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Shortly after Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, a brand new rhythm game franchise would come on the horizon. Once RedOctane was acquired by Activision Harmonix fulfilled their contract with Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks The 80’s and then proceeded to create a new franchise (with MTV Games) that expanded on the original Guitar Hero concept by adding the vocals mechanic from their previous Karaoke Revolution games, and a drum kit. With that in place, on November 20, 2007, the world would be introduced to Rock Band!

The addition of vocals shaped the setlist tremendously. While Guitar Hero games placed more of an emphasis on guitar-centric songs, even if those were less known tracks from the band’s catalogue, Rock Band knew it was a party game and that in order for it to succeed, it needed to have the big hits.

Because Rock Band was released so closely to Guitar Hero III, there was a small amount of crossover between the two setlists. They shared the following six songs:

  • Beastie Boys – Sabotage
  • Black Sabbath – Paranoid
  • The Killers – When You Were Young
  • Mountain – Mississippi Queen
  • The Smashing Pumpkins – Cherub Rock
  • The Strokes – Reptillia

The setlist was decent sized with a total of 58 songs. While Guitar Hero III placed an emphasis on metal and difficulty, Rock Band placed an emphasis on party songs. Of the 58 song setlist, 29 are currently available in Rocksmith for a total of 50%., massively clearing the previous highest percentage of 38%.

ArtistSongDate in Rocksmith
The Acro-BratsDay Late, Dollar ShortN/A
AerosmithTrain Kept A-Rollin' *12/17/2019
Anarchy ClubBlood DollN/A
Bang CamaroPleasure (Pleasure)N/A
Beastie BoysSabotage02/21/2017
Black SabbathParanoid *N/A
Blue Öyster Cult(Don't Fear) The Reaper01/17/2012
Bon JoviWanted Dead or Alive12/02/2014
BostonForeplay/Long Time03/04/2014
The ClashShould I Stay or Should I Go02/11/2013
Coheed and CambriaWelcome HomeN/A
Crooked XNightmareN/A
David BowieSuffragette City12/06/2016
Death of the CoolCan't Let GoN/A
Deep PurpleHighway Star09/09/2014
Faith No MoreEpic07/28/2015
Fall Out BoyDead on ArivalN/A
FlyleafI'm So Sick03/08/2016
Foo FightersLearn to Fly11/18/2014
FreezepopBrainpowerN/A
GarbageI Think I'm Paranoid04/15/2014
The HivesMain OffenderN/A
HoleCelebrity Skin03/08/2016
Honest Bob and the Factory-to-Dealer IncentivesI Get ByN/A
Iron MaidenRun to the Hills *11/03/2013
JetAre You Gonna Be My Girl08/18/2015
The KillersWhen You Were Young10/28/2014
KISSDetroit Rock City02/11/2014
The Konks29 FingersN/A
MetallicaEnter SandmanN/A
Molly HatchetFlirtin' with DisasterN/A
The Mother HipsTime We HadN/A
MountainMississippi Queen *09/04/2012
The New PornographersElectric VersionN/A
Nine Inch NailsThe Hand That FeedsN/A
NirvanaIn Bloom10/18/2011
OK GoHere It Goes AgainN/A
The OutlawsGreen Grass and High Tides *10/09/2018
PixiesWave of Mutilation07/26/2016
The PoliceNext to YouN/A
Queens of the Stone AgeGo with the Flow10/18/2011
R.E.M.Orange CrushN/A
RadioheadCreep11/22/2013
RamonesBlitzkreig Bop10/22/2013
Red Hot Chili PeppersDani CaliforniaN/A
The Rolling StonesGimme Shelter12/18/2018
RushTom Sawyer *11/13/2012
Smashing PumpkinsCherub Rock10/22/2013
SoundgardenBlack Hole Sun01/13/2015
Stone Temple PilotsVasoline10/18/2011
The StrokesReptillia01/22/2013
SweetBallroom Blitz *04/02/2013
Timmy and the Lords of the UnderworldTimmy and the Lords of the UnderworldN/A
TribeOutsideN/A
VAGIANTSevenN/A
WeezerSay It Ain't So10/22/2013
The WhoWon't Get Fooled AgainN/A
Yeah Yeah YeahsMapsN/A

* Denotes a cover version of the track.

In my opinion, the original Rock Band had one of the best setlists ever in a rhythm game. Narrowing it down to 10 songs I’d like to see was a nearly impossible task. But let’s give it a go anyway, shall we? Also, as a side note, if I’ve touched on a song in a previous Setlist Sunday, I’m not going to mention it here simply because it would be redundant. Assume that if I’ve mentioned something before, I still want it in Rocksmith!

Aerosmith – Train Kept a-Rollin’

Maybe the fact that it’s a cover complicated things a bit? Either way we need this song in Rocksmith in the inevitable Aerosmith II Pack… YA KA KA KA KA

Nine Inch Nails – The Hand That Feeds

It’s no secret that @toymachinesh is a big NIN fan, but also acknowledges they aren’t the most guitar driven band… Unless they put in live cuts like this one. Either way any Nine Inch Nails would be appreciated folks.

The Outlaws – Green Grass and High Tides

If you put this song in I will never complain about the Free Bird chart again.

The Police – Next to You

Gotta love The Police.

Red Hot Chili Peppers – Dani California

This song is full of tasty licks on Guitar and Bass, the whole end of the song is a big crescendo of awesomeness. Hopefully we can get some more RHCP eventually.

The Rolling Stones – Gimme Shelter

If anyone can get more of The Stones, it’s Rocksmith.

The Who – Won’t Get Fooled Again

Sorely missing from The Who song pack. Hopefully this can be corrected in the future.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Maps

So textural.


 

There’s our picks, what songs would you like to see from Rock Band (2007) end up in Rocksmith 2014? Let us know!

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7 thoughts on “Setlist Sunday: Rock Band (2007)

  1. We need more southern rock. Flirting With Disaster and Green Grass and High Tides are some of the most useful songs to learn off of. And Welcome Home is definitely in my top 10 favorite songs, and I think it’s about time we get some more Sweet in the game. I feel like they’re an under appreciated band with a fun yet approachable discography from both sides of the spectrum. I don’t really remember any stand out tracks in Rock Band 2, aside from the ones that are already in the game *cough*Painkiller*cough* but maybe it’s just my memory.

  2. Just a quick question, and maybe I missed it somewhere, but didn’t GH3 and Rock Band have DLC and were you planning on covering the DLC or just the main setlists?

  3. Orange Crush actually wasn’t a part of the R.E.M. pack, sadly. I hope we’ll get a second pack someday.
    I’d love to see Green Grass and High Tides and Won’t Get Fooled Again show up in Rocksmith too.

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