enough to search out authentic stuff.

I just wish peple would stop supporting such garbage.

[photon]

Originally Posted by Clarkey

Why micro analyze what was probably a thow-away comment.

Are you new to the Internets?

[CMPunk]

Originally Posted by Kryzsky

Just the fact that this guy is opening his mouth and offering his opinion on anything is hilarious.

He and his awful band are the epitome of disposable, generic, fake rock. Music for people who are not real fans of music and don't care enough to search out authentic stuff.

I just wish peple would stop supporting such garbage.

Hey, I resemble that remark

[PsYcNeT]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

Creed, Theory of a Deadman, Default.

I often can't tell them apart. Fuel 90.3 played Default and Nickelback this morning. I'm worried; I stopped listening to CJAY when they became the all Creed/Nickelback station for a while.

For real? I know Matt the music director at Fuel and he assured me months ago they would never ever play Nickleback.

He's gonna a get a talkin!

On topic: As a bassist, I can honestly say Guitar Hero is fun as all get out sometimes, and it a fantastic trainer for finger strength.

However, it is no replacement for jamming and practicing, and is about 50x less fun than playing on stage.

[CrispyGriz]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

The two activities are quite similar and the type of actions you do are somewhat interchangable. I just think that a lot of the time people put into guitar hero, they can learn real guitar just as easily.

The thing is that they will never ever sound like the actual guitarists and rock bands in those games without a years of actual learning and playing afterwards. That's where it comes in and sometimes people just want the instant action and have a great time.

In the end, this thread is more about dissing Chad Kroeger and Nickleback more than anything.

This may be true. I could take all the time i have put into Rock band and devoted it to learning an actual instrument. I would be achieving something that i would be proud of and feel self accomplished. But that gets away from every reason I play the game, or any game for that matter, the social interaction.

The best part about rock band is having five or six people just busting out tunes on crappy plastic controllers, beating on some miniature drums and belting off key lyrics at the top of their lungs. What other social situation can this happen in? karaoke is the only thing that comes to mind. That only brings one aspect of the game as a possibility though.

What I am tying to work towards is that I would rather hang out with my friends looking like a dork than sit alone learning a skill that take immense amounts of time to master and would be difficult at best to share with others.

[Thor]

I can't stand these guys, talentless buffoons.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by photon

So if someone likes the style of music that Nickelback makes (rock, not too hard, not screamy), what are some other bands that would be considered good?

Lucky for you I've been keeping a running list of bands that sound exactly like Nickleback

Lets see how many I can remember.

Nickleback
Staind
Theory of a Deadman
Creed
3 doors down
Seether
Hinder
Hoobastank
Buckcherry
Puddle of Mud


Whenever we'd hear one of these songs on the radio we'd always joke how it was the new song by Theory of a Staind Nickle Creed Man.

[dobbles]

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

Lucky for you I've been keeping a running list of bands that sound exactly like Nickleback

Lets see how many I can remember.

Nickleback
Staind
Theory of a Deadman
Creed
3 doors down
Seether
Hinder
Hoobastank
Buckcherry
Puddle of Mud


Whenever we'd hear one of these songs on the radio we'd always joke how it was the new song by Theory of a Staind Nickle Creed Man.

though i do recall a time when creed was actually pretty cool. then again that was 10 years ago... would they technically be the first band in this group? making everyone else creed clones?!?!?!

[Inferno]

I cant seem to find the link but I recall reading an article a couple weeks ago that a study was done and determined that 60-70% of Guitar Hero and Rock Band players who had no prior experience with a guitar were influenced into learning how to play a real guitar. So these games arent as bad as some people try and make them out to be. I even want to learn to play because of them.