KISS rocker-turner-reality-star, Gene Simmons, will be launching a new reality music competition next month at Mipcom, reports Maane Khatchatourian for Variey.com.

Simmons has teamed up with Sierra/Engine Television on the talent competition Coliseum, which bids bands against each other like singing Roman gladiators. Contestants will form bands (performing the genre of their choice) to create unforgettable “acts.” The groups will be mentored by Simmons and judged by three new musical guest legends weekly before they battle it out during a final show in front of a large crowd.

Their fate lies in the hands of Simmons and the audience, who will be choosing a winner based on overall performance and not necessarily vocal chops. Simmons will be pitching the show at Mipcom, an annual TV program market in Cannes, for local versions worldwide, along with co-creator Sierra/Engine Television CEO Chris Philip.

“Coliseum is a no-holds-barred competition show between musical gladiators in the arena fighting to survive, fighting to be the champion, fighting to curry the favor of Rock Caesar,” Simmons said in a press release. “Thumbs up or thumbs down, only the strong survive.”

Simmons starred in the A&E; reality series Gene Simmons Family Jewels from 2006 to 2012.

KISS performed live last week (Tuesday, September 6th) at Fashion Rocks at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY. The evening featured performances by some of music’s most innovative trendsetters including, Duran Duran, Jennifer Lopez, Miranda Lambert, The Band Perry and Usher. The event was broadcast as a two-hour extravaganza on the CBS television network. Watch KISS perform their classic, "Rock And Roll All Nite", below:

KISS will play a nine-show Las Vegas residency this fall. KISS Rocks Vegas hits The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino beginning November 5th. Tickets are on sale now. To purchase or for more information visit the Hard Rock Hotel box office here or charge-by-phone at 1-888-9-AXS-TIX. VIP ticket and room and show packages are available at HardRockHotel.com.

Watch a video trailer for the Vegas run below:

"Whatever you're used to with KISS, this will pump it up that much more," says guitarist Paul Stanley. "If KISS is on steroids, this is a double dose." Tickets for KISS Rocks Vegas will start at $49.50 and are on sale at AXS.com. Vegas Hard Rock spent more than a year trying to book a KISS residency, says Chas Smith, vice president of entertainment. The Joint previously has hosted extended stays by Santana, Motley Crue, Guns N' Roses, Def Leppard and Tiësto.

He's preparing the Hard Rock for a full-scale KISS Army invasion. "The activation will encompass the entire property for the month they're out here — from the performances onstage to wrapping the hotel with Kiss stuff to having team members wearing Kiss shirts," Smith says. Under the KISS Rocks Vegas configuration, The Joint will seat about 3,200.

For the Vegas shows, KISS will have a stage production "that's different from what they're touring with and make it one of a kind," says Smith, who is in discussions with members of the KISS production team. "That's really exciting, considering what Kiss has done in the past. They've got some crazy ideas for what they want to do in this venue. In a smaller environment, doing some of those elements will almost make it like a 3-D atmosphere."

Read more at USA Today.

KISS Rock Vegas dates:

November

5 - The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino - Las Vegas, NV
7 - The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino - Las Vegas, NV
8 - The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino - Las Vegas, NV
12 - The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino - Las Vegas, NV
14 - The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino - Las Vegas, NV
15 - The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino - Las Vegas, NV
19 - The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino - Las Vegas, NV
22 - The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino - Las Vegas, NV
23 - The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino - Las Vegas, NV

A video message from the band about the shows follows: