Cambridge, Mass. – January 23, 2009 – Harmonix and MTV Games announced today the addition of six new Grateful Dead tracks to the Rock Band® Music Store catalog of downloadable content. The tracks include “Cold Rain & Snow” from the band’s original 1967 album, The Grateful Dead.”
“Hell in a Bucket” from the 1987 In the Dark album, “Uncle John’s Band” from Workingman’s Dead (1970), “Fire on the Mountain” from Shakedown Street (1978), “Don’t Ease Me In” from Go to Heaven (1980) and “Doin’ That Rag,” from the 1969 album Aoxomoxoa.
Grateful Dead, well known for its 30 years of wild and lengthy tours, announced last week its first tour in over five years. Founded by the infamous singer-songwriter Jerry Garcia, the band’s journey ignited in San Francisco’s Haight and Ashbury district during the psychedelic ’60s. In 2007 the Recording Academy honored Grateful Dead with the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award for its contribution to the evolution of rock music.
The “Grateful Dead Pack 02” is the second Grateful Dead pack to join the Rock Band Music Store. “Casey Jones,” China Cat Sunflower,” “Franklins Tower,” “I Need a Miracle,” “Sugar Magnolia” and “Truckn” were released to Rock Band fans last March. In addition, Grateful Dead’s “Alabama Getaway” is featured on the Rock Band 2 disc.
Release Date: Tuesday, January 27, 2009 (Xbox LIVE Marketplace for Xbox 360)
Thursday, January 29, 2009 (PlayStation®Store)
Tracks: (Click on track to view music video)
Grateful Dead “Hell in a Bucket”
Grateful Dead “Don’t Ease Me In”
Grateful Dead “Cold Rain & Snow”
Grateful Dead “Doin’ That Rag”
Grateful Dead “Fire on the Mountain”
Grateful Dead “Uncle John’s Band”
(All tracks are original master recordings)
Price: $1.99 (160 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) per track
$9.99 (800 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) for the Grateful Dead 6-pack
Locations: Xbox LIVE Marketplace for Xbox 360 and PlayStation®Network
** Dates for Rock Band game tracks are tentative and subject to change **
Rock Band 2 is available now for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION®3 and PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system’s and the Wii system. Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION 3 versions support all previously downloaded content. The groundbreaking music platform that forever changed the face of music video games is committed to taking gaming to the next level with the evolution of the franchise.
There are now more than 500 tracks available to date via disc and download purchase (complete list of tracks at www.rockband.com/music). Rock Band continues to satisfy music fans’ and gamers’ voracious appetite for rock with more than 30 million paid downloads since its launch on November 20, 2007. The Rock Band Music Store allows players to preview and purchase downloadable individual music tracks and packs from the vast selection of offerings available to date without ever leaving the game as they build their own custom Rock Band library.
Rock Band and Rock Band 2 allow online play and features that expand the boundaries of music gaming. Rock Band downloadable content is playable and integrated into setlists in all game modes. In order to play downloadable content for head-to-head matches or multiplayer online, all players must own the same downloadable track. Downloadable content for Xbox 360 is available for purchase via Xbox LIVE® Marketplace for Xbox 360 using Microsoft Points and is downloaded directly to the hard drive of Xbox 360. Downloadable content for the PLAYSTATION 3 system’s version of Rock Band is available for purchase on the PlayStation®Store through the free PlayStation®Network and is downloaded directly to PLAYSTATION 3 system’s built in hard drive.
Rock Band and Rock Band 2 are rated “T” for Teen (lyrics, suggestive themes) by the ESRB.
For more information on Rock Band 2 and Harmonix Music Systems please visitwww.rockband.com and www.harmonixmusic.com
