After playing Rock Band 2 for 2 straight hours and struggling though some songs I've never played before, I was worried that when the videos started making their way online, I'd look like an asshole who didn't know how to play fake instruments, and that everyone would laugh at me. But when I watch this video of us doing Livin' on a Prayer, all I see is the evening distilled to its essence: a lot of geeks having a lot of fun pretending to be rock stars on a real stage playing for a real audience, which is exactly what I hoped for when I planned it. I mean, we were up there playing 80s anthems, and there were people dancing in front of the stage. When I sang to a girl in the front row, she screamed like we were at an actual concert. For reals! It was so awesome, it was hard not to get caught up in the fantasy of the thing, and I don't think any of us who played the game spent more than 10 seconds fighting it.
In fact, this was so much fun, I think I may need to figure out a way to make it part of every con I go to … you know, like going on tour. \m/
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Here is our video from RockBand night. Which was awesome and the best part of the Comicon for us! Thanks, Wil.
Cj (@mightymommy)
Man, what a geek. Which, ya know, is perfectly froody. I’d scream if you sang to me, too. And maybe do a little pretend faint – just to keep it all realistic.
It was THE event at Phoenix Comicon.
I, however, am ruined for living room Rock Band now.
I think we’re ALL ruined for Living Room Rock Band now. Maybe the FRICKIN LASER BEAMS will help. I’ll investigate, and report back.
(That, by the way, is the official position we’re all delivering to Anne, okay? This is an INVESTIGATION for the purposes of furthering ROCK AND ROLL SCIENCE.)
So, I was sad that I couldn’t go up there, but then my friend got clapbook #199 for me, so that was super rad. And I missed it for a good reason (I officiated at the wedding of two of my oldest friends!). I’m still sad that I missed the Rock Band, though. It looks like a clear highlight of the weekend.
Ohmigawd, that looks like SO much fun!!! I’m grinning ear-to-ear just watching the video. What a blast. Great job!
You guys looked like you were having so much fun. Really makes me wish I’d bought the entire set for Guitar Hero World Tour for my son instead of just the guitar.
I so wish they would have had these games when I was in high school. I loved singing along with the songs at the dances and it would have been so cool to do this instead. “Living On A Prayer” totally takes me back.
You guys rock!!
It’s not as cool as the video, but here are some stills from Friday night’s gig!
Thanks for being the highlight of the con, AGAIN!
;^D
Wow. Wil and Bon Jovi music in one video. As a former Jersey Girl, let me just say: you gone and done us proud, Will *sniff, sniff* So beautful…
Wil, you have the best life.
For all of you who were not there, the video doesn’t do it justice. It was a thousand times better in real life. I didn’t want the night to end. I can’t wait til next year. It’s going to bigger and better.
That is me playing guitar on the left, it was pretty epic. And I know I look nervous, but I was trying to concentrate on playing the game and watching the screen. After awhile I gave up started having more fun.
Here’s another clip. Ratt’s Round and Round.
I know someone else posted a link to an ‘Eye of the Tiger’ Clip but I thought all the girls of the forum would love the beginning of the song.
This makes me wanna absolutely ball.. I was gonna go to this ComiCon but the freakin money situation got in the way 🙁 I am sooo upset. But im 75% sure ill get to go to the one in Michigan, even though Marina Sirtis and Brent Spiner arent gonna be there. Actually I was just goin to see Wil but when I found out they were gonna be at this one, it was just the icing on the cake. (The cake being Wil, of course.) But since the f*ing economy isnt workin good for us I didnt get to go! But hopefully I will get to go to the one in Michigan. Wil, if you find out your goin anywhere else, please post it!! xoxo
Thats totally true. Haha, see, being a Geek does have its perks!! 🙂
That’s a great video, Wil. It really captures the appeal of Rock Band.
I am *not* a video game guy. (I’m an old school gamer … d20s or bust.) Rock band is the exception that proves the rule. I’d say half the people we talk into playing with us at home are resistant, yet when they finally play they invariably love the game (and express surprise that they love the game).
