Quick, before some pretentious post-postmodern indie band rips the idea and integrates it into their set: check out the video after the break of the will it blend dude sticking a Gibson X-Plorer's fender into one of their machines. Yeah, we're total suckers for the Guitar Hero games, and we love to see Guitar destruction as much as the next rock fiend, so you can probably guess the result.

[Via Joystiq]

So last night at midnight Harmonix -- former developers of the Guitar Hero series -- and MTV's new rock and roll simulator, Rock Band, had its first ever gigs. Of course, Guitar Hero 3 fans have been shredding for weeks, and probably aren't about to sell one faux guitar for another (especially if it's not even guaranteed to work). So which are you buying (or asking for)? What's that, you want our take? Ok, well, since you asked, when the talent (Harmonix) left the Guitar Hero series, we thought the new game suffered big time. Plus we're WAY more into the tracks on Rock Band -- c'mon, they've got Bowie and The Clash! -- but we kind of think the Guitar Hero Les Paul is better than the Rock Band Fender. Vote below in the battle of the bands, and may the rockingest win.

Yep, Guitar Hero 3 is officially on sale and everyone and their tattoed mother's picked up a copy (along with the new axes that accompany it). Oh sure, GH2 players making the jump to 3 won't feel like any less like any less of a nerd trying to ape the genuinely cool (that is, if you actually still think The Scorpions are cool), but now your guitar is collapsible and, if you're lucky, wireless. Rock on, Bill, Ted. Video after the break.

P.S. -By the way, if you're planning on picking yours up at your local Wally world, buyer beware: they're selling GH3 with the old school guitars from GH2. We're not sure if this is going on elsewhere, but you should definitely keep an eye out.

If it's got a radio in it, the government's gonna want to poke at it, and the wireless Les Paul shipping with the PS3 version of Guitar Hero 3 is no exception, turning up in the FCC's database today. Just like the 360 version we saw hit the FCC a little while ago, there's nothing shocking to report -- the PS3 version will still (sadly) require a USB dongle, up to four controllers can be paired up, and the faceplates are interchangeable -- but it's nice to know we're getting ever close to melting our faces off with GH3.

It's not set in stone, but in an interview with CNET.au, RedOctane cofounder Charles Huang suggested that the DS version of Guitar Hero III would include a guitar controller "as long as it makes sense and it plays well." Huang went on to say that RedOctane is "exploring ways to get peripherals on a DS game," and that the company is working on approach with Nintendo's assistance. Given the novel controllers we've already seen hit the DS, RedOctane's got some work to do to back up Huang's assertion that GHIII on the DS "will play probably unlike any other DS game that has come out," but we're willing to give the company the benefit of the doubt -- they seem to have a handle on that whole "gameplay" thing.

[Via DS Fanboy]

There's been a lot of guitar gaming related news lately for some reason, starting with the spotting of a wired version of the Rock Band virtual guitar. Joystiq speculates that this could mean a cheaper guitar for the Xbox 360 version of the game, but then again they've been playing a lot of Rock Band lately so the rockin' out may be affecting their minds. The second tidbit of news comes from the ever informant FCC, which has just taken a look at the Guitar Hero III Les Paul. We've seen this particular model before a couple of times -- albeit without the black lick of paint -- so it's not a great surprise to see this hanging around at the Federal Comm' Comm'. A much bigger surprise is the fact that the FCC shots don't include blurred pictures of the approval team (and cameraman) rocking out: an FCC tester position evidently ≠ a rockstar lifestyle. You can also see hands-on with both Guitar Hero III and Rock Band over at Joystiq.

Read - Guitar Hero III guitar at FCC
Read - Wired Rock Band guitar?
Read - Wii's wireless Rock Band guitar
Read - Hands-on: Rock Band
Read - First-look : Guitar Hero III

Are you ready to rock? I can't hear you... are you ready to RAWK?!

If you answered yes to both the above questions, please check out the early sneak peak of the Guitar Hero III wireless Les Paul controller IGN's got. It's got an improved button layout, it's wireless, and just generally makes our crappy white X-Plorers look totally ancient and pathetic. Thanks a lot, guys.

[Via Wii Fanboy]