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It has been two decades after the legendary game debuted in North America, offering players everywhere the tools to become rock legends. Not in reality, though you'd be hard-pressed telling that someone who has nailed the epic four-minute guitar solo before an enthusiastic crowd of friends.

Created by Harmonix, Guitar Hero gave players a plastic guitar peripheral to match coloured notes scrolling down the display in time with a song. Every sequence mimicked particular chords, creating the sensation of a genuine live show.

Harmonix had already experimented in the music genre before partnering with the publisher, later purchased by the gaming giant during the mid-2000s. Together, they established the groundwork for an unlikely massively profitable franchise which made a significant impact for many musicians included, showcasing decades-old groups to millions of gaming enthusiasts.

A former executive, ex-chief operating officer from the developer, recalls the initial financial challenges of licensing the songs – despite the fact the first two games mostly used rerecorded tracks.

“We rerecorded every song since the dollar figure prohibitive,” he explains. “Despite having the publishing rights alone, it proved nearly impossible. We failed to secure acts such as legendary groups – the publisher was operating on a shoestring budget, and our team was pretty convinced it would fail. However, when Guitar Hero took off, album purchases airtime were going up, everyone wanted to participate.”

He adds: “One of the remarkable aspects was the number of parents reached out and thanked us for introducing their kids to the music they loved. It became an intergenerational phenomenon.”

Timeless Music Gains Younger Fans

Irish group one featured act had Never Too Late on the 2008 game Guitar Hero World Tour. Lead musician Paul Mahon recalls the way the game brought older hits back into vogue: “Guitar Hero offered a bigger, younger audience. Generally such music was seen as music that was past it, however when it was featured on the game young people discovered it, suddenly it was cool. This validated the genre, eliminating the outdated label. It provided all our music renewed popularity.”

In 2008, the Answer’s first record was still unreleased in the US, meaning Guitar Hero was a key medium for exposure for the band as they went on a North American tour opening for AC/DC. “The roadies had on Never Too Late on the tour bus, and several knew us thanks to the game,” Mahon says.

Major Band Titles Enduring Impact

Music's biggest acts quickly capitalised on the game's success, including bands like Aerosmith, Metallica and others starring in dedicated spin-off titles centered around each band’s catalogue and related lore, visuals and rock’n’roll mythology. In the case of, Guitar Hero: Aerosmith, it was said earned the group more money than any of their studio albums. It moved well over 500,000 units upon release, while sales of their songs saw an increase significantly during an era as the industry was already collapsing.

Guitar Hero continues to inspire quick-handed dedication within the community. Earlier this year, a streamer completed an impressive attempt featuring Through the Fire and Flames – an infamously tough anthem made popular by the game – on Clone Hero, a no-cost alternative with almost identical gameplay but an array of customisation options. This track is difficult enough on the hardest setting, not to mention performed at double speed and without missing a single one of its near 4,000 notes. They stated requiring nine months to accomplish.

“The game offers a, imaginary experience. If you play other games, it doesn't imply you ought to pick up actual weapons and go to war,” notes musician Herman Li.

DragonForce previously completed a profitable run before their hit was featured on Guitar Hero III, but Li says it turned them into a household name. “I recall the record label informing us that we were selling albums like crazy,” he says. “It exploded when we next toured, and we were playing just before the headliners at the event.”

In fact, DragonForce’s exposure via the game was so immense that it has threatened to overshadow everything else the band has done. Last year, the track was used in a trailer for Despicable Me 4. “Previously I felt differently, but now I accept it,” Li says. “Should you just hear one DragonForce song, that's fine – each person has their own musical journey and I’m glad we played a role of people’s lives”.

The Lasting Legacy of a Plastic Guitar

The best marketing, be it for cars, apparel or video games, goes further than selling something – it evokes a longing. Was the game able to tap into that? “Precisely what we were trying to create,” he confirms. “The excitement of being a rock star in the spotlight. From day one, the co-founders felt that humans have a natural human desire to create songs, and they wanted to use technology to enable everyone to do it”.

The majority of Guitar Hero games came out in just a half-decade from 2005 to 2010, including spin-offs like the DJ version, including a spinning deck, and the band-focused game. After that, corporate focus on peripherals waned, aside from a short-lived revival in 2015.

Games like Clone Hero and newer releases have kept the scene alive, and there’s set to be a new product from the original publisher on the way. A new studio has entered work on its debut rhythm-based title. The initial creators are participating in advisory roles. Is the world prepared to welcome a new entry in the spirit of the classic?

“We thought such titles could be like Madden where you can releases,” Dornbrook says. “There’s so much fresh tracks it could remain perennially popular, so I’ve always been hopeful. It's entirely possible for it to persist for future fans.”