More info on Guitar Hero: Van Halen

June 9, 2009 115 Comments

ghvh_screenshot

Here’s a recap of what is known about the upcoming Guitar Hero: Van Halen game:

Guitar Hero: Van Halen should be released this year, possibly as early as August. Van Halen Store will be offering it and will be taking pre-orders soon.
Like the Guitar Hero: Metallica game before it, only the current Van Halen band memebers are in the game.
Players start off as the modern-day Van Halen, with the animated David Lee Roth, Eddie, Alex, and Wolfgang Van Halen characters looking just as they did on the 2007-2008 tour. As you play, you can “unlock” classic characters – younger versions of Dave, Al, Ed, and an alternate Wolfgang, where he looks very early ’80′s-Van Halen, wearing Eddie’s 1984 dice shirt and a red bandana around his neck.
The game features 25 Van Halen classic songs, 3 Eddie Van Halen guitar solos (“Eruption”, “Catherdral” & “Spanish Fly”), and 19 songs from other artists.
The game was premiered at the E3 Expo in Los Angeles last week. Wolfgang Van Halen actually showed up on Wednesday (June 3rd) with his girlfriend. He tried out the game (a beta version with four VH tunes, a Queen song and a Yellowcard song) and also did a duet with the DJ Hero demo guy on the Activision stage.

E3 09: Here’s a look at Guitar Hero: Van Halen

We know Guitar Hero: Van Halen is a thing. And it’s a thing coming to all of the usual suspect consoles later this year, and if retailers are to be believe, it’s coming pretty soon.

So imagine our surprise when Guitar Hero: Van Halen was not one of the games on their list for E3 this year. Instead, the publisher is focusing on its other Hero games, Guitar Hero 5 and DJ Hero, both slated to his stores this holiday. Up until now, we haven’t even gotten a single glimpse of what the game would look like.

That changes. Now. Check out what your digital David Lee Roth looks like in action after the jump. (Note: This was video snapped right off of the show floor, and the soundtrack is DJ Shadow… not Van Halen. If you couldn’t tell. I’m just clearing that up now, in case anyone would get confused. Then we’d have to laugh at you.)

From IGN.com:

E3 2009: Guitar Hero Van Halen Preview

US, June 4, 2009 – Activision loves to milk the Guitar Hero franchise. That’s why it’s so surprising Guitar Hero: Van Halen is only available to play at Sony’s E3 booth, tucked away in a corner. We happened upon it entirely by accident on our way to play Uncharted 2 for the 40th time and figured we might as well rock a few tracks.

You know the drill by now, right? Guitar Hero: Van Halen runs on the Guitar Hero: Metallica engine and includes all of that game’s features. It’s on par with Metallica’s visuals, as well. And like Aerosmith before them, the track list is a mix of Van Halen and other bands. We played “Panama” and “You Really Got Me,” both by Van Halen, and noticed the song “Takedown” by Yellowcard, too. Also playable here at the show are the VH songs “Jump” and “Ain’t Talking About Love.” The other bands joining the party include Queen, Queens of the Stone Age, Foo Fighters, and Blink 182.

You’ll start out seeing the modern Van Halen, but eventually unlock the classic images of the band with huge hair and tight pants. Guitar Hero: World Tour characters will show up to play non-Halen songs.

Guitar Hero: Van Halen will not include the new party features found in Guitar Hero 5. So you won’t be able to join a song in progress or change instruments on the fly. This is basically the same experience you had with Guitar Hero: Metallica, with Van Halen songs swapped in.

Filed Under: Merchandise, Van Halen

Adam

to Aftershock – Great post. I agree 100%. Sure, in a PERFECT world, you’d have Michael, Sammy, (and maybe even Gary) in the game.

to everyone: How can any fan who follows VH & Chickenfoot honestly expect that there would be all the EX-members of the band to be included in the game? Really??

Yes, I would love it if Micheal was in it. But for obvious reasons he’s not. What are you gonna do about it? Go on the internet and complain & complain? LOL.

I don’t even play videos games (no time!) but that will change when this baby comes out!! I have two teenagers, and I know that they, and their friends, will LOVE this!

I will say right now that this game coming out will be THE single greatest thing that Van Halen has EVER done to introduce themselves to young people. This will get a LOT of kids interested in Van Halen, and guitar playing, in general.

