Ronnie James Dio in his most familiar pose. Publicity still
According to Yahoo News via AP writer Wayne Parry; Ronnie James Dio died Sunday. His death was announced by his wife and manager. He was 67 years old.
Dio had a diverse career. He was the first lead singer for 'Rainbow' started by Richie Blackmore when he left Deep Purple. Dio then replaced the seemingly irreplaceable Ozzy Osbourne in Black Sabbath. This was in the early 80s. As the lead singer of Black Sabbath the album 'Heaven and Hell' was recorded. Dio's band toured under this name due to Ozzy using the Black Sabbath name.
According to some;
This album the 'Heaven and Hell album is considered by many critics to be one of the finest heavy metal album of all time.
Ronnie also enjoyed a successful solo turn with his own band he named after himself, 'Dio'.
Known by many in the business as a genuinely nice guy, dio organized the all star charity concert, 'Hear N'Aid' to raise money for famine relief in Africa.
It was announced last summer that Ronnie had stomach cancer. Dio had recently undergone his 7th chemo treatment. He was hoping to perform again, however earlier this month 'Heaven and Hell' canceled it's summer tour.
In statement from Ronnie James Dio:
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. 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.
Wendy put this statement on Ronnie's official website:
Message from Wendy Dio
Today my heart is broken, Ronnie passed away at 7:45am 16th May. Many, many friends and family were able to say their private good-byes before he peacefully passed away. Ronnie knew how much he was loved by all. We so appreciate the love and support that you have all given us. Please give us a few days of privacy to deal with this terrible loss. Please know he loved you all and his music will live on forever.
- Wendy Dio
The site also requests that condolences be put on this facebook page.
Ronnie is survived by his wife, Wendy, his son Daniel; grandchildren Julie and Joey; and father Pat.
Ronnie and his band appeared several times here in Las Vegas
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Comments
YOU WILL BE MISSED!!
DIO bless Dio.
rainbow in the dark had to of been my fav song of all time it had an awesome beat and it was a great fighting song for me now that dio has gone from our light he will now be shineing on all of us
Thanks RJD for shaking my hand, comming clear accross the stage at Polaris in Columbus. Thanks for your music..Your voice.
the fall of a titan. the world loses a great man. you were one of my favorite heroes. rest in peace, buddy.
Dio epitomized the devil-horns, rockin' out in a borderline nerdy way and not givin' a s***, and lyrical imagination. It is a sad day for rock, and you will be missed. RIP DIO!
Dio is the King of Heavy metal, He is the original Headbanger and even at 60 was still Rocking like a f**king metal god. His amazing voice and lyrics has inspired a generation of metal, and he will be missed
my friends just telled me about dio i never really know who ia waz i look up his story and have say i would like 2 have know him and now if anything like ozzy i will listen 2 him
Good bye Dio
Ronnie was/is/will always be simply THE BEST! My dearest friend will be missed but never forgotten. My heart goes out to Wendy and the family. Long live the King of Rock n Roll! Rest in peace and know that we will always love you!
I remember as a teen going to see Dio at El Paso County Coliseum. I was not tall eneough to see him as he was quite short. I asked my friend Gilbert for a foot lift to see him jam out! Thanks for all the great times Ronnie! I always play "don't talk to strangers" for my kids.
All the way from little Corland, NY to the stars. You are truely unique and lived life as it should be lived. Keep singing young man - we can still hear you!
GOD created Ronnie James Dio for a reason..... to change the world... his music saved my life from killing myself. "all the fools sailed away" he will never be forgotten for his name is etched in the millions of hearts of the people touched by his music. he will be deeply missed and will always be in my heart.
God bless the Dio family and God bless Ronnie James Dio!
Ronnie James Dio, was the BEST heavy metal singer of all times. He DID replace the second best and that is Ozzy Osbourne. He was loved by all, and will never be forgotten. If he knew how much he as loved by all then he would have been able to pass even more peacfully. His music was all that I listened to for a time. His music was amazing, and his personality even more so. Ronnie James Dio, you will be sorely missed. We love you and I hope to see you on the other side. Love you Bro.
