The Beatles: Rock Band is due 9/9/09

The Beatles are finally a Rock Band!
The Beatles are finally a Rock Band!

"Number 9...number 9...number 9..." The words take on a whole new meaning now, as it has just been announced that The Beatles: Rock Band will arrive on 9 September 2009 in North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

According to the game's makers, Apple Corps, Harmonix and MTV Games, The Beatles: Rock Band (available for Xbox, PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Wii) "takes players on a journey through the legacy and evolution of the band's legendary career."

While the playlist and other details have yet to be revealed, it is said that a limited number of controllers modeled after guitars, basses and drums played by The Beatles will be available.

On 9 September, players can choose from The Beatles: Rock Band software, stand-alone guitars and a limited-edition premium bundle that we're assuming includes the game, instruments and maybe even some extras.

Exclusive content for pre-orders

"This game will take you on a journey from Please Please Me until Abbey Road" Jeff Jones, CEO of Apple Corps

Pre-ordering the game will allow players to access exclusive content through retail outlets. What that 'exclusive content' is, however, is still unknown. (You can sign up right here to pre-order.)

Giles Martin, son of Beatles producer George Martin, is serving as Music Producer for the Rock Band game, which has the full blessings of the surviving Beatles, along with Yoko Ono and Olivia Harrison.

Says Jeff Jones, CEO of Apple Corps, "This game will take you on a journey from The Beatles' first album, Please Please Me, until the last album, Abbey Road. It will span samples of the whole catalog all the way through."

To borrow the words of John Lennon, it will be interesting to see how many game players can "pass the audition."

Joe Bosso

Joe is a freelance journalist who has, over the past few decades, interviewed hundreds of guitarists for Guitar WorldGuitar PlayerMusicRadar and Classic Rock. He is also a former editor of Guitar World, contributing writer for Guitar Aficionado and VP of A&R for Island Records. He’s an enthusiastic guitarist, but he’s nowhere near the likes of the people he interviews. Surprisingly, his skills are more suited to the drums. If you need a drummer for your Beatles tribute band, look him up.