Yayo Sanchez Becomes KISS Guy: An Unforgettable Night with Foo Fighters
Have you heard of Yayo Sanchez, also known as “KISS Guy,” a nickname given to him by Dave Grohl on April 18, 2018? If not, you’re in for a delightful story. Described by Grohl as the ultimate guest to join the Foo Fighters on stage, KISS Guy’s tale is truly fascinating. But what led Grohl to call him that? It all began when Sanchez attended a Foo Fighters concert in Austin, Texas, wearing the iconic Gene Simmons makeup from KISS. Just another fan in the crowd, he held up a sign asking for a chance to play “Monkeywrench.”
As the performance continued, Sanchez caught Grohl’s eye. After being asked to lower his sign, Grohl engaged with him, asking if he was wearing a mask or face paint. When Sanchez confirmed it was face paint, Grohl enthusiastically exclaimed, “Hell yeah, I can f#ck with you, KISS Guy!” Onstage, the banter continued with Chris Shiflett favoring Ace Frehley, another KISS member. Seizing the opportunity, Sanchez raised his sign again, and soon Grohl called him onstage, saying, “Hey, KISS Guy.” Check it out:
His performance was so electrifying that Grohl momentarily lost track of the lyrics. This wasn’t mere luck for Sanchez; he had been preparing for moments like this. Just four days later, Metal Nexus revealed that Sanchez’s musical journey began at age nine when his dad introduced him to KISS and bought him a guitar. Since then, Sanchez has played with music legends like Slash, Roger Daltrey, Billy Gibbons, and Paul Stanley.
Sanchez’s path to the Foo Fighters stage began even earlier, at 14, when he attended the Rock’N’Roll Fantasy Camp in London, where participants get to play with rock stars. Scott Rowley from Classic Rock, who attended the camp, called Sanchez a “teenage rock genius.” Here’s more on KISS Guy’s story:
By the time he joined the Foo Fighters onstage, Sanchez was already well-versed in the music scene, with two singles ready to release and experience opening for bands like Quiet Riot and LA Guns. While some might suspect these on-stage invitations are pre-planned, Grohl’s videos highlight the genuine spontaneity of these moments.
Grohl himself has been deeply inspired by KISS since he bought their “Destroyer” album in 1976. The influence of KISS on his music career is evident, making his connection with KISS Guy during the Austin show even more special. To wrap it up, here’s a fun clip from Austin’s KLBJ 93.7:
