Ronnie James Dio
10. Juli 1942 – 16. Mai 2010

Es war ein schwarzer Sonntag! Am 16. Mai 2010 hat uns eine der herausragendsten, eine der prägnantesten und einflussreichsten, eine der talentiertesten und sympathischsten Persönlichkeiten der Hard Rock und Metal Geschichte verlassen:
Ronnie James Dio, Leadsänger von Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, DIO und Heaven And Hell, verstarb am Sonntag im Alter von 67 Jahren.
Die Nachricht von Ronnies Frau war kurz und voll von Schmerz:

"Today my heart is broken, Ronnie passed away at 7:45am 16th May. 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."
- Wendy Dio

Über das Schaffen von Dio zu philosophieren, würde alle Grenzen sprengen. Wir alle kennen und lieben die unzähligen, von ihm eingesungenen Klassiker. Deshalb wollen wir uns an dieser Stelle vor Ronnie James Dio verbeugen, ihm für sein Schaffen und seine positive Energie danken und ein Sammelsurium von Statements aus dem Musikbusiness präsentieren. Ein nachdrücklicher Beweis für die Ausnahmestellung, die musikalische wie persönliche Größe von Ronnie James Dio. Dem Mann, der die berühmten Devilhorns, die Erkennungsgeste der Metal-Szene, weltberühmt gemacht hat.

Thanx Ronnie!



Tony Iommi:
"Yesterday 16th May my dear, dear friend Ronnie James Dio passed away at 7.45am L.A. time. I've been in total shock; I just can't believe he's gone.
Ronnie was one of the nicest people you could ever meet. We had some fantastic times together. Ronnie loved what he did, making music and performing on stage. He loved his fans so much. He was a kind man and would put himself out to help others.
I can honestly say it's truly been an honor to play at his side for all these years.

His music will live on forever.

Our thoughts are with Wendy Dio Ronnie's wife/manager who stood by Ronnie until the end. He loved her very much. The man with the magic voice is a star amongst stars, a true professional.
I'll miss you so much, my dear friend."

Queensryche:
"Ronnie James Dio was undoubtedly one of heavy metal's greatest performers and will continue to influence the world of heavy metal forever. He was certainly a very big influence on Queensryche and along the way became a cherished friend too. We will all miss him greatly, but Ronnie will live on every time we raise our metal horns high! The man on the silver mountain will always be our rainbow in the dark."

Iron Maiden:
"It is with huge sadness we hear that Ronnie has lost his battle against stomach cancer, and our heartfelt condolences go out to his wife Wendy and family at this terrible time.
From his earlier years in Elf, Black Sabbath and DIO, right through to his most recent days fronting Heaven And Hell, Ronnie, time and again, proved his genius as a frontman, always giving his all to his fans and his music.
Ronnie was not only an incredibly gifted singer but also a wonderfully warm, intelligent and generous person and this shone through both on and off stage leaving a positive mark on everyone he came into contact with. A longstanding friend of MAIDEN, we played many shows together over the years and we will all miss him greatly.

The world has lost an irreplaceable talent and, first and foremost, one of the finest human beings you could ever wish to meet."

