The metal world lost a major player last weekend when Ronnie James Dio passed away. The ex-Black Sabbath and Rainbow vocalist was one of the genre’s most influential figures, as the outpouring of tributes that have emerged in the past week proves. Unfortunately, the Westboro Baptist Church — the folks who brought us the Godhatesfags website — has announced it plans to picket Dio’s public memorial service, going down on May 30 at L.A.’s Hall of Liberty.

The church has provided a statement as to why it plans to picket, and it goes without saying these people need to hire a fact-checker. We can’t bear to reprint the whole statement, riddled as it is with poor grammar, all caps and typographical errors. Not to mention huge errors of fact, such as Dio being a satanist and Black Sabbath throwing raw meat into the audience.

Source: http://www.exclaim.ca/articles/generalarticlesynopsfullart.aspx?csid1=115&csid2=844&fid1=46666

WTF?

E: this rumour is also announced on Blabbermouth... i didn't look up WBC website but it looks pretty real.

E2: if anyone's interested in looking WBC's Website heres a link... not a troll that's their REAL WEBSITE: http://www.godhatesfags.com/

This post was edited by Oliver-The-Killer on May 21 2010 10:35pm

Yeah this is fucking disgusting.

2 things we must consider here:
1. Police. The police are totally aware of how stupid the church is, and are fully aware of the hatred both from the church and to the church, so there'll be a heavy police presence.
2. Metal fans. What metal fan is going to watch as these cunts belittle and protest a hero, Ronnie James Dio?! None thats how many. If one metalfan out of the possible 5000 that will be at the funeral see one of these church people, there will be murder that day.

Unfortunately, you are probably right.
I say unfortunately because the church will spin it like some crazed metal fan murdered an innocent churchgoer unprovoked.
The church is forever in a crusade against metal music, free thinking, and all forms of creativity.

Dio wrote about the battle between good and evil, not Santa! Just cuz it's metal doesn't mean it's evil

Unfortunately for anyone looking for a fight, the opposing team is pretty much infested with lawyers.

Do something stupid and regret it while getting your shit pushed in at the prison showers

well worked out well for the second gunman on the grassy knoll o.o

This post was edited by Oliver-The-Killer on May 23 2010 04:26pm

dirty bastards! so damn ignorant, narrow minded tossers!
dio has alrdy said in interviews he did not believe in god or the devil, therefore cnt be a satanist.

and there are tons of great christain metal out there, white cross, deliverance , believer, recon etc...
i don't see metal being 'the devils music' listed in the bible!

makes my blood boil this..
R.i.p Ronnie! hope you're rocking in the high heavens!

you will forever be my rainbow in the dark.

well, he didn't believe in god, so I guess he's rockin in his grave (:

last statement is quite gay! yet quite appropriate for this hero (:

Dio is riding the tiger in heavy metal heaven.

I hope someone will be riding a tiger at the funeral