Guitar Hero. The name alone evokes a wave of nostalgia for anyone who picked up a plastic guitar and pretended to be a rock god in their living room. Before sequels and expansions, it all began with the original Guitar Hero, and a killer soundtrack that set the stage for a genre-defining franchise. Let’s crank up the volume and explore the iconic tracklist of Guitar Hero 1.
Guitar Hero 1: Track by Track Breakdown
Guitar Hero 1 delivered a potent mix of rock anthems and guitar-driven classics, divided into tiers that represented your progression from an amateur strummer to a fretboard virtuoso. Each tier unlocked as you conquered the previous one, pushing you to master increasingly challenging songs.
1. Opening Licks
This initial tier was designed to ease players into the Guitar Hero experience, but don’t let “opening licks” fool you – it still packed some serious rock punch.
- I Love Rock ‘N Roll – Joan Jett and the Blackhearts: An undeniable rock anthem, perfect for kicking off any setlist. Its catchy riff and singalong chorus made it an instant Guitar Hero classic.
- I Wanna Be Sedated – The Ramones: Punk rock energy at its finest. The Ramones’ signature fast tempo and simple yet infectious melody were a blast to play.
- Thunder Kiss ‘65 – White Zombie: Bringing in a heavier edge, White Zombie’s industrial metal groove was a step up in intensity and introduced players to more challenging riffs.
- Smoke on the Water – Deep Purple: Arguably one of the most iconic guitar riffs of all time. “Smoke on the Water” is a must-have for any guitar game, and its inclusion in Guitar Hero 1 was a no-brainer.
- Infected – Bad Religion: More punk rock energy, Bad Religion’s fast-paced and melodic hardcore punk provided another energetic track to master.
2. Axe-Grinders
Moving into the “Axe-Grinders” tier, the difficulty ramped up, demanding more precision and stamina from players.
- Iron Man – Black Sabbath: A metal masterpiece. Black Sabbath’s “Iron Man” is synonymous with heavy metal, and its slow, grinding riffs and iconic main theme were a formidable challenge.
- More Than a Feeling – Boston: Arena rock perfection. Boston’s “More Than a Feeling” with its soaring vocals and instantly recognizable guitar work, remains a radio staple and a Guitar Hero highlight.
- You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’ – Judas Priest: British steel at its sharpest. Judas Priest brought the speed and intensity with “You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’,” a song that tested players’ shredding abilities.
- Take Me Out – Franz Ferdinand: Indie rock made its Guitar Hero debut with Franz Ferdinand’s angular and danceable “Take Me Out,” adding a different flavor to the setlist.
- Sharp Dressed Man – ZZ Top: Blues-rock cool. ZZ Top’s “Sharp Dressed Man” delivered a dose of Texas boogie with its slick riffs and swagger.
3. Thrash and Burn
“Thrash and Burn” signaled a further escalation in difficulty, pushing players to their limits with faster tempos and more complex arrangements.
- Killer Queen – Queen: A rock opera in miniature. Queen’s “Killer Queen” showcased Freddie Mercury’s vocal and songwriting genius, and its diverse sections made for a surprisingly challenging Guitar Hero track.
- Hey You – The Exies: Post-grunge energy. The Exies’ “Hey You” brought a modern rock sound to the mix with its driving rhythm and catchy chorus.
- Stellar – Incubus: Alternative rock with groove. Incubus’ “Stellar” blended rock with funk and a touch of psychedelia, offering a more nuanced guitar experience.
- Heart Full of Black – Burning Brides: Garage rock fury. Burning Brides’ “Heart Full of Black” provided raw, high-energy garage rock with a blistering guitar riff.
- Symphony of Destruction – Megadeth: Thrash metal mayhem. Megadeth’s “Symphony of Destruction” lived up to its name with its intricate guitar work and Dave Mustaine’s signature snarl, representing a true test of Guitar Hero skill.
4. Return of the Shred
“Return of the Shred” promised (and delivered) even more demanding guitar parts, catering to players who were ready to unleash their inner guitar hero.
