As expected, the multi-instrument music game will arrive on PS2, PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii, sporting tracks from 85 bands. Of those 85, over 30 recording artists will be "making their music-rhythm video game debut," according to Activision. Here's what we know:

• Johnny Cash - "Ring of Fire"
• Santana - "No One To Depend On (Live)"
• Bob Dylan - "All Along the Watchtower"
• Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - "Runnin' Down a Dream"
• Vampire Weekend - "A-Punk"
• The White Stripes - "Blue Orchid"
• The Rolling Stones - "Sympathy for the Devil"
• Kings of Leon - "Sex on Fire"
• Stevie Wonder - "Superstition"
• Iron Maiden - ?

"We have a lot of new indie artists as well and Iron Maiden as more classic rock or heavy metal," said Guitar Hero 5 director Brian Bright. "We've been trying to get the White Stripes and they have finally come around."

Unlike previous Guitar Hero games, which limited virtual rockers to one of each musical instrument, Guitar Hero 5 will enable players to duplicate instruments in-game, allowing for such combinations as four lead guitarists or three drummers and a singer.

In addition, GH5 will be compatible with the downloadable tunes for last year's Guitar Hero World Tour, with Activision vowing that the songs "will automatically be updated to include all of the upgrades and enhancements of Guitar Hero 5. However, that promise "does not apply to a limited number of songs," the company later clarified.

There's also a new party mode, which essentially acts as a music player. "You can load up playlists with your favorite songs and just let that run and people can jump in when they want and the music never stops," explained Bright.

"This is a perfect mode for parties," he noted, adding that players can change instruments or difficulty mid-son. "If you played any of our previous games, getting into a game is kind of a pain especially with multiple people with different instruments."

Thanks to Masem for the tip.