Honestly, if you close your eyes and think about 2007, you can probably hear that clicking plastic strum bar. It was a weird, specific time. We were all obsessed with becoming couch-bound rock stars, and the guitar hero 3 songlist was the reason why. It wasn't just a collection of tracks; it was a cultural reset that turned DragonForce into a household name and made a generation of kids think they actually knew how to play "Barracuda."
Looking back from 2026, the staying power of this setlist is kind of insane. Most rhythm games have a few bangers and a lot of filler. Legends of Rock was almost entirely bangers. From the moment you start "Slow Ride" in a dirty basement venue to the soul-crushing finale against the Devil himself, the pacing is basically perfect.
The Main Stage: Where the Magic Happened
The career mode was split into eight tiers. It started easy—sorta. You had Foghat and Poison to get your fingers moving. But by the time you hit Tier 4, "European Invasion," the game stopped playing nice. You’re hit with "Paranoid" and the Sex Pistols’ "Anarchy in the U.K." (which, fun fact, the band actually re-recorded specifically for this game because the original masters were a mess).
The jump in difficulty between tiers 6 and 7 is where most people hit a wall. One minute you’re vibing to "Cherub Rock" by the Smashing Pumpkins, and the next, you’re trying to survive the tremolo picking in "Knights of Cydonia." Muse really didn't have to go that hard, but they did.
Why the Boss Battles Changed Everything
Before GH3, you just played songs. Now? You had to fight for your life. The guitar hero 3 songlist introduced these scripted duels that were honestly stressful as hell.
🔗 Read more: Puppet Combo Night Shift Explained: Why This Lo-Fi Nightmare Still Sticks
- Tom Morello: You’re trading glitchy, whammy-heavy riffs in a battle that feels like a fever dream.
- Slash: This was the peak. Playing a legendary original composition against the man in the top hat at the "Big House Blues" venue.
- Lou (The Devil): "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" played on a guitar? It’s legendary. Steve Ouimette’s metal cover of the Charlie Daniels Band classic is arguably the hardest "required" song in the game. If you didn't have a battle power ready for that final frantic section, you were toast.
The Bonus Tracks You Actually Wanted to Play
Most games bury their best stuff in the "Bonus" section. GH3 was different. You’d earn in-game cash and run straight to the vault to buy tracks. This is where the game got heavy. You had "F.C.P.R.E.M.I.X." by The Fall of Troy—a song that still haunts the nightmares of anyone trying to Full Combo (FC) the bonus set.
Then there’s the elephant in the room: "Through the Fire and Flames."
💡 You might also like: Why Aura Farmers of Despair Are Taking Over Your Feed
DragonForce became a global phenomenon because of this game. It wasn't even on the main list! You had to beat the game just to unlock it as a bonus. The intro alone—that relentless tapping—became the universal benchmark for "Are you actually good at this game or do you just play on Medium?" Even in 2026, seeing someone 100% this track on Expert is a religious experience for gaming nerds.
Master Tracks vs. Covers
One thing people forget is that not everything was a "Master Recording." Back then, licensing was a nightmare. While we got the actual tracks for Metallica's "One" and Slipknot's "Before I Forget," others were high-quality covers.
WaveGroup and Steve Ouimette did the heavy lifting on tracks like "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" and "Cities on Flame with Rock and Roll." Honestly, they did such a good job that most players didn't even realize they weren't listening to the original artists. It gave the game a cohesive, slightly grittier sound that felt right for the "Legends of Rock" aesthetic.
The Legacy of the DLC
If you were playing on Xbox 360 or PS3, the guitar hero 3 songlist didn't end with the disc. We got track packs from Foo Fighters, Velvet Revolver, and even a "Boss Battle" pack that let you play the duels without the power-ups.
Nowadays, those stores are mostly ghosts or delisted entirely due to licensing expirations. It’s a tragedy. If you didn't buy the "Halo Theme MJOLNIR Mix" or the "Death Magnetic" album tracks back then, you’re basically out of luck unless you’re venturing into the world of PC mods like Clone Hero.
💡 You might also like: Today Lotto Texas Result: What Really Happened With the $16 Million Jackpot
Actionable Insight: How to Experience the Setlist Today
If you’re feeling nostalgic and want to dive back into the guitar hero 3 songlist, you have three real paths:
- The Purist Route: Dig out a Wii or a PS2/PS3. Hunting down a functional guitar controller is the hard part—expect to pay upwards of $80 for a decent Les Paul model on secondary markets.
- The PC/Clone Hero Route: This is the "modern" way. You can find the entire GH3 setlist converted for Clone Hero. It supports 4K resolutions and high refresh rates, making those fast notes way easier to read.
- The Arcade Find: Guitar Hero Arcade machines still exist in some Dave & Buster's or local retro spots. They usually feature a "Best Of" selection from the GH3 list, including the boss tracks.
The music industry changed because of this game. Sales for featured songs spiked by over 200% the week the game launched. It proved that gamers weren't just clicking buttons; they were discovering their new favorite bands. Whether you're a metalhead who lives for "Raining Blood" or a pop-punk kid who just wanted to play "Miss Murder," this setlist was the high-water mark for the entire genre.