Guitar Hero exploded onto the gaming scene, revolutionizing rhythm games and turning everyday players into aspiring rock legends. The magic all started with the original Guitar Hero, released in 2005, which captivated audiences with its innovative gameplay and killer soundtrack. For those looking to revisit the roots of the franchise or discover the setlist that started it all, let’s dive into the complete song list for Guitar Hero one, a collection that defined a generation of virtual rockstars.
Guitar Hero 1 Tracklist: Become a Rock Legend
Guitar Hero 1 is structured into tiers, each progressively more challenging, mirroring a band’s rise to fame. Starting with “Opening Licks” and culminating in the face-melting “Face-Melters,” the game takes you on a journey through rock history. Here’s a breakdown of every track you could shred on in the game that started the phenomenon:
1. Opening Licks
This first tier introduces you to the basics, featuring iconic tracks to get your fingers limbered up and ready to rock:
- 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
2. Axe-Grinders
Stepping up the difficulty, “Axe-Grinders” brings in heavier riffs and more demanding solos, challenging players to push their skills further:
- 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
3. Thrash and Burn
As the name suggests, “Thrash and Burn” turns up the heat with faster tempos and more intense guitar work, testing your rhythm and stamina:
- Killer Queen – Queen
- Hey You – The Exies
- Stellar – Incubus
- Heart Full of Black – Burning Brides
- Symphony of Destruction – Megadeth
4. Return of the Shred
“Return of the Shred” focuses on guitar virtuosity, featuring songs with complex solos and intricate fretwork, pushing players towards true guitar hero status:
- Ziggy Stardust – David Bowie
- Fat Lip – Sum 41
- Cochise – Audioslave
- Take It Off – The Donnas
- Unsung – Helmet
5. Fret-Burners
By this point, you’re in the upper echelons of Guitar Hero, and “Fret-Burners” lives up to its name with blisteringly fast tracks and demanding note charts:
- 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
6. Face-Melters
The final tier, “Face-Melters,” is the ultimate test of skill in Guitar Hero 1. These songs are designed to melt faces with their extreme difficulty and legendary status:
- 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 & 3 Song List Overview
While the focus here is on Guitar Hero 1, it’s worth briefly mentioning the songs that continued the legacy in Guitar Hero 2 and 3, games that significantly expanded the tracklists and built upon the foundation of the original.
Guitar Hero 2 Setlist Highlights:
Guitar Hero 2 brought even more iconic tracks to the stage, featuring songs like “Sweet Child O’ Mine” by Guns N’ Roses, “Free Bird” by Lynyrd Skynyrd, and “YYZ” by Rush, alongside a wealth of other rock anthems and challenging guitar tracks.
Guitar Hero 3: Legends of Rock Tracklist Highlights:
Guitar Hero 3: Legends of Rock amplified the experience further, boasting an even larger and more diverse setlist, including “Welcome to the Jungle” by Guns N’ Roses, “Paranoid” by Black Sabbath, and “One” by Metallica, solidifying the franchise’s status as a cultural phenomenon.
Conclusion: The Enduring Legacy of Guitar Hero 1 Songs
The original Guitar Hero’s song list wasn’t just a collection of tracks; it was a curated experience that introduced millions to the thrill of virtual guitar playing. From classic rock anthems to blistering metal tracks, Guitar Hero 1 laid the groundwork for a franchise that continues to resonate with music and gaming fans alike. Revisiting these songs today is a nostalgic trip back to the dawn of a rhythm game revolution and a reminder of the power of a truly great soundtrack.
