Ronnie James Dio, inventor of devil horns, dead at 67: R.I.P. – Rock In Peace

Ronnie James Dio, the tiny rock god with the huge voice, died Sunday at the age of 67.

Undoubtedly, his passing will be met with derision and jokes from those outside of the metal community. For those of us that grew up with the music, it is the loss of a founding father of metal.

I will admit I didn’t know his work that well and really only starting listening to him these last few years. I always knew of him, it is impossible to be an old-school metal fan and not know the contributions of Dio. I knew he was Ozzy Osbourne’s replacement in Black Sabbath. After that he went solo and released a number of successful albums spawning hits like “Holy Diver” and “Rainbow in the Dark”. The songs really came alive with the music videos. They usually depicted Dio wielding a huge sword smiting monsters and demons and rescuing damsels in distress. They were deliciously cheesy, hilarious, and rather incomprehensible. I loved them. Most recently, Dio and Black Sabbath had reformed under the name “Heaven & Hell” and were prepping a tour for the summer.

While Dio was a talented musician and a powerhouse singer, his most lasting legacy wasn’t even the music at all. It was the hand sign known as the devil horns. There is considerable debate as to who first started throwing the horns on stage as Gene Simmons has also laid claim to it. Naturally. Of course Gene Simmons has claimed he invented, among other things, the combustion engine, Sweet & Low, and water so his claims may be a bit dubious. No matter who first put up the horns, it was Dio’s use that popularized the gesture, forever changing the face of rock and roll and giving metal fans an international symbol that united them.

Rest in Peace, Dio. You will be missed and remembered.