Paladin’s Wishlist for New Guitar Hero Songs

I hear you now, “Guitar Hero? Again?!?”

Look! I’ve already admitted that I’m an addict, so GET OFF MY BACK! Cool? Let’s move on.

I’ve just spent the better part of 4 hours reliving old favorites thanks to a stellar site I found called iLike. (Yes, it’s an Apple product so it’s well designed and easy-to-use. Yummy.) So what I now present to you are songs that I hope beyond hope make it into some future release of GH.

Favorite Bands

These are some of my favorite bands growing up.

Rush – “Spirit of the Radio“
There are so many guitar-strong songs by Rush, I had a tough time choosing. With YYZ receiving grand praise on GH2, I’m hoping the good folks who make these choices will be adding another Rush song to the playlist. Other good choices would be: Limelight, Anthem, or La Villa Strangiato.

Van Halen – “Eruption“
The ultimate guitar solo of my generation. I get chills just hearing it. If you want to go with a more traditional VH song, “Panama” would kill. Yes, this would do nicely as an encore song.

Def Leppard – “Photograph“
Again, Def Leppard has a boatload of strong tunes to choose from, but from the opening riff, you know who this band is. Runner-up: “Armageddon It”

Journey – “Separate Ways“
Yes, the video may be one of the worst of all time, but the song is rocks. Journey is known for their love ballads so they don’t have that many hard rock-type songs so this is my pick. “Any Way You Want It” would also do nicely but I can’t stop thinking of Rodney Dangerfield dancing on the golf course.

Boston – “Don’t Look Back“
Boston was a breakthrough band with a totally new sound that took the country by force. “Don’t Look Back” led that charge. Runner Up: “Smokin’”

Led Zeppelin – “Black Dog“
Even though they were a bit before my time, their music was decades ahead of their contemporaries. “Black Dog” is perhaps their strongest guitar-based song. “Heartbreaker” would also be a great song for GH.

Huge Rock Bands

The following big guns in rock music are in alphabetical order. Each deserves at least one song in the playlist.

AC/DC – “For Those About To Rock”
Here’s a tough choice because “Thunderstruck” is also a strong song but it’s intro lasts just a bit too long, even though I really like it.

Cream – “Sunshine of Your Love”
Classic, classic tune. “White Room” would be great as well.

Eagles – “Hotel California”
Would they? Could they?

Foreigner – “Jukebox Hero”
It just makes so much sense. He “bought a beat up six string in a secondhand store” right? “Cold As Ice” would also be pretty cool.

Jimi Hendrix – “Purple Haze”
What the heck is “Spanish Castle Magic”? Why not “Purple Haze” or “All Along the Watchtower”?!? C’mon people… these things matter!

Ozzy Osbourne – “Crazy Train”
There are several killer guitar melodies in Ozzy’s music but “Crazy Train” is the premiere track and should be on Guitar Hero. I won’t take no for an answer. Well, unless they put on “Flying High Again.”

Pink Floyd – “Run Like Hell”
You just don’t want to go too mellow. “Comfortably Numb” is an awes0me tune, but “Run Like Hell” just begs you to play the lead.

REO Speedwagon – “Roll With the Changes”
“Ridin’ the Storm Out” is another great song. I’d be fine with either.

Steppenwolf – “Magic Carpet Ride”
I just hope Chevrolet hasn’t spoiled this song for all of us.

Styx – “Renegade”
A lot of Styx’s songs are symphony styled tunes, but not this puppy. “Blue Collar Man” would also work.

The Doors – “L.A. Woman”
Even though The Doors have mountains of hits, in so many the keyboard plays the primary melody so it’s kind tough finding the leading candidate, but you’ve gotta have a Doors song, right? “Love Me Two Times” would also work in a pinch.

The Scorpions – “Rock You Like a Hurricane”
Frankly, I’m surprised it didn’t make GH1 or GH2, I mean, it’s “Rock You Like a Hurricane.” My second favorite would be “No One Like You.”

The Who – “Won’t Get Fooled Again”
I went back and forth on this one. While, The Who isn’t my favorite group, they aren’t kind of legendary so you’ve got to include at least one of their songs right? “Baba O’Reilly” would also be fun, even though it’s less guitar focused.

ZZTop – “Tush”
I was thinking “Gimme All Your Lovin’ ” but it’s so similar to “Sharp Dressed Man” that was in GH1 that I said, “Nah.” (At least that’s what went on inside my head.)

Super Strong Singles

While these guys didn’t produces loads of great music, they did have some fabulous singles.

Sammy Hagar – “Three Lock Box”
One of the first songs that came to mind was this one. Oh pretty please.

The Outlaws – “Green Grass and High Tides”
You think “Free Bird” is a long song? Try this puppy out and see how long your fingers last.

Molly Hatchet – “Flirtin’ With Disaster”
Another classic southern rock song that thrills as it kills.

Ted Nugent – “Free For All”
The original Gonzo! “Cat Scratch Fever” would work as well.

Jane’s Addiction – “Been Caught Stealing”
Fun, fun and more fun.

Not 80s, But Monster Tunes

Here are some songs that came to mind that are newer than 1989.

Stone Temple Pilots – “Wicked Garden”
“Trippin’ On a Hole in a Paper Heart” is a good song, but “Wicked Garden” is just plain awesome. The massive grunge guitar effect calls to me as I sleep. “Vasoline” would also be good.

Smashing Pumpkins – “Cherub Rock”
Do any of my readers have special pull with Activision? Can anyone please make this happen?

Pearl Jam – “Evenflow”
While not my favorite of bands, this song is epic. It’d be great fun to play.

Nirvana – “Lithium”
This is the song they should have put in instead of “Heart-Shaped Box”.

Ok, now I’ve given you my favorites, what have I left off? What say the loyal 21st Century Paladin readers? There’s bound to be a song or two I’ve overlooked as my dementia is growing by the day.