The Week in Rock (Band DLC): Sorry, but Blondie doesn’t qualify as classic rock

Next week, it’ll be back to the older stuff, as Harmonix will be bringing us the “Classic Rock Pack 01”. I guess their definition of “classic rock” includes any music that uses guitars and was made before in or before 1980. But frankly, I wouldn’t really consider The Police or Blondie as part of that genre; when I think of classic rock, I usually start humming songs from artists like The Who, The Rolling Stones, and Eric Clapton.

However, Harmonix doesn’t give a damn about my opinion, unlike you guys (…right?). So they’ve lumped in those two bands with a classic rock staple, Lynyrd Skynyrd. The three songs on tap are Skynyrd’s “Simple Man” (1973), “Message in a Bottle” by The Police (1979), and Blondie’s “Call Me” (1980). Like Nick, I lament the continued lack of Journey, but I’m perfectly happy with these three master tracks.

This will all be available on Xbox Live next Tuesday, April 15th, and since the PlayStation Store will finally be updated next week, PS3 owners can get these three songs, along with the last two weeks of Rock Band DLC, on Thursday, April 17th. Each song will cost 160 Microsoft Points ($1.99), though as usual, you can pick up the three-song pack for 440 MS Points ($5.49). The press release is after the jump.

ROCK BAND Media Alert

BLONDIE, THE POLICE AND LYNYRD SKYNYRD ADDED TO ALL-STAR LINEUP FOR MTV GAMES’ ROCK BAND™

Harmonix Music Systems and MTV Games announced today Classic Rock Pack 01, the latest installment in the ever-expanding Rock Band downloadable content catalog. Available Tuesday, April 15, the new DLC includes radio staples “Call Me” by Blondie, “Simple Man” by Lynyrd Skynyrd, and “Message in a Bottle” by The Police. Each track will be available for $1.99 per track (160 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) or $5.49 (440 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) for the pack.

Release date:
Tuesday, April 15, 2008 (Xbox LIVE® Marketplace)
Thursday, April 17, 2008 (PLAYSTATION®Store)

Tracks:

CLASSIC ROCK PACK 01

Blondie “Call Me”
Lynyrd Skynyrd “Simple Man”
The Police “Message in a Bottle“

(All three tracks utilize the original master recordings)

Price:
$5.49 (440 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) per pack or $1.99 (160 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) per track

Locations:
Xbox LIVE® Marketplace and PLAYSTATION®Network