Gene Simmons has withdrawn his application to trademark the devil horns hand gesture used by many rock and metal fans all over the world.
The original papers filed at US Patent and Trademark Office have been updated and say that Simmons’ claim has been abandoned.
The papers read, “The owner of the trademark application withdrew (e.g. abandoned) the application and the application is no longer active.”
The Hollywood Reporter originally said that the bassist and vocalist claimed he first used the hand gesture in November, 1974, during the band’s Hotter Than Hell tour.
However, Simmons told issue 196 of Classic Rock that he got the inspiration for the devil horns from Spider-Man and the way he shoots webs from his wrists.
Simmons said, “We laid down the templates. When you see bands rocking out in sync, that’s us. When you see bands putting up that two-fingered devil horn salute, that started with KISS.”
When asked if it was Ronnie James Dio who actually started it, Simmons replied, “Well, I’ve heard Ronnie say that to my face and I said, ‘God bless you.’ I mean him no ill will, but I think he’s wrong.
Mine came from Spider-Man doing his hand signal, as a homage to him. If you see me in photos, I’m sticking out my thumb. That’s the sign in sign language which means ‘I love you.’”
Ronnie James Dio’s, ex wife and manager, Wendy Dio, told TheWrap that she thought Simmons’ trademark bid was disgusting. She also stated, “[The hand gesture] belongs to everyone; it doesn’t belong to anyone. … It’s a public domain; it shouldn’t be trademarked.”
additional source: Classic Rock via teasrock.com
16 Responses
Just on the basis of these few quotes, Simmons’s claims make no sense.
He gets the inspiration from Spider-Man, and then refers to it as the “devil horn salute”. Well, which is it? A visually cool gesture, or a gesture with a “demonic” symbolism. Throughout the 70s they kept denying that Kiss was a Satanic band, after some nut job said the band’s name stood for “Knights in Satan’s Service”.
Now he’s telling us that all along he really was making this gesture to appeal to the prince of darkness.
The trademark office should bust him for making a frivolous claim, as Kiss’s lawyers did with Vinnie Vincent.
LOL! That’s a good one, I remember in the 70’s hearing that KISS stood for “Kids In Search of Satan,” LMAO! Where do these people come up with this sh-t?!
Good move on Gene’s part. He had no chance of succeeding in getting the trademark, anyway. The “horns up” sign has been used by many cultures for many things for centuries. And most hard rock/ heavy metal fans will always associate this sign with Ronnie James Dio (RIP). Better to just let it go, and figure out how to finish out his career with KISS.
Gene & KISS have always been “Larger Than Life!” 😉
ROCK AND ROLL ALL NITE, AND PARTY EVERY DAY!!!! CHEERS! 🙂
Except for the famed album art covers, have we really ever seen Simmons through up the horns during performances, appearances, etc.? He should trademark the tongue image, if not already. More $$ for Uncle Gene. 🙂
I agree, Doug. The “tongue” image is clearly the one Gene should trademark, if he hasn’t already done so.
I knew if I called him an a$$hole he would relent. 😉