Ronnie James Dio died

[Garemlin]

Sad, sad day in the metal world. He was a great singer and performer. I was fortunate enough to see him live several times.

RIP DIO

Ronnie James Dio, whose soaring vocals, poetic lyrics and mythic tales of a never-ending struggle between good and evil broke new ground in heavy metal, died Sunday, according to a statement from his wife and manager. He was 67.
Dio revealed last summer that he was suffering from stomach cancer shortly after wrapping up a tour in Atlantic City, N.J. with the latest incarnation of Black Sabbath, under the name Heaven And Hell.
"Today my heart is broken," Wendy Dio wrote on the singer's site, adding he died at 7:45 a.m. "Many, many friends and family were able to say their private goodbyes before he peacefully passed away.
"Ronnie knew how much he was loved by all," Wendy Dio continued. "We so appreciate the love and support that you have all given us ... Please know he loved you all and his music will live on forever."
The statement was confirmed by Los Angeles publicist Maureen O'Connor.
Though he had recently undergone his seventh chemotherapy treatment, he was hopeful to perform again. Earlier this month, the band Heaven And Hell canceled its summer tour, but Dio did not view being sidelined as a permanent thing.
"Wendy, my doctors and I have worked so hard to make it happen for all of you, the ones we care so much about, that this setback could be devastating, but we will not let it be," he said in a statement. "With your continued love and support, we ... will carry on and thrive. There will be other tours, more music, more life and much more magic."
Dio rose to fame in 1975 as the first lead singer of Rainbow, the heavy metal band put together by guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, who had just quit Deep Purple.
Dio then replaced legendary vocalist Ozzy Osbourne in Black Sabbath in 1980 with the critically acclaimed album "Heaven And Hell," considered by many critics to be one of the finest heavy metal albums of all time. His on-again, off-again tenure with Black Sabbath touched off an intense debate among fans as to which singer was the true essence of the band — a discussion that lasted until his death.
He also enjoyed a successful solo career with his self-titled band, Dio, in between his three stints with Black Sabbath (1980-82; 1992; and 2007-2009, when the band toured as Heaven And Hell, to differentiate it from Osbourne-led versions of Sabbath).
Many of his most memorable songs revolved around the struggle between good and evil, including his signature tune "Heaven And Hell." He also drew heavily on medieval imagery in songs like "Neon Knights," "Killing The Dragon" and "Stargazer."
"He possessed one of the greatest voices in all of heavy metal, and had a heart to match it," said Twisted Sister guitarist Jay Jay French, whose band toured with Dio since 1983, and was to do so again this summer at European rock festivals. "He was the nicest, classiest person you would ever want to meet."
Dio organized an all-star charity collaboration in 1986 called "Hear N' Aid" to raise money for famine relief in Africa, styled on the successful "We Are The World" campaign of a few years earlier.
His solo hits included "Rainbow In The Dark," "The Last In Line" and "Holy Diver."

[STIDRIVER]

Rip rjd..... "he'll know for the 1st time.... If he's evil or devine, he's the last in line!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

[Vulcan1600]

Yes, RIP Ronnie James Dio. I remember your music well, all of it. On a personal note, I think Black Sabbath was Ozzy and didn't care for him in Black Sabbath. I love his music. I guess I could compare Sammy Hagar...an awesome guy with an awesome voice, but he just wasn't Van Halen, because it wasn't Diamond Dave. I hope that makes sense.

My heart and prayers to DIO and family.

[STIDRIVER]

^^ Agreed.... Ozzy was Black Sabbath, the rest was jus a copy... Don't get me wrong.. I loved Dio's solo albums, and saw him in concert with Yngwie back in 89'... Lol at the Van Halen, not Van Hagar comparason

[Garemlin]

Yes, RIP Ronnie James Dio. I remember your music well, all of it. On a personal note, I think Black Sabbath was Ozzy and didn't care for him in Black Sabbath. I love his music. I guess I could compare Sammy Hagar...an awesome guy with an awesome voice, but he just wasn't Van Halen, because it wasn't Diamond Dave. I hope that makes sense.

My heart and prayers to DIO and family.

Ozzy was Black Sabbath just as DLR was Van Halen. I agree. But RJD was the essence of Black Sabbath. If that makes sense.

[STIDRIVER]

^^ It doesn't... explain?

[Garemlin]

^^ It doesn't... explain?

Ozzy was Black Sabbath by name. Like bread and butter. Peanut butter and jelly. They just belong together. But Dio made Black Sabbath. He was what Black Sabbath was about. Don;t get me wrong. I love Ozzy and the stuff he did with Sabbath. I just think what Dio did with them was more Sabbath.

[STIDRIVER]

I guess I never got much past Paranoid (one of the greatest albums ever), and a few after that one.... But, I understand what you mean... For me anyways, Ozzy=Sabbath... Dio I know from his later stuff... Last in Line, Holy Diver etc...

[Garemlin]

I guess I never got much past Paranoid (one of the greatest albums ever), and a few after that one.... But, I understand what you mean... For me anyways, Ozzy=Sabbath... Dio I know from his later stuff... Last in Line, Holy Diver etc...

Check out Sabbath albums Heaven and Hell and Mob Rules. It is a different kind of Sabbath. Not Iron Man or War Pigs by any stretch of the imagination. But still incredible just the same.

[timo1456]

R.I.P. rjd thanks for all the good music