QUEEN-Gitarrist Brian May:
"It's a shock to hear that Ronnie has gone. Even though we had all known he was battling with cancer for some time, he was such a wiry fighter, and of such an amazingly optimistic nature, I think I assumed he would go on forever.
Well, he fought to the very end... was gearing up to go back out on tour.
I know this will be a very hard blow for my friend Tony Iommi.
When I last saw Ronnie in Los Angeles, he was as full of life and positivity as anybody I've ever known ... and sang up a storm with Heaven And Hell in the Universal Amphitheatre.
In my opinion, Ronnie was one of the creators of the genre of heavy metal. I'm not an expert on his work — there are many people much more knowledgeable than me... but our paths crossed many times over the years, and I had clear glimpses of his unique spirit and personality. He was in many ways the antithesis of the current mould of TV-bred singers. He had no apparent desire for fame, in the sense that so many 'X-Factor' contestants seem to. He was not a TV face, a 'celebrity.' He just loved doing what he did. So, to his millions of fans, there was an unquestionable feeling of reality to his persona, his songwriting, and his performances. His lyric-writing was very distinctive, and set a style in heavy metal which has influenced many bands over the years. To me, it was as if his mind operated in layers — on the surface, a hard-working honest singer, with a great humanity and strong sense of humour — and underneath, in the world of his songs, his subconscious seemed to be populated by hobgoblins of all kinds, and palpable evil forever on the march. His lyrics, dark and mysterious, in tune with the metal ethos, always represented the sword of goodness in triumph over evil.
I don't know if he invented the devil-horn salute, but he was certainly the man who, more than ever, made it a universal symbol, a worldwide salute of metal.

He was universally loved in the community of rock music, and will be sorely missed."

Rainbow - "Long Live Rock N Roll"



Lars Ulrich, Metallica:

"Dear Ronnie,
I just got off stage in Zagreb. I was met with the news that you've passed on. I'm kind of in shock, but I wanted you to know that you were one of the main reasons I made it onto that stage to begin with.
When I first saw you in Elf, opening for Deep Purple in 1975, I was completely blown away by the power in your voice, your presence on stage, your confidence, and the ease with which you seemed to connect to 6,000 Danish people and one starry-eyed 11-year-old, most of whom were not familiar with Elf's music. The following year, I was so psyched when I heard the results of you joining forces with my favorite guitar player. You guys sounded so right for each other and I instantly became Rainbow’s number1 fan in Denmark.
In the fall of 1976, when you played your first show in Copenhagen, I was literally in the front row and the couple of times we made eye contact you made me feel like the most important person in the world. The news that you guys were staying in town on your day off somehow embedded itself in my brain and I made the pilgrimage to the Plaza Hotel to see if I could somehow grab a picture, an autograph, a moment, anything. A few hours later you came out and were so kind and caring... pictures, autographs and a couple minutes of casual banter. I was on top of the world, inspired and ready for anything. Rainbow came to Copenhagen a couple more times over the next few years and each time you guys blew my mind, and for a good three years were my absolute favorite band on this planet.
Over the years I've been fortunate enough to run into you a half dozen times or so and each time you were as kind, caring and gracious as you were in 1976 outside the hotel.
When we finally got a chance to play together in Austria in 2007, even though I may not have let on, I was literally transformed back to that little snot-nosed kid who you met and inspired 31 years earlier and it was such a fucking honor and a dream come true to share a stage with you and the rest of the legends in Heaven And Hell.
A couple of weeks ago when I heard that you were not going to be able to make it to the Sonisphere shows that we would be sharing this June, I wanted to call you and let you know that I was thinking of you and wish you well, but I kind of pussied out, thinking the last thing you needed in your recovery was feeling obligated to take a phone call from a Danish drummer/fan boy. I wish I'd made that call.
We will miss you immensely on the dates, and we will be thinking of you with great admiration and affection during that run. It seemed so right to have you out on tour with the so-called 'Big Four' since you obviously were one of the main reasons that the four bands even exist.
Your ears will definitely be burning during those two weeks because all of us will be talking, reminiscing and sharing stories about how knowing you has made our lives that much better.

Ronnie, your voice impacted and empowered me, your music inspired and influenced me, and your kindness touched and moved me. Thank you.

Much love."

Kerry King, Slayer :
"Few people have had the ability to carry a song like Dio, literally demanding your attention as he effortlessly recreated live the amazing things he did on record. It's odd how things get taken from you quickly...I just saw him a month ago. I know I was lucky to have known Ronnie. One of the nicest guys in the business, without a doubt. He will be hugely missed."

Ozzy Osbourne:
"I was very saddened to hear of the passing of Ronnie James Dio. Metal has truly lost one of its greatest voices. My heart goes out to his family and to his many fans.

