Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley Reveal How KISS Joined Forces with World of Tanks

World of Tanks is no stranger to collaborations. They’ve hosted everything from the Viking TV show to various bands during their “Metal Fest” events, on top of actors like Jason Statham. So when I learned that KISS was the new partner for Metal Fest 2025, it made perfect sense.

The World of Tanksand KISS collaboration kicks off on August 26 as part of Metal Fest 2025 and will feature four Kiss-inspired tanks, along with commanders for The Demon, The Starchild, The Spaceman, and The Catman, the performance personas of each KISS band member.

According To Gene Simmons, KISS Was A Natural Fit

They Also Got To Approve The Song Choice

Given that they’ve hosted Megadeth before, the team is no stranger to working with rock and metal bands. So how did this all happen? Let’s hear it from KISS member Paul Stanley himself: “About two years ago, the team behind World of Tanks Modern Armor game reached out to us, and they were excited about getting KISS into the game. They spoke about the fans and how players were eager to see us in tanks.”

Stanley goes on to explain: “We had a pretty busy schedule finishing up our End of The Road World Tour so we decided that once we completed that, 2025 would be the perfect time to bring the KISS world into World of Tanks Modern Armor. It worked out well because now we’re part of the big music event called METAL FEST, running from August 26th. Fans will get to experience The Demon, The Starchild, The Spaceman, and The Catman, all commanding tanks!”

After asking how much input KISS, as a band, had in the execution of this collab, Gene Simmons had this to say: “Let me tell you something… When you’re bringing KISS into battle, you don’t half-ass it. All four of the iconic KISS characters have custom voiceovers, because fans expect nothing less than the best. The Demon and The Starchild, the most recognizable faces of KISS, were voiced personally by us (Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley). We recorded our lines in the legendary KISS studio in California, it’s got amazing sound. As for the game’s other elements, we were involved as well. The visuals were inspired by our characters, with a ton of KISS references. Each tank and commander channels KISS. The Demon’s flamethrower, The Starchild’s rapid autoloader, The Spaceman’s rocket boost, and The Catman’s claw-like guns. It’s pure KISS power on the gaming battlefield.”

Here’s how it went down, according to Simmons: “When it came time to choose a KISS song for the game, we knew it had to be recognizable and fit perfectly with the theme of the game. The World of Tanks Modern Armor team offered us a short list of songs that naturally matched the game, and ‘Rock and Roll All Nite’ just made sense. So, we said, ‘That’s the one.’ And that was it. Rock ‘n’ roll meets heavy metal… literally.”

KISS Might Not Actively Game, But They Appreciate The Love

They’ve Been Featured In Several Games Throughout The Decades

I had to ask: Do Simmons and Stanley play video games in their spare time? Thankfully, they were happy to answer. Simmons was the first to chime in: You know, I’ve dabbled! I was part of Guitar Hero II back in the day—we even did a live event in Times Square where fans played “Strutter” onstage with me. That was wild. I got to narrate Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock. I’ve even shown up as a skater in Tony Hawk’s Underground. So, while I don’t sit around with a controller much, I’ve definitely been in the games…

Stanley had a different view, and although he doesn’t actively play games, he appreciates the love: “I’ve seen our songs show up in all kinds of games—Grand Theft Auto, Rock Band, Guitar Hero—and it’s always cool to know a new generation is discovering KISS through those experiences. I’m not much of a gamer myself, but I love the idea that KISS lives in so many different places—whether it’s a stage, or in a video game.”

World of Tanksis having a massive year, with a 2.0 update and the announcement of World of Tanks: HEAT. It’s wild to think that the game has been going on for nearly 15 years now (collaborations in tow) and shows no signs of stopping.