Rock Band 2's 80+ tracks set to be announced at E3
by Dustin Burg 
{ Jul 3rd 2008 at 10:30AM }
58 has been done before. 60 is too small of a jump. 70 is getting closer, but still isn't awe inspiring. Now 80, 80 is a number that can be celebrated and a number that accurately describes the number of master tracks that will be included with Rock Band 2.According to an AP interview with the CEO of Harmonix Alex Rigopulos, Rock Band 2 "will feature a playlist of over 80 songs -- all master recordings" including more " female-fronted bands and artists who have never contributed tunes to a music game." Rigopulos also confirmed that in a few weeks during E3, they plan on announcing the entire setlist for the game of which a few tracks have already been leaked. It's also interesting to hear that Harmonix plans on "broadening the musical genres of available downloadable content" for Rock Band, with MTV president Van Toffler mentioning that they plan to take the Rock Band platform and open it up to "the genres of music to country, hip-hop and R&B". Not so "Rock" Band, but musically diverse ... interesting.
[Via Shacknews]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
VeHeMeNcE @ Jul 3rd 2008 10:43AM
I hope the line-up doesn't disappoint and the thought of them putting country, hip hop, and R&B makes me a little nervous. This is Rock Band after all. I hope to see more metal and industrial music.
mirage @ Jul 3rd 2008 11:44AM
It will still be Rock Band. Musical diversity can only make the game better. I doubt I will be downloading any Country, but it is great to see them adding a variety of musical styles to the game! With that said bring on 2 Hard Mutha's from Eazy Duz It!
Etchasketchist @ Jul 3rd 2008 12:26PM
It's not called "Metal and Industrial Band".
OwningXylophone @ Jul 3rd 2008 1:00PM
But it's not called Country & Hip-Hop Band either...
thatguy @ Jul 3rd 2008 2:30PM
I for one look forward to playing some Parliament Funkadelic! "Who says a funk band can't play rock!"
Squirrel @ Jul 3rd 2008 10:43AM
dayumn!! 80+ over 100 dlc songs i already have plus what ever i buy b4 and after the release of rock band 2 that like almost...OVER 900!!!
Andrew @ Jul 3rd 2008 12:45PM
You might want to try doing that math over again.
webster1990 @ Jul 3rd 2008 1:07PM
If only it were "Over 9000!"
haha
Cabal @ Jul 3rd 2008 10:46AM
Expanding the genres, yet they skip the one that would make the most sense to include, blues.
webster1990 @ Jul 3rd 2008 10:47AM
Should be good.
"Girl fronted bands"
I hope they have some solo artists also, i want Bonnie Tyler - Total Eclipse of the Heart (y)
T'would be awesome. haha
webster1990 @ Jul 3rd 2008 10:49AM
Also, thinking of bands that havent been on games yet how about some:
Gwar
Mars Volta
Electric Six
and a few others but i can't be arsed to open my itunes.
todd @ Jul 3rd 2008 11:08AM
GWAR would be great... mastodon, fugazi, ministry, skinny puppy I would like to see.
webster1990 @ Jul 3rd 2008 1:05PM
I really wanna rock the vocals on Sexecutioner, haha
VeHeMeNcE @ Jul 3rd 2008 5:55PM
Yes, Ministry and Skinny Puppy in Rock Band would be a dream come true.
Kizzle @ Jul 3rd 2008 10:50AM
with MTV president Van Toffler mentioning that they plan to take the Rock Band platform and open it up to "the genres of music to country, hip-hop and R&B"
Oh my god, get that shit OUT of here. Make a separate game for it or something. I don't even hate country or rap, I just don't want it in Rock Band.
KC @ Jul 3rd 2008 10:55AM
Agreed. Keep it rock oriented.
Make a separate game for rap. Maybe a first person shooter/music combo? You could shoot the other artists. :-)
Etchasketchist @ Jul 3rd 2008 12:28PM
Segregationist.
HazyCloud @ Jul 3rd 2008 10:50AM
I welcome new genres to Rock Band. I have feeling with all DLC and RB 2 we are looking at 500 + tracks.
taco @ Jul 3rd 2008 10:57AM
I want Zeppelin. This is non-negotiable.
Well, OK, I'll probably buy regardless.
How about maybe some TMBG DLC? that would be great.
Boff @ Jul 3rd 2008 11:09AM
Teenage Mutant Buddhist Goldfish?
taco @ Jul 3rd 2008 11:13AM
No.
They Might Be Giants.
Boff @ Jul 3rd 2008 11:16AM
Definitely not giants, they looked like normal size goldfish to me.
;o)
Matthew @ Jul 3rd 2008 11:28AM
It is non-negotiable since Zeppelin doesn't license their music. Get over it.
taco @ Jul 3rd 2008 11:34AM
Well, they sold out to GM/Cadillac.
Thrombo19 @ Jul 3rd 2008 10:58AM
80 Master tracks, that is some strong strong work. I just hope the disc itself doesn't come out at like $90 to pay off all the artists. Hopefully now they realize "Oh, if people think they can pretend play thing song, they might actually buy the song/album" and offer up the songs cheaply since they are getting advertising out of it.
jon zero one @ Jul 3rd 2008 11:07AM
wait does that mean we can rap to 50 cent on rock band?!!?
