It was late 2010. The plastic guitar craze was technically cooling off, but Harmonix didn't care. They dropped a massive bomb instead. Rock Band 3 wasn't just another sequel; it was a desperate, beautiful attempt to turn gamers into actual musicians. If you pop that disc into a PlayStation 3 today, you aren't just looking at a menu. You’re looking at arguably the most curated, eclectic, and technically demanding setlist in rhythm gaming history.
The Rock Band 3 PS3 song list is a beast. 83 songs. That's a lot of data for a Blu-ray, but it wasn't just about quantity. It was about the "Keys." For the first time, we had a keyboard controller. This changed everything. You couldn't just have a tracklist full of guitar shredding anymore. You needed Huey Lewis. You needed Queen. You needed the weird, synth-heavy vibes of the 80s that the previous games sort of ignored because, well, how do you play a synthesizer on a plastic Fender Stratocaster? You don't.
The 83-Song Breakdown: What’s Actually on the Disc?
Most people remember the big hits. Bohemian Rhapsody is the crown jewel here. It’s the first time we got the full, multi-part harmony experience in a home console game. But the depth of the Rock Band 3 PS3 song list goes way beyond Freddie Mercury.
You’ve got the heavy hitters like Ozzy Osbourne’s Crazy Train and Iron Maiden’s The Wickerman. Then, it pivots hard. Suddenly you're playing Walkin' on the Sun by Smash Mouth or Whip It by Devo. It feels like a fever dream of a radio station from 1985 mixed with a 1970s stadium tour.
The variety was intentional. Harmonix wanted to showcase the "Pro" modes. If you were brave enough to buy the Mustang Pro-Guitar with its 102 buttons, or the MIDI adapter for a real e-kit, the song list had to keep up. Playing Roundabout by Yes on Expert Pro-Keys is a genuine workout. It’s not a game anymore at that point. It's a recital.
Honestly, the PS3 version felt a bit more stable than the Wii port, and for many, it was the preferred way to play because of the robust DLC library. If you had a massive collection from Rock Band 1 and 2, those songs imported (mostly) into the third game. But the core 83 songs remained the backbone.
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A Journey Through the Decades
The 1960s and 70s are represented by legends. Think The Doors (Break on Through), The Who (I Can See for Miles), and Jimi Hendrix (Crosstown Traffic). It’s classic rock 101, but with a twist. The inclusion of Free Bird by Lynyrd Skynyrd was basically a dare.
Then you hit the 80s. This is where the keyboard shines. The Final Countdown by Europe isn't just a meme; it’s a grueling synth marathon. You've got Tears for Fears, INXS, and Joan Jett. It’s a neon-soaked trip.
The 90s and 2000s bring the "modern" edge. Jane's Addiction, Stone Temple Pilots, and even some deeper cuts like Jerry Was a Race Car Driver by Primus. That bass line? Good luck. Your fingers will hate you.
The Logistics of the PS3 Experience
Why does the PS3 version specifically still matter? It’s the hardware. The PS3 used standard Bluetooth for its peripherals, which made syncing certain instruments a bit less of a headache than the proprietary wireless dongles on the Xbox 360 side (though PS3 still used dongles for guitars and drums).
If you're hunting for a copy today, you’ve gotta be careful. The Rock Band 3 PS3 song list is static on the disc, but the "export" keys—the codes that let you move those songs into Rock Band 4—have largely expired. It’s a licensing nightmare. Basically, if you want to play Rainbow in the Dark by Dio, you’re likely stuck playing it on your legacy hardware.
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That’s not a bad thing, though. The PS3 interface for RB3 is legendary. It’s clean. No more "band leaders." Anyone can jump in or out at any time. It made the game a social hub. You could be mid-song in Llama by Phish (another keyboard monster), and your friend could just hit start, join as a vocalist, and start harmonizing without the game stopping.
Hidden Gems and Weird Picks
Not every song is a chart-topper. That’s what made the Rock Band 3 PS3 song list feel authentic. Sister Christian by Night Ranger? Sure. King George by Dover? Why not?
