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Widely considered to be one of the greatest rhythm games ever made, 2006’s Guitar Hero II is a beloved entry in the franchise. The first sequel to Guitar Hero, we’d still be a little bit away from the peak of the franchise in both sales and pop culture penetration. Guitar Hero II was also notable for being the first game in the series released on Xbox 360, where a few extra songs, as well as DLC was also introduced (a feature that would remain a constant in the genre for years to come).

The setlist was still predominantly made up of cover versions, but a few of the main setlist songs were now the original master versions. Spanning the early 60s all the way through to 2006, if you were to poll rhythm game fans on what the best setlist of all time was, you’d likely find this right at the top of the list.

Of the 48 song main setlist, 27 are currently available in Rocksmith, or 56%. In addition, the original Kinks version of You Really Got Me is part of Rocksmith 2014’s setlist. Of the 26 bonus songs, 2 are available in Rocksmith. This means that of the total 74 song setlist, 29 are playable for 39% total completion. This makes for a slight increase over Guitar Hero 1’s 35%.

ArtistSongDate in Rocksmith
The Acro-BratsLaughtrackN/A
AerosmithLast Child *N/A
Alice CooperBillion Dollar Babies *12/4/2018
Alice in ChainsThem Bones *11/12/2013
All That RemainsSix05/12/2015
The Allman Brothers BandJessica *11/15/2011
The Amazing CrownsMr. Fix ItN/A
Anarchy ClubCollideN/A
AnthraxMadhouse *03/24/2015
Avenged SevenfoldBeast and the Harlot *10/22/2013
Bang CamaroPush Push (Lady Lightning)N/A
Black SabbathWar Pigs *N/A
Breaking WheelShoulder to the PlowN/A
Brian KahanekGeminiN/A
BucketheadJordanN/A
The Butthole SurfersWho Was in My Room Last Night? *N/A
Cheap TrickSurrender *01/29/2013
Count ZeroRadium EyesN/A
DanzigMother *N/A
Deep PurpleHush *02/27/2018
DethklokThunderhorse04/28/2015
Dick DaleMisrilou *06/24/2014 **
DristArterial BlackN/A
Every Time I DieThe New BlackN/A
Foo FightersMonkey Wrench *11/18/2014
FreezepopLess Talk More RokkN/A
Guns N' RosesSweet Child o' Mine *N/A
HeartCrazy on You *03/11/2014
Honest Bob and the Factory-to-Dealer IncentivesSoy BombN/A
Iggy Pop and the StoogesSearch and Destroy *11/01/2016
Iron MaidenThe Trooper *10/22/2013
Jane's AddictionStop!N/A
KansasCarry on Wayward Son *02/18/2013
KISSStrutter *10/13/2015
Lamb of GodLaid to Rest *07/29/2014
The Last VegasRaw DogN/A
The Living EndCarry Me Home *N/A
Lynyrd SkynyrdFree Bird *11/01/2011
Made in MexicoYes We CanN/A
Matthew SweetGirlfriend *N/A
MegadethHangar 18 *12/13/2011
MegasusRed LotteryN/A
Mötley CrüeShout at the Devil *12/15/2015
My Chemical RomanceDead!02/23/2016
The NeighborhoodsParasiteN/A
NirvanaHeart-Shaped Box *10/22/2013
Noble RotKicked to the CurbN/A
Ounce of SelfDrink UpN/A
Pearl JamLife Wasted *N/A
The PoliceMessage in a Bottle *03/01/2012
The PretendersTattooed Love Boys *N/A
PrimusJohn the FishermanN/A
Rage Against the MachineKilling in the Name *12/09/2014
RancidSalvation *N/A
The Reverend Horton HeatPsychobilly Freakout *N/A
Rick DerringerRock and Roll, Hoochie Koo *01/20/2015
The Rolling StonesCan't You Hear Me Knocking *N/A
RushYYZ *11/13/2012
Shadows FailThe Light That BlindsN/A
Spinal TapTonight I'm Gonna Rock You Tonight *03/31/2015
Stone Temple PilotsTrippin' on a Hole in a Paper Heart *02/05/2019
Stray CatsRock This Town *06/09/2015 ***
Strong BadTrogdorN/A
Suicidal TendenciesInstitutionalized *N/A
The SwordFreya *N/A
That Handsome DevilElephant BonesN/A
Thin LizzyBad Reputation *N/A
ToadiesPossum Kingdom07/21/2015
VAGIANTFTKN/A
Valient ThorrFall of PangeaN/A
Van HalenYou Really Got Me *N/A
VoivodThe X-StreamN/A
WarrantCherry Pie *01/20/2015
WolfmotherWoman *01/05/2016

* Denotes a cover version of the track
** Denotes the single version of the track
*** Denotes a re-recorded version of the track

In addition, there was the aforementioned DLC, a first for rhythm gaming. While most of it was just repeats of the first Guitar Hero’s setlist (a foreshadowing to exports, perhaps?), there was also a decent array of indie and major acts.

