Comedian Craig Gass recently shared a story about an encounter with guitarist John 5 on the Beardo And Weirdo Podcast. He detailed how his contribution to John 5’s “Nights in Satan Service” Instagram page was edited for content.
Gass explained that John 5 had invited him to participate in a “KISS question of the week” video series. Musicians would discuss their favorite KISS songs in these videos. When asked about his favorite KISS track, Gass decided to make a joke referencing Vinnie Vincent, the guitarist who wrote two of his chosen songs.
“My favorite all time song by KISS is actually a tie. It’s two songs, ‘Unholy’ and ‘All Hell’s Breaking Loose.’ Both of them coincidentally written by the same person, Vinnie Vincent, which is why I now own a long line of women’s leisure suits,” Gass said in the video.
John 5 objected to the punchline. “Oh, no, you can’t do that,” he told Gass. Gass pushed back on the decision. “It’s funny. It’s just a joke,” he responded. However, John 5 insisted the joke be removed. He ultimately required Gass to re-record the segment without the controversial punchline.
Gass added, “And John 5 goes, ‘No, you can’t do that.’ And I go, ‘It’s funny.’ And he goes, ‘No, you can’t. You can’t do that.’ And I was like, ‘Oh, come on, man. It’s a joke. It’s just a joke.’ And he was like, ‘No.’ And he made me redo it. And I was like, ‘John, come on, man. Have a sense of humor.’”
The decision to censor the joke reflects the sensitivity surrounding Vinnie Vincent’s public image and fashion choices. iloveclassicrock.com reports that Vincent adopted a flamboyant, gender-fluid style in the 1980s. He wore makeup and women’s clothing like pantsuits as part of his artistic persona and glam rock fashion. This unconventional aesthetic became a defining aspect of his public presence during his time with KISS.
Vincent’s androgynous look stirred both interest and speculation about his gender identity among fans and commentators. Blabbermouth notes that Vincent neither fully confirmed nor denied rumors of transitioning or living as a woman. He chose instead to maintain a mystique around the subject. This ambiguity has made him a subject of ongoing public curiosity and discussion within rock music circles.
The leisure suits reference in Gass’s joke directly relates to Vincent’s fashion choices and the public commentary surrounding them. iHeart revealed that some fans and commentators have made jokes or comparisons involving women’s leisure suits to comment on Vincent’s gender-bending style. Vincent reportedly reacted sensitively to such remarks. This context explains why John 5 felt the need to remove Gass’s punchline from the video.
The incident highlights the ongoing respect and caution within the rock community regarding Vincent’s legacy and personal choices. While Gass intended his comment as humor, John 5’s decision to censor it demonstrates an awareness of the sensitivity surrounding jokes about Vincent’s appearance and gender expression. This topic remains part of rock music history and fan discourse.
