RIP Ronnie James Dio

[ArpeggioAngel]

Another loss in the music world:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_obit_ronnie_james_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.

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.

 

[EddieA]

Man, that's sad news indeed. I have a lot of high school memories listening to DIO and Sabbath.

 

[jesserca]

I have a snake named after that man. RIP Ronnie James Dio. Here is the snake named after him

 

[wstphal]

Ooh, no! I loved Black Sabbath with both vocalists (it's kind of like Van Halen or Genesis, different front men brought out different things in the band), how sad.

 

[bitsy]

Saw him in 2001 supporting Alice Cooper. A great showman and a sad loss.

 

[Cflaguy]

R.I.P.

I heard he had cancer. What a shame. Liked him in Rainbow and his solo stuff.

Like a Rainbow in the Dark.....

 

[BloodyBaroness]

Gosh, he really was one of the rockers you thought would live forever. RIP Dio.

 

[dionythicus]

That is so upsetting. I loved his music, his vocals are unmatched. Rest in peace, Ronnie.

 

[Cflaguy]

Heard this on the radio today.....

RIP DIO, horns at half mast.

 

[Jay@PJCReptiles]

R.I.P. Ronnie James Dio



We're a ship without a storm
The cold without the warm
Light inside the darkness that it needs, yeah

We're a laugh without a tear
The hope without the fear
We are coming - home

We're off to the witch
We may never never never come home
But the magic that we'll feel
Is worth a lifetime

We're all born upon the cross
The throw before the toss
You can release yourself
But the only way is down

We don't come alone
We are fire we are stone
We're the hand that writes
Then quickly moves away

We'll know for the first time
If we're evil or divine
We're the last in line
We're the last in line

Two eyes from the east
It's the angel or the beast
And the answer lies between
The good and bad

We search for the truth
We could die upon the tooth
But the thrill of just the chase
Is worth the pain

We'll know for the first time
If we're evil or devine
We're the last in line, yeah
We're the last in line, oh

Yeah, we're off to the witch
We may never never never come home
But the magic that we'll feel
Is worth a lifetime

We're all born upon the cross
You know we're the throw before the toss
You can release yourself
But the only way you go is down

We'll know for the first time
If we're evil or devine
We're the last in line, oh
We're the last in line
See how we shine

We're the last in
We're the last in
We're the last in
We're the last in
We're the last in
We're the First in Line

We're a ship without the storm
The cold inside the warm
We're a laugh without the tear
Colder when we're near

We're the last in line
We're the last in line
We're the last in line
See how we shine ........... We're the last in line

You will be missed. Devil Horns Forever!!!​

Jay

 

[sinisterserpents1]

RIP Dio, You will be missed all over the world! What a rock legend.... so sad.

 

[ghosthousecorns]

RIP Dio... No matter if he was in Blackmore's Rainbow, Sabbath, or in his solo stuff his music rocked.