KISS bassist Gene Simmons is attempting to trademark the famous “rock horns” hand gesture used by rock ‘n’ roll bands and fans worldwide. And the widow of musical legend Ronnie James Dio is definitely not cool with it.
“To try to make money off of something like this is disgusting,” Dio told TheWrap. “It belongs to everyone; it doesn’t belong to anyone. … It’s a public domain; it shouldn’t be trademarked.”
Dio says her husband—who lent his voice to his eponymous rock band as well as groups Black Sabbath and Rainbow—shouldn’t be credited with the gesture, which has been a staple at rock concerts for decades, either. She noted that Dio picked up the old Italian sign from his grandmother, which was used to either ward off evil or give the evil eye, TheWrap reports, depending on how it’s employed.
Dio also likened the KISS bassist’s effort to trying to trademark the middle finger or the peace sign. “I think he’s made a complete fool of himself.”
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