A true metal icon.RIP Ronnie.
It's about time, Dio sucked. Go Jonas brother!! <3 <3
Who the hell is Dio??
R.I.P. Ronnie You are THE RAINBOW IN THE DARK ! Your words will Live Forever ! Your words saved me from the HELL I grew up with in my childhood you were My Therapy that SAVED my life to become a Mother who brought 3 more ROCK N ROLL CHILDREN into this world ! My SCARED HEART with MYSTERY in the banner was Tattooed in your honer right above my heart many years ago , that is where you will remain forever ! ! ! I am a true STARGAZER who has lived threw HEAVEN AND HELL , You taught me NOT TO TALK TO STRANGERS I am not a COUNTRY GIRL but a city girl who live threw more than just ONE NIGHT IN THE CITY ! Thanks to you WE ROCK & LONG LIVE ROCK N RON !
with Love !
Mystery
A sad day for metal, rest peacefully friend,
thank you for the music, thank your for sharing
your life with all of us. You are already missed.
RIP my old friend.
You guys should be ashamed if you saying its good that Dio is dead. He was just about the nicest man ever.
Hi TK, hope you are doing well. RIP Ronnie James Dio... absolutely unique icon.
LCHC '83
all thru high school me and all my friends would go have fun you know like teens did in the early 80's at lunch time and we would be rocking I mean rocking Ronnie James Dio I always had so many head banging times back then. And yes for sure we were the generation that was using the devils horn sign I mean everywhere even when you would say goodbye to a friend. That music and those times were nothing shy of a mis spent teenage life but I turned out pretty good. People back then were always trying to get heavy metal banned I know people my age remember, yep the early MTV days I was shocked and heart broke this morning when I saw that one of my favorite people had passed away. The first headbangers will always have Ronnie as a brother and sisterhood, rock on my friends.
Mikey can go straight to hell. Ronnie James Dio just passed away and your trying to rip him. I would love to see you in person so I could personally bash your face in. Dio has done more for music than the Jonas Brothers could ever dream. In my opinion Ozzy is a joke compared to Dio. Ozzy is just a washed up drunk who can't even write his own lyrics most of the time. Dio lives forever! Follow the Tears!
In the late seventies an older friend of mine introduced me to Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow. I was already a big Deep Purple fan, but this new singer Ritchie had named Ronnie James Dio could sing his @ss off. Rainbow Rising and Long Live Rock And Roll were awesome albums, and I never could understand why that work wasn't more popular than they were here in the U.S. Between these and his work with Sabbath, I think I have more of his songs on my IPod than any other singer. Now every time I hear one of his songs, I'll have to look up to the sky and give him the horns. People will think I lost it, when indeed we're all losing out. Long live Rock & Roll!!!
In the late seventies an older friend of mine introduced me to Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow. I was already a big Deep Purple fan, but this new singer Ritchie had named Ronnie James Dio could sing his @ss off. Rainbow Rising and Long Live Rock And Roll were awesome albums, and I never could understand why that work wasn't more popular than they were here in the U.S. Between these and his work with Sabbath, I think I have more of his songs on my IPod than any other singer. Now every time I hear one of his songs, I'll have to look up to the sky and give him the horns. People will think I lost it, when indeed we're all losing out. Long live Rock & Roll!!!
In the late seventies an older friend of mine introduced me to Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow. I was already a big Deep Purple fan, but this new singer Ritchie had named Ronnie James Dio could sing his @ss off. Rainbow Rising and Long Live Rock And Roll were awesome albums, and I never could understand why that work wasn't more popular than they were here in the U.S. Between these and his work with Sabbath, I think I have more of his songs on my IPod than any other singer. Now every time I hear one of his songs, I'll have to look up to the sky and give him the horns. People will think I lost it, when indeed we're all losing out. Long live Rock & Roll!!!
A news story states that "In the evening, the chaplain came, and we all gathered around Ronnie's bed and prayed."
Prayed to whom I wonder?
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