Beatles Rock Band Debut Set for September (09-09-09)

PC World ^ | Mar 5, 2009 4:35 pm | JR Raphael

[a fool in paradise]

It's official: The Beatles will come together digitally this September for their much anticipated Rock Band debut. MTV Games has announced a September 9 launch date for the worldwide release of the Fab Four's interactive adventure, to be titled The Beatles: Rock Band...

With a little help from their friends at Harmonix--the company that created the Rock Band concept--the Liverpool quartet will let you sing and play your way through all eras of its career. You'll be able to take on the role of John, Paul, George or Ringo, using either your Rock Band instruments or special Beatles-like instruments that will be offered for an additional $100.

Harmonix promises the game will be more than just another expansion pack, describing the release as a "full-grown, custom game built from the ground up." Originally, the company had indicated the game would be a standalone entity, not even a part of the Rock Band brand, but that decision has apparently been reconsidered.

The Rock Band game marks The Beatles' first appearance in the digital domain--and the journey, you could say, has been quite the long and winding road. The battle over bringing The Beatles' music into digital stores such as iTunes has been going on for years now, and even a relatively recent settlement over royalty issues didn't work it out. Sir Paul McCartney said back in November that the talks were "stalled," and there's no telling how long that situation will last...

[a fool in paradise]

Hmm. I have a strings album of the Rolling Stones from the 1960s (and I think that Keith Richards was given a credit in its production).

There is a guide to the good, the bad, and the weird Beatles' cover versions... but I can't find it online right now.

Can't even search Amazon with all of the used product listed there...

[Revolting cat!]

One album I can't forgive myself for missing (maybe it's the one you've got) was baroque interpretations of the Stones, which sold for 99 cents at a dime store downtown D.C. Title something like The Stones Go Baroque. I should have bought the whole box. I haven't found it or references to it since.