WATCH: KISS demand ‘disrespectful’ journalist takes his Iron Maiden t-shirt off
"I don’t want him wearing an Iron Maiden t-shirt," says Gene Simmons
Footage has emerged of KISS telling a journalist to remove his Iron Maiden t-shirt before conducting an interview with them.
The video originates from the Mexican leg of KISS and Mötley Crüe’s The Tour back in 2012 and it quickly went viral when it was uploaded to YouTube this week.
In the clip, the interviewer Gustavo introduces the band to the camera before singer Paul Stanley leans over and points to the Iron Maiden logo on his The Number of the Beast t-shirt, saying: "Gustavo, I have a question to ask. KISS is K-I-S-S. This does not spell KISS, Gustavo. You made a big mistake."
Gustavo responds: “Honestly, I picked this t-shirt specially to do the interview with you guys. It’s not cool to wear a KISS t-shirt doing a KISS interview.”
Gene Simmons then urges a member of the band’s crew to find a KISS t-shirt before saying: “That’s not gonna happen, I don’t want him wearing an Iron Maiden t-shirt. How about if (you did an) Iron Maiden interview and we wear KISS t-shirts? Is that ok? You don’t understand.”
Attempting to make light of the awkward situation, Stanley jokes: “Gustavo is very smart. ‘How do I get a KISS t-shirt for free?” You show up with the wrong t-shirt.”
A plucky Gustavo then asks: “Do you guys want every journalist wearing KISS t-shirts while doing KISS interviews?”
“I don’t them wearing other (band) t-shirts,” responds Paul Stanley. "We love Steve (Harris), we love Bruce (Dickinson), we love Nicko (McBrain). We love them all, but you're at a KISS concert. It doesn't show respect. You're in our house… Disrespectful."
Chipping in, Eric Singer adds: "If you went to a Raiders game, you wouldn't wear the other team's jersey."
Gene Simmons then demands Gustavo turns his t-shirt backwards, telling him: “We took that band out on their first tour. And AC/DC and everybody else. You look so much better (with it back to front).”
At the very end, Gustavo eventually puts on a KISS t-shirt and the band lavish him with praise.
Watch the clip here: