Chop Through Guitar Hero with Gene Simmons' AXE

The Gene Simmons AXE guitar controller for Guitar Hero and Rock Band will have KISS fans rockin’ and rollin’ all night. It’s too bad neither of the latest versions of those games—Guitar Hero World Tour and Rock Band 2—include KISS tunes in their respective set lists.

You might also wonder why the designer grafted a whammy bar onto a bass, but we don’t imagine that anomaly is likely to deter Gene Simmons wannabes from picking up this replica. And while AC/DC wasn’t much into face paint, playing the Rock Band 2 versions of "Highway to Hell" or "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" on a guitar shaped like an axe seems fitting.

Aside from the aforementioned whammy bar and its size (it’s three-quarters the size of the original but slightly larger than more typical guitar controllers), the AXE is a faithful replica of KISS vocalist and bassist Simmons’ one-of-a-kind instrument. The paint scheme is identical, with the addition of Simmons’ signature and in-make-up likeness (tongue extended, of course).

The wireless controller, which runs on three AA batteries, operates on the 2.4GHz frequency band and has a range of 30 feet range. It’s outfitted with a bidirectional strum bar and is compatible with the PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3. Nintendo Wii compatibility will be added later this year. The AXE sells for $79.95 and the manufacturer, Kobian Pte Ltd., is taking pre-orders online now.

What other tunes would be appropriate for playing on the AXE? Pink Floyd’s "Careful With That Axe, Eugene" perhaps?