Rush fails own song on Colbert Report

by Richard Mitchell { Jul 24th 2008 at 2:45PM }

Ever since music games became popular, the musician trolls have frequented forums and comment threads everywhere. Typically, these trolls are known for comments like "Yeah, I'd rather play a real guitar, thanks." Imagine then, how strange it must be for real musicians to play fake versions of their own songs. Enter Rush performing the Rock Band version of "Tom Sawyer" backstage at the Colbert Report. To make a long story short, they fail at 36% completion. They don't seem to broken up about it though. Fabulous success can give you that kind of confidence, we suppose.

[Via Joystiq]

Tags: colbert, colbert-report, ea, electronic-arts, harmonix, mtv, mtv-games, rock-band, rush, tom-sawyer

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

MrMuggs @ Jul 24th 2008 3:08PM

I have friends who play guitar and are really good. They've tried Rock Band and it's a totally different experience. They're used to playing the notes and playing a real guitar rather than just keep timing and hitting buttons. With practice they get really good but it's totally rewiring your brain to play the game. On the other hand, I've heard that those who play drums naturally take to the game drums because it's more about the beat and timing.

thisguyrighthere @ Jul 24th 2008 3:11PM

I play banjo and when I've been playing GH for like an hour or so then pick up my banjo there's this delay with my left hand where I feel like I don't know what the hell I'm doing. Same thing happens if I'm picking my banjo for a while then go play GH. It takes my hands some time to dumb down enough to play GH and some time to smarten up enough to play the banjo.

It's to be expected I guess.

Tucker @ Jul 24th 2008 4:08PM

Banjo Hero FTW!

Matazah @ Jul 24th 2008 3:13PM

Its the drummers fault lol.

Drumming is nowhere near what Rock Band drums make it seem.

m13b @ Jul 24th 2008 4:46PM

Looked to me like Peart accidentally knocked over the foot pedal or something, as he went to the floor and completely stopped playing for a bit. Since I'm sure Lifeson didn't know how to bring him back, they failed.

dowhatnow @ Jul 24th 2008 3:31PM

@thisguyrighthere
I'm pretty sure you're about to get flamed for playing the banjo. :) Bela Fleck FTW!

thisguyrighthere @ Jul 24th 2008 3:42PM

I appreciate the preemptive support man.

Nothing beats a clawhammer ballad about being hanged for drowning your girlfriend because she got pregnant (after all, it was her fault). Well, maybe songs about trainwrecks or collapsing coal mines. Getting hanged for getting your coal mine pregnant by wrecking a train in it would be the end all be all of banjo music.

CL34N3R @ Jul 24th 2008 8:58PM

Actually, I gotta give props to anyone that can play the banjo well. It's a very difficult instrument.

SugarDaddy @ Jul 24th 2008 3:50PM

Heh, why should they be broken up about it? They can play that song on REAL instruments. And Neal Peart can perform a 20 minute drum solo that would explode your face.

Zoot Suit Jedi @ Jul 25th 2008 12:05AM

I actually heard Carl's voice in that comment. It was hilarious.

razzleson @ Jul 24th 2008 4:05PM

They didn't even make it to 36%, they failed at 31% :p

Pretty cool seeing them play their own song though!

tan @ Jul 24th 2008 4:14PM

so what if they failed their own song on the game??????

they know how to play it in real life on real instruments which for, this song, is much more impressive!

bill m @ Jul 24th 2008 5:33PM

No one is putting them down at all. It's just kind of fun to see artists play the game thats all. I think people realize how amazing Rush are as musicians and would never doubt that.

Biscuit @ Jul 24th 2008 5:09PM

Yeah...that's not expert drums. :D But oh well, SugarDaddy is right. He can get on a REAL drumset and play beyond expert. haha

Obese Stickman @ Jul 24th 2008 8:13PM

maybe its because im candian but i cant watch the video. US copyright laws show no love

Momer @ Jul 24th 2008 8:38PM

Argghh, same here. So stupid, we freaking border the country...

Brian @ Jul 24th 2008 8:14PM

I guess that means people who can play the game are more talented than Rush. Give me a break. haha.

zlliM @ Jul 25th 2008 1:03AM

The Colbert Report owns.

Grant @ Jul 25th 2008 2:24AM

it was probably the because the guitar in RB(and any music game) is so different. Drums is a bit different, but not such a change that you can't easily adjust. Singing should have been perfect.

Tucker @ Jul 25th 2008 10:39AM

I also have to think Geddy was failing on vocals - for one thing, he was singing a more 'live' version than the notes in the recording, and for another the cover version in the game is piss-poor and pretty inaccurate as to where the notes are. It's a great song and a ton of fun to play in the game, don't get me wrong, but a bunch of n00bs playing - whether they know the song or not - and most likely attempting to play as they would on stage (well, Geddy and Neil, anyway) = automatic fail. Great little bonus segment for Colbert, though!