Boff @ Jul 3rd 2008 11:07AM
I don't own RB but I'm not a hater or anything but if they're including the other genres then they should change the name 'Rock Band 2' to 'Band'.
Doesn't quite have the same ring to it.
Personally, I'd rather see a separate title tailored for each genre with perhaps shared DLC between them all. I know it's overkill just feel it would work better.
E.G. Country Band - banjos, barn dances, thigh slapping, cowboy boots & hats etc. Yee haww! ;o)
Zoot Suit Jedi @ Jul 3rd 2008 12:23PM
Dude.
Your exchange with Taco above, nearly made me piss my pants. It was like a "who's on first" type of thing.
DeadPixel @ Jul 3rd 2008 11:08AM
no hip hop please...
Tony @ Jul 3rd 2008 11:11AM
How's about some Wilco, Tom Waits, Of Montreal, Fiery Furnaces, Art Brut, Yo La Tengo would all be very fun!!
Tony @ Jul 3rd 2008 11:12AM
Hip Hop would work if the right tracks were selected. Drumming would be fantastic!!! Guitarist could just play along with samples, bassist would play...uh...bass.
emirabal @ Jul 3rd 2008 11:13AM
Im sure i wont be disappointed.
Matthew @ Jul 3rd 2008 11:28AM
Diverse music and female-fronted songs are great news. Mostly for people like my fiancee.
Blue04 @ Jul 3rd 2008 11:21AM
Garth Brooks! Yall!
ChapmanTheFool @ Jul 3rd 2008 11:23AM
They need Michael Jacksons Beat it!
Mrblonde @ Jul 3rd 2008 11:38AM
I really hope they get more lesser know bands in Rock Band. Like my favorite band anberlin. That would be so sweet if they got them in. They would be a great addition too. It would get alot more bands known.
Mrblonde @ Jul 3rd 2008 11:38AM
I really hope they get more lesser know bands in Rock Band. Like my favorite band anberlin. That would be so sweet if they got them in. They would be a great addition too. It would get alot more bands known.
Mrblonde @ Jul 3rd 2008 11:39AM
Gah stupid double post
josearoldan @ Jul 3rd 2008 11:55AM
80+ songs that sounds interesting, Im thinking on buying the first game this weekend. All I really want to know is if the guitar will be wireless this time, not that I care too much since I will be buying an extra guitar and I can get the wireless one.
David @ Jul 3rd 2008 12:03PM
How about some Lords of Acid? They haven't been in other music games, and it's female fronted...
Drew @ Jul 3rd 2008 12:21PM
To everyone who is complaining about the new genres. You do realize that it is all going to be in DLC right? It won't be on the disc. You won't be forced to play it. I don't like scene music, so I just didn't download the scene pack. Its not the end of the world, really. I promise.
Heh @ Jul 12th 2008 4:42PM
There are plenty of black artists in rock. Do your homework before you post like a douchebag you ignorant, stereotyping, nig.
Etchasketchist @ Jul 3rd 2008 12:35PM
If they add some R&B, Funk and Hip-hop, I will end my boycott of Rock Band and stop complaining about it's all-white-people-music song list. Rock-ists are racists. Anyone who hates any genre of music is a philistine who should be ignored when it comes to discussions of music and culture. Obviously not all music is "good" but all types of music are good in their own way and deserve respect.
Biscuit @ Jul 3rd 2008 2:42PM
Anyone who bitches about a game having an "all white people music" song list needs to seriously re-evaluate their life. :P
Seriously, though...it's called ROCK Band. Now don't get me wrong. I don't have any problem with any of the music genres you mentioned (depending on the artist as far as hip hop goes...) but getting upset because it's not on a game featuring, you know, ROCK is outright silly. Some funk music would be fun on Rock Band, no doubt. But getting mad about it? That'd be like getting pissed because Metallica isn't on Rap Hero if such a game ever exists. Come on. :P
Etchasketchist @ Jul 3rd 2008 3:24PM
You're ignorant of the history of rock and roll and this game isn't helping. Metallica isn't even a rock band. They're a thrash metal band. It's not called Thrash Metal Band. Why is it white bands all get to be called "ROCK" but black people have to go get their own game?
Heh @ Jul 12th 2008 4:43PM
There are plenty of black artists in rock. Do your homework before you post like a douchebag you ignorant, stereotyping, nig.
Etchasketchist @ Jul 12th 2008 5:18PM
Yes, but there aren't any in Rock Band. And I'm not ignorant or a "nig". Racist creep.
bugatti23007 @ Jul 3rd 2008 2:28PM
Rock Band should stick to every type of rock music like punk rock,hardcore rock , etc.Why should we have to pay so much money for Rock Band with various genre of music.I mean how many people have an extremely diverse taste in music like listening to Slipknot to Carrie Underwood?
thatguy @ Jul 3rd 2008 2:47PM
I do. They may not be my favorites, but I can listen to them. Music genres aren't as separate as some people would like to think. I don't see what the big deal is. I can understand if they forced you to buy it all, but its DLC.
Ultimately it opens up a good game to more people, and it may actually educate people and open them up to previously unknown or unappreciated genres or artists.
therza2169 @ Jul 3rd 2008 2:51PM
This won't be on the disc it would be DLC that YOU don't have to buy. I actually do like Slipknot and Carrie Underwood. I wouldn't mind some Roots either.