Gene Simmons Withdraws Devil Horns Trademark Application
Bowing to peer pressure or perhaps legal advice — or even common sense — KISS’ Gene Simmons has withdrawn his application to trademark the popular devil’s horns hand gesture used to musicians and fans.
Simmons came under intense criticism after news surfaced last week he had filed an application for the trademark with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office; Both Wendy Dio, the widow and manager of well-known horns-flasher Ronnie James Dio, and members of the band Coven, who flashed the horns on a 1969 album cover, slammed Simmons in the media and contended the gesture is public domain.
Now the filing reads that “The owner of the trademark application withdrew the application and the application is no longer active.”
Simmons and KISS, meanwhile, have four summer shows booked in the U.S. starting with the Chicago Open Air festival on July 14 in Toyota Park.
Gary Graff is an award-winning music journalist who not only covers music but has written books on Bob Seger, Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen.
