A little bit of non-dongle related Rock Band news for you today: Apparently Coheed and Cambria will be joining the line-up with "Welcome Home." As we're not terribly familiar with the band, we sought out Dr. David Thorpe for his take: "They have deliberately combined all of rock and roll's worst traits, all of its most horrible, nauseating excess, and turned it into something so patently awful that, of course, every nerd on the internet loves it." ... Ouch.

In case you're also unfamiliar with the band, you don't have to judge from Thorpe's vitriol or this brief IGN clip. We're delighted to bring you the full song played the way God intended: Over clips of Dragon Ball Z.

Answers are slowly starting to emerge about the mysterious dongle the PS3 uses for wireless guitar capabilities in Guitar Hero III. The over-simplified version is that even though PS3 and Wii both use Bluetooth, the Wii guitar plugs directly into the Wiimote hijacking the signal, while the Sixaxis doesn't plug into the guitar -- hence the USB wired dongle as a wireless bridge.

Before we go any further, this isn't just a GH III problem. Rock Band will also use some sort of PS3 dongle. This might also explain a lot about why there isn't a Wii version of Rock Band announced yet. Although it's completely disputable, here's our basic idea: Two USB ports on the back of the Wii for the drum and mic (which are wired on every console), then if Harmonix wants the guitars to be wireless they need to design a guitar modeled around the Wiimote to plug into so that Rock Band does the same signal hijack that GH III accomplishes.

Apparently Sony doesn't feel up to talking about why these dongles are necessary as they stonewalled 1UP when the site went looking for answers. Maybe Sony will give Red Octane and Harmonix the tools to make their guitars work dongle-less one day, but to get things done for this holiday season this was the only (or most cost effective) solution available.

Update: We were trying to avoid bringing the Xbox 360 into this, but considering there is some confusion, the Xbox 360 version of Guitar Hero III is "dongle-less." Meaning a direct connection is made between the guitar and Xbox 360. Regarding Guitar Hero I & II support on PS3, Red Octane wrote us: "In regards to your other question about GH and GHII (on PS2), they do work on PS3 (w/ both SG and Kramer), though they will require an appropriate adapter for the guitar controller."

Yahoo! Games has posted a video preview of this holiday's multi-instrument music extravaganza, Rock Band, paying special attention to the venues you and your faux band will be tearing up, bringing down and figuratively destroying. Spread across the cities of Boston, Los Angeles and New York, the initially revealed venues (out of the final 41) are divided into three size groups, with your band's surging popularity pushing you out of small clubs and into large arenas.

In an accompanying interview, Rock Band's senior artist Peter McDonald explains that the fancy venues provide not only bigger crowds, but also more spectacular stage effects and sophisticated camera work (read: "crazy crane shots"). Have a look for yourself at places like "Heebie Jeebie's," "Empire Square Garden" and "The Snake Pit" by clicking that Read link.

[Thanks, Whymog]

MTV's Multiplayer blog has posted answers to frequently asked questions regarding the corporate fustercluck (MTV/EA/Harmonix) published rhythm game Rock Band. We could bother to put the question and the answer, but if y'all can't figure out what the original question was you can hit up Multiplayer:

• No other hardware combinations have been announced yet beyond the standard (guitar, drum, mic) bundle. And yes, the bass guitar is just a second guitar controller which you probably have lying around ...
• ... because Harmonix will keep an "open platform philosophy" and games will be compatible with third-party controllers "that conform to the various platform controller standards."
• If you're short on guitars but want to play head to head, the online play will be both cooperative and competitive.
• The Xbox 360 gee-tar will come with a USB hub (remember the guitar in the bundle is wired).
• A Wii version has not been announced ... yet.

Now, we don't have insta-access to Rock Band like MTV's Multiplayer blog, but we can try to get some questions answered too -- we're scrappy like that. So if you have some lingering Rock Band questions (and there are plenty good ones still left), leave 'em in the comments and we'll try to get some answers. And automatic name calling to the people who ask questions already answered by bullet points above.

It's official folks, Rock Band will be $170 for Xbox 360 and PS3 and release Nov. 23. A Friday ... wait, Black Friday? Yes, more on that in a second. The PS2 version will release Dec. 10 for $160. Our spidey sense started tingling that something was up when we received info that Amazon was listing Rock Band for $169 -- a $30 reduction from the $199 they've had listed for months. Turns out that they received the official price today. The bundle includes the game (reg. $60, $50 on PS2), the guitar (reg. $60, but wired on Xbox 360, wireless is separate and $80), the wired drums (reg. $80), and wired microphone (reg. $30).

Now the big question: What were the powers that be thinking with November 23rd? Nov. 23rd is Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, the high holy "oh my gawd we're going to get trampled when the stores open" day of the year. Can you imagine what it's going to be like trying to pick up your game at retail on that day? Don't know about the rest of you, but if there were ever a time to get your game by mail -- this would be that time!

[Thanks to all those that sent info in]

Update: All has been revealed.

Earlier this week Amazon.com dropped the ball and freaked a lot of pre-order customers out by sending emails saying Rock Band was delayed until 2008 -- it wasn't true. Interestingly, in their "oops" letter today to those same pre-order customers Amazon says: "'Rock Band Special Edition' [Video Game], Estimated arrival date: 11/27/2007 - 11/29/2007."

The person we received this info from uses Amazon Prime, which gives faster shipping on items, so those dates should be the week of release. Of course, Amazon already screwed up the year this week, so what's another week? Most guesstimates have had the release the week of Nov. 20. The official Rock Band release announcement is expected next week. Still no word yet on official peripheral pricing though.

