Harmonix and MTV Games recently announced plans to take gamers on a long strange trip with the first selection of downloadable Grateful Dead tracks for the revolutionary music video game Rock Band. The first six of 18 classic Grateful Dead master recordings are set to hit rock band March 4.

Gamers looking to channel their inner Dead-Head can download six of the legendary band's most popular tracks, including "China Cat Sunflower" (from '69's Aoxomoxoa), "Casey Jones" (from 1970's Workingman's Dead), "Sugar Magnolia" and "Truckin'" (both from 1970's American Beauty), "Franklin's Tower" (from '75's Blues For Allah) and "I Need A Miracle" (from '78's Shakedown Street).

Over the next several months, the iconic group will make a total of 18 master recordings from its diverse catalog available as digitally distributed game levels for Rock Band.

The 'first set' of tracks will be available on Xbox LIVE® Marketplace March 4th; and at the PLAYSTATION®Store March 6th.

In addition to the 58 songs that come packaged with Rock Band, Harmonix and MTV have been offering a robust calendar of new downloadable content including packs, full albums and individual tracks to satiate the desire for constantly refreshed Rock Band content. New music is available on a weekly basis. Recent downloadable content that has been offered has included tracks from iconic rock artists from all genres from Metallica and Black Sabbath to The Police and All American Rejects. For a list of all dlc songs and credits released to date, please visit http://www.rockband.com/dlc.

Rock Band allows online play and features that expand the boundaries of music gaming. Rock Band downloadable content is playable and integrated into setlists in all game modes including: Solo Tour, Band World Tour, head-to-head competition either locally or online, and from any Quickplay mode. In order to play downloadable content for head-to-head matches or multiplayer online, all players must own the same downloadable track. Downloadable content for the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system's version of Rock Band will be available for purchase on the PLAYSTATION Store through the free PLAYSTATION®Network and is downloaded directly to PLAYSTATION 3 system's built in hard drive. Downloadable content for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft will be available for purchase via Xbox LIVE Marketplace using Microsoft Points and is downloaded directly to Xbox 360's built in hard drive.

Rock Band is rated "T" for Teen (lyrics, mild suggestive themes) by the ESRB.

For more information on Rock Band and Harmonix Music Systems please visit www.rockband.com and www.harmonixmusic.com.

(Dates for Rock Band game tracks are tentative and subject to change)