Unfortunately, due to unforeseen technical difficulties, we won’t be able to release Rush’s “Moving Pictures” this week. We’ll be working on it as hard as we can, but it looks like it could be a couple of weeks to fix. In the meantime we will be moving around our schedule so we still have DLC coming out each week (including this week, info to follow in another announcement).

A couple of weeks!?!?!!  Dangit!  Well, it will be interesting to see what they can scramble together to put in place on short notice so we don’t go hungry for rock this week!

LIVE FROM NEW YORK, IT’S SATURDAY AFTERNOON! (and evening, and night, and half of Sunday)

Join a handful of the world’s top ranked Rock Band players (and ScoreHero members) as they broadcast a continuous setlist of every single song ever released for Rock Band. The “Super Setlist” will attempt to both set a Guinness world record and raise money for the Child’s Play charity.

Tune in to the stream here, starting at 12PM EST on Saturday. While you’re there, be sure to support a good cause by donating to one of the most beloved charities in the gaming world.

The Internet star-studded lineup includes:

Chatter is ablaze on the RockBand official forums with several members posting comments that they viewed a very special tv commercial today.  According to several people, the VH1 Classic channel aired a promo video that announces Rush’s “Moving Pictures” album will be available for download next week (Tues Aug 26 for xbox and Thurs Aug 28 for Playstation).

Take a look at the video and see if it looks like a fakey fake to you!

The Full list of songs as shown above is

Tom Sawyer (Original Version)
Red Barchetta
YYZ
Limelight (Original Version)
The Camera Eye
Witch Hunt
Vital Signs

Tracks will go for $1.99 (160 points) or pick up the whole album for $10.99 (880 Points).

The pack, announced several weeks ago, is available as of August 21 and includes:

• “Heroes of our Time” from the new album Ultra Beatdown
• “Revolution Deathsquad”
• “Operation Ground and Pound” both from Inhuman Rampage

DragonForce is best known for their impossibly challenging track “Through the Fire and Flames” from Guitar Hero III.  The song contains 3722 notes and helped make one notable shredder into an internet celebrity this year.

Chris Chike - aka Iamchris4life - claimed his spot in the Guinness Book of World Records under the category “Highest Score for a Single Song on Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock” in March 2008. Hitting 97% of the notes and scoring 840,647 points, he was unbelievably beaten by a rival in May by a mere 10,000 points.  Not content to sit back and take second, Chris once again reclaimed his title when he fully completed the song and hit all 100% of the notes on June 3rd beating his own world record and scoring 987,786 points - all of which was captured on YouTube. 

Chris’s abilities even landed him a gig as a spokesperson for The Ant Commandos (TAC) company which makes third party guitar peripherals for the rhythm games and plans to have a Chike branded guitar.  Chris certainly has Guitar Hero and DragonForce partly to thank for his success so far.  Perhaps DragonForce can help create some new celebrities with their newest releases.

Special thanks to RockGamer.com commenter Alex on this latest find. He left a comment on our story on the leaked list saying, “Kent - Vinternoll2 is now officially confirmed by the band on their website.”  which led us through the interwebs on a chase for that story and ultimately turned into a gold mine. The Kent official website  and the related press release I found is in Swedish, so let’s hope the Swedish to English translation site was working!  This is the press release on their site after translation:

Kent conquers the world, together with the Guitar Hero World Tour in the autumn’s long-awaited television game Guitar Hero World Tour. Today, it is official: one of the Nordic ties in Guitar Hero World Tour is Kent. The band is involved with the song VinterNoll2.

– We are extremely proud that Kent is the game,says Nikke Lindner, head of Guitar Hero in the Nordic region. We had a long list of the Nordic band that we wanted to be included in Guitar Hero World Tour, and Kent was at the top of the list. The band themselves have chosen the song that will be involved, which makes it even better.

VinterNoll2 will be included in any Guitar Hero World Tour, including the edition to be issued in the United States and Australia. — This is a different and fun way for the band to reach out to a new audience with their music. It is also fun for all the fans that they are at present allowed to play VinterNoll2, says Per Lindholm, A & R at Kents record company RCA / Sony BMG.

– Guitar Hero is the TV spelserie for speeding reached one billion U.S. dollars in circulation, so we expect that several million Guitar Hero fans around the world who will be able to enjoy the VinterNoll2, continues Nikke Lindner.

However, with release of Guitar Hero World Tour will be for the first time be able to play as a whole orchestra of authentic drums (including sensitive cymbals and drums), microphone, guitar and bass. Together with a recording studios, it will be possible to compose, record and edit and share their rock songs online by GHTunes ™.