And even though VH is obviously very popular, I’ve always thought that they were actually a very UNDERrated band. This will help the world wake up to how amazing their music is. Which is a very great thing!
Nat

What they really ought to do is take the whole GH series to a new level and add a management function. You could kick guys out of the band, bring in who you want and build your own version of VH.

Have a “true to life” history mode, where Dave bails, Sammy joins, Sammy bails, Gary joins, etc. and have a fantasy mode where you bring in who you want.

I wonder sometimes if Eddie feels anything for the music he wrote during Sammy’s years. When you have kids then get divorced, you still love the kids, right? It’s too bad they can’t come up with some way to play that music as well.
Brian

Here is the thing – if you don’t want to include Sammy and Mike, that’s fine. They are not in the band. But then just have the 2007-9 version of VH in the game. The stupid looking part is the classic look of the band with Wolfie in there! How retarded is that?
http://vhnd surfsno2008

van halen gives you video games, tenis shoes, over priced guitars and concerts, t-shirts, guitar equip. and sammy and mike give you kick ass rock and roll at a low price.

nuff said.
stew

I waited since 1984 to see Dave and Eddie back together again! And all you guys do is cry about Mickey ! The only Van Halen fans I know that Enjoy Van Hagar Over Van Roth are chicks!!!! Long live Dave & Eddie!
Brad

I might check the game out. My kids will probably love it. As for me I’ve been playing guitar for 27 years, but my kids kick my ass in guitar hero….it’s just too damn fast!!!!!
Kenny In Florida

Of course I will get this game. I am rather unhappy that there will be no michael anthony (I really want a jack bass controller). I guess when you put wolf in 80′s gear he may kinda look like mike. This is a good example of history being re-written though. We can’t even have Mike in a game. I would not have been mad if MA was just an unlockable character for later. Let wolf be in the modern band. If you are going to play them in 80′s look, then MA should be there. Really does ruin the game’s authenticity. No one cares though. The game will be released as is and instead of pounding the bass and running around like a madman pointing at the crowd, the bass player will be standing in the back shyly plucking away. ( wish I could talk to Wolf and ask him how HE feels about all this. I’m sure he is just excited to start his career on one of the biggest tours of 07-08 then have a video game released with him in it, and the hopes of a top selling album next year. Without Michael Anthony, this isn’t much of a reunion. We have all been following VH for a long time, but this seems to be the most wrong era ever. More wrong than the short lived gary era. Anthony has earned his place in the band and in the bands history. He is as much a part of it as ed and al. Ed could not change the pictures of MA to wolfie on the album covers on the website, but he sure as hell can put wolf in the 80′s in a game and get by with it.
Adam

Surfsno2008,

Yes, Chickefoot gives us GREAT rock ‘n’ roll – that’s very true! And God Bless them for it.

And Van Halen has given us THE VERY BEST ROCK AND ROLL that we’ve ever heard! So what if they haven’t made an album in many years??? What, 10 masterpiece albums wasn’t enough? So your’e actually MAD at them? Think about it.

Some of you people are very odd. But you’re all cool ’cause you dig VH & CF…
Kayser Sozay

I tell ya if any of the members of the drama that is VH (including Gary) wants to make a mint, they should write a tell-all book. That’s something everyone would buy.
TheTruthHurts

Yea! The babies got their VH news! So maybe they’ll get off their rag and take the skirt off and quit complaining about a band that…you know…releases new rock. But, hey, very adorable that whole Wolfgang-in-Dice-Shirt.
Drew

End the anomosity Eddie. You are in your 50′s already and you still are holding a grudge to Michael Anthony.

Sammy Hagar fine.. it was a bad marriage. It is what it is.

I will always cherish your music with both Dave, Sammy and even Gary. But come on – fuckin’ grow up.
http://www.501st.com Skutch

Aftershock: “Anybody who actually expected Michael Anthony or Sammy Hagar to be represented in this was blissfully naive. It’s the same people who still wonder if David Lee Roth will sing any Sammy-era VH on the next tour.”

That’s the funniest thing I’ve read all day. You rule.

Scar, BRING THE BIG SIZED NAPKINS. I got the footlongs, so we’ll need em!!
ace5150

Personally I don’t care who is represented in the game. You are supposed to be looking at the notes anyway.

The main thing is playability and content.

I have the Metallica version and actually only really like to play Metallica songs on it. The rest is just BS filler.

Why can’t they make the VH version with nothing but VH material regardless of what era. They have enough to make two or three games. There is some rocking tunes from the Hagar era that I would love to play on GH. “Summer Nights”, “Humans Being”, “Finish What You Started”, and “Poundcake” just to name a few. I also love the guitar intro to “Cabo Wabo”.

