Ronnie James Dio, the man widely credited for pioneering the "devil's horns" hand sign, recently spoke to Kerrang! about the "widespread abuse of his creation" amongst pop folk and people who flash the sign without knowing the meaning behind it.
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"It's all right as long as it's accepted for what it was," Dio told the magazine. "It was a more serious thing at the time, when I was with [BLACK] SABBATH. That was a band that was very dark, and that's what I wanted it to be. It was symbol of the darkness of that band, and not something to be passed on to BRITNEY SPEARS! An invention is an invention, I guess. It's become so damn polluted now. The people who are doing it don't know what it means and they have no idea that they shouldn't be doing it.
"It's a trend," Dio added. "It's a popular trend and so it will probably become like the hula hoop. During a show, I sometimes think 'Maybe I won't do that tonight', because it's become so damn ludicrous now. Everyone's doing it and it has no meaning anymore. Now I wait until two or three songs into the show, and until there's a stop in the music and I'm doing something on my own, and then the response is incredible because people are wanting that from me. It's like OZZY and the peace sign, you know? So I never find myself not doing it, but I'm definitely doing it less and less these days.
"The point is that you can't just flash it. You have to have a face that goes with it. There has to be some emotion behind it. It can't just be the raising of the arm, trying to get your fingers in the right position. And you'll notice that a lot of people are using the thumb now, too. When the thumb comes out it means 'I love you' either in Hawaiian or in sign language - I'm not sure which! So that's proof, once again, that these celebrities don't really have a clue. As stupid as this might sound, I never once did that on stage unless it was to punctuate something that was a little more dark. So when I did it, it was never about starting a trend. It's a natural thing for me to do. It's important to know that it's not something I did frivolously it was just a spontaneous response to something that I sang. A lot of times, bending of the knees always puts it in a slightly different perspective. It puts you in the Sumo position. Now you're ready to charge!"
NORTHERNCROSS - 1/25/2007 3:43:18 PM DIO DIDN'T INVENT THE HORN SIGN. IT'S A UNIVERSAL SYMBOL USED IN DEVIL WORSHIP. THE GOAT HEAD OR DEVIL HORNS, ALSO ON THE BACK OF THE SATANIC BIBLE. I'VE SEEN DIO TWICE IN THE 80'S, THAT SIGN WAS SURE USED ALOT. BOTH BY DIO AND THE FANS, SADLY AS THE DEVIL SMILES.........................
the_looney - 5/30/2002 7:07:38 PM Is that long enough??? Anyway......
the_looney - 5/30/2002 7:06:23 PM Did I miss something? What the fuck is up with Lemmy's hat? Did he lose it? Did it die? Maybe it left to go to college? I don't get it.. musta missed the story. Why is Dio bitching about this? Has the whole world gone to hell in a handbasket? Why is there air? Who is GOD and why? Why am I here? Am I here? Where is here? Or there for that matter?Is here really there? Or is there really here? Am I loopy as a loon? Why am I still ranting? Am I eating food? WHO CARES is the point I think but I never make much sense. Even to myself. I'm a gonna see this Deep Purple/Scorps/Dio show on Sat. in Phoenix so I'll tell ya how it goes. Can't wait to hear new stuff from Dio the last album kicks. In my opinion, that is. Anyway......Damn, I lost my hat......
trendkill67 - 5/30/2002 7:45:24 AM I still dig Dio even after all these years!! My wife LOVES all the classic cd's and she listens to them regularly so I have no choice. When I do have a choice, it's HEAVEN AND HELL, or MOB RULES (SABBATH DAYS). Those Sabbath albums were great!!!!! Anyone Agree....
DOGSBOLLOCKS - 5/29/2002 11:57:00 PM Hmmm if it is Jenna Jameson man...her heap cool squaw with nice....er ahem.... what did the Injuns call tits in westerns??????
mikell68 - 5/29/2002 7:34:43 PM The girl is Jenna Jameson, I think.
FrontBurner - 5/29/2002 6:29:19 PM by the way, forget the demonic angle anyway. Love the new cd! Can't wait for the show!
FrontBurner - 5/29/2002 6:28:14 PM Anybody know who the blonde is to the right in the Adameve.com ad? I know she's probably a porn star, but who is she? HOT!
KungFuKops - 5/29/2002 4:47:16 PM RJD rocks and all, but why is he snivlin' 'bout hand gestures? It's about the music!! When I'm at a show, my hands are too busy holdin' my brew or coppin' a feel on that chick with the tight leather pants on!!!
Fogbay - 5/29/2002 3:20:25 PM Was Ronnie the Last in Line on this hand gesture? Why didn't he Stand Up and Shout earlier? Does the hand sign mean Mob Rules? Maybe Ronnie is an Angry Machine on a Strange Highway heading for an Inferno? Or, is he and Gene Caught in the Middle like an Invisible Gypsy that Don't Talk to Strangers? I think Dio is Breathless on an adventure One Night in the City looking out of Evil Eyes. He will Eat Your Heart Out in Egypt (The Chains are on) of coarse, if you disagree with his hand sign invention. Do not make Ronnie mad, he will be Guilty of a Push to Throw Away the Children! !
kream_korn - 5/29/2002 2:39:44 PM Well invented the gofuckyourselfandtryinventingsomethingelse! LOL
superglyd - 5/29/2002 10:19:34 AM I think Gene $immons was doing it before RJD was'nt he??? Anyways RJD looks better do'in it!
VicRattlehead502 - 5/29/2002 10:16:57 AM The first time I saw a HORNS UP sign, was when I was 6 years old watching Earl Campbell play for The University of Texas Longhorns!!! That was back when Dio had all of his hair.
taintedpast - 5/29/2002 9:27:04 AM Hilarious. He's either (a) joking; or (b) completely fucking insane.
DOGSBOLLOCKS - 5/29/2002 9:18:13 AM For crying out loud....is this the best KNAC can come up with?????? They must be REALLY scraping the bottom of the barrel for news and decent articles!!!!!!!!!!!!
