The Beatles come to 'Rock Band,' instruments and all (update)

Do you love the Beatles? Do you love Rock Band? Are you ready to totally lose it? If you said yes, that's good -- because MTV Games and Harmonix have just announced a partnership with Apple Corps, Ltd. to bring the band's music and instruments to the Rock Band universe. According to the PR, the game (which apparently lets you do all kinds of awesome Beatles-related rocking) will also premiere with a set of new hardware "modeled after instruments used by John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr throughout their career." Right now they've just got a holder page up with a launch date of September 9th, but as soon as we get our eyes on the gear, we'll let you know.

Update: Here's some more information to cleanse your pallet. The game, known henceforth as The Beatles: Rock Band, will be sold software-only for $60 on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Wii (note the extra Hamilton over the usual Nintendo pricing). The standalone guitars will be sold separately for $100, and if you're opting for the Limited Edition Premium Bundle, featuring the game and all instruments, it'll set you back $250. No word on pricing outside of US just yet. Despite the Rock Band branding, it's considered a standalone title and no one is talking right now about any connectivity, downloadable content or transferring of songs between Beatles and other RB games. According to Joystiq, you'll be able to rock out to 45 songs from the band's 1962 to 1969 EMI catalog. Full press release after the break.

APPLE CORPS LTD., MTV AND HARMONIX ANNOUNCE "THE BEATLES: ROCK BAND," WORLDWIDE RELEASE SET FOR 9/9/09

New York, NY – March 5, 2008 – Apple Corps, Ltd., Harmonix and MTV Games, a part of Viacom's MTV Networks (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), today announced the 9/9/09 worldwide release of The Beatles: Rock Band (http://www.thebeatlesrockband.com). The music-based video game, an unprecedented, experiential progression through and celebration of the music and artistry of The Beatles, will be available simultaneously worldwide in North America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and other territories for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and Wii™ home videogame console from Nintendo.

The Beatles: Rock Band will allow fans to pick up the guitar, bass, mic or drums and experience The Beatles extraordinary catalogue of music through gameplay that takes players on a journey through the legacy and evolution of the band's legendary career. In addition, The Beatles: Rock Band will offer a limited number of new hardware offerings modeled after instruments used by John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr throughout their career.

The Beatles: Rock Band will be offered as standalone software and hardware as well as a limited edition bundle. The game will be compatible with all Rock Band instrument controllers and other current music-based video game peripherals.

Available on 9/9/09:

• The Beatles: Rock Band Software - Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3, Wii: $59.99 MSRP
• The Beatles: Rock Band Standalone Guitars - Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3, Wii: $99.99 MSRP
• The Beatles: Rock Band Limited Edition Premium Bundle: Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3, Wii: $249.99 MSRP

Please note: Pricing outside of the US to be announced at a later date.

The Beatles: Rock Band marks the first time that Apple Corps, along with EMI Music, Harrisongs Ltd, and Sony/ATV Music Publishing, has agreed to present The Beatles music in an interactive video game format. The Beatles: Rock Band will be published by MTV Games and developed by Harmonix, the world's premier music video game company and creators of the best-selling Rock Band®. Electronic Arts will serve as distribution partner for the game. In addition, Giles Martin, co-producer of The Beatles innovative LOVE album project, is providing his expertise and serving as Music Producer for this groundbreaking Beatles project.

Exclusive content created by Apple Corps, MTV Games and Harmonix will be made available to fans over the next few months who participate in a pre-order campaign through major retailers. More details on The Beatles: Rock Band game and pre-order will be revealed in the coming months.

Please visit http://www.thebeatlesrockband.com.

[Gil @ Mar 5th 2009 10:19AM]

number nine

[Samboini @ Mar 5th 2009 10:28AM]

To bad I don't like the Beatles.

[ImaYam @ Mar 5th 2009 10:38AM]

...allowing you to lipsync and suck like never before!

[V Langs @ Mar 5th 2009 11:44AM]

hahahahaa number nine!

ok, no joke when i first heard that song (when i was a wee ladd) i was scared shitless...

then i listened to it again (during my huge beatles revival, which is....still going on..) and i realized how amazing of a song it was...

oh and Elenore rigby and within you, without you....

oh and for those who don't like the beatles....wtf man?

[tekd @ Mar 5th 2009 12:15PM]

I'm having dreamcast flashbacks with all these 9's.

[shibathedog @ Mar 5th 2009 2:54PM]

I was just about to say the same thing, that is the first thing that picture reminded me of. Wow that was TEN YEARS ago.

[xtole @ Mar 5th 2009 1:56PM]

RB get The Beatles. GH gets Tool.

I'm happy with my GH purchase.

[Ridgecity @ Mar 5th 2009 9:06PM]

I own Guitar Hero but comparing Tool to the Beatles? that's just ridiculous, even for the internet.

[Adam J. @ Mar 5th 2009 11:31PM]

"RB get The Beatles. GH gets Tool.

I'm happy with my GH purchase."

Even Tool hates you for that comment

[Brad I. @ Mar 5th 2009 10:20AM]

This is going to be awesome. Can't wait to rock out to everything on Revolver.

[Curtis @ Mar 5th 2009 10:20AM]

my birthday!

[Like_A_Glove @ Mar 5th 2009 11:44PM]

Well, it's my birthday too, yeah.

[dudeinator @ Mar 5th 2009 10:27AM]

"MTV Games and Harmonix have just announced a partnership with Apple Corps, Ltd. to bring the band's music..."

Once again... Nothing but Apple news on Engadget!

I'm so clever, I made myself giggle!

[Shenanigans @ Mar 5th 2009 10:50AM]

Wrong Apple buddy. Engadget is referring to the Apple record label founded by the Beatles in '68, not the computer company. Two completely seperate.

And yes, the record company sued Apple for naming rights when the iTunes store opened for this very reason. I believe Jobs' Apple settled out of court to make the situation go away.


Btw, I am stoked!!!! All you need is the Beatles + Rock Band. And love!!

[dudeinator @ Mar 5th 2009 10:53AM]

Huh... yeah, I know that.

Kinda the joke there.

[Shenanigans @ Mar 5th 2009 11:01AM]

Sorry, I replied to the wrong poster.

[geddy76 @ Mar 5th 2009 11:28AM]

@ Shenaningans You, sir, are a douche. That was the joke. But thanks for spouting off information most of us knew in an effort to appear both witty and all-knowing.

[bobbychariot @ Mar 5th 2009 1:16PM]

@Shenanigans



WHOOOOSH!

[Alan Strangis @ Mar 5th 2009 1:36PM]

@ Shenanigans: Epic FAIL, even in the followup, even in the ass covering department.

[Mike @ Mar 6th 2009 12:00AM]

@Shenanigans

Ha, nice fail at the recovery.

You got owned twice.

[CajoleJuice @ Mar 5th 2009 10:51AM]

9/9/99 > 09/09/09

[Hey Ya @ Mar 5th 2009 11:04AM]

I had the same thought when I saw that date.

Good times... good times.

[Jesse Dula @ Mar 5th 2009 11:54AM]

A groundbreaking day in gaming history.

I miss you, Sega Sports DreamCast.

[Gomer @ Mar 5th 2009 6:34PM]

My birthday too!! WOoT!!!

[Rurik @ Mar 5th 2009 10:24AM]

I'm not usually in the Beatlesphere, but is that room art symbolic of something?

Will definitely get it (game only, at least) when it comes out.

[topherburk1 @ Mar 5th 2009 10:46AM]

It appears to be the interior of Apple studios where they performed their sessions.

[Neil @ Mar 5th 2009 10:47AM]

I believe that room is in Abbey Road studios, where some of their major work was recorded.

[knd123 @ Mar 10th 2009 1:41AM]

Abbey Road is where they recorded over 95% of their records.

[V Langs @ Mar 5th 2009 11:39AM]

definitely the abbey road studio...

if you live in london (or visit), it's a sweet place to see

i swear if you listen carefully, you can hear them argue over the intricacies of let it be and sgt. peppers and if you look closely enough you can see their manager pour LSD into their afternoon teas... ;-)

[Ridgecity @ Mar 5th 2009 9:09PM]

you can still smell the mexican mushrooms that made so many songs possible.

[Nomi @ Mar 5th 2009 10:28AM]

Engadget...again with the Apple bias...

[Galley @ Mar 5th 2009 11:07AM]

I see what you did there.

[Nomi @ Mar 5th 2009 1:27PM]

Ahh...I was beaten to it...

[Paul S. @ Mar 5th 2009 10:33AM]

Aw man, I was planning on picking this up day 1, but now I won't be able to get it until Christmastime.

Because. I'll. Be. In. London.

Oh the irony of it all.

[superhobo @ Mar 5th 2009 10:34AM]

To all you players:
http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/rock_band.png

Oh, and the cable seems to cross it self near the bottom of the picture.

[Lee @ Mar 5th 2009 2:57PM]

I'm buying it, I'll even get rid of the instruments I have and buy The Beatles versions. It may sound stupid, but I want it that much.

[blore40 @ Mar 5th 2009 10:39AM]

Imagine that!

[VooDoo @ Mar 5th 2009 10:43AM]

O man, i want to play w/ that bass pual mcartney used. This one: http://cache.eb.com/eb/image?id=91865&rendTypeId=4.jpg

that would be awesome!

[AMiSH PiRATE @ Mar 5th 2009 10:46AM]

So even though Harmonix is putting it out, you're going to have to rebuy all the instruments you just bought for rockband in order to play it? Score!

[Shenanigans @ Mar 5th 2009 10:57AM]

I am pretty positive GH and RB are now required to make fake instuments compatible with each other. I think they've always been backwards and forwards compatible.

Who wouldn't want Paul's bass though- it's so choice!

[Canadian Bacon @ Mar 5th 2009 10:58AM]

How exactly did you come to that conclusion? The only thing it says is that they're coming out with the game and Beatles-modeled instruments. Where does it say you can use the regular RB/RB2 controllers?

[Matt @ Mar 5th 2009 10:50AM]

Er,. the game was announced a while ago. The instrument thing might be new, though.
I wish they'd just release it as normal DLC in addition to selling them as compilation games.

[crashcarstar @ Mar 5th 2009 10:52AM]

@Shenanigans: You missed the joke buddy.

[Shenanigans @ Mar 5th 2009 11:05AM]

Yeah, replied to wrong poster. Guy below doesn't sound like he/she is joking.

Smashing Pumpkins fan?

[GhettoBanjo @ Mar 5th 2009 10:52AM]

this is great for harmonix. hopefully they can use their power to secure the rights to zeppelin songs next, that would be the shiznittlebamsnipsnapslap

[topher @ Mar 5th 2009 10:53AM]

If Rock Band and Guitar Hero hadn't already totally jumped the shark this would have been awesome
Wake me when they finally end up on iTunes

[Tiptup300 @ Mar 5th 2009 12:21PM]

That phrase you used, I don't think it means what you think it means.

[sam @ Mar 5th 2009 10:54AM]

No, no, and N/A.

My dad has an acoustic guitar which was supposedly once used by Lennon (or McCartney, can't remember). However there is no evidence whatsoever of this - and it's probably not true - so the guitar is worthless. Still, I will be amused if the special instruments look anything like it :)

[Jeff @ Mar 5th 2009 9:34PM]

Why would they make the peripherals look like acoustic guitars? That doesn't make a whole lot of sense, given the thinness of the peripherals. I'm sure they'll look like Epiphone Casinos or Sheratons, or possibly Rickenbackers, but that's doubtful. The Hofner violin bass might make an appearance, too.

[Ryan @ Mar 5th 2009 11:06AM]

* We have a worldwide release date: 09/09/09.
* The game takes players through an "unprecendented experiential progression" of the musical career of the band.
* The game will be available as standalone software and hardware, as well as a limited edition bundle. The game will be compatible with all Rock Band instrument controllers and other current music-based video game peripherals.
* There will be limited edition hardware modelled on instruments used by John, Paul, George and Ringo.
* The numbers:
- The Beatles: Rock Band Software - Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3, Wii: $59.99 MSRP
- The Beatles: Rock Band Standalone Guitars - Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3, Wii: $99.99 MSRP
- The Beatles: Rock Band Limited Edition Premium Bundle: Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3, Wii: $249.99 MSRP
- International pricing to be announced at a later date
* Giles Martin, co-producer of The Beatles innovative LOVE album project, is providing his expertise and serving as Music Producer
* Fans who pre-order the game will get access to exclusive content created by Apple Corps, MTV Games and Harmonix over the next few months.