Love and respect."

DIO - "Holy Diver"



King Diamond:
"It's with a heavy heart that I pay my respects to Ronnie James Dio. What an amazing singer and entertainer.
Throughout my career, he has always been in my top 10 list of vocalists. The mystery and emotion in his vocal style always lured me in for more. Unfortunately, I never had the pleasure to meet him in person, but, fortunately, I did have the extreme pleasure of experiencing his uncanny frontmanship in concert so many times I can't even count it. I saw him with Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, and almost had one of my wishes fulfilled when Heaven and Hell asked King Diamond to go on tour with them in the USA last year. Unfortunately, my back problems prevented that dream from coming true.
I always had the highest respect for him and he will forever have his music playing in my home. My deepest sympathy goes out to Ronnie's family. I wish you a safe journey to the other side."

Judas Priest:
"We are filled with great sadness at the terrible news about our friend Ronnie James Dio. Our condolences and love go to Wendy Dio, Ronnie's wife/manager and Ronnie's family.
Ronnie was a wonderful man and will be sorely missed."

Black Sabbath - "Neon Nights"


Slash:
"Ronnie died at 7:45 a.m. this morning, but his music will live for eternity."

Duff McKagan, Velvet Revolver, Guns N’Roses:
"My part in this 'summer music playlist' it is going to be a touch bittersweet as it turns out.
Last weekend, Ronnie James Dio succumbed to his battle with stomach cancer. From what I understand, Ronnie fought like a warrior to the end.
I was supposed to pick a new-ish song for this list, but when it comes to rocking out in the summertime, sometimes you just got to go a little bit old-damn-school.
'Last In Line' is an ass-kicker right up there with anything, punk, rock, and/or metal, and us rockers owe a bit of reverence to this great man.

R.I.P., RJD!"

Steve Vai:
"Dio was a shining light of rock/metal authenticity. He was a completely dedicated artist with massive talent. It's likely that his vital contributions will continue to inspire well into the future. He is now legend. But more than all this, Ronnie was a really cool guy. I mean reeeally cool.
"God bless you, brutha."

Gus G., Ozzy Osbourne:
"On the night of May 16th, I was shocked to read the news. Ronnie James Dio, a true rock giant, is no longer with us.
My condolences go out to his family and close ones and my thoughts are with you.
His music with DIO, Black Sabbath and Rainbow has had a huge impact on me and FIREWIND's sound. One of the bands I used to play in also got its name from one of his songs — that was Dream Evil. While I never had the chance to meet him, Fireweind played a festival with Heaven And Hell in 2009 and I got to see him perform. No doubt, it was one of the best shows I've ever seen and I was amazed by his energy and how spot-on all his notes were.
His music will continue to inspire and his legacy will live on forever.

Thank you for your magic, Ronnie James Dio."



Matt Heavy, Trivium:
"Trivium had the privilege of meeting Dio while touring with Heaven And Hell in Japan in 2007. We were just happy to be on the shows and didn’t expect to spend any time with any of the guys.
Every single night of that tour Heaven And Hell blew our minds; we were fans in awe of how good they were. They had it all and to watch a group of musicians that deep into their careers so absolutely on top of their game like that was inspiring.
One night after a show in Nagoya, I was able to pop in real quick to say 'hey' to Dio in his dressing room. I've been able to meet many heroes of mine in my life, but few have made impression on me like Ronnie James. He greeted me not as a support bandmember, but he welcomed me as a fellow musician and performer. He gave me a hug, invited a couple of us into his room where we all sat and talked and drank wine together. I remember our conversation crystal clear to this day. I told him how I met Bruce Dickinson on his BBC radio show and was asking Bruce about vocals and vocal techniques, and I shared with Dio that Bruce felt that I had started to develop my own vocal style and with work someday would further develop a stylistic similarity to Dio. Dio smiled and chatted about how he knew that Bruce was a fan of his voice, and from there we were able to just relax and talk shop about vocals and singing.
Although it was a quick visit, Ronnie made me feel at home and was a really sweet dude. He gave us props, we finished our wine, we hugged and said, 'See ya tomorrow.'
It was amazing that I received vocal coaching from quite possibly the greatest metal voice of all time.
I am truly grateful for the time he gave me and his personal insight into our shared craft. For that I will always be thankful."

