Why Harmonix did Rock Band: Green Day after the Beatles

Posted by aubin on Monday, May 17, 2010 at 11:00 AM (EDT)

Some people were surprised that Harmonix, producers of the Rock Band series of games, would tackle Green Day's catalogue after creating a game devoted to the single most influential band of all time, The Beatles. In a recent article, the company explained:

We were pleased with the performance of Beatles: Rock Band but we were expecting higher sales, Our core audience of 16 to 34-year-old males are much more familiar with Green Day music than The Beatles. This isn't a band that has been around for a short period - they've been going 21 years. They have a great history. It is in fact a much wider audience than some people might give them credit for. Green Day probably has a much higher awareness than perhaps The Beatles did.

The new game will drop on June 8, 2010.

Bands in this story

Green Day

The Beatles

Green Day (86 comments)

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

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bastard_squad (May 17, 2010)

Q: Why Harmonix did Rock Band: Green Day after the Beatles

A: Monies

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americanriot (May 17, 2010)

seriously, they already have the platform, and just need to change the graphics and the songs. it is the biggest cash in ever if they keep putting out this crap cause people keep buying it.

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fuckin_ay (May 19, 2010)

hey Harmonix - suck my dick!

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MN_DrNick (May 17, 2010)

It's not that it isn't fun. It's just that.... well. The Beatles guitar parts are way harder and more complex than anything Billie Joe will ever play his entire life.

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americanriot (May 17, 2010)

it doesn't make a lick of difference when you simplify a guitar to 5 colored buttons that you follow on a screen. and who cares about complicated guitar parts anyway.

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fox82 (May 17, 2010)

Exactly: http://cdn-www.cracked.com/phpimages/photoshop/1/8/8/3188_slide.j pg?v=1

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porksoda (May 17, 2010)

You're retarded because Billie Joe is actually a decent guitar player. Have you ever heard any of their earlier stuff?

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rhynomcgrath (May 17, 2010)

Are they saying green day is bigger than the beetles? I'm glad i don't play those games.

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MN_DrNick (May 17, 2010)

They are both bigger than Jesus.

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eazyd2 (May 17, 2010)

rock band: jesus

you and and a band of merry romans throw rocks at jesus until he agrees to use his miracles to make mark wahlberg to produce an 8th season of entourage

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MN_DrNick (May 17, 2010)

What kind of a world do we live in where Jeremy Piven thinks he's the best thing the combination of peanut butter and chocolate? He's not that good!!

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eazyd2 (May 17, 2010)

i dont think he thinks hes the best thing in world. he just does whats in the script
for more information check out:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acting

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MN_DrNick (May 17, 2010)

I'm actually talking about him being a pre fucking madonna. Don't defend the man!

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eazyd2 (May 17, 2010)

oh ive never seen him interviewed in real life or nothin like that. what is so bad about him? sources please.

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MN_DrNick (May 17, 2010)

You just have to trust me. I don't have time to rummage through the internet for stories.

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eazyd2 (May 17, 2010)

im pretty sure you do

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eazyd2 (May 17, 2010)

he does have a nice body though in a chubby midget kinda way

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bastard_squad (May 17, 2010)

That sentence didn't make any sense at all.

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MN_DrNick (May 17, 2010)

http://i.ytimg.com/vi/8QjRgfVpHRg/hqdefault.jpg

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eazyd2 (May 17, 2010)

http://img.shirtlessdaily.com/2010/03/123.jpg

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MN_DrNick (May 17, 2010)

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2008/06/08/article-0-00B6A3410000 0578-334_468x479.jpg

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eazyd2 (May 17, 2010)

http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00525/SNN0727A-682_52 5276a.jpg

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bastard_squad (May 17, 2010)

What's with you and shirtless dudes?

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eazyd2 (May 17, 2010)

my inspiration - no homo

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MN_DrNick (May 17, 2010)

You might not want to look at my Har Mar Superstar pic below his last one then.

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MN_DrNick (May 17, 2010)

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs564.snc3/30829_584 276873940_163905042_33924539_8048488_n.jpg

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ZachLeg (May 17, 2010)

all of you just lost at every aspect of your life

http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q174/crackcityrckr90/H xcccc.jpg

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MN_DrNick (May 17, 2010)

^^ WINNER!!

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eazyd2 (May 17, 2010)

why are they called green day? does it have something to do with smoking marijuana?

also, why are they called the beatles? does it have something to do with smoking marijuana?

