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It has been 20 years after the legendary game first launched across the Atlantic, offering everyday gamers the means to feel like rock legends. Not in reality, though you'd be hard-pressed telling that someone who's nailed Free Bird’s four-minute instrumental break in front of a packed living-room audience.

Developed by Harmonix, Guitar Hero gave players a plastic guitar peripheral to follow coloured notes moving along the display synchronized to the music. Each riff mimicked particular chords, producing the sensation of an authentic performance.

Harmonix previously tried its hand with rhythm games before partnering with RedOctane, which was acquired by Activision during the mid-2000s. Together, they laid the groundwork for a surprising billion-dollar series that had a remarkable impact on numerous of the artists featured, introducing decades-old groups to millions of younger players.

A former executive, former COO of Harmonix, remembers the early budgetary hurdles in securing the recordings – even though the first two games primarily featured rerecorded tracks.

“We rerecorded all the music since the dollar figure was so high,” he says. “Despite having the necessary permissions alone, it proved nearly impossible. We failed to secure acts such as legendary groups – RedOctane was operating on a shoestring budget, and our team was pretty convinced the project would flop. But once Guitar Hero took off, and record sales airtime increased, all artists desired to be in.”

He continues: “One of the remarkable aspects was how many parents got in touch and thanked us for exposing their kids to the songs they adored. It became a multigenerational phenomenon.”

Classic Rock Finds Younger Fans

Northern Irish group the Answer included their track on the 2008 game Guitar Hero World Tour. Guitarist Paul Mahon recalls the way the game brought classic rock to the forefront: “The game provided a bigger, younger audience. Generally this had been seen as music that was past it, but then when it was featured on the title young people were finding it, abruptly it was cool. This validated the genre, eliminating the ‘dad rock’ label. It provided our catalog a new life.”

At that time, the band's debut album was still not available stateside, meaning the game was a key medium of discovery for the band as they went on a North American tour opening for the rock giants. “The roadies were playing the song during travel, and several recognized us from Guitar Hero,” he notes.

Rock’s Heavyweight Spin-offs and Lasting Influence

Rock’s biggest acts soon capitalised on the series’ popularity, including bands like Aerosmith, Metallica and others starring in specialized spin-off titles centered around their music collections and associated lore, imagery and rock’n’roll mythology. In the case of, the Aerosmith edition, it was said to have made the band greater revenue compared to their records. It moved well over 500,000 units in its first week, while demand for Aerosmith’s music saw an increase of up to 40% during an era when the music business faced decline.

Guitar Hero continues to inspire quick-handed dedication among its fans. Recently, an online personality completed a remarkable feat of DragonForce’s Through the Fire and Flames – an infamously tough anthem made popular by Guitar Hero – using a fan-made version, a freeware game with similar mechanics and extensive customisation options. This track is difficult even in the hardest setting, let alone performed at double speed and without missing a single one of its near 4,000 notes. The streamer stated it took nine months to accomplish.

“The game is a fun, fantasy thing. If you play Call of Duty, it doesn't imply you ought to use actual weapons and enlist,” notes musician Herman Li.

The band previously completed a successful tour before their hit appeared in the third game, but Li says it turned them into widely recognized. “I remember our distributors calling to tell me that we were selling albums like crazy,” he shares. “It exploded when we next toured, and we performed just before top acts on the Mayhem festival.”

Indeed, DragonForce’s exposure from Guitar Hero was so immense that it threatened to overshadow everything else the band has done. Last year, the song was used in promotional material for a major film. “In the past I thought differently, but now I accept it,” he admits. “Should you just listen to one DragonForce song, that's fine – each person has a unique path in music and I'm pleased we played a role in fans' experiences”.

Enduring Impact from the Iconic Controller

Top-tier marketing, be it for cars, apparel or video games, extends beyond mere transactions – it evokes a longing. Did Guitar Hero tap into that? “Precisely what we were aiming to achieve,” Dornbrook says. “The excitement of performing as a rock star in the spotlight. Since the beginning, the creators believed there’s an instinctive urge to make music, and they wanted to leverage innovation to allow people to participate”.

The majority installments were released over a mere five-year period between 2005 and 2010, featuring derivative titles like DJ Hero, including a spinning deck, and Band Hero. After that, the publisher’s interest on peripherals waned, except for a short-lived revival several years later.

Titles like the fan project and newer releases have kept the scene active, with set to be something from the founders on the way. A new studio has begun work on its debut rhythm-based title. The initial creators are both involved as special advisers. Is the world ready to embrace a new entry following Guitar Hero?

“We thought those games could be similar to sports games where you can releases,” Dornbrook says. “There’s so much fresh tracks it could remain evergreen, thus I remain hopeful. There’s no reason for it to continue for future fans.”