Behind the Makeup: The Story of Yayo Sanchez, Foo Fighters’ KISS Guy

Are you familiar with Yayo Sanchez, who earned the nickname “KISS Guy” from Dave Grohl on April 18, 2018? If not, you’re in for an incredible story. Dubbed by Grohl himself as the ultimate guest to join Foo Fighters on stage, KISS Guy’s tale is truly captivating. So, what led Grohl to give Sanchez such a nickname? It all started when Sanchez attended a Foo Fighters concert in Austin, Texas, wearing the iconic Gene Simmons makeup from KISS. At first, he was just another fan in the crowd, holding up a sign asking to play “Monkeywrench.”

As the concert continued, Sanchez caught Grohl’s eye. After being asked to lower his sign, Grohl eventually engaged with him, asking if he was wearing a mask or face paint. When Sanchez confirmed it was face paint, Grohl enthusiastically responded, “Hell yeah, I can f#ck with you, KISS Guy!” On stage, the interaction continued, with Chris Shiflett mentioning a preference for Ace Frehley, another KISS member. Sensing his chance, Sanchez raised his sign again, and soon after, Grohl invited him onstage with a friendly “Hey, KISS Guy.” Let’s take a look:

KISS Guy’s performance was so impressive that even Grohl momentarily lost track of the lyrics. This wasn’t just a stroke of luck for Sanchez; he had been preparing for a moment like this. Just four days after his unforgettable performance, Metal Nexus revealed that Sanchez’s musical journey began at age nine when his father introduced him to KISS and bought him a guitar. Since then, Sanchez has played with legends such as Slash, Roger Daltrey, Billy Gibbons, and Paul Stanley.

Sanchez’s journey to the Foo Fighters stage goes back even further to when he was 14 and attended the Rock’N’Roll Fantasy Camp in London, where participants get to play with rock stars. Scott Rowley from Classic Rock, who was present at the camp, described Sanchez as a “teenage rock genius.” Here’s more on KISS Guy’s story:

By the time Sanchez joined Foo Fighters onstage, he was already a seasoned musician with two singles ready to release and experience opening for bands like Quiet Riot and LA Guns. While some might think these onstage invites are pre-planned, Grohl’s videos highlight the authenticity of these moments.

Grohl himself has been deeply influenced by KISS, ever since he bought their “Destroyer” album in 1976. The impact of KISS on Grohl’s music career is undeniable, making his connection with KISS Guy at the Austin concert even more special. To wrap up, here’s a fun clip from Austin’s KLBJ 93.7: