Metallica frontman James Hetfield talks about playing the latest "Guitar Hero" game based on his band. And: our Soundcheck Smackdown takes on the virtual experience of "Guitar Hero" and "Rock Band." Plus: bestselling author Alexander McCall Smith explains the appeal of the Really Terrible Orchestra.
Enter (Virtual) Sandman
The heavy metal icons in Metallica are starring in the latest "Guitar Hero" video game. Singer and guitarist James Hetfield talks about creating his on-screen avatar and reveals how he fared while playing "Guitar Hero: Metallica" with his son. And, columnist James Parker of the Atlantic magazine talks about what ...
Smackdown: 'Rock Band' vs Real Bands
Video games like "Guitar Hero" and "Rock Band" are sparking new life in the music world. But how does playing in a virtual band compare to the real thing? A real bassist, Jonathan Herrera of Bass Player magazine, and a not-so-real bassist, competitive "Rock Band" player and LAGtv host Steve ...
The Really Terrible Orchestra
Alexander McCall Smith is a best-selling author and a respected bioethicist. He’s also an awful bassoonist. He joins us to talk about his membership in aptly named Really Terrible Orchestra.
rock band, or Rock Band?
I'm a big believer in the idea that anything that gets kids interested in playing music is worth supporting. Supporters of the interactive music video-games, Guitar Hero and Rock Band, have been claiming that the games will lead the kids who play them to try real instruments - in other ...
Connect with Soundcheck: