Heavy Metal Singer Ronnie James Dio Dead at 67

By PopEater Staff Posted May 16th 2010 08:01PM

Heavy metal legend Ronnie James Dio died early Sunday after a battle with stomach cancer. He was 67.

Dio's wife, Wendy, broke the news today on Ronnie's official website.

"Today my heart is broken, Ronnie passed away at 7:45am 16th May," she wrote. "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."

Dio's cancer was first announced last November. He was expected to take part in this summer's Heaven & Hell tour, which was subsequently canceled in May due to his health.

After stints with bands like Elf (formerly the Electric Elves), Dio was recruited by Deep Purple guitarist Ritchie Blackmore to form Rainbow in 1975. Dio left the band in 1979 and quickly joined Black Sabbath as a replacement for Ozzy Ozbourne. Dio's first album with Black Sabbath was the iconic 'Heaven & Hell,' released in 1980.

Dio, who is often credited for creating the devil horns hand gesture, recorded two additional albums with Black Sabbath -- 'Mob Rules' and 'Live Evil' -- before leaving in 1982 over reported sound mixing issues on 'Live Evil.' He went on to lead his next band, Dio, shortly thereafter, where he was joined by Black Sabbath drummer Vinny Appice.

Dio would later reunite with Black Sabbath on 1992's 'Dehumanizer.'

Dio released 10 albums under his namesake band, including 'Holy Diver,' and remained with the band throughout, despite numerous departures and changes.

In 2006, he formed the band Heaven & Hell with Appice and Black Sabbath's Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler. Together, they released one studio album -- 2009's 'The Devil You Know -- as well as a live CD.

At a Los Angeles event in April, Dio gave Artisan News an update on his battle with cancer, saying, "If you're determined to beat it, then you have to go with what you believe is going to beat it for you."

Born Ronald James Padavona in Portsmouth, New Hampshrie, Dio released his first record in 1958 with Ronnie & the Redcaps. He was married twice -- first, to Loretta Berardi, with whom he adopted a son, Dan.

Dio's stage name was reportedly inspired by New York mafia member Johnny Dio.

For more on Ronnie James Dio, visit Spinner.

Tags: ronnie james dio

Comments

(54)

Sunday 16 May

By Reggie

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Metal will never be the same. It has lost a godfather. You will truly be missed. Rest in peace Dio!

Monday 17 May

By Alice

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Agree with you. It's not the same.
BTW, Life is so lonely. I'm a doctor, 31, rich but still single. It's hard to get a girlfriend in my town,m ost of them like my money more than like me. I just want to find my true love. so i uploaded my hot photos on M-E-E-T-R-I-C-H-E-S(C/-O/-M) under the name of hot561. maybe you are the one who i'm looking for!!!

By Fred

RIP RJD. I for one will miss your iconic voice. The Holy Diver album is still one of my favorite albums to blow out my windows when I listen to it.

By bebo

r.i.p. ronnie
I first heard him at a sound check during the "black and blue" concert in seattle in 1980 , featuring black sabbath and blue oyster cult and several other bands. he belted out at the sound check, without any instrumental help from the band,"SING ME A SONG, YOU'RE A SINGER" and that was all... The crowd outside in line went bezerk with applause!!

By pete

I remember that show at Memorial Stadium at the Seattle Center. It was so lound you could hear it half way across town! They never had a concert there again. Dio was a great singer. I saw Sabbath again with the Outlaws in the Arena in 82 and saw Dio solo in San Diego in 86.

By tony

ronnie james,you rock.see ya on the other side.

By JACK ASS!

One of the very first concerts I ever went to was Dio at Nashville's Municipal Auditorium. Not only was he an amazing showman, he could still scream like a banshee well into his 60s (check out "Mob Rules" on the Heaven & Hell DVD if you don't believe me).

RIP, RJD.

By Raz

I saw him in Fresno,was my VERY first concert, god only knows how long ago...such an awesome experience....Dokken was the opening band...THIS man will be missed.

By mark

the man on the silver mountain lives on

By Shauna

The loss of a true rock God. RIP RJD

By Lorraine

Like a Rainbow in the Dark...Ronnie thank you for the many years of awesome music you brought us. It is a sad, sad day in the metal world today. My heart is heavy and my thoughts and prayers are with your family. Rock on forever Ronnie...rock on.

By leonard and cheryl

sad miss the great musician
Ronnie now you can rock in heaven forever

By Leanne

he was a true gentleman...he stopped a concert in biloxi back in the 80s and had his security guys escort a guy out after beating him up because he hit me...he said..."no man will ever hit a woman in my presence." He was an amazing singer as well. RIP

By Anastasia

Another great voice silenced. RIP Ronnie.

By Randy

We'll know for the first time, if we're evil or devine we're the last in line. Rest in peace, thank you for the memories.

By angguss

sail away into the sun.............. , if there are any Dio fans who haven't heard him in the band elf (elves , electric elves), you must ..!!!!!

By miladyhelen

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A sad day for heavy metal fans. RIP RJD

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Sad miss great musician
Ronny you can rock in heaven forever

By meanjean