Rock Band 2 giving away 20 song downloads

The good folks behind Rock Band 2 are feeling generous these days, and to prove it they're offering 20 songs gamers can download for free starting 4 November.

Most of the acts (available to anybody who owns Rock Band 2 on XBox 360, PlayStation 3 or Wii) are fairly unknown - The Cab, Tickle Me Pink, Dealership - while some are downright "never heard of them."

But there is one group, Thenewno2, that people might know a thing or two about - because it's led by Dhani Harrison, whose likeness and singing style bears an uncanny and almost eerie resemblance to that of his late father, ex-Beatle George Harrison. (Check out Dhani's rather impressive homemade video, a nod of sorts to The Clash's Rock The Casbah, for proof. Even donning a grey wig, he's a dead ringer for George.)

Exposing new artists

"The Rock platform is an unparalleled destination for music discovery, offering a broad cross section of rock, from iconic rock artists to emerging bands," said Paul DeGooyer, MTV's Senior Vice President of Electronic Games & Music. "With the addition of the 20 new songs we're announcing today, owners of Rock Band 2 will have the ability to experience music from over 100 artists - ranging from the acts they already know and love to up-and-coming bands we think they will like."

With the kind of sales the Rock band franchise has been racking up, they can afford to toss off some freebies.