Summary
Hirohiko Araki, the author ofJoJo’s Bizarre Adventure,adores Western music and cinema. He shows his love for music in every part of his manga. From character and power names to settings and plot points, he bases a lot of those on music he likes. Perhaps the greatest and most important example of this comes with DIO Brando, the main villain ofJoJo’s Bizarre AdventureStardust Crusaders. Some plot elements of the story, DIO’s powers, and his behavior were inspired by both the lyrics and the artwork of a legendary Heavy Metal song:Holy Diver.
Holy Diver is a classic Rock song by the legendary musicianRonnie James Dio. A theme that speaks of a mysterious Christ figure, the “holy diver”, a being that sacrifices himself on another planet to redeem his people. But the lyrics bear great meaning to the plot of Stardust Crusaders.
Holy Diver and Dio Brando, Art Inspires Art
A Legendary Villain Born from a Legendary Song
Holy Diver is a song by Ronnie James Dio, one of the fathers of Heavy Metal. According to Dio, it’s about a Christ figure who sacrifices himself on a distant planet to redeem his people. They call him the Holy Diver because he’s about to go to a different planet and perform the same selfless act for them. The artwork of the album, however, depicts a demonic entity holding a chain that entraps a priest in the ocean. The design of the creature, along with the name of the song,inspired the design of The World, DIO’s Stand.
The World is known for wearing diving gear. Fans theorize this is because Dio spent a hundred years underwater, so he developed a fear of water. But it is inspired by the Holy Diver demon. DIO has a God complex, his name is Italian for God, and The World wears diving gear. You may have noticed DIO’s name. Yes, DIO Brando is named after Ronnie James Dio.Considering DIO actually debuted in Part 1: Phantom Blood, it shows Araki referring to the musician as the main inspiration for DIO for both appearances.
Holy Diver’s Lyrics, The Inspiration Behind Stardust Crusaders
Hide In The Sun Until You See The Light
Taking a close look at the lyrics of the song, it’s clear where Araki got some ideas for DIO’s developments in the story of Stardust Crusaders.
You’ve been down too long in the midnight sea
Oh, what’s becoming of me?
Ride the tiger
You can see his stripes but you know he’s clean
Oh, don’t you see what I mean?
The second line immediately reminds of DIO. He spent a hundred years at the bottom of the sea, completely trapped in a coffin. The third line may reflect DIO’s transformation into the man he became, a much wiser and yet more cruel man wielding the most powerful Stand. “Ride the tiger…” refers to his possession of Jonathan Joestar’s body, the stripes referring toJonathan’s fighting spirit and his tenacity,but DIO knows he’s pure of heart.
Got shiny diamonds
Like the eyes of a cat in the black and blue
Something is coming for you, look out!
Race for the morning
you may hide in the sun ‘til you see the light
Oh, we will pray it’s all right
The shiny diamonds may refer to Noriaki Kakyion’s Hierophant Green and his Emmerald Splash ability.The cat in the black and blue refers to Jotaro Kujo, the one chasing DIO, who famously wears black in the anime version and blue in the manga colors. The next three lines are from the perspective of the Crusaders, as they need sunlight to take refuge from DIO and kill him with his vampiric weakness. As well as their desperation against such a deadly foe.
You’re the star of the masquerade
No need to look so afraid
Jump, jump; jump on the tiger
You can feel his heart but you know he’s mean
Some light can never be seen, yeah!
The second line here refers to DIO being the center of attention at the end of Stardust Crusaders, he’s the star of the masquerade as the one everyone has their eyes on. Masquerades are also a trope common to vampiric tales. The lines about the tiger now refer to Jotaro, DIO knows that he, as a Joestar, is kind-hearted, but unlike his great-grandfather, he’s much more aggressive and violent. The last line obviously refers to DIO being unable to see the sunlight due to being a vampire. The song often says “Gotta get away, get away”, which refers to theCrusaders running away from DIO in Cairo.
Holy Diver, sole survivor
You’re the one who’s clean
Holy Diver, Holy Diver
Yeah, the cats in the blue coming after you, Holy Diver
Oh, Holy Diver
“Sole survivor” refers to Jotaro, the only Crusader left in the battle against DIO, him also being clean, as he is the hero of the story, the one who seeks justice.The cat in blue comes back, once again meaning Jotaro, who chases after DIO until he finally puts an end to him.
It’s clear how this song inspired Hirohiko Araki when he wrote Stardust Crusaders. The part has remained the most iconic entry in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure since its initial release in the late 80s. Holy Diver was also released in 1983, giving more credence to Araki, and making this song an important part of his writing process.
