Rush fails own song on Colbert Report

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Rush fails own song on Colbert Report

Posted Jul 24th 2008 2:45PM by Richard Mitchell
Filed under: Fan stuff

Ever since music games became popular, the musician trolls have frequented forums and comment threads everywhere. Typically, these trolls are known for comments like "Yeah, I'd rather play a real guitar, thanks." Imagine then, how strange it must be for real musicians to play fake versions of their own songs. Enter Rush performing the Rock Band version of "Tom Sawyer" backstage at the Colbert Report. To make a long story short, they fail at 36% completion. They don't seem to broken up about it though. Fabulous success can give you that kind of confidence, we suppose.

[Via Joystiq]

Tags: colbert, colbert-report, ea, electronic-arts, harmonix, mtv, mtv-games, rock-band, rush, tom-sawyer

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

7-24-2008 @ 3:08PM

MrMuggs said...

I have friends who play guitar and are really good. They've tried Rock Band and it's a totally different experience. They're used to playing the notes and playing a real guitar rather than just keep timing and hitting buttons. With practice they get really good but it's totally rewiring your brain to play the game. On the other hand, I've heard that those who play drums naturally take to the game drums because it's more about the beat and timing.

7-24-2008 @ 3:11PM

thisguyrighthere said...

I play banjo and when I've been playing GH for like an hour or so then pick up my banjo there's this delay with my left hand where I feel like I don't know what the hell I'm doing. Same thing happens if I'm picking my banjo for a while then go play GH. It takes my hands some time to dumb down enough to play GH and some time to smarten up enough to play the banjo.

It's to be expected I guess.

7-24-2008 @ 4:08PM

Tucker said...

Banjo Hero FTW!

7-24-2008 @ 3:13PM

Matazah said...

Its the drummers fault lol.

Drumming is nowhere near what Rock Band drums make it seem.

7-24-2008 @ 4:46PM

m13b said...

Looked to me like Peart accidentally knocked over the foot pedal or something, as he went to the floor and completely stopped playing for a bit. Since I'm sure Lifeson didn't know how to bring him back, they failed.

7-24-2008 @ 3:31PM

dowhatnow said...

@thisguyrighthere
I'm pretty sure you're about to get flamed for playing the banjo. :) Bela Fleck FTW!

7-24-2008 @ 3:42PM

thisguyrighthere said...

I appreciate the preemptive support man.

Nothing beats a clawhammer ballad about being hanged for drowning your girlfriend because she got pregnant (after all, it was her fault). Well, maybe songs about trainwrecks or collapsing coal mines. Getting hanged for getting your coal mine pregnant by wrecking a train in it would be the end all be all of banjo music.

7-24-2008 @ 8:58PM

CL34N3R said...

Actually, I gotta give props to anyone that can play the banjo well. It's a very difficult instrument.

7-24-2008 @ 3:50PM

SugarDaddy said...

Heh, why should they be broken up about it? They can play that song on REAL instruments. And Neal Peart can perform a 20 minute drum solo that would explode your face.

7-25-2008 @ 12:05AM

Zoot Suit Jedi said...

I actually heard Carl's voice in that comment. It was hilarious.

7-24-2008 @ 4:05PM

razzleson said...

They didn't even make it to 36%, they failed at 31% :p

Pretty cool seeing them play their own song though!

7-24-2008 @ 4:14PM

tan said...

so what if they failed their own song on the game??????

they know how to play it in real life on real instruments which for, this song, is much more impressive!

7-24-2008 @ 5:33PM

bill m said...

No one is putting them down at all. It's just kind of fun to see artists play the game thats all. I think people realize how amazing Rush are as musicians and would never doubt that.

7-24-2008 @ 5:09PM

Biscuit said...

Yeah...that's not expert drums. :D But oh well, SugarDaddy is right. He can get on a REAL drumset and play beyond expert. haha

7-24-2008 @ 8:13PM

Obese Stickman said...

maybe its because im candian but i cant watch the video. US copyright laws show no love

7-24-2008 @ 8:38PM

Momer said...

Argghh, same here. So stupid, we freaking border the country...

7-24-2008 @ 8:14PM

Brian said...

I guess that means people who can play the game are more talented than Rush. Give me a break. haha.

7-25-2008 @ 1:03AM

zlliM said...

The Colbert Report owns.

7-25-2008 @ 2:24AM

Grant said...

it was probably the because the guitar in RB(and any music game) is so different. Drums is a bit different, but not such a change that you can't easily adjust. Singing should have been perfect.

7-25-2008 @ 10:39AM

Tucker said...

I also have to think Geddy was failing on vocals - for one thing, he was singing a more 'live' version than the notes in the recording, and for another the cover version in the game is piss-poor and pretty inaccurate as to where the notes are. It's a great song and a ton of fun to play in the game, don't get me wrong, but a bunch of n00bs playing - whether they know the song or not - and most likely attempting to play as they would on stage (well, Geddy and Neil, anyway) = automatic fail. Great little bonus segment for Colbert, though!

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