Rock Band gets a little bit country

Rock Band is about to get a bit of a twang. A news clip airing on cable network Country Music Television claims that "the Xbox version of Rock Band 2 is in stores this weekend," which is sort of true. The Xbox 360 full-band bundle shipped to stores last weekend (the stand-alone edition was...

Rock Band is about to get a bit of a twang.

A news clip airing on cable network Country Music Television claims that "the Xbox version of Rock Band 2 is in stores this weekend," which is sort of true. The Xbox 360 full-band bundle shipped to stores last weekend (the stand-alone edition was released last month), along with both versions of the game for PlayStation 3.

However, the blink-and-you-miss-it news bite ends with the narrator telling country music fans, "Don't feel left out. In December, Rock Band 2 will have select country tracks available to download." Assuming CMT's attention to detail was greater when it came to country music than which systems the game was on or when it came out, that suggests at least a handful of downloadable tracks pulled from the network's favored genre are headed to the game.

Reaction to the news was mixed but plentiful in the official Rock Band forums. A thread about the CMT bit reached 31 pages before a Harmonix representative shut it down.

"As with any announcement/advertisement/rumor/'leak' that comes from anywhere other than these forums, please don't get all worked up about something unless it's officially been announced by HMX," the representative said. "Until then it's safe to say that anything else you hear should be taken with a grain of salt... We'll have country in Rock Band sooner or later. Ideally we'll have all the various sub genres that people are clamoring for (hardcore punk, goth, ska, etc) eventually. We haven't shut the door on anything."

146 Comments

  • Krazy-K

    Posted Nov 2, 2008 8:01 pm GMT

    two words....Johnny Cash!

  • clubadam

    Posted Oct 29, 2008 7:44 am GMT

    This is awesome, why shouldn't Rock Band cross the many differtn Genres of music. Many Rock artists out there play some country songs (Burning ring of fire, etc) during their sets. Why?? because they respect their roots and the songs just kick a$$!

    For those of you who don't want the content then just don't download it no one is forcing you to. For those of us that want some Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, or Toby Keith Rock on!

  • DragonLord1975

    Posted Oct 28, 2008 8:20 am GMT

    I just love all these so called "Rockers" sitting her bashing the fact that RB2 may have Country Music. I bet you 90% of them log off, turn on RB2 and then jam away at Greatful Dead, Lynard Skynard, and then worship, "Green Grass and High Tides" or "Flirt'n With Disaster" all those "Southern Rock" songs which fall under the label of COUNTRY ROCK, hmmmm. I agree with all those others who have a brain here, just like on your radios in your car, if ya don't like it don't tune your radio to it, and on the same lines, JUST DON'T DOWNLOAD IT. I personally would love to sit and watch one of these narrow minded rockers try a Brad Paisley guitar solo and see them cry in dispare when they see how complicated it can be. In the meantime, this Rocker will be antisipating the comming of some select country songs to Rock Band. Not only will it give a whole new challange, but will also add to the versatility of the game and bring in a whole new genre of new players. Bring in all the Music, hell they already have Beastie Boys, and in my opinion, that is not Rock.

  • TeamNature

    Posted Oct 26, 2008 9:48 am GMT

    quote from McDog3: "Nooooooooooo!!!!!! Actually, this isn't horrible news, especially with HMX's reply, it's nice to think there may be some obscure sub-genre's coming to RB at some point in time...."

    How can you call country music an obscure sub-genre? It's more of it's own GENRE and the fact that a heck of a lot of people listen to country music and even KNOW what country music is tends to lean towards the fact that it is not obscure but mainstream.

  • Units420

    Posted Oct 24, 2008 11:04 am GMT

    Let me just echo the sentiments that if you are that upset over country being available as DLC, then ignore it. I mean really, you got a great game that offers a variety of music and with the exclusion of a few bands, no one has nothing to really complain about. But a select few try to find something

  • smbius

    Posted Oct 23, 2008 10:36 pm GMT

    For those that hate country music (or other music in particular), the solution is really simple. DON'T DOWNLOAD IT.

  • McDog3

    Posted Oct 23, 2008 8:50 pm GMT

    Nooooooooooo!!!!!! Actually, this isn't horrible news, especially with HMX's reply, it's nice to think there may be some obscure sub-genre's coming to RB at some point in time....

  • Harville

    Posted Oct 23, 2008 12:36 pm GMT

    some Toby Keith wouldn't be so bad, and Johnny Cash would be sweet. so it would be pretty cool

  • Skreb-Masters

    Posted Oct 23, 2008 12:08 pm GMT

    As long as it's more Lynryrd Skynyrd it's fine by me.

  • james007_14

    Posted Oct 23, 2008 9:59 am GMT

    Since I don't care for country music I will pass on this dc.