Henry Rollins:
"Backstage at the venue in Brandon, South Dakota during Rollins' spoken-word tour. Listening to RAINBOW, tonight's walk-in CD is burning away in my laptop. All Dio all night. Ronnie James Dio, the great vocalist of Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, DIO and Heaven And Hell passed away Sunday morning. What a loss. I have been getting mail all afternoon about it. On Saturday, there was an Internet rumor of his passing and it was great to hear that it wasn't true. I came back from the gym a few hours ago and Angel, our merch man, told me that it was indeed true.
What a voice, what a loss. Dio's passing made me think of my old bandmates in Black Flag as we used to listen to those records quite a bit. Damn, at least he left some amazing records behind.
The metal world is stunned, I am sure. Ronnie James Dio, one of the greatest singers ever."

DIO - "All The Fools Sailed Away"



Joey Belladonna:
"Ronnie was a big inspiration, influence and dear friend of mine. He was a true gentleman and kind hearted individual. He always would go out of his way to make you feel welcome and important. Without a doubt he was one of the best, top notch and a class act. I will truly miss him."

Lizzy Borden:
"So sorry to hear about Ronnie James Dio...
We played some festivals with Dio over the years and at everyone my band and I would always be in the audience after our show watching the master at work, and he was always perfect...
One of my great memories of Ronnie was the first night we ever got played on the radio; it was at a Dio show. He was playing two shows in one night and we were out in the parking lot waiting for the second show to start along with a few thousand others, and then bam! Our song came blasting on the radio out of every car in the lot. It was a night I will never forget and the Dio show that followed was magical!!!
I've seen Ronnie perform many times and am grateful that I had the opportunity to be on the side of the stage at the last Heaven And Hell show in California. Ronnie's voice was so loud, so powerful and pitch-perfect, it was truly an amazing thing to witness.
We recorded our version of Rainbow’s 'Long Live Rock And Roll' way back on our first EP and we still close our show with it most nights…
There will never be another like him; Ronnie was a master of his trade, a true original and every time I flash those horns, (which is a lot) I will be thinking of the man on the silver mountain, Ronnie James Dio."

Joey Vera, Armored Saint:
"Ronnie James Dio. His name shall be part of the very definition of the term heavy metal. All of us in this community owe a big part to him as he helped shape our entire genre. And he did it with complete originality and sincerity. He is the real deal.
By now you've read much about him and how every person who'd had the pleasure of meeting the man use the words 'kind,' 'nice,' 'humble' and so on. I can tell you that these descriptions are truly accurate.
I had the honor of being on tour with Dio on two occasions. Once on his 'Magica' tour in 2001 while I was in Armored Saint and then later in 2004 while I was touring with Anthrax. I would watch Ronnie every night side stage and I was continuously blown away by his high level of performance. I must have seen over 40 shows from this vantage point and I never, ever saw or heard a single flaw. You always knew he was a great singer but It was then that I was convinced that he was a gift to us from some other place. Then there's all the times I saw him with Sabbath. I can't even go on...
When you have the privilege of meeting someone like Ronnie — an idol, a legend — you almost expect a person like this to be overly confident, cocky, and they deserve to be, really. But Ronnie was the complete opposite. He really was the most humble, sincere and kind person you'd ever meet. He would always find time to stop in his tracks and say a few words to you. He was so down to earth and generous.
Through his humility he's taught us all that a man is not measured by the size of his wallet, or trophy collection, but instead by the size of his heart. I myself am glad that he chose the profession of singing because even though his body has been taken from us, his voice will stay here for all eternity.
We're all trying really hard here, but Ronnie, we can't thank you enough."

Germany's SPV/Steamhammer Records:
"It is with deepest sadness that we mourn the loss of a true legend, an amazing man, and one of the best rock/metal voices ever. The entire staff at SPV offers our deepest condolences to Ronnie James Dio's friends and family. He was truly one the best artists we ever had the pleasure of working with, and the memories that we have of him and his music will live on in our hearts forever."

Joe Di Taranto of Warmachine:
"I am devasted to learn that Ronnie James Dio has passed. The world has lost a true legend and pioneer.
I feel truly blessed to have met him years ago backstage at his show in Toronto. Before I could even introduce myself, Ronnie already knew my name and, to my surprise, was even familar with my music and Warmachine. I could not believe it. Ronnie James Dio, the legend, my idol and one of my biggest childhood inspirations, knew who I was. I cannot express the joy I felt just to be standing in his presence.
Ronnie and I talked for almost an hour. He shared his words of wisdom, and told me to hold on to my dreams. I'll never forget it. I will always be greatful to Ronnie for his time, his hugs and, of course, his amazing music.
You will be sorely missed, Ronnie...
Long live the King of Rock N Roll!"

Gary Holt, Exodus:
"What more can be said about Ronnie that hasn't been said by so many others. He was the kindest, most humble metal god I've ever had the pleasure and honor of touring with.
I first met him at Foundations Forum about two to three weeks before our tour with them during Black Sabbath’s 'Dehumanizer' tour, for about ten minutes while he waited outside for his cab. I introduced myself, said it was an all time honor to meet and tour with him and said see you soon. Fast forward to the first day of the tour, and he sees me and says, 'How are you doing, Gary?' I would not have been offended if he never knew my name the whole tour, but he remembered it from a ten-minute chat around three weeks earlier.
We had many golden moments hanging out with him, while he allowed me to relentlessly badger him for stories about Ritchie Blackmore and the time spent singing for my favorite band, Rainbow.
R.I.P. Your impact on me won't ever be forgotten."

Nikki Sixx, Mötley Crüe:
"Ronnie was one of the kindest souls I have ever met and his talent was beyond inspirational to so many of us. I still have this image of him standing on stage in front of 100,000 belting out 'Man on the Silver Mountain' and remember the shivers it sent up my spine. He will be missed by all of us.

DankoJones:
"I just heard that Ronnie James Dio died today. This news is very sad. He was the greatest rock singer of all time. I've said it on record many many times. He will be greatly missed by all of rockdom.
In 2004, I got to meet Dio and he was so gracious and down to earth, then he got up on stage and schooled everyone. We all have the records — 'Heaven And Hell', 'Mob Rules', 'Holy Diver', 'Last In Line', 'Dream Evil', 'Rainbow Rising', 'Long Live Rock’N'Roll'. I can't listen to them today because it's too hard, but tomorrow I will crank these up.
R.I.P. Ronnie James Dio."

DIO - "Rainbow In The Dark"



Billy Corgan, Smashing Pumpkins:
"R.I.P. Ronnie James Dio. I only got to meet him once and I can honestly say he was the nicest person I have ever met in music.
Ronnie was a true gentleman, and obviously one of the best rock singers there will ever be. What a sad loss today."

Wolf:
“We are very sad this day. We have lost THE greatest, most powerful and biggest voice in hard rock and metal. For Wolf, Ronnie James Dio, was/is a great inspiration and we will always keep his voice alive listening to his music. We all met him on several occations and he was always very nice and took the time to chat about music and the world.
You will be sadly missed. May your music live on and on forever."

Stu Block, Into Eternity:
"I'm still taking in the fact that we have lost yet ANOTHER timeless metal musician. R.I.P., Ronnie James Dio. A life that was lived to the fullest and also influenced thousands and thousands of musicians. My heart goes out to his family and friends.
Cancer is a battle for many people these days; the world is losing many talented, loving and wonderful people. Do what you can to prevent and/or help find a cure.
Stay healthy, my friends!"

