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!"
captfb - 5/24/2002 12:14:23 PM Damn must have been tough living in Ozzys shadow! Now he sounds like Gore when he said "I invented the internet" Who cares who gives the horns or who invented it? Get over yourself Ronnie!
Schemp - 5/24/2002 11:56:46 AM Wannabees have been doing this for years already. Bunch of poser jackasses. Schemp.........calm down, ok.
Its over Johnny, its over.
straydogg - 5/24/2002 11:48:46 AM So what's the true meaning befind the "devils horns"? When I was in the 7th grade back in 83', a friend told me that it made three six's. It's true that the "devils horns" being flashed by Pink, Britney, and Carson Daly has slapped the face of ALL Metal Heads around the globe! I remember Metallica wearing shirts with a picture of the "horns" with a slash through them. Not sure what they meant by that, but I would sport it!
freako01 - 5/24/2002 11:45:16 AM Yeah, that. A bunch of idiots doing it and not knowing what it means. Fuckers.
nemesis511 - 5/24/2002 11:44:51 AM i never knew he pioneered the devil horns... the texas longhorns use the devil horns! or something similar... but i only do the devil horns if im at a fucking megadeth or pantera gig or some shit, so im sure he wouldnt be pissed! :P
djwill - 5/24/2002 11:37:47 AM hmmm never gave this much of a thought...