- The Foreigner Factor: Cold as Ice is arguably the best "teaching" song for the new keyboard peripheral.
- The Indie Vibe: Tegan and Sara’s The Con showed that the developers were paying attention to what was cool in the late 2000s, not just what was on classic rock radio.
- The Progressive Test: 2112: Overture/The Temples of Syrinx by Rush. It’s not on the base disc (it was DLC), but the disc does have The Spirit of Radio. It’s a technical masterpiece.
There’s a common misconception that Rock Band 3 was just more of the same. It wasn't. It was an overhaul. The "Pro" instruments were meant to bridge the gap between "I'm a gamer" and "I'm a musician." While the plastic guitar industry eventually collapsed under its own weight, the Rock Band 3 PS3 song list remains a time capsule of an era where we actually thought everyone would have a plastic MIDI-keyboard in their living room.
Technical Nuances of the Setlist
Let's talk about the mixing. One thing people forget is that Harmonix didn't just get the songs; they got the "stems." These are the individual tracks for drums, vocals, guitar, and bass. When you miss a note on the PS3, that specific instrument drops out of the audio mix. It sounds "real."
In the Rock Band 3 PS3 song list, the audio fidelity was bumped up significantly. The crowd noise was more reactive. If you’re playing Rehab by Amy Winehouse, the atmosphere feels smoky and club-like. Switch to Du Hast by Rammstein, and the energy shift is palpable.
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The song list also catered to the "Vocalist" in a way previous games didn't. Triple harmonies. Borrowing a page from the Beatles: Rock Band playbook, RB3 allowed three people to sing at once. Try doing that on California Dreamin' by The Mamas & the Papas. It’s pure chaos in the best way possible.
Why You Should Care in 2026
You might be wondering why anyone still talks about a 16-year-old game. It's simple: The music industry changed. Licensing changed. Many of the songs on the Rock Band 3 PS3 song list are hard to find in other rhythm games now. Some licenses lapsed. Some bands got picky.
Moreover, the PS3 scene is still alive. Modders and enthusiasts have found ways to keep the "customs" scene going, adding thousands of songs to the engine. But the core 83 tracks remain the "Gold Standard." They are the ones that were perfectly balanced, perfectly charted, and designed to work with every single piece of hardware Harmonix ever released.
If you’re looking to rebuild your collection, focus on finding the disc first. The PS3 digital store is a ghost town, and while you can sometimes still find DLC, the disc itself is your most reliable way to access tracks like Been Caught Stealing or Stop Me if You Think You've Heard This One Before.
Actionable Steps for New (and Old) Players
If you’re dusting off the old console or looking to buy a setup, here’s what you actually need to do to enjoy the Rock Band 3 PS3 song list today:
- Check Your Firmware: Make sure your PS3 is updated, but more importantly, ensure your controllers are synced before you dive into a long session. Sync issues are the #1 buzzkill.
- Calibrate, Calibrate, Calibrate: Modern TVs have way more "lag" than the TVs from 2010. Use the manual calibration tool in the Rock Band 3 settings. Don’t trust the "auto" settings unless you have the official Rock Band 2 or 3 guitars with the built-in sensors.
- Hunt for the Keyboard: If you find the RB3 MIDI keyboard, grab it. Even if you don't play the game, it's a solid MIDI controller for PC music production.
- Local Multiplayer is Key: This game was never meant to be played alone. The 83-song list shines when you have a room full of people screaming the chorus to Living in America.
- Don't Stress the Exports: You likely won't be able to export RB1 or RB2 songs into RB3 anymore unless you already did it years ago. Just swap the discs. It takes 30 seconds. Your "Rock Band" career score will stay tied to your PSN profile anyway.
The Rock Band 3 PS3 song list isn't just a list of files on a disc. It's a curated history of 20th-century music. From the punk energy of The Bronx to the soulful vibes of Blood, Sweat & Tears, it’s a masterclass in variety. Whether you're a drummer looking for a workout or a singer looking to harmonize, this setlist remains the peak of the genre. Grab a drumstick, find a functioning dongle, and get to work.