The newest Rock Band installment has been the focus of some attention lately, the latest being the announcement of the Limited Edition Premium Bundle. And Sir Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr accompanied by Olivia Harrison and Yoko Ono Lennon came together at the 2009 E3 for the world premier of The Beatles: Rock Band. The game will be released on September 9, 2009 and takes fans on a tour of the group’s music, visiting elements of their career and legacy.
The game is presented by Apple Corps and Harmonix Music Systems and takes players on a magical journey which encompasses The Beatles’ legendary career from their early days in 1963 Liverpool, right up to their final performance on the Apple Corps roof. The Beatles: Rock Band will also add three-part harmonies for vocals to the music gameplay and will feature previously unreleased voice recordings from John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr as they chat amongst themselves between takes during Abbey Road recording sessions.
The game disc will contain 45 of The Beatles’ songs, and the complete Abbey Road album will be released for download sometime after the game’s launch. Music Supervisor and Creative Producer for the game, Giles Martin revealed ten songs that fans can find on the game-disc which include Back In The USSR, Day Tripper, Get Back, Here Comes, The Sun, I Am The Walrus, I Feel Fine, I Saw Her Standing There, I Want To Hold Your Hand, Octopus’s Garden and Taxman. Additional content will also be made available for download from The Beatles’ catalog.
On September 9, 2009 the songs All You Need Is Love will be released on the Xbox Live for the Xbox 360 as part of the Doctors Without Borders program. The game features venues, instruments, clothing and set lists from the band’s illustrious era. The Beatles: Rock Band will offer a set of instruments including the Rickenbacker 325 and the Gretsch Duo Jet guitars made famous by John Lennon and George Harrison, and a Höfner bass controller as well as a Ludwig-branded Rock Band 2 drum set, which comes with a remake of The Beatles kick drum head and a classic black oyster pearl finish.
The Beatles: Rock band releases simultaneously around the world in North America, New Zealand, Australia and Europe and in other territories for the PS3, Xbox 360 and the Wii. The game is compatible with most third party music video game peripherals and microphones an also with all Rock Band instrument controllers.