Stuff You Should Know Short Stuff: Devil Horns
25 snips
Aug 13, 2025 Discover the intriguing origins of the devil horns hand sign in heavy metal culture. Explore its Italian roots as a superstition and how it evolved into a universal symbol at metal concerts. Learn about the influential musicians who popularized the gesture and its dual meanings across societies. The discussion touches on the connection between metal music, the occult, and personal memories tied to favorite bands, showcasing the powerful link between music and identity. Get ready to rock with these fascinating insights!
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Corna Was Protective, Not Satanic
- The devil horns (corna) originally meant to ward off the evil eye in Italian tradition.
- Metal repurposed that gesture into an emblem of fandom and intensity.
Dio Popularized The Gesture
- Ronnie James Dio made the devil-horns gesture famous in metal without claiming he invented it.
- Dio said he popularized it but doubted he was the first to ever do it.
Gene Simmons Tried To Trademark A Public Sign
- Gene Simmons tried to trademark a three-finger version of the horn sign that actually matches ASL "I love you."
- The attempt drew criticism because he claimed ownership of a public gesture and an ASL sign.
