Ronnie James Dio passes away at 67

[|iR|Focalor]

Dio is teh die-o.



http://new.music.yahoo.com/ronnie-james-dio/news/--62001717

 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.

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.

 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."

[ReCycled]

Ah ya beat me to it. I didn't listen to a lot of Dio but there was one song I liked. I guess he'll be "the last in line".

RIP Ronnie....


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iy6URlmeUpk

[Whirlingdervish]

I guess he'll be "the last in line".

That might be preferable to "Caught in the middle"

On a serious note, Dio is one of my all time favorite rock/metal vocalists.
His ability to spray forth some of the hugest vocals from a reasonably small frame was nothing short of amazing, and from all acounts he was the rock legend others wished they could be and a great guy to be around at the same time. (quite a feat for a musician)

The world is a shittier place without him, but at least it will have his music for a long long time.

here's a little tribute to him written years back by Tencious D, with some recent shots of him near the end:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyu17C05jkw

[yahoo]

RIP


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64coD-rx9sk

[|iR|Focalor]

Dio Rocks.

The retards intro-ing the video are retards. I hope they are dead now too.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycRkCs9TUl0

I never really compared him to Ozzy, they both had such different vocal styles. Ozzy had much more charisma though, and a much better solo career in my opinion. Heaven and Hell was still one hell of a good album. Every song on that record was great. For a small guy, I liked the fact that he always used the "balls" approach to his singing and never went the way of other less manly vocalists from 80's metal bands. But coming from the early 70's hard rock scene like he did, I think that was just the way to shit on the pussy disco scene even more. We need more vocalists like him. Too many bands these days have singers that sound half drunk and lazy. Put some balls behind your words, bitches.