“The record label called to tell me that we were selling albums like crazy. We were playing just before Slipknot and Disturbed at festivals”: As Guitar Hero turns 20, DragonForce’s Herman Li recalls how the game turned them into a household name

Herman Li of Dragonforce performs at The UC Theatre Taube Family Music Hall on November 18, 2023 in Berkeley, California.

It's been 20 years since Guitar Hero was launched in North America, and allowed the everyday gamer and guitar aficionado to experience the bona fide rockstar experience from the comfort of their bedrooms.

The concept was and still is simple. The player brandishes a guitar-shaped controller and must match the colored notes scrolling down the screen in time with their chosen track.