Update: After receiving more of these letters, it turns out there are apparently two versions. One with an 11/23 date and another with 11/27 date. We spoke with Amazon.com and they say that there is an algorithm in the system that decides these dates based on location, but because there's no official date yet, these delivery estimates are still subject to change. The difference in date are not related to console platform. Boy it'd be nice to finally get a solid release date.

[Thanks Tim]

We'll keep this short and sweet. Amazon sent out notices this morning to customers that Rock Band had been delayed until late 2008. That is just plain wrong says Harmonix's PR. They have absolutely no idea how it happened, but when they asked Amazon to update their information to correct the error, Amazon then shifted all Rock Band content to 2008. Rock Band is still planned for this November with an official release date being announced "very soon."

A representative for Harmonix tells Joystiq, "We have asked Amazon to address this and we'll be coming out November of this year. We've requested they update their information. We have no idea where that date came from." So all those preparing to rock, and especially those that pre-ordered their Rock Band bundle off Amazon, it looks like everything's gonna be all right.

[Thanks to all those who sent this in]

FCC employees must have had a lot of fun testing out this one. Though the hipsters might call it Exhibit VFR822151, to the layman it's the Bluetooth-enabled wireless Rock Band guitar for the PlayStation 3. Shown on the site are some test reports, pictures of the guitar's innards (ew!) and snippets of the manual.

Somewhat perplexing is the picture of a USB dongle (pictured after the break). Because of the Bluetooth technology, the guitar shouldn't need an intermediary device to connect to the PlayStation 3; however, the user manual included with the FCC exhibit clearly show the dongle as part of the setup process. Perhaps it'll become clearer closer to Rock Band's holiday launch.

[Via Engadget]

Or smooch a flaming pepper in the audio grove if you prefer your news to be less explicit. Either way, intimate and coveted relations with spicy fruit should bring to mind three new Rock Band tracks -- or is it the other way around? EA has revealed (via 1UP) that this holiday's battle of the fake bands will be graced by the following master tracks:

• "Detroit Rock City" by KISS
  
• "Dani California" by Red Hot Chili Peppers
• "Black Hole Sun" by Soundgarden

A list of all tracks unveiled thus far can be found after the break.

In the latest OXM Podcast, Harmonix CEO Alex Rigopulos confirms that the Xbox 360 guitars for Rock Band are wired in the bundles. There will be wired and wireless versions available for the Xbox 360, but once again, the retail bundles will come with a wired guitar. The PS3 guitars are all wireless. The Xbox 360 bundle will also come with a USB hub for all the peripherals to plug into. On both the Xbox 360 and PS3 version the microphone and drum kit will be wired. Rigopulos says, "The cost of wireless technology on the Microsoft side is higher and to be able to offer those bundles at a price point that would be reasonable for consumers it was necessary ... on the 360 side we are also bundling a hub."

And no, there is no official price yet. It's starting to look like the $20 difference between the Xbox 360 wired and wireless guitar we reported after receiving an internal Game Crazy memo is holding up. So, that's that, the Xbox 360 bundle of Rock Band has a wired guitar and you'll get a little hub to plug everything in. Now comes the question if Microsoft will loosen their grip on the cost of licensing the proprietary wireless tech if the PS3 version of Rock Band sells stronger (comparatively given its lower install base) due to its wireless advantage. In the end, we don't blame Harmonix/EA/MTV for this wired issue -- although it was shady of them to hide it this long -- we're more upset that the consumer is going to get an inferior product due to an obnoxious licensing issue. It's deja vu all over again.

[Thanks sm0ke]

If you've been looking to get your hands on Rock Band, here's your best chance before it launches on ... actually we still have no idea on an official release date. The 24-city tour will start in Vegas on Sept. 9, the weekend of the MTV Video Music Awards. The full list of tour stops can be found after the break.

Big trucks, like the one seen above, will travel the country and allow people to play on a "full stage with lights and sound systems." That's much better than what you'll have in your living room. Further, "any rockers ... who play on the Rock Band tour bus stage will be captured on tape for consideration by MTV casting directors." Two bands will get picked and be flown to NYC to perform on TRL. The winning group will get to open for a "surprise super group" at the Rock Band launch concert. We don't fear the Reaper, but we do have concerns of what MTV will do to those people. We can only imagine this equation: Next + Dismissed + Parental Control + Super Sweet 16 + Rock Band = ???

Fresh from the news that Aerosmith is going to be involved with a new iteration of the Guitar Hero franchise, jam band kings the Grateful Dead have cast their patchouli-caked lot with the rhythm rival: Rock Band. The band that's the source of more bloodshot eyes than allergies and swimming pools combined will be giving up 18 tracks for download, including "Truckin'," "Uncle John's Band," "Touch of Grey," "Sugar Magnolia," and "Casey Jones."

It's not yet been confirmed if fans will sell their possessions and begin following you around the country if you download the tracks. We'll keep our fingers crossed.

[Thanks, Copa]

In 1999, Konami of Japan unleashed DrumMania on Japanese arcades and with it, the ability to link the machine together with GuitarFreaks for session play. This was considered a novel idea at the time, though it wasn't the most affordable setup. The following year, they released a home version of DrumMania, complete with the appropriate controller. That is, of course, if you had no intentions of playing the game with any sort of accuracy.

Jump to the present day and not only has Harmonix solved the problem of session play, but they've also produced a drumming peripheral that challenges the quality of Konami's original arcade beast.

Sticks in hand, we sat down behind Harmonix's latest kit, flipped the difficulty to hard and proceeded to lay in like few others have before. If there is any doubt as to the mastery of rhythm wielded by Harmonix, Rock Band surely squashes it.