Robb Flynn, Machine Head:
"Dio was a true gentleman. Machine Head had the opportunity to open for Heaven And Hell in May of 2007, and having never met or toured with Ronnie James Dio, it was a HUGE honor for all of us.
On the first night of the tour in Phoenix, Arizona we celebrated, uh, quite heavily, and though the Dio dressing was heavily fortified with an army of security, I somehow managed to bullshit my way in and say hello. He had no idea who I was, but acted like we were old friends. After that, he always made a point to poke his head in our dressing room and say 'hi,' or give Dave (McClain, drummer) shit about 'his San Antonio Spurs choking,' or sometimes just to give us a 100-dollar bottle of wine they were going leave in their dressing room. All class.

He was a powerhouse singer. Incredible tone, and grit. His voice onstage was FUCKING LOUD!! Shockingly loud!! We were lucky enough to watch from side stage almost nightly, and all of us were blown away by how loud his voice was. His memory was staggering. He remembered my wife's name almost a year later, after only a brief one-minute introduction, and it charmed her to no end. He remembered my name a year after touring with him, in a crowd of people, without missing a beat, and asked how my kids were and kissed me on both cheeks when we said goodbye. I turned to my friend and was like, 'Dude, Dio just remembered my name and kissed me on the cheek, fuckin' High 5!!'
When my parents moved to Fremont, California as I began the seventh grade, it was a pretty lonely time for me. I became friends with a girl named Lori Kibby who played me the first heavy metal record I would ever hear. It was Black Sabbath’s 'Heaven and Hell'. It terrified me, enthralled me, captured me entirely. The imagery, the name, the title, it made me want to listen over and over and over again, in particular the songs 'Heaven and Hell', 'Children Of The Sea' and 'Die Young'. My first garage band, (the awesomely-named Inquisitor) covered 'Stand Up And Shout'.
Would I have found metal without him? Maybe. But man, I feel so very fortunate to have had Ronnie James Dio as my first guide into the awesome world of metal.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for everything you've done for music, Ronnie.

Horns."

DIO - "Don’t Talk To Strangers (live)"


Dave Ellefson, Megadeth:
"Just arrived home from our tour of South America. Of course our bright beam from the tour's glow was dimmed today when we learned of the passing of Ronnie James Dio. He was truly one of the 'good guys' in this business and a consummate pro, someone we can all take a que and learn from. We are all fans of his and he did many great things for Megadeth and its members, starting starting as far back as his 'Dream Evil' North American tour in which we were the support band during the 'So Far, So Good...So What' tour... I'm very thankful to have gotten to know and tour with him in both Megadeth and with Tim 'Ripper' Owens. Wendy Dio Ronnie's wife/manager looked after Ripper's European tour where we played several shows with Heaven And Hell and we got to have many good moments with Ronnie during that tour. He is missed by us all.
Our prayers go out to him and his family at this time."

Ritchie Blackmore:
"Ronnie had a unique and wonderful voice. He will be sadly missed in the rock and roll world."

Kiss:
"We mourn the tragic passing of the great Ronnie James Dio. In addition to his powerhouse vocal ability, Ronnie was a true gentleman who always emanated great warmth and friendship to us and everyone around him. We will miss him."

