Guitar Hero served as Josh Jenkinson's stepping stone towards actually learning to play the guitar, he shares.
In the bustling music scene of Dublin, Ireland, alternative rock band Inhaler has been making waves since their formation in 2016. One of the band's guitarists, Josh Jenkinson, has an unusual origin story that traces back to the popular video game, Guitar Hero.
Jenkinson, like many others, was first introduced to the world of music through Guitar Hero. This digital platform sparked a passion in him, motivating him to pick up a real guitar and hone his skills. In an interview with Guitar World in October 2025, Jenkinson revealed how Guitar Hero initially piqued his interest, leading him on a path to becoming a professional musician.
Jenkinson's journey began when his uncles started playing Guitar Hero, igniting his own obsession with the game. His grandmother noticed his fascination and booked him guitar lessons. The guitar teacher, who managed to pique his interest from the start, taught him songs he already knew, keeping him motivated.
Jenkinson's thousands of hours of Guitar Hero gameplay may not have directly translated to playing a real guitar, but it did help him develop a sense of rhythm. With more effort, he made serious strides in his guitar playing. His dedication paid off when he received an Encore Strat copy and practice amp from his uncle's girlfriend.
Jenkinson played the Encore Strat for years before connecting with Bono's son, Elijah Hewson, through their shared love for music. This connection led to his joining Inhaler, a band that gained attention with their early singles and was signed to Polydor in 2019. The band has since achieved success in the UK and US music scenes.
Jenkinson's story underscores how Guitar Hero can serve as an entry point into real-world musicianship for some players. He is not alone in this regard, as many musicians, including Yasmin Williams, Daniel Donato, and Seera's Meesh, have also started their careers influenced by the popular video game.
In addition to his work with Inhaler, Jenkinson was featured in issue 595 of a certain website, alongside interviews with Khruangbin and the Smashing Pumpkins, according to Magazines Direct. His journey from Guitar Hero player to professional guitarist in a rising band is a testament to the power of passion and perseverance in the world of music.
- Josh Jenkinson's introduction to music was through the popular video game Guitar Hero, which ignited his passion and led him to pick up a real guitar.
- Guitar Hero was instrumental in motivating Jenkinson to hone his skills, a passion that eventually led him to become a professional musician.
- In an interview with Guitar World, Jenkinson shared how Guitar Hero initially piqued his interest in music.
- Jenkinson's uncles introduced him to Guitar Hero, and his grandmother booked him guitar lessons to fuel his growing obsession with the game.
- The guitar teacher's ability to teach Jenkinson songs he already knew from Guitar Hero kept him motivated and helped him develop a sense of rhythm.
- Jenkinson received an Encore Strat copy and practice amp from his uncle's girlfriend, tools he used to make serious strides in his guitar playing.
- Jenkinson's journey from being a Guitar Hero player to a professional guitarist in a rising band like Inhaler serves as a testament to the power of passion and perseverance.
- Other musicians, such as Yasmin Williams, Daniel Donato, and Seera's Meesh, have also started their careers influenced by Guitar Hero, underscoring its potential as an entry point for real-world musicianship.
