Rock music is about more than the songs. It’s a lifestyle. As such, it’s no surprise to see so many of the biggest rock bands in history venturing into territory that extends beyond their musical creations. The most iconic groups and artists always have a distinctive attitude that fans are all too eager to lap up, and as a result, this genre of music produces branded merchandise that is more experimental than it is in other genres. The KISS Kasket, to name just one example of out-there rock music memorabilia, wouldn’t exist if the New York foursome had been a boyband.
The aura of classic rock bands lends itself well to creatives looking to put a new twist on existing assets. Take the slot game, which over the years has been given the rockstar treatment. Let’s take a look at some of the biggest artists with their very own themed slot games.
Motörhead
Is there a rock band more synonymous with the hard-living aspect of the genre than Motörhead? If there is, we don’t know who they are. Led by all-out legend Lemmy Kilmister, the UK band became symbolic of the explosive attitude of heavy metal, and even today their songs pack a powerful punch. They already ventured into casino-land with Ace of Spades, arguably the greatest rock song of the 20th century, so it’s no surprise to see the band well-served by the slot game market. That Lemmy himself spent his later years playing slot games in LA, his adopted home, gives the collaboration an extra layer of authenticity.
Guns N’ Roses
Guns N’ Roses’ reputation for hard, fun living is almost as well-known as the band’s most famous riffs, and it’s no surprise that the quintessential LA rock band has been a source of inspiration for game developers. Back in 1994, the band collaborated with Japanese gaming company Data East to produce a branded widebody pinball machine, which included the band’s most famous tracks as the soundtrack. Today, those machines sell for over $10,000, but there are other options for fans who don’t have the budget — or space — to house a pinball machine. In more recent years, sites like PokerStars Casino have offered fans the chance to play Guns N’ Roses-themed slot games, ensuring that the band’s fans can still get their full dose of branded gametime even if they don’t live close to a vintage pinball arcade.
Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix’s career lasted four years. His legacy will live forever. Arguably the greatest talent of his generation — which, it has to be said, was stacked with musical talent — his reputation has become almost mythological. His elevated soul and spirit were very much in line with the atmosphere of the swinging sixties, which was a bastion of creative freedom and experimentation. The Jimi Hendrix slot comes with vivid, brightly colored imagery, all set to a soundtrack of Hendrix’s most iconic songs, which are rightly regarded as some of the best of all time.
Ozzy Osbourne
We’ve listed some heavy metal heavyweights in this list so far, but Ozzy Osbourne could very well put himself at the top of the list. His antics in the 70’s and 80’s are things of legend, and even now, at the age of 75, he could reasonably claim to be the most rock n roll person on the planet. There’s simply no one like him. His slot game is very much in keeping with his reputation as being the Prince of Darkness, featuring plenty of gothic, ghoulish imagery and a heavy metal soundtrack that’s second to none.
KISS
KISS were — are? — the kings of merchandise, as the previously mentioned KISS Kasket shows. Their themed slot takes the band’s classic stylization, including those famous painted faces, and songs to create a KISS experience that harks back to the band’s heyday.
Rock music may be resting right now, but as these five artists have shown, it’ll always be alive, in the music, in the games, and in attitude.
