Ronnie James Dio a legend died
Today Metal fans received word that Ronnie James Dio passed away losing his battle with stomach cancer. He was a legend in the heavy metal world with an unlikely big voice coming through a small stature man. The first time I saw him, I thought “Wow, he isn’t what I pictured.” What mattered more was this front man, singer and songwriter gave musicians and fans alike something to admire.
The sign of “devil horns” hoisted in the air at concerts is a gesture he started and if I remember correctly it was first used by his grandmother. Intend to ward off rather than attract so called “evil” which the misinformed about metal always jump to. I’m not a leading authority on Mr. Dio – just a fan of his work. I was first most familiar with his contribution and performances with Black Sabbath but then followed his career solo Dio and recently saw him live twice with the Heaven and Hell tours.
What I admired was his larger than life persona on stage, the artistry and powerful vocal performances. It was the class that accompanied his music, his appreciation for his craft and the fans that supported the bands. My mother, who was a trained singer and once well known performer in England, appreciated Mr. Dio after watching a DVD that my heavy metal loving husband introduced her too.
That is what is offered by the true greats of rock and metal, they transcend time, appeal to the most discerning of musical tastes, welcome anyone to enjoy no matter where they live, how old the are or how much they make. Going to a concert in which Ronnie James Dio performed was sure to be a real show and the venue was filled with the diversity of fans that make metal rock!
Given my age I get afraid that one day all of those that I grew up rocking to, all of those that I admire now because they are truly deserving of being called “the best”, will fade away. Thankfully their music lives on and Mr. Dio knew how much he was loved and respected, that was a life that gave back and used his talent!
I have featured heavy metal bands before including Heaven and Hell but here we go again, in honor of Ronnie James Dio and the memories he has left me and millions of others.
You can’t not listen to this powerful song! Indulge and enjoy the musicianship, voice and artistic presentation in parts 1 and 2.
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DIO.
What can you say about a man who could sing as powerfully at 66 as he could at 26. A Legend in music; Heavy Metal, Rock, POP; it doesn’t matter. The man was a giant in vocal terms, and a master lyricist who could spin metaphor and irony into a rhyme of song that would keep you humming for days and most of all, thinking. He just had a way with words and melody like no other singer of any genre. Furthermore, this legend performed with class and unparalleled respect and dedication to his audience; his fans.
I was introduced to DIO when I was teenager. I was around 13 or 14 years old and a friend had brought home the Dio: Holy Diver album. By all accounts then, DIO was already a big name with his turns in Elf, Rainbow and Black Sabbath; neither of which I was familiar with at the time. But I did become familiar with the album Holy Diver and man, what an album! Every song a classic, every melody and every note perfect. Very few bands achieve what DIO managed to achieve with that album. Near perfection. And from that point on I was fan. Maybe not a die-hard for all the years that followed, but I admired the voice, the talent and the man.
Over the last 5 or so years with the popularity of DVD and concert videos I was able to catch up on DIO’s career, first with his 2002 “Evil or Devine” concert and then his 2005 “Holy Diver” concert where he revisits his first solo album, performing it in its entirety; among other great classics.
When news came about that Black Sabbath and DIO were going to collaborate once again under the name Heaven and Hell and launch a tour, it was a given we were going to go. And we were not disappointed. Last year, supporting a brand new album “The Devil You Know”, a second tour came and we went and seen them again at Thunderbird Arena at UBC. A fantastic show, and a fantastic performance by the band and in particular DIO. Alway mesmerizing and always giving more then he got with his performances.
DIO will be missed. Not just by the many millions of loyal fans, but by many aspiring musicians young and old; and those who never chanced an opportunity to see the man live in concert. There are certain musicians that come into our lives; and with their true talent and dedication they provide an abundance of entertainment, awe inspired listening pleasure, thoughtful introspection, joy, peace and admiration. As teenagers they called that hero-worship, but in fact it was recognition of a special talent that “sang to us”, an extension of ourselves, a voice we could sing along to and imagine it was our very own voice; to sing the words that set us free and allowed us to be something more. To be a part of something bigger. DIO gave that to us as many musicians and singers give the same to others.
“They say that life’s a carousel
Spinning fast, you’ve got to ride it well
The world is full of kings and queens
Who blind your eyes and steal your dreams
Its heaven and hell, oh well
And they’ll tell you black is really white
The moon is just the sun at night
And when you walk in golden halls
You get to keep the gold that falls
Its heaven and hell, oh no!”
___from the song Heaven and Hell, Black Sabbath years.
RIP, Ronnie James Dio.
Thank you so much for that contribution to this post! You have captured the essence of what it means to be a fan of Ronnie James Dio, how we come to support bands (in particular with albums(CD’s) that grab us and never let go) and the genres of music he gave his all too.
It is awe inspiring to see the body of work that is produced. We became part of the stories, moving through the lyrics as if living them and when outside of that experience we were able to see the talent that stands before us on the stage. That is a voice that is going to be sadly missed but forever remembered as one of the greats in music history.
You surprised me with this one, Jennifer! I wouldn’t have pegged you for a heavy metal fan. I tried to listen to the videos but when I clicked on them I could only listen for a few seconds before being booted out to a clean page on your blog with an Error 404 – Not Found on it.
The closest I get to metal appreciation is AC/DC. I’m more of a Classic and Alternative Rock kind of girl.
May Mr. Dio Rest in Peace.
Problem fixed as best as I can right now, please enjoy the music and sorry for the glitch.
Yes, it always surprises people to know that I’m a heavy metal fan, but my tastes are particular. Sometimes what is called Heavy Metal in radio world does not measure up. There are some classically trained, talented musicians and vocalists that really make metal worth listening too. There is song writing that I admire so much and to see how everything is interpreted through the instruments is astounding. If you ever want an introduction to some of the best let me know.
AC/DC I have seen in concert and was quite the fan for many years. Classic Rock has been close to my heart since childhood but heavy metal increased my appreciation for the creative process behind the music. Thanks for your comment!