  • shadowblade99

    Posted Oct 23, 2008 7:15 am GMT

    The name of it is ROCK BAND not LAME BAND!

  • mcddimz

    Posted Oct 23, 2008 6:56 am GMT

    lame

  • abeard424

    Posted Oct 22, 2008 6:36 pm GMT

    I'm a huge rock fan, but select country songs are catchy and would be fun to play. it'll depend on the track selection

  • Ruffin316

    Posted Oct 22, 2008 4:57 pm GMT

    Hmm... Country... well, like many other extra tracks for Rock Band/2, I'll pass on this one.

  • sanjhiyan

    Posted Oct 22, 2008 4:06 pm GMT

    ""I am sorry, but first...i hate country and hearing that this is coming to this game pisses me off. Here is why, i bought Rock band not COUNRY BAND, keep the genres seperate because rockers don't want to have to possibly play with redneck cowboys who think Country is actual music!"

    Well then... here is an idea. Don't download the content."

    Here's a better idea.

    If CMT wants in on the music game craze, then they can develop and publish their own country music game(s).

  • shibz21

    Posted Oct 22, 2008 4:00 pm GMT

    Just so we have this clear....REAL fans of music are accepting of all forms of music and learn to appreciate each for it's artistry. I don't particularly care for fast metal and all the different sub-genres therein, but I do appreciate the complexity and talent it takes to play that type of music. Like Country, it represents one extreme of the collaborative music scale. I would dare say that the same people the may enjoy the challenge of metal, should also welcome the chance to master a Brad Paisley or Keith Urban solo on Expert. Both compare favorably with some of the more prominent Rock guitarists in history (Eddie Van Halen, Slash, etc). So let's just give all music genres a chance. Music is more than noise, it's an art form, and we don't need fans of one type hating on another type just because it is not your preferred genre. (For the record- Rock Band....you need to get Prince, John Mayer, My Chemical Romance, Dave Matthews, U2, and Pink Floyd.

  • theking85

    Posted Oct 22, 2008 3:19 pm GMT

    I dont even like country music but i gaurantee some of it will be fun to play.

  • tgilb2007

    Posted Oct 22, 2008 3:17 pm GMT

    "I am sorry, but first...i hate country and hearing that this is coming to this game pisses me off. Here is why, i bought Rock band not COUNRY BAND, keep the genres seperate because rockers don't want to have to possibly play with redneck cowboys who think Country is actual music!"

    Well then... here is an idea. Don't download the content.

  • mr_winklebottom

    Posted Oct 22, 2008 3:02 pm GMT

    and to pajo metal is actually a subgenre to rock so dont even start talking about the removal of metallica, or just get a brain. metallica rules

  • mr_winklebottom

    Posted Oct 22, 2008 2:55 pm GMT

    i completely agree with faceman. There are quite a few decent country song for the full band setting. plus dream theater is awesome. forthose who dont know they are a progressive metal band

  • 4quarters

    Posted Oct 22, 2008 1:56 pm GMT

    all genres SHOULD be represented. That's why DLC is so important, it let's YOU shape your game after the initial purchase.

  • klugenbeel

    Posted Oct 22, 2008 12:57 pm GMT

    I am sorry, but first...i hate country and hearing that this is coming to this game pisses me off. Here is why, i bought Rock band not COUNRY BAND, keep the genres seperate because rockers don't want to have to possibly play with redneck cowboys who think Country is actual music!

  • 11Bravo

    Posted Oct 22, 2008 11:58 am GMT

    @Raven_Theory
    My a$$hole is a burning ring of fire. I had Taco Bell for lunch. LOL!

  • chrismagovern

    Posted Oct 22, 2008 11:19 am GMT

    i love me some country! Glad they're branching out to more genres.

  • threedown

    Posted Oct 22, 2008 11:02 am GMT

    im not a big fan of country, but variety is good and my GF will love it... cant wait to see what hardcore punk they come up with!

  • redddoggg

    Posted Oct 22, 2008 10:37 am GMT

    Geneyuss, it's like you stole the thoughts from my head. I totally agree there is a difference between legitimate country and as I call it "hillbilly pop". Somewhere around the mid '90s this influx of garbage started happening and I started listening to rock.

  • Raven_Theory

    Posted Oct 22, 2008 9:10 am GMT

    I need some burning ring of fire!

  • Geneyuss5555

    Posted Oct 22, 2008 8:51 am GMT

    The coolness/lameness of this article depends on if it will be some legitimate country, or if it will be this "pop music with a fiddle" bullcrap that's being shoved down our throats under the "country music" label.

    Seeing CMT on it makes it hard to distinguish...they play alot of the crappy stuff but they are pretty big on how great classic country music is too.

  • JBjazzbo

    Posted Oct 22, 2008 8:19 am GMT

    its not proper country, but drive by truckers would be cool.