- Ziggy Stardust – David Bowie: Glam rock icon. David Bowie’s “Ziggy Stardust” brought theatrical flair and a touch of androgyny to Guitar Hero, with its catchy chorus and memorable guitar licks.
- Fat Lip – Sum 41: Pop-punk energy. Sum 41’s “Fat Lip” injected a dose of youthful energy and skate-punk attitude into the setlist, perfect for fast-paced strumming.
- Cochise – Audioslave: Supergroup power. Audioslave, featuring members of Rage Against the Machine and Soundgarden, delivered a heavy and brooding track with “Cochise,” showcasing Chris Cornell’s powerful vocals and Tom Morello’s unique guitar style.
- Take It Off – The Donnas: All-female rock and roll. The Donnas brought their Ramones-inspired energy with “Take It Off,” a fun and straightforward rock track.
- Unsung – Helmet: Alternative metal grit. Helmet’s “Unsung” offered a dose of heavy, groove-laden alternative metal with Page Hamilton’s distinctive guitar sound.
5. Fret-Burners
“Fret-Burners” was aptly named. This tier was all about pushing your finger dexterity and fretboard speed to the absolute limit.
- Spanish Castle Magic – Jimi Hendrix: Guitar god himself. Jimi Hendrix’s “Spanish Castle Magic” was a psychedelic blues-rock masterpiece, showcasing his revolutionary guitar techniques and improvisational spirit.
- Higher Ground – Red Hot Chili Peppers: Funky rock energy. Red Hot Chili Peppers’ cover of Stevie Wonder’s “Higher Ground” brought funk-infused rock and Flea’s signature bassline to the Guitar Hero stage.
- No One Knows – Queens of the Stone Age: Desert rock cool. Queens of the Stone Age’s “No One Knows” with its hypnotic groove and Josh Homme’s distinctive guitar tone, was a modern rock highlight.
- Ace of Spades – Motörhead: Speed metal legend. Motörhead’s “Ace of Spades” was pure, unadulterated speed and aggression, a true test of Guitar Hero stamina and precision.
- Crossroads – Cream: Blues rock royalty. Cream’s “Crossroads,” famously associated with Robert Johnson and Eric Clapton, was a blues-rock landmark and a showcase of Clapton’s virtuosity.
6. Face-Melters
The final tier, “Face-Melters,” lived up to its billing. These were the most challenging and iconic songs in Guitar Hero 1, designed to melt faces and solidify your rock hero status.
- Godzilla – Blue Öyster Cult: Monster rock classic. Blue Öyster Cult’s “Godzilla” brought a touch of monster movie theatrics to Guitar Hero with its dramatic opening and memorable riff.
- Texas Flood – Stevie Ray Vaughan: Blues guitar mastery. Stevie Ray Vaughan’s “Texas Flood” was a blues guitar clinic, showcasing his incredible technique and soulful playing.
- Frankenstein – The Edgar Winter Group: Instrumental rock fusion. The Edgar Winter Group’s “Frankenstein” was a high-energy instrumental track that blended rock, funk, and jazz fusion, and featured iconic synthesizer and saxophone riffs alongside the guitar.
- Cowboys From Hell – Pantera: Groove metal intensity. Pantera’s “Cowboys From Hell” brought pure, unadulterated groove metal power to Guitar Hero, with Dimebag Darrell’s legendary riffs front and center.
- Bark at the Moon – Ozzy Osbourne: The Prince of Darkness. Ozzy Osbourne’s “Bark at the Moon” was a classic heavy metal anthem with a catchy chorus and a memorable guitar solo, perfect for a Guitar Hero finale.
The Legacy of the Guitar Hero 1 Soundtrack
The Guitar Hero 1 soundtrack wasn’t just a collection of songs; it was a curated experience that introduced a generation to classic and contemporary rock music. It balanced accessibility with challenge, making it appealing to both casual players and hardcore music fans. The tracklist successfully captured the spirit of rock and roll and laid the foundation for the Guitar Hero franchise to become a cultural phenomenon. For many, this original soundtrack remains the gold standard, a testament to the power of a well-chosen setlist to ignite a musical revolution in gaming.
