Update: Joe Stacey from Nashville Casket Sales let us know that the photo is of Gene signing his prototype casket.
KISS legend Gene Simmons was photographed autographing a prototype of late Pantera drummer Vinnie Paul’s coffin on Saturday at his funeral in Arlington, Texas. Paul was buried in a KISS coffin.
Nashville Casket Sales owner Joe Stacey has told Fox 17 that his company made the KISS casket that Vinnie Paul Abbott will be buried in later today in Arlington, Texas.
“For whatever reason, the original company lost the license to make a KISS casket,” Stacey said. “Now, we’re the only ones with the license.”
The KISS casket costs $3,000 and was provided to the Abbott family by KISS members Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley. The casket was offered as a gift at Vinnie’s family’s request. The Pantera and Hellyeah drummer was laid to rest in some of his trademark clothes, including his hat, shoes and flannel on Saturday next to his brother Dimebag Darrell and his mother.
A public celebration of life was held for fans on Sunday. Paul died in his sleep last month at his home in Las Vegas.
