Worst Rock-Star cameos of all time

Before Guitar Hero, real musicians and games hit a big fat brown note

Words: on September 11, 2008

Question: Does anyone really care about the real musicians signed to appear in Guitar Hero: World Tour? Don’t respond out loud - use our handy comment feature below. Shouldn’t the focus of games like Rock Band and GH be on you pretending to play an instrument? Case and Point: In Guitar Hero III, any moment given to taking in the mannerisms of Tom Morello, or the expressionless rock face of Slash is time spent not playing or missing notes, thus defeating the purpose of the game.

Licensing songs and instruments are all part of the experience, but the recent news that GH World Tour will feature appearances by Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins, Ozzy Osbourne and Tantric Jedi, Sting has us a little weary. Why? As long as it doesn’t dilute the gameplay, or cost us a shilling more, should anyone give a shit? Yes - see below.

  Above: Yes, that's supposed to be Sting
 
For years, many a popular musician tried lending their music or likeness to games and the results were generally disastrous, horrible even (if occasionally profitable.) Does anyone want to reflect on their favorite songwriter - you know, the one that got you through the hard times - and recall killing palette swapped terrorists in some wretched 3rd person shooter? No. Plus, it can be monumentally embarrassing in hindsight. So lucky for us, this article’s very purpose is to drag them through that briar patch of artistic humiliation one more time. Kick it:

Revolution X - 1994

Critical Shred:I really can't stress enough how bad this game is.” – IGN

Not only was Aerosmith nowhere near the first band to lend their good name to a game, Guitar Hero: Aerosmith wasn’t even the first time they starred in one. For reasons that still befuddle life forms across the universe, Midway took a long look at its arcade light-gun shooter set in a futuristic, totalitarian clusterf**k and said, “All it needs now is Aerosmith!” You could say they were right, since nobody remembers it for any other reason.

Band members were hidden throughout the game and you had to find them all if you wanted to be treated to the “true” ending: A backstage pass to a crudely animated Aerosmith performance. To save you the pain, here’s what it might’ve looked like.

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33 Comments
Order Comments: Newest First | Oldest First
  • PivotPlurals1

    PivotPlurals1  - 3 years, 5 months ago  - Report

    journey's game=PHAIL :P
  • georgeguy

    georgeguy  - 3 years, 5 months ago  - Report

    mega artical!!!

    but it really good

    also, doesnt the kiss game look like quake arena???
  • ELpork

    ELpork  - 3 years, 5 months ago  - Report

    WHAAAAA? no kiss pinball?
  • JaysonAych

    JaysonAych  - 3 years, 5 months ago  - Report

    I will say that Crue Ball was the most fun video-game pinball title I've ever played, despite the pasted-in throwaway references to Motley Crue.
  • bl00dyvalen7ine

    bl00dyvalen7ine  - 3 years, 5 months ago  - Report

    YES!!! 10 PAGES!!! no really... I prefer to have more pages of pure entertainment
  • ClusterShart

    ClusterShart  - 3 years, 5 months ago  - Report

    Revolution X, I have actually played it
  • iluvmyDS

    iluvmyDS  - 3 years, 5 months ago  - Report

    Oh jesus that's frightening.
  • Donnagen

    Donnagen  - 3 years, 5 months ago  - Report

    I am shocked that you would complain about 10 pages claiming that you "actually have a life". Apparently your life consists of complaining about the length of articles on this awesome sight. Good one!
  • jayson_90210

    jayson_90210  - 3 years, 5 months ago  - Report

    What about "Frankie goes to Hollywood" on the Spectrum? Although that was actually alright I suppose.

    Plus, what the hell is wrong with Moonwalker, I loved that game. The car park level with beat it playing was great!
  • Johnny6Gun

    Johnny6Gun  - 3 years, 5 months ago  - Report

    As bad as the SNES/Genesis ports were, the arcade version of Rev X wasn't that bad of a mid-90's arcade-styled shooter.
  • Ravenbom

    Ravenbom  - 3 years, 5 months ago  - Report

    Wow, all my fav games from all my fav bands in one article.
  • Holy Diver

    Holy Diver  - 3 years, 5 months ago  - Report

    How could you forget the Beatles: Escape From the Octopus's Garden?
  • Solid_Gabriel

    Solid_Gabriel  - 3 years, 5 months ago  - Report

    Well, at least ED Hunter had the best soundtrack of all of those games...


    UP THE IRONS!
  • Defguru7777

    Defguru7777  - 3 years, 5 months ago  - Report

    Terrible, just terrible...
  • GamesRadarChrisAntista

    GamesRadarChrisAntista  - 3 years, 5 months ago  - Report

    Atta Boy, Tochy!
  • Tochy

    Tochy  - 3 years, 5 months ago  - Report

    Done
  • mishmoigon

    mishmoigon  - 3 years, 5 months ago  - Report

    *sigh* 10 more pages to go...
  • CuddlyBomber

    CuddlyBomber  - 3 years, 5 months ago  - Report

    First.
    And to answer you're question Chris no i don't care.
  • Gman50

    Gman50  - 3 years, 4 months ago  - Report

    Hilarious. And how cool is it that now I have a midget Kiss cover band for my backround. My kingdom for a music video.
  • IWUNapenguin

    IWUNapenguin  - 3 years, 5 months ago  - Report

    i totally have that MJ game!

    and it had thriller? i remember seeing a zombie level and being mad that it WASN'T playing thriller. i also didn't make it very far because the game was a plate of meh-cakes.
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