OK, I get that everyone has different tastes. Really, I do. But why, Harmonix? Why follow up the Pixies and Weezer with Mötley Crüe, Papa Roach, and Trapt? I thought we were friends, man.
Yeah, yeah, you’re kicking off your Rock Band Truck Tour, and you’ll be at Crüefest, which will make you look really edgy to the kind of people that go to Mötley Crüe concerts. But you’re also going to be at Lollapalooza and Vans Warped Tour! Would a little Gnarls Barkley and Gogol Bordello (both appearing at Lollapalooza) have been too much to ask for this week?!
At least you had the decency to include a free track — a song by a fictitious band called Vesuvius from an upcoming comedy film called The Rocker. Look, man, Activision is starting to show you up. Activision! You used to be on top and now you’re letting the guys that all but abandoned DLC walk right in and take over. I feel like I don’t even know you sometimes.
Hit the jump for the full release on the Rock Band Truck Tour.
ROCK BAND™ HEATS UP THE SUMMER
CRITICALLYACCLAIMED GAME HITS TOWNS ACROSSAMERICA AND GOES ON-TOUR WITH SOME OF THE BIGGEST NAMES IN MUSIC
New York,NY – June 27, 2008 –
Harmonix and MTV Games, a part of Viacom’s MTVNetworks (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), have turned up the heat on this summer’s concert season by putting Rock Band™ on the road. The best-selling video game is going mobile and bringing music to the masses – hitting State Fairs across the country and some of this year’s biggest tours and festivals, including Bonnaroo, the Vans Warped Tour and Crüe Fest, to name a few. So grab your family and friends and live out your own rock’n roll fantasies at the following locations:
Rock Band TruckTour
Rock Band will begin appearing at State Fairs across thecountry from North Carolina to California,Minnesota to Arizona and everywhere in between. Sponsored by Energizer(R), Stride(R) Gum and Hot Topic, fans will be able to rock out on main stages that will feature the authentic concert experience complete with lighting and a monster sound system. For example, fans can sign up to participate in the Energizer(R)”Head-to-Head Drum Competition” that will be held on the Rock Band stage at each event. While going head-to-head in the drum competition, contestantswill compete for an opportunity to win a “Rock Band” Drum Kit and other giftscourtesy of Energizer(R). At the same time, Stride(R) will belooking for those who can rock for a ridiculously long time by giving Rock Bandstage bands the chance to rock the longest songs in the Rock Band catalog sixtimes every day. Computer kiosks and a merchandise area will also feature RockBand products, plus a sweepstakes offer.
Crüe Fest
Beginning July 1, fans attending Crüe Fest can become a realrock star for the night with a chance to become the opening act for MötleyCrüe, Buckcherry, Papa Roach, Sixx:A.M. and Trapt in each local
market.Fans will compete on the Rock Band Second Stage Experience – a53′ foot trailer that includes practice areas. There will also be classic rockmemorabilia courtesy of the Hard Rock Café as part of the Rock Band SecondStage Experience at Crüe Fest. The artists and guests on the tour will also beable to enjoy the game, thanks to a backstage Rock Band VIP lounge with game demoareas. Mötley Crüe, in a first for the music and video game industry,recently released their first single “Saints of Los
Angeles” simultaneously onRock Band in addition to the traditional outlets and sold over 5X the number ofdownloads on Rock Band than any other platform in its first week.
Jimmy Buffett
Fans attending the Jimmy Buffett tour will be able to play RockBand on a custom golf cart – the Sharkart – that will make itsway to parking lots at each stop, and feature a flat screen monitor andstate-of the art sound system. For more information, visitwww.margaritaville.com. Takethe Stage RockBand will be teaming up with PLAYSTATION(R)3 at some of this summer’shottest music festivals and events to offer fans the opportunity to channeltheir inner rock star and Take the Stage to compete for prizes and bragging rights. Seebelow for a list of events where you can Take the Stage.
Vans Warped
Tour
For the long-running Vans Warped Tour, Rock Band willpartner with Xbox and 20^th Century Fox as part of a promotion gearedaround the film studio’s upcoming comedy, The Rocker, which features Rock Band in the movie.In between sets by bands such as Gym Class Heroes and Motion City Soundtrack ,kids can visit a 40 x 40 branded tent with four gaming stations and a special Rocker-themed stage where they can compete for fun and prizes. Rock Band can be found at the following eventsthroughout the Summer:
Event
Date
Location
Line-Up
*ASTDew Tour
Now – October
Select cities
N/A
*Brooks& Dunn
Now – 10/5
38 US Dates
Brooks &
Dunn, KennyChesney and ZZ Top (select dates)
*JimmyBuffett Tour
Now –
10/25
20 US Dates
JimmyBuffett
VansWarped Tour
Now – 8/17
US
&Canada
Against Me!, Danger Radio,and Gym Class Heroes, Rise Against for
Aug.
6-17 only
San Diego County Fair
6/19 – 7/6
San Diego,CA
N/A
*Summerfest
6/26 – 7/6
Milwaukee, WS
STP, Alicia Keys,
SteveMiller Band, Tim McGraw, John Mayer
Crüe Fest
7/2 – 9/30
US
&Canada
Mötley Crüe, Buckcherry, Papa Roach,Sixx A.M.,
Trapt
Rocklahoma
7/10 – 7/13
Tulsa,OK
Triumph,Poison, Trixter,
Lita Ford, Warrant, Enuff Z’nuff, Tesla
OrangeCounty Fair
7/15 –
8/3
Costa Mesa,CA
N/A
OhioState Fair
7/30 – 8/4
Columbus,OH
N/A
*Lollapalooza
8/1 – 8/3
Chicago,IL
Radiohead,Rage Against the
Machine, Wilco, NIN, Gnarls Barkley, Love &
Rockets,Bloc Party
Western
Montana Fair
8/5 – 8/10
Missoula,MT
N/A
IowaState Fair
8/7 –
8/17
West Allis,IA
N/A
*AllPoints West
8/8 – 8/10
New York,NY
Radiohead,Jack Johnson, Cat Power, Chromeo, Secret Machines
California
Expo
8/15 – 8/31
Sacramento,CA
N/A
MinnesotaState Fair
8/21 –
9/1
St. Paul,MN
N/A
Los Angeles County Fair
9/5 – 9/7
Pomona,CA
N/A
OklahomaState Fair
9/11 – 9/21
Oklahoma City,OK
N/A
EasternStates Exhibition
9/12 – 9/28
Springfield,MA
N/A
TexasState Fair
9/26 – 10/13
Dallas,TX
N/A
MississippiState
Fair
10/3 – 10/12
Jackson,MS
N/A
North CarolinaState Fair
10/16
– 10/26
Raleigh,NC
N/A
ArizonaState Fair
10/17 – 10/26
Phoenix,AZ
N/A
