I’m sitting here watching my wife and her sisters absolutely rock out to the Motley Crue stalwart “Shout at the Devil.” It’s not resonating from the stereo or somebody’s iPod. It’s not inducing any awesome air guitar riffs, or fake mosh pits. No, this is completely derived from Guitar Hero. I don’t know whether to be happy that my wife and in-laws are enjoying such kick ass music, or to be angry that this goofy (yet extremely fun) game is making people think they can play music.

To help explain my quandary, I’ll pose a question. Is this guy, extremely talented, or just a nerdy gamer? As a musician and a purist, I vote for the latter. It must be stated that I am an absolute music snob, so take that as you will.

Back to my quandary… I see so many people, especially college kids, rockin’ out to Shadows Fall, Rage Against the Machine, and (ughh) Kiss. I love hard rock and am enjoying this quasi resurgence. (It would have been nice when I was the dude with the In Flames shirt walking around my college campus). But is this taking away from people ACTUALLY PLAYING music?

When I was a freshman and sophmore in college, I lived on an all-male floor in the dorm. There were a few of us who brought our guitars and would play more than study… a lot more. Within the first few months a number of my floormates were clamoring to be taught, or had procured there own disheveled guitar. By winter you could walk around the halls and hear guitar from all over the place. Most of it sucked, but it was seriously fantastic.

Now? Well, I haven’t lived in a dorm for over 5 years, but from speaking with my wife’s younger sister it seems that Guitar Hero has taken over. It’s ridiculously popular. Are the budding musicians being pushed out by a guitar with five buttons (vs. the traditional six string, 21-24 frets rock machine)? Is this just another piece of an already virtufied world?

Meh, I don’t know. I think I’m going to go get outplayed by my 18 year old sister in law (who’s never touched a real guitar) on Sweet Child O’ Mine (a song I once spent a full two days learning on a REAL guitar).