For fans of rhythm games and rock music, the Guitar Hero series holds a special place. Before band-specific titles and World Tour expansions, the core Guitar Hero games delivered iconic tracklists that defined living room jam sessions for a generation. If you’re looking to revisit the classics or just curious about the songs that made these games legendary, you’ve come to the right place. This is a comprehensive list of songs featured in Guitar Hero 1, Guitar Hero 2, and Guitar Hero 3: Legends of Rock, excluding bonus tracks and focusing on the main setlists that players shredded their way through. Get ready for a nostalgia trip through the setlists that started it all!
Guitar Hero 1 Song List
The original Guitar Hero set the stage, introducing players to the addictive gameplay and a killer soundtrack of rock anthems and guitar-driven classics. Divided into tiers that represented your progression from opening act to fret-burning legend, Guitar Hero 1’s song list was a masterclass in rock history.
Opening Licks
This initial tier eased players into the Guitar Hero experience with instantly recognizable and energetic tracks.
- I Love Rock ‘N Roll – Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
- I Wanna Be Sedated – The Ramones
- Thunder Kiss ‘65 – White Zombie
- Smoke on the Water – Deep Purple
- Infected – Bad Religion
Axe-Grinders
Stepping up the challenge, the “Axe-Grinders” tier featured songs with more complex guitar parts and harder-hitting riffs.
- Iron Man – Black Sabbath
- More Than a Feeling – Boston
- You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’ – Judas Priest
- Take Me Out – Franz Ferdinand
- Sharp Dressed Man – ZZ Top
Thrash and Burn
As players progressed to “Thrash and Burn,” the setlist ramped up the intensity with faster tempos and more aggressive guitar work.
- Killer Queen – Queen
- Hey You – The Exies
- Stellar – Incubus
- Heart Full of Black – Burning Brides
- Symphony of Destruction – Megadeth
Return of the Shred
“Return of the Shred” lived up to its name, showcasing songs with blistering solos and intricate guitar melodies that tested players’ skills.
- Ziggy Stardust – David Bowie
- Fat Lip – Sum 41
- Cochise – Audioslave
- Take It Off – The Donnas
- Unsung – Helmet
Fret-Burners
The “Fret-Burners” tier pushed players to their limits with incredibly challenging and iconic guitar tracks.
- Spanish Castle Magic – Jimi Hendrix
- Higher Ground – The Red Hot Chili Peppers
- No One Knows – Queens of the Stone Age
- Ace of Spades – Motörhead
- Crossroads – Cream
Face-Melters
Capping off Guitar Hero 1, the “Face-Melters” tier was the ultimate test of skill, featuring legendary guitar anthems designed to melt faces and shred fingers.
- Godzilla – Blue Öyster Cult
- Texas Flood – Stevie Ray Vaughan
- Frankenstein – The Edgar Winter Group
- Cowboys From Hell – Pantera
- Bark at the Moon – Ozzy Osbourne
Guitar Hero 2 Song List
Guitar Hero 2 expanded on the formula of the original, bringing an even bigger and more diverse setlist to rock out to. With new gameplay features and a refined track selection, Guitar Hero 2 became a fan favorite and cemented the series’ place in gaming history.
Opening Licks
Guitar Hero 2 started strong with “Opening Licks,” a selection of high-energy rock tracks to get players back in the groove.
- Surrender – Cheap Trick
- Mother – Danzig
- Shout at the Devil – Motley Crue
- Tonight I’m Gonna Rock You Tonight – Spinal Tap
Amp-Warmers
“Amp-Warmers” continued the momentum, featuring a mix of classic rock staples and anthemic sing-alongs.
- Carry on Wayward Son – Kansas
- Strutter – Kiss
- Heart-Shaped Box – Nirvana
- Message in a Bottle – Police
- You Really Got Me – Van Halen
String-Snappers
The “String-Snappers” tier introduced a heavier edge to the setlist, with grunge, metal, and punk influences coming to the forefront.
- Them Bones – Alice in Chains
- War Pigs – Black Sabbath
- Monkey Wrench – Foo Fighters
- Search and Destroy – Iggy Pop and the Stooges
- Tattooed Love Boys – Pretenders
Thrash and Burn
Returning from the first game, “Thrash and Burn” in Guitar Hero 2 delivered more high-octane tracks perfect for shredding and headbanging.
- Who Was in My Room Last Night – Butthole Surfers
- Sweet Child O’ Mine – Guns N’ Roses
- Can’t You Hear Me Knockin’ – Rolling Stones
- Girlfriend – Matthew Sweet
- Cherry Pie – Warrant
Return of the Shred
“Return of the Shred” in Guitar Hero 2 upped the ante with faster tempos and more technically demanding guitar parts.
- Last Child – Aerosmith
- John the Fisherman – Primus
- Killing in the Name Of – Rage Against the Machine
- Freya – Sword
- Bad Reputation – Thin Lizzy
Relentless Riffs
“Relentless Riffs” offered a diverse mix of guitar styles, from Southern rock to punk and alternative, keeping the setlist fresh and engaging.
- Jessica – Allman Brothers
- Crazy on You – Heart
- Stop – Jane’s Addiction
- Tripping on a Hole in a Paper Heart – Stone Temple Pilots
- Rock This Town – Stray Cats
Furious Fretwork
“Furious Fretwork” lived up to its name, featuring songs that demanded speed, precision, and stamina on the guitar controller.
- Madhouse – Anthrax
- Laid to Rest – Lamb of God
- Carry Me Home – Living End
- Psychobilly Freakout – Reverend Horton Heat
- YYZ – Rush
Face-Melters
The final tier of Guitar Hero 2, “Face-Melters,” was a true test of guitar heroics, featuring epic tracks and extended solos that pushed players to their limits.
- Beast and the Harlot – Avenged Sevenfold
- Misirlou – Dick Dale
- Free Bird – Lynyrd Skynyrd
- Hangar 18 – Megadeth
- Institutionalized – Suicidal Tendencies
Guitar Hero 3: Legends of Rock Song List
Guitar Hero 3: Legends of Rock took the series to new heights, becoming a cultural phenomenon with its iconic boss battles and even more extensive song list. Divided into tiers representing a band’s rise to stardom, Guitar Hero 3’s tracklist is arguably the most memorable in the franchise.
Tier 1: Starting Out Small
“Starting Out Small” was the perfect introduction to Guitar Hero 3, offering approachable and fun tracks to kick off your rock career.
- Slow Ride (as made famous by Foghat)
- Talk Dirty to Me (by Poison)
- Hit Me with Your Best Shot (as made famous by Pat Benetar)
- Story of My Life (as made famous by Social Distortion)
- Encore: Rock and Roll All Nite (as made famous by Kiss)
- Co-op Encore: Sabotage (by Beastie Boys)
Tier 2: Your First Real Gig
“Your First Real Gig” marked a step up in difficulty and featured songs that were staples of rock radio and concert stages.
- Mississippi Queen (as made famous by Mountain)
- School’s Out (as made famous by Alice Cooper)
- Sunshine of Your Love (as made famous by Cream)
- Barracuda (as made famous by Heart)
- Boss: Tom Morello’s Original Boss Battle Recording
- Encore: Bulls on Parade (by Rage Against The Machine)
- Co-op Encore: Reptillia (by The Strokes)
Tier 3: Making The Video
“Making The Video” tier celebrated the visual side of rock stardom, featuring songs that had iconic music videos and were MTV mainstays.
- When You Were Young (by The Killers)
- Miss Murder (by AFI)
- The Seeker (as made famous by The Who)
- Lay Down (by Priestess)
- Encore: Paint It Black (by The Rolling Stones)
- Co-op Encore: Suck My Kiss (by Red Hot Chili Peppers)
Tier 4: European Invasion
“European Invasion” broadened the game’s musical horizons, featuring tracks from iconic European bands and artists, reflecting rock’s global appeal.
- Paranoid (as made famous by Black Sabbath)
- Anarchy in the U.K. (by The Sex Pistols)
- Kool Thing (by Sonic Youth)
- My Name is Jonas (by Weezer)
- Encore: Even Flow (by Pearl Jam)
- Co-op Encore: Cities on Flame with Rock and Roll (as made famous by Blue Oyster Cult)
Tier 5: Bighouse Blues
“Bighouse Blues” brought a raw and bluesy edge to the setlist, featuring hard-rocking tracks with a soulful foundation.
- Holiday in Cambodia (as made famous by Dead Kennedys)
- Rock You Like a Hurricane (as made famous by Scorpions)
- Same Old Song and Dance (by Aerosmith)
- La Grange (as made famous by ZZ Top)
- Boss: Slash’s Original Boss Battle Recording
- Encore: Welcome to The Jungle (by Guns N’ Roses)
- Co-op Encore: Helicopter (by Bloc Party)
Tier 6: The Hottest Band On Earth
“The Hottest Band On Earth” tier lived up to its name, featuring chart-topping hits and arena-ready anthems that defined the peak of rock stardom.
- Black Magic Woman (as made famous by Santana)
- Cherub Rock (by Smashing Pumpkins)
- Black Sunshine (as made famous by White Zombie)
- The Metal (by Tenacious D)
- Encore: Pride and Joy (as made famous by Stevie Ray Vaughn)
- Co-op Encore: Monsters (by Matchbook Romance)
Tier 7: Live In Japan
“Live In Japan” represented the global reach of rock music, featuring songs that were popular worldwide and showcased the international appeal of the genre.
- Before I Forget (by Slipknot)
- Stricken (by Disturbed)
- 3’s and 7’s (by Queens of the Stone Age)
- Knights of Cydonia (by Muse)
- Encore: Cult of Personality (by Living Colour, Re-recorded)
Tier 8: Battle For Your Soul
The final and most challenging tier of Guitar Hero 3, “Battle For Your Soul,” was a true test of skill and endurance, featuring epic tracks and the infamous final boss battle.
- Raining Blood (by Slayer)
- Cliffs of Dover (as made famous by Eric Johnson)
- Number of the Beast (by Iron Maiden)
- One (by Metallica)
- Boss: Lou (The Devil) Boss Battle Recording
- Encore: Devil Went Down to Georgia (as made famous by Charlie Daniels Band, Steve Ouimette rendition)
This list should bring back memories for Guitar Hero veterans and serve as a great introduction to the soundtracks that defined a generation of rhythm game enthusiasts. Whether you’re looking to replay these classics or just appreciate the incredible music, the song lists of Guitar Hero 1, 2, and 3 are a testament to the power of rock and roll in gaming.
