TUESDAY 27TH MAY
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Born in New Hampshire, USA, Ronnie first achieved recognition singing with his own band Elf. Deep Purple's Roger Glover and Ian Paice spotted him in 1972, and Elf then supported the British band on several US tours. Ronnie later sang on Roger's famed solo project "The Butterfly Ball" in 1974 and then joined Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow. With his pioneering classical metal work in Rainbow, as well as his vocal pyrotechnics on two Black Sabbath monoliths (Heaven and Hell and Mob Rules), Ronnie used word and rhythm to seduce his way into the center ring during metal's thriving heyday.
His first solo offering, Holy Diver, was a brilliant display of melody and might that married Ronnie's immense vocal, lyrical and compositional acumen with the talents of a band chosen with almost Machiavellian insight.
By the release of record #2, The Last in Line, Dio was firing on all cylinders, packing stadiums with a visual and aural symphony. Next up for Ronnie was his reunion with Black Sabbath for 1992's Dehumanizer. The remainder of the 90's saw Dio releasing Strange Highways (1994), Angry Machines (1996), and a live offering in Inferno/Last in Live (1998).
The year 2000, the Dio clan released a concept album, Magica, hailed as the band's "comeback" album and received glowing reviews. Following a hugely successful tour of Europe, USA and Japan, Ronnie found himself teaming up with his old mates from Deep Purple to perform songs from the "Butterfly Ball" and his new - masterpiece, in conjunction with a 79 piece orchestra…an unforgettable experience!
2002's Killing the Dragon, was a classic Dio masterpiece and a tour with Deep Purple and the Scorpions followed. After Aldrich's defection to Whitesnake, Goldy returned once again and set to working on a whirlwind year of touring with Iron Maiden & Motorhead, followed by the writing and recording of the Dio gem, Master of the Moon, and another world tour in 2004.
So there you have it, three decades of Dio domination, much of it a commercial smash, all of it thoughtful and painstakingly creative.
Dio is indeed a vital artist, still making records with new collaborators and new sounds. The Dio canon is now regarded as above and beyond trend, one of the few hallowed metal collections composing the very definition of "classic rock". May the man preach, pontificate and power-chord for many years to come.
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