"The Beatles: Rock Band" Drafts Gorillaz Animator For Cinematic Trip Through Band's Career

As if the The Beatles: Rock Band trailer and the idea of rocking out as the Fab Four on the Shea Stadium and Ed Sullivan Show stages wasn't enough of a lure to convince gamers to throw down for the Beatles-based title on September 9th, Harmonix, MTV Games and Passion Pictures director Pete Candeland have revealed the jaw-dropping opening cinematic from TB:RB at the game's official Website.

Opening on the cloud-filled skyline of Liverpool, the clip descends into the subterranean clubs where the Beatles first played, then segues into an homage to A Hard Day's Night and the Fab Four's arrival in America at the height of Beatlemania. John, Paul, George and Ringo suddenly find themselves in Sgt. Peppers uniforms as the video explores the band's psychedelic phase, and the quartet ride a giant rhinophant (rhinoceros/elephant) while an army of penguins and other weird creatures march to the tune of "I Am the Walrus." And it only gets better from there.

The opening cinematic also contains dozens of little Easter Eggs for eagle-eyed Beatles experts. For instance, as the group flies over New York City, a yellow submarine can be seen under a bridge. In the Liverpool segment, concert posters promoting bands like "Carry That Weight" and "Blue Jay Way" can be spotted. As the Beatles load into a car to escape their fans, a lovely meter maid ("Lovely Rita") is briefly seen in the background. It's like Where's Waldo? or the opening sequence of The Simpsons, except insanely cool.

If the style seems reminiscent of the Gorillaz's videos, it should come as no surprise that director Candeland served as an animator for the Damon Albarn-fronted cartoon band, collaborating with Gorillaz artist Jamie Hewlett to create the videos for "Clint Eastwood," "Rock the House" and "Feel Good Inc." For more on TB:RB, check out Rock Daily's coverage of the game below:

• Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr Unveil "The Beatles: Rock Band" in L.A.
• "The Beatles: Rock Band" Reveals Vintage Guitars, Opens Pre-Order
• "The Beatles: Rock Band" Set to Hit Stores September 9, 2009

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Song Stories

“Smells Like Teen Spirit”

Nirvana | 1991

"Smells Like Teen Spirit," named after a brand of deodorant marketed to girls, was Kurt Cobain's attempt to "write the ultimate pop song," he said, using the soft-loud dynamic of his favorite band, the Pixies. Cobain "had that dichotomy of punk rage and alienation," the song’s producer, Butch Vig, told Rolling Stone, "but also this vulnerable pop sensibility. In 'Teen Spirit,' a lot of that vulnerability is in the tone of his voice." Sadly, by the time of Nirvana's last U.S. tour, in late '93, Cobain was tortured by the obligation to play "Teen Spirit" every night. "There are many other songs that I have written that are as good, if not better," he claimed.

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