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'Guitar Hero' Creating Rock Legends of the Future

19th August 2010

New research has found that interactive video games such as ‘Guitar Hero’ and ‘Rock Band’ are helping to grow the number of people learning to play musical instruments in the UK.

A survey of over 2,000 respondents, commissioned by the UK’s largest musical insurance provider Allianz Musical Insurance, showed that one in five people who play an interactive music game such as ‘Guitar Hero’ and ‘Rock Band’ go on to take up a musical instrument.

The findings go against the fears of some of the industry’s biggest and well-know musicians, including rock legends such as Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page, The White Stripes' Jack White and former Rolling Stone guitarist Bill Wyman, who have all publically expressed their fears against games like ‘Guitar Hero’ and ‘Rock Band’, claiming that they discourage people from playing the real thing. .

In fact these guitar legends would be pleased to know that 77% of the new musicians surveyed have followed in their footsteps and taken up the guitar while 17% choose to play the drums.

Ashley Davies, from Surrey, is part of this new wave of musicians. He started playing the electric guitar two years ago, after playing ‘Guitar Hero’. “Playing the games definitely made me want to pick up and learn to play the guitar. It gave me a taste of how much fun playing the guitar was and after a while I wanted to play it for real, although I probably sound better playing ‘Guitar Hero’ than I do on a real guitar.”

As a dedicated musician Ashley learns to play his guitar through videos on YouTube and the internet. “I think games like ‘Guitar Hero’ help younger generations to discover music, and discover classics that they may not have known about.”

As new musicians start on their quest to become the new rock legends of tomorrow, it is also important that these young musicians protect their investment to allow them to continue playing.

Alison Andrew, Allianz Musical Insurance Marketing Manager says, “It’s great to see so many people picking up musical instruments as a result of playing interactive games, however starting out can be expensive and that’s why it’s important that these new musicians consider things like musical insurance, so if their instrument is ever stolen or broken they’ll be covered.”

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Notes to Editors

1. Allianz Insurance Plc is one of the largest general insurers in the UK and part of the Allianz SE Group, the largest property and casualty insurer worldwide. Reassuringly in these uncertain financial times, in November 2008 the Standard and Poor's rating for Allianz Insurance was reaffirmed as AA- with a stable outlook and the rating of Allianz SE was also reaffirmed as AA with a stable outlook.
2. Allianz Musical Insurance is the trading name of British Reserve Insurance Company Limited and part of the Allianz Group.
3. To obtain a quotation, call Allianz Musical Insurance on Tel: 0870 2400 303 or visit www.allianzmusic.co.uk

For further information contact:

Tolu Akisanya, PR Executive
Tel: 0208 580 8194
Email: tolu.akisanya@allianz.co.uk

Carl Stephens, Allianz Musical Insurance
Tel: 0208 580 8033
Email: carl.stephens@allianz.co.uk