It was announced on Rollingstone.com that Chicago punk band Rise Against will be featured in the new “Guitar Hero World Tour” video game. This was a heroic move from the people working for Rise Against.
Their new album will drop October 7, and the first single “Re-Education (Through Labor)” was scooped up by Guitar Hero’s creators. This is such a brilliant move because the game is so popular with today’s younger consumers. It is as trendy at the Tri Delt house as it is with junior high gamers and band geeks.
Now for Rise Against, a new multitude of listeners will be introduced to their punk tunes. So great job Geffen, you got their music into the hands of the masses. Even more props for the interview with front-man Tim McIlrath about the game and roots of the band. ‘“We have songs that can sound good on the radio and can sound good in a video game, but we have lyrics that are still very much derivative from the hardcore and punk world that we came from.”’ A beautiful defense to backlash they might receive about “selling out.” Tim points out to “Rock and Roll Daily” that even though Rise Against has come a long way, most kids still have not heard of them.
Here is the proof that this will change and soon everyone will be singing along to “Re-Education” as if it were “Hit Me Baby One More Time.”
From a punk standpoint, let’s hope that with the new popularity the true essence of punk isn’t washed away. From a publicist’s standpoint, why was this not in the news section of Rise Against’s Web site? Get with it people!
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