Rockers Kiss have helped to raise over $1 million (£625,000) for the renovation of a military museum in Oregon named after guitarist Tommy Thayer's father.

Rockers Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley and Thayer were all on hand for a gala fundraiser in Lake Oswego on Sunday (14Sep14), where proceeds from ticket sales benefited the Oregon Military Museum, which is located at the state's National Guard's Camp Withycombe in Clackamas.

Thayer has been involved with the campaign to raise $15 million (£9.4 million) for renovations for the past three years, after asking the Major General in charge of the National Guard if they would consider naming the museum after his father, Brigadier General James B. Thayer.

Now 93, Thayer is a World War Ii veteran, who helped liberate a Nazi death camp, and the musician wanted to honour his dad, who he considers to be a "great Oregonian and a great hero personal hero of mine and my brothers".

Stanley tells local newspaper The Oregonian that he was more than happy to help his bandmate raise funds for the museum, stating, "Any time that we can do anything that celebrates the military, it's something we want to be a part of. Those are people we need to spotlight and if we can use our spotlight to shine on the people who really deserve it, then it's something we should do.

"The bonus here is that we're also shining a spotlight on General Thayer, Tommy's dad, a spectacular guy, a real hero, someone who's done great things with his time in the service. It's a double whammy. A win win. We owe it to these people who've given so much to us."

As part of the gala, an auction was held to raise funds, with items including one of Stanley's guitars, which sold for $20,000 (£12,500).

The band also played a 14-song set, and closed with an acoustic version of their hit song Rock and Roll All Night.