Beatles jump into 'Rock Band'

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Game is first digital offering of the band's music

By Gary Graff, Billboard
March 5, 2009, 11:43 AM ET

DETROIT -- The Beatles will finally go digital on Sept. 9 with the release of the Fab Four edition of the "Rock Band" video game.

In a joint statement Thursday, the Beatles' Apple Corps Ltd., Harmonic and MTV Games said that "The Beatles: Rock Band" -- which was first announced last October -- would be released worldwide for Xbox 360, Playstation 3 and Wii. The game marks the first time the group and it's publishing affiliates -- EMI Music, Harrisons Ltd. and Sony/ATV Music Publishing -- will make the Beatles' music available in the digital realm.

The manufacturers are also promising "exclusive content" for fans who pre-order "The Beatles: Rock Band." The pre-order date will be announced "in the coming months." In addition, they've created instruments for the game modeled after those played by Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, although the game will be compatible with existing Rock Band instruments and peripherals.

The game along will carry a $59.99 list price. A version with standalone guitars will run $99.99, while the Limited Edition Premium Bundle will cost $249.99.

No song lists have yet been announced for the project. Thursday's announcement noted that "The Beatles: Rock Band" will let users "experience The Beatles extraordinary catalog of music through gameplay that takes players on a journey through the legacy and evolution of the band's legendary career." In a recent Entertainment Weekly interview Paul McCartney said that "it will feature different periods of the band -- you get early days, Liverpool, then psychedelic, and on from there. It's very cool. And I like the idea that the game introduces kids to music, you know?"

Giles Martin, son of longtime Beatles producer George Martin and co-producer of the Grammy Award-winning "Love" project with Cirque du Soleil, is serving as music producer for the "Rock Band" game.

A Web site devoted to the game has been set up at www.thebeatlesrockband.com.

 

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"The Beatles: Rock Band" to Debut September 9

 

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Songs for 'The Beatles: Rock Band' revealed

MTV Games has unveiled 44 of the 45 songs players will get to experience in The Beatles: Rock Band, out on September 9.

The publisher has decided to keep the final song on the list under wraps. No word on when that will be revealed.

Users will also be able to separately download the album Abbey Road after the game has released. A New York Times article featuring the game adds the albums Rubber Soul and Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band will also be available.

Here's the list of 44 songs:

I Saw Her Standing There
Boys
Do You Want To Know A Secret
Twist And Shout
I Wanna Be Your Man
I Want To Hold Your Hand
A Hard Day's Night
Can't Buy Me Love
I Feel Fine
Eight Days A Week
Ticket To Ride
Day Tripper
Drive My Car
I'm Looking Through You
If I Needed Someone
Paperback Writer
Taxman
Yellow Submarine
And Your Bird Can Sing
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
With A Little Help From My Friends
Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds
Getting Better
Good Morning Good Morning
I Am The Walrus
Hello Goodbye
Revolution
Back In The U.S.S.R.
Dear Prudence
While My Guitar Gently Weeps
Birthday
Helter Skelter
Hey Bulldog
Don't Let Me Down
Come Together
Something
Octopus's Garden
I Want You (She's So Heavy)
Here Comes The Sun
Dig A Pony
I Me Mine
I've Got A Feeling
Get Back
Within You Without You / Tomorrow Never Knows

The Beatles: Rock Band hits store shelves for Nintendo Wii, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.