My only issue with Rock Band is that I’m putting so much effort — 15 hours or so a week — into learning to play the *fake* guitar. I keep telling myself I should put the effort into learning how to play for real. Right?
I think making this a regular ConTour would be one of the most awesome things a celebrity has ever done at any convention. EVAR.
I believe someone owes me (1) cockpunch, as the Bon Jovi heckler at the phoenix comic con, I was threatened by Wil Wheaton with a cockpunch for requesting (read yelling/heckling) Bon Jovi.
I hope Wil realizes that if he hadn’t performed this song, he probably would not have received his kiss from Marina. 🙂 Hope it was worth the song Wil, and I hope the wife understands. 🙂
OK, I haven’t read all 118 comments before mine, so I’m sure this has already been said 118 different ways: You guys and the crowd were FUCKING AWESOME! Keep up the manificent work!!
Hahaha! I looked for you on Saturday, but after your friend had pointed you out to me, you vanished into the crowd.
Yeah, as far as I’m concerned, we’re calling it even on the cockpunch.
You know what’s hilarious? I really don’t like that song now, but I LOVED that album when I was like 15 or whatever. Since the video came online, my brain won’t stop singing it at me, no matter how hard I try to push it out with other music.
Thanks Wil for posting this blog – it was truly an amazing night~ I was on drums for Livin on a Prayer, and I totally agree with Tyler, it was really hard to pay attention to the screen! There was just so much energy, and the lights of camera’s going off, the crowd screaming and singing – and your preformance was most fabulous! Thank you so much for letting us experience that with you, and thanks for “letting” us play Bon Jovi 🙂
P.S. if you need ANY help researching rock n roll science with the laser beams, I’m available!
I so loved them back then also, I used to be way into those kinds of bands,
its funny how back then music was so defining, if you were into the metal
bands, you ripped your jeans and hairsprayed it up, or if you were into
country you would wear cowboy boots and a hat etc. If you liked the pop
music you wore the appropriate garb, usually for girls leg warmers and
headbands. In today’s era, it seems music has lost something (or gained
something) depending on how you look at it. It seems like nobody dresses for
the music they like, and about 99% of the people I meet say they “like a
little everything”‘ when asked what kind of music they like, when back then,
you would only reply with your genre of choice. 😛
Once, in high school, there was some “clean up the quad” thing, where they put out all these trash cans with different genres of music on them, like Punk, Country, Top 40, Metal, etc. Every Friday, there was music in the quad, and the idea was whatever trash can had the most trash in it would determine that week’s style of music.
New Wave was missing, so my friend Nick made a sign that said The Send the Teachers to Siberia Fund. It was filled to overflowing by the end of the first day.
Oh, forgot to mention my friend that stopped by your both on Saturday, his
name is Steve, if you put his name in a comment here, I’m sure it would make
his day, and would get me out of hot water ditching him on sat. to play with
my daughter 🙂
OMG, you /have/ to come to GenCon now. It’s the biggest gaming con around, but more importantly my wife and I can both have a hope of playing with you. 🙂
–Penn
Aw yeah. Geeks rawk.
Absolutley, Wil. You’re the coolest geek anyway.
I can assure you that won’t get you out of ditching me – though it would help. Waiting 3 hours for you to tell me you were ditching me resulted in me missing the first 40 minutes of Wil’s Q&A with Brent and Marina. The last 20 minutes was fan-freaking-tastic (once I bypassed the brute squad to sneak into the already overfilled room).
However, I should officially go on record that the Rock Band session was incredible Wil. The best hour of the Con and well worth the price of admission. Next year I’ll be up there playing in a band with you instead of sitting in the crowd wishing I was up there playing in a band with you.
I think you’re definitely a contender for the “coolest geek in the world”. Rock on!
I used to read your blog religiously because I thought you were the only celebrity exactly my age who was exactly as Uncool as me. Now I find out you really ARE full of cool, AND you can SING???
Stop the world..
Wow! I’m so inspired by this I’m going to ask for a Rock Band event at our next Faculty work day. We’re halfway through the school year and that means that morale is getting a little low. What better way to bring people together than 80s Rock?! Seriously! We need the camaraderie that Rock Band OBVIOUSLY provides!