Marshall Amplifiers has a problem. As pop and hip-hop music have taken over the charts in recent years, the king of quality amps has retreated into geekdom. Marshall used to be about rock, not technical specs; about being loud and rebellious, not crafting fine tonality. Marshall was the sound behind Townshend's windmill and B.O.C.'s "Don't Fear the Reaper." Marshall was rock.

A whole new generation of guitar players is discovering rock thanks to video game franchises like Guitar Hero. By embracing its historical role in helping create the modern amp (and with it, the values of rock rebellion), Marshall can strengthen its brand twofold, first by bringing in younger consumers who have never played before, and secondly by allowing serious players to realize why they should be rocking, not playing.