  • lcr12

    Posted Oct 22, 2008 8:15 am GMT

    i will never buy country songs ... metal forever

  • fmprodguy

    Posted Oct 22, 2008 8:04 am GMT

    more is good... Bring on the Country! and some from every format that would fit the instruments with Rock Band.

    (I personaly met Blackhawk, they we a-holes that day, but everyone has a bad day don't they.)

  • Ymesss

    Posted Oct 22, 2008 7:50 am GMT

    Blackhawk on Rock Band would be pretty bad ass actually

  • robmephisto

    Posted Oct 22, 2008 7:17 am GMT

    I prefer folk and blues, but country's ok by me...hope that some tunes that you can jam with and not just a load of slow, quiet ones. Either way, I'd prefer it to Whine Rock (Linkin Park, Evanescence, etc) - sure, guys, your guitars are nice and loud, but you're still a bunch of snivelling little gits.

  • BONERJAM

    Posted Oct 22, 2008 6:52 am GMT

    Johhny Cash would be the only thing worth paying for, but its nice to see variety, something GH doesnt seem to have.

  • kid_zimm

    Posted Oct 22, 2008 6:26 am GMT

    Yeehaw! Can't wait!

  • Jonnyd108

    Posted Oct 22, 2008 6:22 am GMT

    Country is garbage...

  • mivery

    Posted Oct 22, 2008 6:13 am GMT

    I see that alot of yall is doging country. It makes me wonder what everyone would say about r&b.

  • terdfergeson64

    Posted Oct 22, 2008 6:12 am GMT

    If anyone here has any taste, and have heard some Brad Paisley, they'd know he'd be sick for rock band, his tracks like "Take You Back", or "Time Warp", or "Me Neither" would be sick to have in rock band, and effin hard!!

  • Calebman

    Posted Oct 22, 2008 6:11 am GMT

    I really hope so. Some country would be awesome on Guitar.

  • Sponge0025

    Posted Oct 22, 2008 4:58 am GMT

    it's about time! too bad i can't stand country. the only country i will be happy with is tim mcgraw or bon jovi of his later cds cuz he had some country sounding songs.

  • raiding_kvatch

    Posted Oct 22, 2008 4:46 am GMT

    The more genres the better. I wanna be able to play everything.
    (Harmonix please include some Black Flag)

  • wheresmymonkey

    Posted Oct 22, 2008 3:10 am GMT

    all you sad btards blasting country and western and going on a baout rock and metal are bloody philastines.

    If i remember rightly Rock music is a fusion of two distinctive music styles. COUNTRY/WESTERN & THE BLUES. I thought it already di have a country track anyway high hills andd green grass.

    What rockband really needs is a bit more ska i thikn get that orange button really going.

  • heavymetalzplin posted Oct 22, 2008 3:01 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    heavymetalzplin

    Posted Oct 22, 2008 3:01 am GMT (hide)

    God damn it that is just gay

  • GoblinsAreKool

    Posted Oct 22, 2008 2:54 am GMT

    IF you are complaining about rock band having country music your an idiot. If you don't like country don't download any of the songs. Its that simple. Let people enjoy the game how they want to enjoy it.

  • faceman420

    Posted Oct 21, 2008 10:39 pm GMT

    Im sure theres some select country songs that would be ok.. as long as it's optional I'm fine with it.. again tho, we need more DREAM THEATER DLC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Zidaneski

    Posted Oct 21, 2008 9:45 pm GMT

    As long as the country music doesn't turn out to be some of the free 20 downloadable tracks then I can avoid it.

  • THizzle7XU

    Posted Oct 21, 2008 9:40 pm GMT

    "metallica plays metal
    fallout boy, panic at the disco play emo
    beastie boys play rap
    Linkin Park plays their synthesized DJ rock
    hell, there was this one song (cant remember it at the moment) and I couldnt understand one word that the singer was singing, it was like he shoved the mic down his throat and just grunted the whole song

    I say take out those bands first if you want only ROCK in your ROCKBAND game"

    Well, I think Harmonix probably thought of names like "Generic Band" and "Nondenominational Group of Musicians" during the concept stage, but they just don't roll off the tongue quite as smoothly as Rock Band.

  • THizzle7XU

    Posted Oct 21, 2008 9:35 pm GMT

    I personally think country music is the worst spawn of Satan, but hey, some people like it and the more the merrier in terms of Rock Band DLC. It's not hurting the game just by being available for people to download.

  • djezhel619

    Posted Oct 21, 2008 9:28 pm GMT

    firehawk998 I produce "techno" if you want to call it that, and i dont use just a keyboard buddy, its alot more then you think and very complicated to get everything down. BUT SOME JOHNNY CASH WOULD BE AWESOME

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