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MN_DrNick (May 17, 2010)

Green Day: green marijuana smoke.... Billie Joe's words not mine

the Beatles: motorcycle gang in "The Wild One" starring Marlon Brando and Lee Marvin (better than Brando in my book).

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bastard_squad (May 17, 2010)

Yep, unfortunately all about pot.
Even the titular song:
A small cloud has fallen
The white mist hits the ground
My lungs comfort me with joy
Vegging on one detail
The rest just crowds around
My eyes itch of burning red

Picture sounds
Of moving insects so surreal
Lay around
Looks like I found something new

Laying in my bed
I think I'm in left field
I picture someone, I think it's you
You're standing so damn close
My body begins to swell
Why does 1 + 1 make 2

Picture sounds
Of moving insects so surreal
Lay around
Looks like I found something new

Laying in my bed
I think I'm in left field
I picture someone, I think it's you
You're standing so damn close
My body begins to swell
Why does 1 + 1 make 2

Picture sounds
Of moving insects so surreal
Lay around

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eazyd2 (May 17, 2010)

haha you said tit

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bastard_squad (May 17, 2010)

Don't tempt me, I'll say it again.

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MN_DrNick (May 17, 2010)

Stealing my geek thunder up there.

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bastard_squad (May 17, 2010)

Sorry pal.

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2kings (May 17, 2010)

next game
rock band: creed!

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bastard_squad (May 17, 2010)

You win by sticking the microphone in your ass and shitting out lyrics.

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hashbrowns (May 17, 2010)

awesome.

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eazyd2 (May 17, 2010)

you knwo what else is awesome? entourage season 4

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hashbrowns (May 17, 2010)

is it better than community? because I expected way better than what i saw.

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eazyd2 (May 17, 2010)

it is better. it will exceed expectations. i dont know what community is per se but i imagine its pretty gayness

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hashbrowns (May 17, 2010)

they were on to a great idea with the name. but that's it. where can I watch it besides my tv?

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eazyd2 (May 17, 2010)

do you have a computer with internet access?

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hashbrowns (May 17, 2010)

i think.

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ZachLeg (May 17, 2010)

Downloadable content comes with a level where you fuck a groupie with Kid Rock. True story btw

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bastard_squad (May 17, 2010)

Yeah but the hardest part in that level is the secret Space Invaders part where you dodge Biblical Scripture with your penis.

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MN_DrNick (May 17, 2010)

This is the lame ass country music fest that has happened 20 miles away from where I grew up every summer. He's playing this year:

http://www.wefest.com/10/images/2010-artists-15.jpg

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ZachLeg (May 17, 2010)

Kid Rock,

please die.

ZachLeg

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bastard_squad (May 17, 2010)

Are you anything like PigLeg?

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MN_DrNick (May 17, 2010)

Sounds like a Pegboy cover band dressed up as pigs onstage.

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bastard_squad (May 17, 2010)

No, but just as cool:

The Deadly Bulb
(Pigleg)

The Deadly Bulb is a man who has a pig for his left leg. As such, he tries to become a supervillain to keep people from noticing the pig. He manages to capture Arthur and lured the Tick into a trap, but they were saved by American Maid and The Deadly Bulb vowed to spend the rest of his days making his pig leg happy.

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MN_DrNick (May 17, 2010)

I really really really REALLY need to give that animated series a second chance. I only ever saw a few episodes as a kid and loved it. I did watch most of the live action series, which was just as awesome I thought. My favorite from the animated series involved Speak: http://www.thetick.ws/images/fanartflyingspeak.jpg

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ZachLeg (May 17, 2010)

its actually taken from the Baroness song "Jake Leg", which is the song of every generation. But I replaced Jake with my name

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MN_DrNick (May 17, 2010)

They only played one song from Red Album on Friday night. Everything else was Blue Album.

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ZachLeg (May 17, 2010)

goddamnit. so fucking jealous

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MN_DrNick (May 17, 2010)

I typed a review for it. I think I got a song mixed up in the Mastodon set though. The second set they did, the last song was each "March of the Fire Ants" or "Workhorse".

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ZachLeg (May 17, 2010)

Either way, I'm really bummed I didn't get to go to that show. The tour came to Richmond, but Baroness wasn't on the tour at the time. I like Mastodon, but not enough to fork up 30+ bucks for a ticket.

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MN_DrNick (May 17, 2010)

I thought it was totally worth it. Valient Thorr was the best band of the night. Baroness was awesome. BTBAM were amazing. Mastodon was solid too, but then again I really do like Crack The Skye.

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ZachLeg (May 17, 2010)

http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-jak1.htm

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MN_DrNick (May 17, 2010)

ZachLeg,

you rule.

