Harmonix is developing Rock Band 3 for worldwide release this holiday season! The game, which will be published by MTV Games and distributed by Electronic Arts, will innovate and revolutionize the music genre once again, just as Harmonix did with the original Rock Band, Rock Band 2 and The Beatles: Rock Band. Stay tuned for more details!

Innovate and revolutionize you say? Could that possibly mean that this Rock Band will finally be the one that actually teaches you how to rock?

Source: Facebook

Here’s the blurb from Major Nelson:

Band Hero features an all-star lineup of pop music featuring the best variety of classic chart-topping hits and current hot artists. This demo features Finger Eleven “Paralyzer”, Katrina & The Waves “Walking on Sunshine” and Taylor Swift “Picture to Burn”. Includes Party Play and the all-new Sing-Along mode.

I’m willing to admit that the music games usually illicit at least a tepid interest for me, but this is an exception (right along with DJ Hero). Not my kind of music, and even if it was, I might boycott in protest. Alas, it seems nothing can stop Bob Kotick and his relentless quest to swindle the masses out of every last penny we’ve got.

The bigger news in his recent chat with the BBC is that a Queen version of Rock Band looks pretty likely. May confirmed that the behind-the-scenes discussions are already happening and said, “Yes we’re into it, I think it may happen.” Not the strongest impression I’ve heard about such a game, but it’s definitely good news. For the friends of mine who read this, I’m going to go ahead and call mic on “Don’t Stop Me Now.” Sorry, Todd. It’s mine.

The first of the Limited Edition Beatles-themed consoles has sold as well, netting charity a cool $17,300. Microsoft reminded everyone reading the press release that there would be a limited number of the consoles available and any money from the auctioned consoles will go to Doctors Without Borders. You should also remember that downloading the track over Xbox Live enters you in a drawing to receive one of the limited edition consoles through December 9th. The winner will also receive a Rickenbacker 325 replica controller.

You can read the full press release here.

Microsoft will also be putting the Beatles’ “All You Need Is Love,” up for sale on the Xbox Live Marketplace tomorrow. The proceeds from those sales will also go to the band’s selected charity. Purchase of the song will also enter Xbox Live members into a sweepstakes to win one of the Limited Edition consoles.

All in all it seems like a pretty cool promotion. Spend a bunch of money, do alittle good, everyone goes home happy. You can see the full list of rules at Xbox.com.

Harmonix, which develops the Rock Band franchise, said Jackson’s death will have no effect on the game’s release – even the track list will remain unaltered.

Though there’s been some rumor that Jackson and former Beatle Paul McCartney had a bit of a tiff about the music, McCartney says it’s not true. In a statement on his website, Paul says the two simply drifted apart over the years. Here’s the full statement:

Some time ago, the media came up with the idea that Michael Jackson was going to leave his share in the Beatles songs to me in his will which was completely made up and something I didn’t believe for a second.

Now the report is that I am devastated to find that he didn’t leave the songs to me. This is completely untrue. I had not thought for one minute that the original report was true and therefore, the report that I’m devastated is also totally false, so don’t believe everything you read folks!

In fact, though Michael and I drifted apart over the years, we never really fell out, and I have fond memories of our time together.

At times like this, the press do tend to make things up, so occasionally, I feel the need to put the record straight.

Sounds like good news all around…oh…except the Beatles still don’t own their music.