Read the statement.
After several controversies this week for having filed a legal request to register the commercial rights to the maloik , the horned hand that is a symbol of Metal, Kiss bassist Gene Simmons explained himself to Classic Rock magazine, still defending that the symbol was officially adopted by him:
"We invented the template. When you see bands putting their hands in the 'devil horns' gesture, it was Kiss who started it.".
Asked about the theory that Ronnie James Dio made the symbol fashionable , Gene replied: “I’ve heard Ronnie say that to my face and I said ‘God bless you’. I don’t mean to disrespect him, but I think he’s wrong.”
My symbol comes from Spider-Man making his gesture; it's a tribute to him. If you see me in photos, I'm sticking out my thumb. It's a symbol from sign language that means 'I love you'.".
The lead singer of the 1960s band Coven posted a message on Facebook yesterday threatening to sue Gene Simmons if the legal process goes ahead. The band has photos of the band making the gesture dating back to 1967, even before the date Simmons claims to have first made it.