This is just another example of Ed thumbing his nose at Sammy and Mikey and trying to re-write VH history.

You notice how they love to throw the term “CLASSIC Van Halen” out there.

CLASSIC basically means something which is no longer available or will never be available again which pretty much describes their music career.

It’s over! The VH we all know and love is dead! All we have is memories and they are even trying to change those!
frontman71

Michael Anthony get’s screwed again..I love Van Halen but Ed needs to get off his high horse..he’s an A$$H$$$!..should have the ORIGINAL line up in this game..! Wolfgang should NOT be in this at all period….
ace5150

Blink 182 on a VH game!!!

Gimme a f*cking break!!
ROB5150

At this point I think all of us fans of Van Halen should take example by fans of Kiss: 2 new members in the band but with the original make up, I never heard many tragedies, at least here in Italy.
Mike has taken the decision not to play more with the brothers, though only in the studio 5150, in 2002, instead he started playing with Sammy, a former member of the VH.
I think Eddie had every right to look to other solutions.
It ‘easy to give him Eddie, but every musician who has been in the VH should give a bit of gratitude.
frontman71

Rob5150 – No..Eddie was drunk off his ass most of the time…doing pretty much nothing after VH3…so..Mike didn’t want to sit on his ass anymore..Sammy was always playing..(Funny because ED told the world Sammy was lazy!) truth be told Ed wanted Mike out of the band years ago..(rumor has it it was Billy Sheehan…which in later interviews was confirmed by Billy himself…SO WTF..you can’t replace Mike’s voice which my friend is the backbone of VH’s sound with Dave or Sammy..Wolfgang is in the neighborhood but he’s not there! I’ve seen VH 20 times since 1980….fact is fact…Ed needs to wake the F$$$ up!
Rich

“Mike has taken the decision not to play more with the brothers, though only in the studio 5150, in 2002, instead he started playing with Sammy, a former member of the VH.
I think Eddie had every right to look to other solutions.”

1998 – Ed only permitted him to play on 3 tracks, and cut out the live bass solos on the III tour. Only AFTER this did Mike play with the Other Half – Ed ousted him!

The only fucking thing that bothers me about this game is that like the tour, they are missing out a collective 15 years of their history (more or less) by not including stuff from the Sammy era. Who doesn’t want to crank Poundcake? How fun would Pleasure Dome be with the full band? Its simply the fact that although I love Dave and the classic Van Halen, I also have gotta give love to Sammy. Those 4 albums were definately good releases.

I just wish everyone could stop being premaddonas and actually take the music seriously. I love Ed, but him and Alex seem to have their heads up their asses, and Sammy and Mike seem to be looking the other way. Just have a consensus about the band and sort it out, for the FANS!
Big AL

frontman71,

You just agreed with Rob5150. “Mike didn’t want to sit on his ass anymore… Sam was playing”. So Mike LEFT Van Halen to play with Sam!!!!!

Mike was a high harmony of a 3 piece harmony, so no, he didn’t make the sound of Van Halen. Eddie did!!

Look up some articles from 1978, I’m sure you won’t find any that say’s ” AWESOME new band, back-up vocals have changed the way back-up vocals will be sung”!!!
“New inivator of back-up vocals”
“Back-up vocalists of the year award”

I like the new Chickenfoot album but if you listen to the back-up vocals you don’t hear Van Halen!!!!!!
Chuck

Gee all this griping about no Sammy in the game. Should we all be up in arms that none of the members of Van Halen were given checks when he sold his Cabo Wabo tequila? Seriously if it wasn’t for the VH brothers for bringing Sammy into the band could he have ever sold his sub par tequila? Not to mention sell his company for millions!!! Lets not forget that before Hagar ever joined VH he was mildly important in rock and roll. So before you get all bent out of shape and playing the oh poor Sammy card think about all those folks he swindles out of money selling seats on the stage for his sing along Jimmy Buffett wanna be shows. Oh and he formed a new group and has some new music. I can’t wait to see what those record sales look like. Probably close to those other post VH record sales. I loved VH with Hagar, Roth, and Cherone (just him live, his song writing sucked), but Eddie is the main reason you listen to Van Halen. Kind of like watching the Lakers. Sure you may be a Laker’s fan, but if Kobe is hurt you may just check the boxscore rather than watch the game.

