[Scukonaher]

i remember seeing a show about heavy metal where the so-called "sign of the devil" was discussed by ronnie james dio. according to this program mr. dio is given credit for popularizing this hand gesture in the music world. he stated the name for this sign, but i don't recall what he said. he stated it was something his italian grandmother taught him. she said it was a way to counter someone giving you the "evil eye".

i haven't researched this any further, and i myself am still undecided about its real significance. i know in yoga and other eastern traditions certain hand positions are said to channel/activate certain energy pathways in the physical body.

perhaps someone can elaborate further on this.

peace,
doug

for what it's worth:

gene simmons claimed to have first introduced the sign to heavy metal, when he was shown extending his little finger and index finger on the cover of kiss' 1977 album love gun, although his claim is disputed. on the other hand, gene simmons has, even before the love gun lp, shown this sign on stage or during photo sessions (for example japan, april 1977). the common cited examples however show simmons making the gesture with the thumb extended, which is rather a different gesture which means "i love you" and had been used well before this. gene claims he was inspired by 60's marvel comics, especially doctor strange and also spider-man who would extend his index and little finger whilst using his middle fingers to trigger his web shooters to shoot a line of webbing.

ronnie james dio in an interview for the movie "metal: a headbanger's journey" also disputed gene simmons' claims saying "...although gene simmons will tell you that he invented it but then again gene invented breathing and shoes and everything you know."

in heavy metal music, ronnie james dio also used this sign, and is known for popularizing its usage in heavy metal. his italian grandmother used it to ward off the evil eye (malocchio). dio began using the sign soon after joining (1979) the metal band black sabbath. the previous singer in the band, ozzy osbourne, was rather well known at using the "peace" sign at concerts, raising the index and middle finger in the form of a v. dio, in an attempt to connect with the fans, wanted to similarly use a hand gesture. however, not wanting to copy osbourne, he chose to use the sign his grandmother always made.

both accounts are predated by the chicago based psychedelic-goth band coven, led by singer jinx dawson who made the gesture on their 1969 album cover for "witchcraft destroys minds and reaps souls". incidentally, the band also wrote a song called "black sabbath," and one of the band members was named oz osborne, not to be confused with ozzy osbourne of black sabbath fame. the horns became famous in metal concerts very soon after black sabbath's first tour with dio.


metal fans displaying the sign at a festival.pre-dating either ronnie james dio, or gene simmons' use of the "devil's hand", on the cover of the beatles' 'yellow submarine' album (dec 1968, uk, jan 1969, usa), john lennon's right hand is making the sign above paul mccartney's head. for many fans, this was one of the many "paul is dead" clues.

also pre-dating dio and simmons, frank zappa was known to use the gesture (as can be seen on the dvd "baby snakes" filmed in 1977).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/corna