Gene Simmons is Attempting to Trademark Heavy Metal’s Devil Horns Hand Gesture
Jonathan Barkan
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As a metalhead, this story hits a bit close to home. Apparently, KISS vocalist/bassist Gene Simmons is attempting to trademark heavy metal’s most iconic symbol: the devil horns hand gesture. Obviously, the move isn’t being kindly to by the metal community but one voice in particular has risen above the rest, that of Wendy Dio, the widow of renowned metal vocalist Ronnie James Dio.
Speaking with TheWrap, Dio called Simmons’ bid “disgusting” and added, “It belongs to everyone; it doesn’t belong to anyone. It’s a public domain; it shouldn’t be trademarked.”
Her husband Ronnie James Dio, who was the vocalist of Rainbow and his own band Dio, is often credited as being the innovator who brought he gesture to the masses. However, Wendy disputes that and says that he learned it from a rather interesting and heartwarming source. Apparently, Dio picked it up from his grandmother, who used it as a sign to ward off evil spirits or as a way to give off the evil eye.
“It’s laughable, I think, quite honestly. I think he’s made a complete fool of himself,” Wendy opines.
Let me put it this way. I will NEVER stop throwing up the metal devil horns. Shit, I might ask to be buried with my hands curled in that fashion just for the gag of it. If Simmons plans on seeing this through, he’s no metal fan. He’s an opportunist who is shitting on everything that metal stands for.
Categorized:News