Give Wolfie a mullet and a goatie and you got your fill of avatar Mike. Its a frickin video game.
ROB5150

frontman71,I respect your opinion. Here in Italy to be a fan of rock n roll in general and in particular of Van Halen is hard because the music scene here sucks, so VHND thank you for the opportunity to exchange views with all of Van Halen fans around the world!
phillster

Kimberly -I`m sure your a beautiful woman,so Here`s the “skinny” on why Musicians take offense:)
Playing an Instrument is considered a TRADE,
(a “skilled” proffesion).
“Trained Assasin”,-also a “skilled” proffesion,(w/slightly better pay:)
I used to swing drumsticks4a livin`& now i swing a hammer,
(seriously doubt there`ll be a game `bout the H-VAC proffesion-lol)
That`s the viewpoint,as a “retired gamer”myself,I get your
point,as a musician,I say-1st lesson`s on me babe;)

there`s also no such thing as a professional “video game player”in the real world.-That`s why we have schools.
OH,&to me Kimberely-YouWillNeverBeLame2ME;)
P.P.S.S.-Everybody/Anybody Can&Should Learn2Play,(real instruments,
the world would be better off,beleive me.nuff said.Peace
http://mitchgalietta.com Mitch

LAME
http://vhnd.com michael

Just heard a national rock radio voice pound eddie! He talked about this game and said it was blasphemous not to have mikey in it…stating wolfie wasn’t around for any of it… Bad bad move by the vh camp, but should it surprise anyone!? When leffler passed, the spirit of the vh machine died with him…
DANNYBOY

We have finally entered the Twilight Zone—>
this is such stupid shit-
kenny

what a slap in the FACE to NOT include one of the ORIGINAL BASS PLAYERS of the BAND. VERY SHALLOW EDDIE!!!
VH2008

Why do I get the feeling that most people who are complaining about Mike not being in the game will end up buying the game and enjoying it immensely?
Rafael

You guys should lead a campaign against Eddie’s stupid attitudes towards Mike and Sammy. This is ridiculous.
Everyone should boycott this game!!
phil

ed leffler must be rolling in his grave over all this drama!
http://www.tastingsandiego.com DAVE

Who the hell decided it was a good idea to put Wolfgang in there instead of Mike? That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever seen. Unlock a classic 80′s style Wolfgang? Rediculous. These guys will do just about anything for the money, I guess.
Aftershock

Don’t worry, folks … I understand Mike will be included in future editions of “Guitar Hero: Snake.”

All I know is I will never consider this new Van Halen game to be authentic unless you can unlock a Mark Stone avatar.
kerndawg

I see both sides of the story. If ytour inducted in the RnR Hall of Fame you should be on the game. I grew up with Van Halen. I love every album. I just would like to see each member that played a part in my life.
greg

Not only is Eddie an incredible guitarist and song writer, he apparantly designs video games too. Do any of you morons ever consider that the whole flashback to the 70s/80s Van Halen was Activisions idea and not Eddie Van Halen’s?

Of course Mike and Sam aren’t in the game – they aren’t in Van Halen any more! Does any one honestly think that Van Halen’s management is going to insist that former members are put in a game that in all reality is a promotional vehicle (and not to mention revenue stream)for the current band? Why should the management group who represents Ed, Alex, Dave and Wolfgang work to get a payday for Mike and Sammy? Just to keep the fanboys happy? Their job is to make money for their clients, and their clients aren’t Mike and Sammy! Anyone who thinks otherwise is naive and stupid. Yes, Wolfgang in the flashback clothes is ridiculous, but that is the game designers fault, not Eddies.
The Riv

I somewhat agree with the rant of “Dirty Duck” telling us to grow up and quit complaining about no Michael Anthony. HOWEVER, Mike was a very important part of Van Halen all through their career and I do think that it is quite a slap in the face to not include Mike in this at all. This is not an “exclusion”, it’s a total “blocking”. All I can say is that it is sad to see. This latest example really takes the cake.

P.S. The new Chickenfoot CD is AWESOME!!!!!!
Vanicionado

I only got into Rock Band in May. It’s fun! It’s too bad that there’s no Sammy songs, but maybe that will follow someday. I mean, Sammy, or no Sammy, Eddie’s going to make some dough of the deal somehow, so he can’t lose bringing out another version… right?

Skutch… I’ll bring the potato salad, but we’ll need some slaw too!
Vanicionado

SD said “They even nailed Wolfgang. he looks perfect. Just like a male version of Valerie.”

