With great sadness I was confronted with the news of the passing of the godfather of metal, Ronnie James Dio (July 10,1942- May 16, 2010), from stomach cancer. Known for his work with Black Sabbath (after Ozzy), Rainbow (with deep purple guitarist, Ritchie Blackmore), Elf, and his own band Dio. He is probably one of the most prolific artists of the rock and metal genres, known for his commanding vocals, lyrics and incredible stage presence. Also known for popularizing the ever so iconic "devil horns". I can keep droning on about the facts of his 6 decade spanning career, but these events register much deeper.
I had the very distinct pleasure of watching Dio reunite with black sabbath, creating Heaven and Hell, on their tour back in 2007. It was among one of my first metal concerts, along with my brother Matt, and friend Terri. Reading through news articles over the past day, that concert reaffirmed and highlighted exactly what other artists and friends said about Dio. He was probably one of th nicest guys ever, even in a packed stadium of thousands of people, he made everyone feel special, like he was talking and singing to each of us individually. He was a true musician, embodying what real music is, regardless of genre. He transcended the boundaries of a marginalized genre; sticking to his convictions.
He was and will always continue to be an influence in my life and music, like so many other. Thank you Ronnie James Dio for your many gifts, and for sharing them with your many fans from around the world. A true man, artist, visionary...you will be missed. Long live metal, long live rock, and long live Dio!!
1 comment:
LONG LIVE DIO.
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