Out of Tune? Music Acts that Sold their Rights to the Gambling Industry

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The gambling industry is always looking for new ways to attract new customers, and an effective way of achieving this is by offering popular-themed games. On this occasion, we are referring to online slot games with music act themes.

Online slots are one of the most popular variations of casino games available, and if you combine that with themes that take inspiration from leading musicians and rock bands, then you may have a winning formula.

Many leading musicians and bands have sold the rights to their music over the years, forming partnerships with some of the leading software providers in the gambling industry. This post takes a look at some of the most popular music act-themed slots and questions the morals behind some of the decisions made by musicians to sell their rights.

Music Act-Inspired Slots

If you wanted to find exciting slot titles inspired by famous musicians, you would not have to look very hard. Leading software providers in the gambling industry have been working with musicians for a number of years already, producing exciting slots that feature famous songs and, in truth, largely take their entire identity from them.

Since some of the biggest software providers have developed these iconic slot titles, you can find them available at the best slot sites. Below we have highlighted the most popular music act-themed slots available right now.

Guns N’ Roses

If there were ever a slot that needed no introduction, it would be NetEnt’s Guns N’ Roses title. Arguably one of the most iconic music act-themed slots available, Guns N’ Roses pays tribute to the American hard rock band that invigorated rock music in the late 1980s. Released in 2016, this slot, developed by NetEnt, features five reels, three rows, and a total of 20 paylines. In addition, players can enjoy a variety of bonus features, including; wilds, respins, and multipliers. To top it off, the soundtrack features some of Guns N’ Roses top songs.

Motörhead

From American rock and roll to UK heavy metal, the gambling industry is truly blessed with some iconic rock-themed slots. Another slot developed by leading software provider Netent, named Motorhead, pays homage to one of the all-time great rock bands to exist, Motorhead. Five reels and three rows set the display for this slot, and an impressive 76 paylines offer plenty of winning possibilities. Free spins, mystery reels, and a special “Rock Mode” can be triggered to engage some of Motorhead’s most iconic tracks while you spin the reels.

As you would expect from any Motorhead-inspired slot, this NetEnt title does not miss the opportunity to play Motorhead’s iconic Ace of Spades track.

Danger High Voltage

A slot that doesn’t take its name straight from the band itself, but rather a song produced by the band, Danger High Voltage is a song released by the American rock band, Electric Six. It was also developed into an exciting slot game by Big Time Gaming. Just as The Guardian described the song as “insanely catchy,” Danger High Voltage also proved to be a slot catching people’s attention.

Danger High Voltage features a total of 4096 ways to win and a max win potential of 15,746 times your stake. Bonus features include free spins and sticky wild symbols that last the duration of the free spins rounds.

Jimi Hendrix

Although his mainstream career only seemed to last four years, Jimi Hendrix is often referred to as one of the most influential electric guitarists ever to exist. At the least, Mr. Hendrix was influential enough to inspire NetEnt to produce their Jimi Hendrix slot in 2016, almost 50 years after his death.

The Jimi Hendrix slot features psychedelic visuals, several iconic guitar rifts, and even more winning potential. Players can win from a total of 20 paylines across the five reels but have the option to take advantage of wild symbols, respins, and multiple free spin rounds.

KISS: Reels of Rock

American rock bands seem to make excellent slot themes, with KISS being the next band to provide inspiration. Formed in New York City in 1973, KISS went on to build a loyal fan base over the next 40 years before being inducted into the hall of fame in 2014.

Play N’ Go took the band’s name and iconic image to style their slot from top to bottom. Also, the software provider used iconic KISS songs to create an immersive soundtrack for players to enjoy while they spin the reels. In addition, the six-reel setup features an expanding grid feature that increases the total paylines to a massive 4096 ways.

Are These Music Acts Sell-Outs?

While some musicians and bands have inspired the gambling industry by creating exciting and immersive slots, are any of them worthy of being labeled a sell-out? To decide whether or not a music act has become a “sell-out” by selling their rights to the gambling industry, we need to discover if they have contradicted their own beliefs, which are often portrayed in their songs. The best example of this is provided by the English heavy metal band, Motorhead.

The Ace of Spades sits as Motorhead’s most played and most loved song, playing a huge role in their success as a rock band, with the track often being described as the ultimate rock song. But, ultimately, Ace of Spades was a song about gambling and the risks involved, which already provides a solid basis to say Motorhead did sell out.

Frontman Lemmy makes it clear throughout the track that “gambling’s for fools,” with the lyrics sung in the Ace of Spades. He also goes on to make references like “dancing with the devil” and “read ‘em and weep, the dead man’s hand again,” which are hardly positive antidotes. The “Ace of Spades” is known as the dead man’s hand after the American sheriff “Wild Bill” Hickcock was shot dead during a game of poker in 1876 and further meaning to the lines in this iconic track.

While it is easy to say that it looks like Motorhead did go against their initial views of gambling after stating the various risks involved with the activity, to then selling their rights to the gambling industry. There is an alternative view. Motorhead and many other similar bands very much lived the life of a “rock and roll star” or at least promoted this identity. Living a life filled with adrenaline rushes, anarchist views, and taking part in activities that provide potential risks, like gambling, were all aspects of their identities as rock bands.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff Chief editor

Bernard Van Isacker is the Chief Editor of Side-Line Magazine. With a career spanning more than two decades, Van Isacker has established himself as a respected figure in the darkwave scene.

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