Church plans to picket Dio's memorial service

Los Angeles, California (CNN) -- A public memorial service for heavy metal rocker Ronnie James Dio is planned for Sunday, with members of the Westboro Baptist Church saying they will picket the ceremony. The church in Topeka, Kansas, is known for its intolerance of gays and its picketing of soldiers' funerals. A picketing schedule on the church's website said protesters will be at the Dio memorial at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills in Los Angeles, accusing the 67-year-old rocker of worshipping Satan. Dio died on May 16 after a battle with stomach cancer. Charges of devil-worshipping have often been leveled against heavy metal music. Dio, in particular, was a favorite target. He popularized the "devil's horn" gesture, where the index and the little fingers are upright and the thumb is clasped against the two middle fingers. He has said he was taught by the sign by his superstitious Italian grandmother as a way to ward off the "evil eye." ...