Other songs that are now becoming official is:

· Anouk - Good God

· Beatsteaks - Hail to the Freaks

· Coldplay - Shiver

· Hush Puppies - You’re Gonna say yeah

· Lenny Kravitz - Are you gonna go my way

· Lost Prophets - Rooftops

· The Enemy - aggro

· Mars Volta - L’Via L’Viaquez

· Michael Jackson — Beat It

· Radio Futura - Escuela De Calor

· Stuck in the sound - Toy Boy

· Tokio Hotel - Monsoon

With the announcement of these latest 12 songs, the list (with sources listed at the end of the story) now looks like this:

30 Seconds to Mars - “The Kill”
311 - “Beautiful Disaster”
Airbourne - “Too Much, Too Young, Too Fast” (2,12)
Allman Brothers - “Ramblin’ Man”
Anouk - “Good God” (18)
The Answer -”Never Too Late”
At the Drive-In - “One Armed Scissors” (2,12)
Beastie Boys Feat. Kerry King - “No Sleep ‘Till Brooklyn” (12)
Beatstakes - “Hail to the Freaks” (18)
Billy Idol - “Rebel Yell” (1, 2,12)
Black Label Society - “Stillborn” (2)
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – “Weapon of Choice” (2,12)
Blink-182 - “Dammit” (2,9,12)
Blondie - “One Way or Another”
Bob Seger - “Hollywood Nights” (2,12)
Bon Jovi - “Livin’ on a Prayer”(12,16)
Bullet For My Valentine - “Scream Aim Fire”
Creedence Clearwater Revival - “Up Around the Bend” (12)
Coldplay - “Shiver” (16,18)
Dinosaur Jr. - “Feel the Pain” (2,12)
The Doors - “Love Me Two Times” (2, 10,12)
Dream Theater - “Pull Me Under”
The Eagles - “Hotel California” (2, 12)
The Enemy - “Aggro” (12, 18)
Filter - “Hey Man Nice Shot”
Fleetwood Mac - “Go Your Own Way”
Foo Fighters - “Everlong” (1, 2, 12,16)
The Guess Who - “American Woman” (12)
Interpol - “Obstacle 1″ (4,12)
Jane’s Addiction - “Mountain Song”
Jimi Hendrix - Disc: “The Wind Cries Mary” “Purple Haze (Live)”(2, 12)/ DLC: “Little Wing” “Foxy Lady” (2)
Joe Satriani - “Satch Boogie” (5)
Jimmy Eat World - “The Middle”
Kent - “Vinternoll2″ (18)
Korn - “Freak on a Leash”
Lacuna Coil - “Our Truth”
Linkin Park - “What I’ve Done” “One Step Closer” (2,12,16) (One Step Closer was on leaked list)
The Living End - “Prisoner of Society”
Los Lobos - “La Bamba”
Lost Prophets - “Rooftops” (12, 18)
Lynard Skynard - “Sweet Home Alabama”
The Mars Volta - “L’Via L’Viaquez” (18)
Metallica - “Trapped Under Ice” (2) DLC: “Death Magnetic Album” (press release)
Michael Jackson Feat. Eddie Van Halen -”Beat It” (4,8,16,18)
Modest Mouse - “Float On”(12)
Motörhead - “Overkill” (12)
Muse -”Assassin”
Negramaro - “Nuvole” (12)
Nirvana - “About A Girl” (4,12)
No Doubt - “Spiderwebs” (17)
NOFX - “Soul Doubt” (6)
Oasis - “Some Might Say” (12)
Ozzy Osbourne - “Crazy Train”, “Mr.Crowley” (2)
Paramore - “Misery Business” (2,12)
Pat Benatar - “Heartbreaker”
Radio Futura - “Escuela de Calor” (18)
REM - “The One I Love”
Rise Against - “Re-education Through Labor”
Sex Pistols - “Pretty Vacant”
Silversun Pickups - “Lazy Eye” (2,12)
Smashing Pumpkins - “Today”
Steely Dan - “Do It Again”
Steve Miller Band - “The Joker” (3,4)
Sting - “Demolition Man” (9)
The Stone Roses - “Love Spreads”
Stuck in the Sound - “Toy Boy” (18)
Sublime - “Santeria” (1,2,11,12)
Survivor - “Eye of the Tiger” (2,12)
System of a Down - “BYOB” (2)
Ted Nugent - “Stranglehold”  (14)
Tokio Hotel - “Monsoon” (18)
Tool - “Parabola”, “Schism”, “Vicarious” (7,15)
Trust - “Antisocial”
Van Halen - “Hot for Teacher” (1, 2,12)
Willie Nelson - “On the Road Again”
Wings - “Band On the Run”

