There’s a certain awkwardness to standing between band sets at a live music venue. The house music comes on, usually just background noise, but then a riff cuts through – faint, yet somehow deafening in its familiarity. Around me, most people seem to treat it as filler, but I recognize it instantly. I try to play it cool, but my fingers start tapping against my leg, a subtle rhythm building as the song progresses. Yellow. Red. Green, green, green. Yellow, red, green-green-green. I scan the room, wondering if anyone else gets it. Probably not. Nobody seems to realize that this simple guitar line is, in my mind, a cultural touchstone, maybe not quite Michelangelo, but definitely impactful.
Nobody seems to fully appreciate “Slow Ride” by Foghat in that moment.
Okay, “Slow Ride” might not be the most revolutionary track in music history. But for me, hearing it then transported me back. It marked a personal shift from a casual listener to someone obsessed with music, the kind of person who buys the same record in multiple colors and follows bands on tour relentlessly.
“Slow Ride” was the first track on Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock. And that’s where the real story begins.
Ask me about my favorite modern bands now, and The Strokes will be high on the list. I’m vocal about my love for their music, both online and with my wallet (the sheer amount spent on Strokes concerts and merch is a topic for another day, and maybe another therapist). It was Kylie Jenner, the oracle of our time, who declared 2016 the “Year of Just Realizing Stuff.” While many scoffed, Kylie was right. I had a realization, a musical epiphany if you will.
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The reason I fell for The Strokes? Guitar Hero III. For the uninitiated, “Reptilia” is a killer unlockable track on that game.
And it went deeper. Reflecting further, I realized Guitar Hero III was the bedrock of much of my music taste. From Sonic Youth to Bloc Party, Marilyn Manson to the Sex Pistols, the game was a musical gateway.
My entire musical trajectory is indebted to Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock.
Christmas 2007: Guitar Hero III arrived under the tree, the result of a carefully worded letter to Santa (my first experience with the concept of wish fulfillment). I remember fixating on a supposed quote from Kevin Jonas claiming Guitar Hero was harder than real guitar. Whether Kevin actually said it is irrelevant; I embraced the logic. If I could shred on Guitar Hero, I was practically a rock god.
Reality check: I was never great at Guitar Hero. Real instruments? Forget about it. But conquering “Through the Fire and Flames” on Easy felt like a legitimate musical achievement. In the mind of a child, mastering DragonForce on any difficulty level equates to rock star potential.
Guitar Hero III gifted me heroes. Not just the kid down the street who could nail “Through the Fire and Flames” on Expert, but also Casey Lynch, the pixelated blonde rocker with the virtual bra and tattoo. Casey was my avatar. Beyond the shared blonde hair, there was something rebellious about rocking out in a digital bra in my family living room.
Last Halloween, I decided to resurrect Casey Lynch for a costume. Sourcing gear from ‘Gothic Renaissance’ (my local goth haven), I excitedly explained my costume to friends, only to be met with blank stares. Like the room indifferent to “Slow Ride,” nobody in 2016 remembered, or cared about, Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock. A forgotten cultural phenomenon. The Casey Lynch costume was shelved, blamed on the weather, but really, it was pity for my culturally inept peers. (I opted for PJ Harvey on the cover of i-D, September 1995. Equally lost on everyone.)
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I’ve come to terms with Guitar Hero III’s profound impact. It’s a little disheartening that “Reptilia” solos on Medium don’t move everyone in 2016 like they move me, but I stand by it: Guitar Hero III is a monumental contribution to modern culture. It steered my iTunes gift cards towards Slayer and Heart. It introduced me to The Strokes (for better or worse? Definitely better). It had me glued to my red iPod nano, soundtracking my life with newfound rock anthems. It ignited a passion for rock and roll that burns to this day. My somewhat accidental education in AFI and Slipknot? I credit it to Guitar Hero. To Guitar Hero, I am eternally grateful.
Thanks, Kylie, for the “realizing stuff” memo in 2016. Here’s to a future with less introspection and more Guitar Hero III. Maybe it’s time for a comeback? Imagine a new generation discovering the thrill of those iconic tracks, experiencing their own musical awakening through the power of plastic guitars and a library of songs – perhaps not exactly 111 songs, but it felt like it at the time! The sheer volume of rock anthems, from classic riffs to modern bangers, was mind-blowing.
*And yes, for the record, Guitar Hero III reigns supreme. Just like Sims 2 is the definitive Sims experience. Don’t even start with Rock Band. The argument is invalid.