Dude, that’s hilarious!!
Rob

zzzzz
Scott

gay no van hagar me need mike
pete

i’ve heard alot of people say how mike had a free ride with Van Halen but what about alex?and i have nothing against the kid but wolfie is riding on his dads coat tails pretty well too.
http://www.myspace.com/aarxn aarxn

has anyone here every played a GuitarHero or Rock Band game? you are too busy trying play the notes thats pouring on the screen than whats going on behind them! you dont really have a lot of time to watch the videos behind them.
who cares whos back there? they all look like The Sims anyway haha
http://vhnd surfsno2008

everybody knows classic van halen was the best.
Even sam repects that.
that being said they did make 10 great albums
1984 and 5150 being my favs.
sam is 100% better in a band then out of a band just like DLR.
its not the fact that i want mike or sam in the game its the way ed treats people. when sam left in 96 it was a massive blow- i got into smashing pumpkins and RAGE but they never filled my van halen fix. lets hope for new music half as good as classic era and everything may work itself out
and yes chickenfoot is killer. as for other bands out there only the who, black sabbath, and zeppelin can match the mighty classic van halen. i loved g’nr on their first disc too.
http://myspace.com/timkarplus t1m

Only 25 songs? What happened to the whole classic catalogue? By my count there are at least twice that many tunes. Sure, I want to play “Runnin With The Devil”, but what about “Little Guitars” maybe “Dirty Movies”, or other less famous songs? If “House of Pain” is omitted then that is just a crime. Don’t get me wrong – I will buy it and play it but they could really do better.
Kimberly

Phillster- I totally understand where you are coming from! I’m a musician myself and for a long time I was so so offended by these games and all the new music out there that doesn’t actually qualify as “music”. But now that I actually tried the game it is really just fun..I would hope that it doesn’t push people to think that it is a substitute for an actual instrument! Cause that would just be sad! Lol, but yes I totally get what you are saying.
t1m- I would flip if they had Dirty Movies on there!! I lvoe that song and I would lvoe to see some Sinner’s Swing too.
Frank

Just to make myself clear to people who say Mike is not in VH anymore and to stop whining about it:

I know and I accept that Wolf is part of VH now, so I understand his appearance in the game and that’s cool.
During the last live gigs he did a good job.
But back in the 80′s Mike WAS part of the band and you can’t change that.
If Neversoft spent so much time, research and effort to give VH the vintage 80′s look, then why not be accurate all the way and throw Mike in?
Again, no offence against Wolf, but I think this is a similar kick in Mike’s balls as when VH had had his images removed earlier from the album covers on their website.

And yes, Cliff Burton wasn’t in GH Metallica, but they chose to stick to their current looks throughout the whole game.
Then Burton’s appearance wouldn’t make any sense.

Frank, NL
Vanicionado

Maybe there’s a secret surprise in the game…

An extra special unlockable player: Ed’s Ego!!

No seriously, the could get one more Van Halen in the game: Jan Van Halen on the clarinet for Big Bad Bill.

That would be sweet!!
Vanicionado

You know, when Axl Rose was going to re-do “Welcome To The Jungle” by the “NEW” G’n'R, there was outrage. How the hell can you redo that classic without anyone else that Slash?

People were pissed at Axl.

But seriously… without Axl, what the hell is Guns N Roses? (Velvet Revolver, I guess… and that ain’t so bad, but I digress.)

The love/hate relationship people have with Axl, is the same feeling I have for Eddie.

Love what the guy brings to the table…

But I hate his table manners.

There’s no Van Halen without him, that’s true.

But he’s just one piece of the intricate puzzle.

All we need is love… Somebody get me a doctor…
Myron Philpot

Meh. GH and RB are lame to begin with. I *play* guitar and I hang with mates who *play* their drums and bass. No need for pretend here.
Marvin

oops, posted this in the wrong place yesterday…

Eddie is doing what Gene Simmons did/is doing and what Evel Knievel did: marketing his brand. Merchandise = money. Big Fat Money. Gene made tons of additional cash from non-music product. Evel made tons selling toys, bikes, etc. And it takes time to get the guitars, t-shirts, video games, shoes, etc. to market, so not much time for new music. Some call this “selling out.” Some call it being a smart business man. You be the judge.
http://www.spacecactus.com Greg Lime

Ed rules.
http://www.spacecactus.com Greg Lime

…Van Halen rules…and this is why I play guitar!