No band listed:

“Prisoner of Society” (added to list for The Living End)
“Escula de Calor”(or something) (added to list for Radio Futura)
“Kick out the Jams” (possibly: MC5, Rage Against the Machine, Presidents of the United States of America)
“Toy Boy” (added to the list for Stuck in the Sound)
“Vinternoll2″ (added to list for Kent)
“Rooftops” (added to the list for Lost Prophets)
“Nuevola e Levenio” (added to the list for Nuvole by Negramaro)
“Hail to the Freaks” (added to list for Beatsteaks)

Not on the leaked list but discussed elsewhere:

Lenny Kravitz - “Are You Gonna Go My Way” (Used in the promo trailer, 18)
Linkin Park - “In the End” (4)
Smashing Pumpkins - “Bullet with Butterfly Wings” (4)
Flo Rida - (Travis Barker Remix) - “Low” (13)
Hush Puppies - “You’re Gonna Say Yeah” (18)

_________________________________________________________________________

At this point, we think it’s safe to start researching the songs and practicing lyrics because too many sources have been too accurate for this to be just “Pure Speculation and Wishful Thinking”.  As always, we’ll update everyone as the handful of remaining songs get confirmed.  You can find the updated list here on RockGamer.com under the Extras tab.

Rock on!

Sources:

1. Shown at E3
2. IGN article
3. http://www.bbfc.co.uk/website/Classi…E?OpenDocument (appears to confirm “The Joker”… unless you know another rumored song with “toker” in the lyrics)
4. An article in Stuff confirmed:
   Quote:

   Steve Miller Band - The Joker Interpol - Obstacle 1 The Doors - Light My Fire Linkin Park - In The End Michael Jackson - Beat It Smashing Pumpkins - Bullet With Butterfly Wings As well as confirmed artists, but their songs unkown Nirvana Muse Beastie Boys Van Halen Foo Fighters

   Although at least two of those have been shown to be incorrect according to both the leaked list and other sources and both Van Halen and Foo Fighters tracks were already known calling these confirmations into doubt.

5. Joe Satriani has said that Guitar Hero World Tour and Rock Band 2 “have just licensed “Satch Boogie” and “Surfing with the Alien” for upcoming versions,” according to an interview with Satriani in Guitar World Magazine.
6. NOFX have allegedly stated that “Soul Doubt” will be in the game.
7. Screenshots have appeared on the Tool Hotline website.
8. http://www.jeuxvideo.fr/guitar-hero-…tu-155090.html has a short bit of gameplay from “Beat It” at the end of the video
9. Originally Posted by Wikipedia:

   A video demonstrating motion capture for the game also featured Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith along with The Police drummer Stewart Copeland commenting on the performance of the prototype drum set.

10. The Doors’ management confirm that they will be in both GH:WT and RB2 .
11. http://www.gametrailers.com/player/36308.html
12. OXM Magazine August Edition, screen shots
13. USA Today article
14. Game Trailer song heard in background while loading screens
15. Market Research Survey taken by a scorehero poster
16. Gameplay Video from Game Convention on 8/18
17. IGN article of demo played
18. Kent Band website

The folks over at IGN have put together a great preview of what we can expect from the upcoming release of Guitar Hero World Tour (which we know is a “Complete Band Game“).  Here are some of the most notable points we found:

• 8 songs listed adds 2 new confirms to the “leaked list” - likely the real deal
• Wireless drums are rock solid sturdy, quiet and adjustable (req 2 AA batt)
• Use the touch pad on the new guitar to “tap” bass notes or to slide through purple-linked notes
• Vocals adds an “easy” mode that only measures rhythm and not pitch
• Vocalists get free-form areas where you can sing what and how you like
• You can’t “save” a band member who’s failed -activate star power to boost them up a bit before they fail
• If you pause the song mid-game, a handy 3 second countdown before the song starts back up

All in all, some pretty relevant, solid information.  RockGamer wrote about some of the great new features previously including character customization so check that out if you are craving more GHWT info.  You can read the full story from IGN here - and thanks, guys!!

We’ll take those directly to the top and then report back to you with the news!  Just post your question in the comments section so we can make a list.  We’ll get as many of them answered as we can - even if it means holding someone hostage at plastic gunpoint.

We even have prizes to give away to the folks who come up with the most questions that make it onto our final list.  So post away!!

Fear not. RockGamer.com has compiled a handy one-stop tool where you can preview every song shipping with the Harmonix sequel. Now get crackin’!