ArtistSongDate in Rocksmith
AtreyuEx's and Oh'sN/A
Bad ReligionInfected *08/09/2016
The BledYou Should Be Ashamed of MyselfN/A
Deep PurpleSmoke on the Water *11/15/2011
The DonnasTake It Off *03/08/2016
Dropkick MurphysThe State of MassachusettsN/A
The Edgar Winter GroupFrankenstein *06/16/2015
The ExiesHey You *N/A
IncubusStellar *06/21/2016
Judas PriestYou've Got Another Thing Comin' *02/18/2013
Los RodríguezSin documentosN/A
Maylene and the Sons of DisasterMemories of the GroveN/A
MotörheadAce of Spades *01/20/2015 **
My Chemical RomanceFamous Last Words02/23/2016
My Chemical RomanceTeenagers02/23/2016
My Chemical RomanceThis Is How I DisappearN/A
Ozzy OsbourneBark at the Moon *N/A
PleymoSeptN/A
Protest the HeroBury the HatchetN/A
QueenKiller Queen *06/13/2012
RamonesI Wanna Be Sedated *N/A
Red Hot Chili PeppersHigher Ground *10/18/2011
SoilworkExileN/A
TriviumDetonationN/A

* Denotes a cover version of the track
** Denotes a re-recorded version of the track

It was incredibly difficult to narrow the GH2 list down to just ten songs we wanted, but here’s what we came up with.

Alice Cooper – Billion Dollar Babies

How have we only gotten the one Alice Cooper song? I was sure that in the early RS2014 days of getting packs for the major on-disc acts that an Alice pack was coming, but alas it never happened. One of the iconic hits of the 70s, this song would provide great guitar work for the game.

Buckethead – Jordan

The first “impossible” song in franchise history, Jordan has become almost synonymous with Guitar Hero II, and the early score chasing scene as a whole. Just imagine the challenge of getting this on real guitar. The techniques you could be taught as well would be incredible. I mean, the tones alone would make this a dream.

Deep Purple – Hush

If you don’t recognize this one by name, you’ll almost certainly know it to hear it. We have a couple good Deep Purple songs already in the game, sure, but more would always be welcome. Especially the under-appreciated pre-Machine Head stuff that rhythm games seem to always ignore.

Iggy Pop and The Stooges – Search and Destroy

Iggy Pop has appeared in countless rhythm games and is an absolute legend in the punk world. It’s only a matter of time before we get to see him come to Rocksmith, and I can’t think of a better place to start than with one of his most well known songs.

Jane’s Addition – Stop!

I know I was disappointed that the recent Jane’s Addiction pack didn’t feature this song. One of the greatest songs Jane’s Addiction ever performed, it’s about time we see this pop up in games again.

Primus – John the Fisherman

How has this song never appeared in a game after this? Especially considering we know there’s no master issue. The first Primus pack showed just how great Primus’ basslines are to play, so more of that certainly wouldn’t go amiss. This song, along with Too Many Puppies and My Name is Mud, would be welcome additions to the library.

The Reverend Horton Heat – Psychobilly Freakout

A great high-level guitar showcase, this song would fit in nicely with the player-base who are looking for more of a challenge. Hopefully next time we get a rockabilly pack, we see this make an appearance!

Stone Temple Pilots – Trippin’ on a Hole in a Paper Heart

Yet another case of “I can’t believe this didn’t make the pack”, this is one of Stone Temple Pilots’ most well known and beloved songs. While recent events may complicate licensing, one can only hope we get more STP in the game, and that this is the first song we get.

Suicidal Tendencies – Institutionalized

Anyone who’s been following these articles where we wish for songs knows that I’m a massive hardcore punk fan, and I think that Rocksmith is sorely lacking in that field. Come on, Ubisoft! All I want is a Peps-er, uh, Suicidal Tendencies DLC!

Thin Lizzy – Bad Reputation

Give me this, Whiskey in the Jar, Call the Police, Cowboy Song, and Saga of the Ageing Orphan and you’ve got all my money, Ubisoft. Thin Lizzy are a fantastic band, and while the three pack we got was great, I’ll never turn down getting even more from them!


 

There’s our picks, what songs would you like to see from Guitar Hero II end up in Rocksmith 2014? Besides Guns n’ Roses that is…

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16 thoughts on “Setlist Sunday: Guitar Hero II

  1. I’d love to see Sin documentos, Can’t You Hear Me Knocking, Even Flow, and Trippin on a Hole in Rocksmith!

  2. Wasn’t the A7X pack released in 2012? Like right before the Rush pack? I think it was released for Halloween.
    Also Buckethead 8-pack!
    (And an Alice Cooper 8-pack)
    [and a Primus II 5-pack]

  3. Any pearljam and Van Halen would be welcome to rocksmith.
    Instead we get collective soul?… Our dlc money hard at work.

    1. I hope you realize that it’s our money and that we spend it on whatever we want. We spend it on things we like. Like this game’s DLC. We don’t have to not buy something because you don’t like it. And that’s what you need to realize.

  4. Just give us all the Nirvana, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Ozzy/Black Sabbath, and Metallica songs from the music games No questions asked. We will take them all. Seriously why don’t we have a Nirvana or Chili Peppers pack yet?

    1. WRT the Chili’s, I believe there are licensing difficulties since Frusciante no longer believes in profiting from their music.

  5. Drist, and Count Zero, God that brings back memories!!! To have them in RS would be really Sweet. ??♥️

  6. I would love to see the Butthole Surfers, Shadows Fall, Soilwork, Trivium, Reverend Horton Heat, The Living End, Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots, Deep Purple, Primus, Buckethead, The Sword, Matthew Sweet(would love a whole pack), Black Sabbath, Alice Cooper, Danzig, Valient Thorr, Voivod, and Incubus songs make it to Rocksmith. I’m sure some of these would have problems with tuning being too low, and I wish there was a way to fix this, but all of these songs would be amazing.

  7. Suicidal Tendencies are god awful live… Saw them in January (opening for world famous drums band Slipknot)

    You’re picks are good, I’d add Butthole Surfers to the mix

    1. Gotta disagree, I saw ST live with the bassist that just passed away. One of the best live shows and guitar insanity I’ve seen from a punk /metal band.

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