RIP Ronnie James Dio – 1942-2010

Ronnie James Dio, legendary vocalist from classic bands Black Sabbath, Dio, and Heaven & Hell, has passed away at the age of 67 years old.

I got a text late last night that said this: “Rumors swirling that Dio may be dead….”.  While “death rumors” (sometimes true, sometimes false) seem to be cropping up more and more these days, this one seemed pretty credible, seeing how Dio has been battling stomach cancer since late last year.  While Wendy Dio (longtime Wife and manager) had posted early this morning that “he wasn’t doing well, but he isn’t dead!”, it turns out he did indeed pass away this morning at 7:45 am.

Born an only child in a working-class Italian family on the east coat, he spent some time in college before heading up a bunch of different local bands before making the big time in 1975 with Richie Blackmore in Rainbow. He was then chosen by Tony Iommi to replace Ozzy Osbourne in Black Sabbath. He then left to form DIO.  More recently, however, he’s been touring and recording with the early 80’s version of Black Sabbath, dubbed Heaven & Hell.

What can I say about such an important figurehead of Metal?  There are very select few people in rock that I can say have carried themselves with such class and dignity as Ronnie James Dio.  While many of his contemporaries have fallen from grace in a half-drunken, half-drugged out stupor, he has continued to be an example of how to grow old but never lose the passion and desire to be at the top of his game… and it showed.  More importantly, he did it without blatant drug use and alcoholism that tends to chew up aging musicians.

When some friends and I saw Heaven & Hell a couple years back, he was just as enigmatic and passionate as ever.  As powerful as he was intelligent, he was a fantastic live performer… even in his mid-60’s.  He will be missed dearly by metal musicians the world over.  Make no mistake, there will never be another Dio.  But thankfully we have some fantastic recordings to commemorate the life of the mighty Ronnie James Dio.  Horns Up.

By Brian Catalano