MN_DrNick

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ZachLeg (May 17, 2010)

Ron MacLean

I'm writing in order for someone to explain to my niece the distinction between these mandatory pre-game group rites of submission and the rallies at Nuremberg.

ZachLeg

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MN_DrNick (May 17, 2010)

Dio

Can you hear me? I am lost and so alone. I'm asking for your guidance. Would you come down from the thrown? I need the tight compadre who will teach me how to rock. My father thinks you're evil but man, he can suck a cock. Rock is not the devil's work. It's magical and rad. I'll never rock as long as I'm stuck here with my dad.

MN_DrNick

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ZachLeg (May 17, 2010)

For the fucking win

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MN_DrNick (May 17, 2010)

Ha ha ha! Oh man. It was tough though to think of what could top Propagandhi.

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88fingerstonytherevenge (May 18, 2010)

Husker Du?

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ZachLeg (May 17, 2010)

I heard on the radio yesterday that Limp Bizkit and Ice Cube are coming to my area. Is anyone else offended by the fact that Ice Cube is opening for Limp Bizkit?

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notfeelingcreative (May 17, 2010)

Yes that is one thing that actually offends me!

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eazyd2 (May 17, 2010)

black people

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hashbrowns (May 17, 2010)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MI-_jWAmlE

i'm all out of offended.

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eazyd2 (May 17, 2010)

is that for real? if so, thats awesome

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ZachLeg (May 17, 2010)

i'd rather take 5 stats exams than watch that again

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hashbrowns (May 17, 2010)

word.

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MN_DrNick (May 17, 2010)

IDK. I'm still weirded out on Alice In Chains/Deftones/Mastodon tour.

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OneMoreBlatz (May 17, 2010)

So this is worthy of news, but Leatherface canceling their US Tour is a goddamned afterthought sitting in the ticker up top.

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phillipick (May 17, 2010)

Thank you Harmonix, all we needed to know was in that first sentence. The rest reads:

"Blah blah blaah, filler, cough, filler... Shit from the bull, blah filler blah."

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rosshostage (May 17, 2010)

Anyone who is "aware" of Green Day and not The Beatles is a terrible person.

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kevgren (May 17, 2010)

Unfortunately, they're planning to make a crappy game with a lousy selection of songs. FAIL.

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JayTee (May 17, 2010)

"Green Day probably has a much higher awareness than perhaps The Beatles did."

Past tense? REALLY?

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Pedestrian (May 18, 2010)

Admittedly, Green Day has been active longer than the Beatles were - they were only actually together for, what, eight years or something? And Harmonix does have a point in that the target demographic is more familiar with Green Day - not saying they're unfamiliar per se with the Beatles, just that your average sixteen year old probably knows more Green Day songs than Beatles songs. Besides, the target demographic most likely to be more familiar with the Beatles is also most likely to hate the fact that they're being reduced to five colored buttons on a fake plastic guitar.

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jstnbrks (May 17, 2010)

The whole reason why Beatles: Rock Band was not successful in my opinion is...

A) People like a variety of artists and songs in the game. Having it limited to one artist limits the sales.

B) Rock Band really is not as fun for myself and the majority of people out there anymore. Putting out a game like Green Day: Rock Band just puts another nail in the coffin for the Rock Band series. Green Day can't and never will touch what The Beatles have done which will result in this being even more of a complete failure.

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porksoda (May 17, 2010)

B = wrong.

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jstnbrks (May 25, 2010)

time will tell my friend.

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jstnbrks (May 17, 2010)

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John-311 (May 18, 2010)

I'm excited for Green Day:Rock Band. Rock Band is just a more involved yet easily accessible, different way to experience music with your friends. I've found it only helps you to discover new bands and connect more with music you already love.

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worryrock (May 18, 2010)

Green Day.

The Beatles.

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joshisnthardcore (May 18, 2010)

We were pleased with the beatles:rock band but were expecting higher sales? Seriously. When that game came out i remember it being the bee's knees. n so what if ur core audience is 16-34 males, im 24 n yeah i do know alot of green days music, but id never go as far to say that have a much higher awareness then the beatles did. the beatles were around for a mere 10 years but accomplished so much. i also wouldnt say they are much more familiar with green day either. as a matter of fact, this article is just plain bogus. Why does someone feel like they gotta explain themselves in regards to following a beatles game with a green day game, the fact of the matter is , they want as much money as possible. i severely doubt the makers at harmonix are that concerned with mere credibility. like they stated before, the bands been around 21 years. i dont think they need an explanation