WANNABE GUITARISTS  were mourning the loss of the once hugely popular video game Guitar Hero yesterday.

In a move that took some by surprise, Activision Blizzard announced that it was disbanding its Guitar Hero publishing division due to a decline in sales. Launched in 2005, the game fast became a hit with music fans who wanted to channel their inner Axl Rose – no matter how little talent they had.

Sales of the game have been on the decline, so the company is now focusing on games which can be played online.

Clearly, would-be rockstars weren’t the only ones disappointed, as shares in Activision Blizzard plummeted by 10% following the announcement.

Not only is this bad news for your average air guitar aficionado, but for the celebrity fans of the game.

• Disney protégés The Jonas Brothers sang Guitar Hero’s praises, describing it as a “necessity” for them.
• However, moody crooner John Mayer once described Guitar Hero fans as “fake wannabes” in a Rolling Stone interview, saying, “Guitar Hero was devised to bring the guitar-playing experience to the masses without them having to put anything into it.”
• Presumably those fake wannabes weren’t who US President Barack Obama was targeting when he used Guitar Hero to gather support ahead of the presidential elections in 2008.

It seems that there’s only one thing left for Guitar Hero fans to do – pick up a real guitar and get strumming.

Alternatively, if you’re Gerard Way of My Chemical Romance, you can probably get away with challenging all comers to a Hero-off anytime, anywhere. Even in the middle of a TV interview… (from about 2:00)