[For Metal Beginners] What Is the Metal “Devil Horns” Sign? Thumb Up or Down?

Last updated:2024/8/9

lightermayo
A laid-back woman born in the first year of Heisei: a metalhead, a K-pop fan, and an aspiring art collector. I love movies too. I’m actually someone who works in theater. I usually sit quietly with a blank expression, listening to music, so people don’t think I’m a metalhead. I used to spend my allowance on a special new release, go home, and enjoy time doing nothing but listening to the music with the lyric booklet in hand, but I haven’t done that lately—so these days I want to reclaim that kind of time.

Rock... among themHeavy metal and hard rockSpeaking of gestures familiar to fans of 〇〇,the devil horns hand sign with the index and little fingers raisedRight?!

If you go to a live show, I think you’ll see the devil horns everywhere you look, to the right and to the left.

Metalheads flash the devil horns as naturally as breathing, but for beginners...Thumbs up? Down?You probably have quite a few small questions like that, don’t you?

This time, I’ll introduce the “metal horns,” a gesture that could be called a symbol of heavy metal and hard rock!

If you can do this, you’ll be a bona fide member of the metalhead community!

What is the devil horns hand sign?

Live

devil hornsspeaking of; when it comes to; if you say (…); which reminds me ofheavy metaland/or; such as; or (used to list examples)Hard rockamong the fans, especiallyA classic hand sign among metalheadsIt is.

In Japan it’s called the “metal sign,” but abroad it’s generally referred to as the corna, the devil horns, or the devil sign.

Corna (Italian: Gesto delle corna [literally: “horns gesture”], abbreviated in Japan) is a hand gesture made with the index and little fingers extended while the thumb, middle, and ring fingers are folded down. In Mediterranean countries, it carries an insulting meaning. This gesture…Its origins date back to ancient Greece.It is said that.Corna means 'horns' in Italian.
This gesture hasThe meaning of warding off bad luck and the evil eyeIn addition, it is also associated with Satan and Satan worship.
Source:The “corna” (Italian: corna; German: Mano cornuta; English: horns gesture) is a hand gesture in which the index finger and little finger are extended while the middle and ring fingers are held down with the thumb. In Japan it is often called “kitsune sign,” but this naming is a Japanese-origin misconception. In Western countries it is used with multiple meanings, including as a sign to ward off misfortune, an offensive sign implying cuckoldry, and as a symbol within rock and heavy metal culture. In American Sign Language (ASL), a similar handshape means “I love you,” but this is a different sign created by combining the letters I, L, and Y from the ASL fingerspelling alphabet.Overview- Basic form: Extend the index finger and little finger; hold down the middle and ring fingers with the thumb. Variations exist depending on context and culture (e.g., thumb extended or tucked).- Major meanings: 1) Apotropaic (to ward off evil or bad luck) 2) Insult (implying someone’s spouse/partner is unfaithful; “cuckold”) 3) Music culture symbol (rock/heavy metal) 4) Others: as a regional gesture, or misunderstood equivalence to ASL “I love you.”Etymology and terminology- “Corna” means “horns” in Italian. Related names include mano cornuta (“horned hand”). In English it is often called the “horns” or “devil horns,” though the latter is a later association.History and cultural usage- Mediterranean/Italian tradition: Historically used as an apotropaic gesture to ward off the evil eye. In some regions, combining the gesture with turning one’s hand downward is thought to avert misfortune.- Insulting meaning: Pointing the horns toward a person can imply that person has been “given horns” (i.e., is a cuckold). This insulting usage is attested in Italy and other parts of Europe.- Popular music and subculture: In rock and heavy metal scenes, the gesture became widely popular in the late 20th century. It is strongly associated with Ronnie James Dio, who popularized it during his tenure with Black Sabbath, citing inspiration from his Italian grandmother’s apotropaic gesture. Gene Simmons of KISS has also been associated with a similar hand sign; however, Simmons’s trademark attempt caused controversy because of preexisting widespread use and differences from the ASL “I love you” sign.- Sports and school spirit: Similar gestures are used by some U.S. universities (e.g., “Hook ’em Horns” at the University of Texas at Austin), though meanings and origins differ.Distinctions from other signs- ASL “I love you” sign: Combines the ASL letters I, L, and Y with thumb extended outward; visually similar but semantically unrelated to the traditional apotropaic/insult meanings of the corna.- Shaka, fox/kitsune sign, and other lookalikes: Despite superficial resemblance, these have different cultural origins and meanings.Controversies and misunderstandings- Because the gesture carries both protective and insulting meanings, context, orientation, and culture determine interpretation. Misuse can cause offense in regions where the cuckold meaning is salient.In popular culture- The gesture frequently appears at rock and metal concerts, on album art, and in fan culture. It is also used in memes and internet culture, sometimes conflated with other hand signs.Notes- The gesture’s meanings vary widely across regions and communities. Orientation (upward vs downward), movement, and accompanying expressions affect interpretation.See also- Evil eye- Apotropaic magic- Hand gestures- Sign languageReferences- Various historical and cultural sources discuss the corna’s Mediterranean origins, its adoption in music culture, and distinctions from ASL usage.

