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Marking two decades since Guitar Hero hit the market in North America, providing players everywhere the opportunity to become a rock star. Figuratively speaking, but try telling that anyone who has mastered the epic four-minute instrumental break before an enthusiastic crowd of friends.

Created by the developers, the game gave players a plastic guitar peripheral to match on-screen cues scrolling down the screen synchronized to the music. Each riff mimicked specific notes, creating the sensation of a genuine performance.

Harmonix previously tried its hand with rhythm games prior to teaming up with the publisher, which was acquired by Activision during the mid-2000s. Collaboratively, they laid the groundwork for a surprising billion-dollar series which made a significant influence for many musicians included, showcasing decades-old groups to a new generation of gaming enthusiasts.

A former executive, former COO of Harmonix, recalls the initial financial challenges of licensing the songs – even though the first two games mostly used rerecorded tracks.

“We reproduced all the music because the dollar figure prohibitive,” he says. “Despite having the publishing rights alone, it was nearly impossible. We failed to secure bands like the Who – the publisher was operating on a shoestring budget, and our team was fairly certain the project would flop. However, when the game took off, and record sales airtime increased, all artists desired to be in.”

He adds: “One of the amazing things was how many parents reached out and thanked us for introducing their kids to the music they loved. It evolved into an intergenerational phenomenon.”

Classic Rock Gains a New Audience

Irish blues-rock band one featured act had Never Too Late on the 2008 game the popular installment. Lead musician the artist recalls how the series brought older hits back into vogue: “The game offered a larger, younger audience. Typically such music was seen as outdated material, however once it got included in the title and teenagers were finding it, abruptly it was cool. This validated the genre, eliminating the ‘dad rock’ label. It gave all our music a new life.”

In 2008, the band's debut album remained unreleased in the US, meaning Guitar Hero served as a primary platform for exposure for the band as they went on US tour opening for the rock giants. “Their crew had on the song during travel, and several recognized us from Guitar Hero,” he notes.

Rock’s Heavyweight Spin-offs Enduring Impact

Music's biggest acts quickly capitalised on the series’ popularity, with Aerosmith, Metallica and others starring in dedicated spin-off titles centered around each band’s catalogue and associated lore, imagery and legendary status. For example, Guitar Hero: Aerosmith, reportedly earned the band more money than any of their studio albums. It sold well over half a million units in its first week, while demand for their songs rose significantly during an era when the music business faced decline.

Guitar Hero continues to inspire nimble-fingered dedication among its fans. Earlier this year, an online personality achieved an impressive attempt featuring Through the Fire and Flames – an infamously tough power-metal song popularized through the game – on Clone Hero, a freeware game with almost identical gameplay and extensive personalization features. This track is challenging even in expert mode, not to mention performed at double speed and without missing every one of its near 4,000 notes. The streamer claimed requiring nine months to accomplish.

“Guitar Hero is a fun, imaginary experience. If you play Call of Duty, it doesn't imply you ought to use actual weapons and go to war,” says musician Herman Li.

DragonForce previously wrapped up a successful tour before their hit appeared on Guitar Hero III, yet he explains it turned them into a household name. “I remember our distributors informing us that our selling albums like crazy,” he says. “It exploded when we next toured, and we performed right ahead of the headliners at the event.”

Indeed, the band's visibility from Guitar Hero proved so vast that it threatened to overshadow everything else accomplishments. Recently, the track was used in a trailer for Despicable Me 4. “In the past I thought differently, but now I accept it,” Li says. “Should you just listen to one DragonForce song, it’s totally cool – everyone’s got their own path in music and I’m glad we’ve been part of people’s lives”.

Enduring Impact of a Iconic Controller

The best marketing, whether it’s for cars, clothes or video games, goes further mere transactions – it evokes a desire. Did Guitar Hero harness this? “That’s exactly what our team trying to create,” he confirms. “That thrill of being a music icon on the stage. Since the beginning, the co-founders felt that there’s an instinctive human desire to make music, and they wanted to use technology to allow people to participate”.

Most installments were released in just a half-decade between 2005 and 2010, featuring derivative titles like DJ Hero, complete with a spinning deck, and the band-focused game. After that, corporate focus in plastic instruments died down, aside from a brief comeback in 2015.

Games such as Clone Hero and newer releases have maintained the community active, and there’s set to be a new product from the original publisher on the way. A new studio has entered work 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 those games might become like Madden allowing annual update every year,” Dornbrook says. “There’s so much new music that it could be evergreen, so I’ve always been optimistic. There’s no reason for it to persist for future fans.”