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It has been 20 years after Guitar Hero debuted in North America, providing players everywhere the means to feel like rock legends. Figuratively speaking, but try convincing someone who has mastered Free Bird’s four-minute instrumental break before an enthusiastic crowd of friends.

Created by Harmonix, the game provided users with a plastic guitar peripheral to follow coloured notes scrolling down the screen synchronized to the music. Each riff mimicked particular chords, creating the feel of an authentic live show.

The studio previously experimented with rhythm games before partnering with the publisher, which was purchased by Activision in 2006. Collaboratively, they established the foundations for a surprising billion-dollar franchise which made a significant influence for many musicians included, showcasing decades-old groups to a new generation of gaming enthusiasts.

Michael Dornbrook, ex-chief operating officer of Harmonix, remembers the early budgetary hurdles in securing the songs – despite the fact initial releases mostly used rerecorded tracks.

“We rerecorded every song since the cost prohibitive,” he says. “Even with the necessary permissions alone, it proved extremely difficult. We failed to secure bands like legendary groups – the publisher was operating on a shoestring budget, and we were fairly certain the project would flop. However, when Guitar Hero became a hit, and record sales and radio play increased, everyone wanted to be in.”

He adds: “One of the amazing things was the number of parents got in touch and thanked us for exposing their kids to the music they loved. It became an intergenerational thing.”

Timeless Music Gains a New Audience

Irish group one featured act had their track on the 2008 game Guitar Hero World Tour. Lead musician Paul Mahon recalls the way the game revived classic rock back into vogue: “Guitar Hero offered a larger, younger audience. Generally this had been considered outdated material, but then when it was featured on the title and teenagers discovered it, abruptly it became trendy. That legitimised it, and got rid of the ‘dad rock’ label. It provided our catalog renewed popularity.”

In 2008, the band's debut album was still unreleased in the US, meaning the game served as a primary platform of discovery for the group as they went on US tour opening for AC/DC. “Their crew were playing the song during travel, and some of them knew us thanks to the game,” he notes.

Rock’s Heavyweight Titles Enduring Influence

Music's biggest acts soon took advantage of the series’ popularity, with Aerosmith, Metallica and Van Halen featuring in specialized spin-off titles centered around their music collections and associated stories, visuals and rock’n’roll mythology. In the case of, the Aerosmith edition, it was said to have made the group more money compared to their studio albums. It moved more than 500,000 copies upon release, while demand for Aerosmith’s music rose of up to 40% during an era as the industry faced decline.

Guitar Hero still motivates quick-handed fanaticism within the community. Earlier this year, an online personality achieved an impressive attempt of DragonForce’s Through the Fire and Flames – a notoriously difficult anthem popularized through Guitar Hero – using a fan-made version, a no-cost alternative with similar gameplay and extensive customisation options. This track is challenging even in expert mode, not to mention performed at increased tempo while hitting every one of its near 4,000 notes. The streamer claimed requiring nine months of practice.

“The game is a fun, imaginary experience. If you play other games, it doesn't imply you ought to pick up a real gun and enlist,” notes DragonForce guitarist the artist.

The band previously completed a profitable run before Through the Fire and Flames was featured on Guitar Hero III, yet he explains it turned them into a household name. “I remember our distributors informing us that we were selling albums rapidly,” he says. “Popularity surged on the subsequent tour, and we were playing just before the headliners at the event.”

Indeed, the band's visibility from Guitar Hero was so immense that it threatened to overshadow everything else the band has done. Last year, the song was used in a trailer for Despicable Me 4. “Previously I thought otherwise, but now I accept it,” Li says. “If you only hear one DragonForce song, it’s totally cool – each person has their own path in music and I’m glad we played a role in fans' experiences”.

Enduring Impact of a Iconic Controller

Top-tier promotion, whether it’s for cars, clothes or games, extends beyond than selling something – it evokes a desire. Was the game able to harness this? “That’s exactly what we were aiming to achieve,” he confirms. “That thrill of performing as a rock star in the spotlight. Since the beginning, the co-founders believed humans have a natural urge to make music, and their goal was to use technology to enable everyone to do it”.

The majority installments were released over a mere five-year period between 2005 and 2010, featuring derivative titles such as the DJ version, complete with a spinning deck, and Band Hero. Subsequently, corporate focus in plastic instruments waned, except for a short-lived revival several years later.

Titles like the fan project and newer releases have kept the scene active, and there’s set to be something from the founders in development. Recently formed developers has begun production on their first music game. The initial creators are both involved as special advisers. Are gamers ready to embrace a new entry in the spirit of the classic?

“Our team believed such titles might become like Madden where you can update every year,” Dornbrook says. “There’s so much fresh tracks that it could be evergreen, thus I remain optimistic. There’s no reason why it can’t persist for future fans.”