As the Italian word corna means “horns,” it’s true that the devil horns (the metal hand sign) do look like an animal’s horns.

It’s said to be modeled after the Minotaur, the bull-headed, man-bodied monster from Greek mythology known for its savage nature.

Muscular, with rugged horns... truly a metalhead (?).

By making a gesture of such strong-looking hornsProtect yourself from bad luck and the evil eyeIt seems that such a meaning was implied.

The roots of the devil horns in metal

So, when did the metal scene first see the emergence of the “metal horns” (devil horns) gesture?

Aren't these two the people said to be the origin of the devil horns sign?

Ronnie James Dio andKISSThis is Gene Simmons.

Ronnie James Dio

https://www.instagram.com/p/C1abi2hOqCC

Ronnie James Dio (1942–2010), one of the great singers in the metal world, known for his dramatic voice with powerful resonance and sustain.

The vocals that make you go “This is metal!” are an absolute must for anyone just getting into metal.

Rainbowand/or; such as; or (used to list examples)Black SabbathHe also served as the vocalist and was active with his own band, DIO.

It seems that because Dio, who’s kind of awkward (lol), didn’t want people around him to look at him strangely, he started imitating and using the ‘corna’ hand sign that his Italian grandmother used as a protective charm.

Since the word 'corna' has its roots in Italy, that makes sense.

There was a heartwarming element to it—how a grandmother’s kindness gets passed down as a symbol of metal (lol).

And so,Black metalSetting that aside, there’s basically no malicious intent, so don’t worry!

Gene Simmons

https://instagram.com/p/BbqFSA0FnZZ/

The other person is Gene Simmons, the vocalist and bassist of KISS.

Flashy, devilish makeup, costumes, and performance.

One of the metal world’s monsters whose image sears itself into your eyes at first sight.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BX_Fgkllfhg/

On the cover of the 1977 album Love Gun, you can see Gene (far right) making a hand sign that resembles the devil horns.

Unlike Dio, the thumb isn't tucked in; it's extended.

Simmons claims that this gesture was first unveiled on November 14, 1974, during the tour for KISS’s second album, Hotter Than Hell (released in Japan as Jigoku no Sakebi).
Source:KISS’s Gene Simmons has actually filed a trademark for that pose—does this mean we won’t be able to imitate it anymore?

Although he is a metal monster, Gene—who is also widely rumored to be quite the brainy businessman—reportedly filed a patent application in 2017 to make this hand sign his own gesture.

After that, it appears this application was abandoned on June 21, 2017.

Many metalheads must have thought, “What on earth are you thinking, Gene?!” (lol)

How to make the devil horns hand sign. Should the thumb be up or down?

When you go to a live show, no matter whether you look to the right or the left, you see the devil horns everywhere.

It's a classic sign, but for those new to heavy metal or hard rock, some of you might secretly be wondering, “How do you make it?”

I was actually the same (lol).

Isn’t the classic devil horns the Dio style rather than Gene Simmons’s thumb-extended style?

So, the points that beginners secretly struggle with areThumbs up or down?Right? / Isn’t that so?