Danny Vaughn, Tyketto:
"It's difficult when bad news comes to you from the online news headlines. It's impersonal and it often makes it more difficult to grasp the reality of what has happened. So I'm still shaking my head in denial that Ronnie James Dio is gone. Aside from listening to, and covering, his music for many years, I met Ronnie a couple of times over the years and I'll tell you what everyone else that has ever met him will tell you: He was one of the nicest people you would ever want to meet. Friendly, engaging, intelligent, gracious, I felt like we had been good friends after five minutes of conversation.
The first time we met we talked about album artwork and the meanings behind some of his. I had only really been in the big world of touring rock bands for a couple of years at that point and was anxious to learn anything I could from someone like him. Let's face it, nobody had a voice like that. It seemed impossible that a sound so huge and powerful could come out of such a slender frame. So I asked him for any advice about keeping his voice fit. Vocal exercises? Eating and exercise regimens? Prayer?? Lol! He gave me a very gentle smile and looked almost embarrassed when he answered me and said, 'I gotta be honest with you, I don't know. I just walk out on stage and the voice is there.' And that has turned out to be a statement that I never forgot and have used again and again as I've walked out on stage.
I saw Dio live not too long ago and he was still belting it out, all the songs I know and love so well, in the original keys. I was as stunned then as I was when I saw the 'Holy Diver' and 'Last In Line' tours.
I don't know why, but it really hurts that he's gone.
My thoughts go out to Wendy Dio, whom I have not had the pleasure of meeting. I know she will take some comfort in the fact that Ronnie was one of the best-loved people in music."

DIO - "Rock N Roll Children"


Ronnie Munroe:
"The reason I stepped out from behind the kit was Ronnie James Dio's voice. There will never be another one like it; from soothingly melodic to downright gritty, he was and still is the inspiration for myself and millions of other singers around the world.
"He may be gone but his legacy remains, and what a stellar one it is...

R.I.P, Ronnie, and thank you!"

Mike Portnoy, Dream Theater:
"Rest in peace, Ronnie James Dio... one of the greatest of all time.
Looks like Dime 'Dimebag' Darrell, Randy Rhoades, Cliff Burton and John Bonham just scored the ultimate singer.
This is one of the saddest days in metal ever."

Scott Ian, Anthrax:
"Rest in peace, Ronnie James Dio. Horns at half mast. Such a huge loss...
So many memories of Ronnie. Toured together many times. He always had a kind word and a smile and he LOVED the Yankees.
In 2004 on the Dio/Anthrax tour I would get the Yankee score every inning for Ronnie while he was on stage. He was so into it.
Saw Black Sabbath on the 'Black & Blue' tour at Madison Square Garden in New York City in 1980. First row center.
Ronnie was king of the world. Top 3 shows of all time."

David Coverdale:
"I was so very sad to hear of Ronnie's passing... My thoughts, prayers and condolence to his family and friends."

White Wizzard:
"Ronnie James Dio will always be. Ronnie can never die. From the depths of the soul came a voice the earth will only know once, but the universe will know forever. His words were of magic and the fantastic while always laced with a sense of hope and positivity.
In a world of so many difficult realities, Ronnie helped us all escape into his world... one filled with magic and a surreal sense of never losing the child within. He is forever an example of the free spirit of life and imagination. His soul is now forever stardust... the magic in his heart lives on because he believed in the energy and light he channeled, and there is something infinite in the knowing that his music will live forever.
This life is an adventure... and Ronnie James Dio lived it to the fullest with a passion for his craft and with a drive to deliver the best performances and experiences to his fans worldwide. Even in his last performances with Heaven And Hell, he was always on fire with that big aura of light that surrounded him.
The earth lost a very important soul today... but his energy is all around us now and universal. Death can never take that away."

DIO - "We Rock (live)"


Lion’s Share:
"Our hearts are broken; our mentor and friend Ronnie James Dio has left us. This is a very sad day in our lives. When LION'S SHARE did the Monsters Of The Millennium tour in 1999, Ronnie was very supportive and helped us a lot. We will dedicate our upcoming shows to Ronnie by playing one or two of his songs. Our thoughts go to his family in this difficult time.
Ronnie, you are our favorite singer of all time. We love you!"

Janne Jarvis, Warrior Soul:
"Today the world has lost the greatest vocalist in the history of hard rock. He was also the nicest and warmest human being I have met in the music business.
I had the good fortune to meet Ronnie on many different occasions throughout the years. He was always interested in what others had to say. He always listened. He never forgot a face and he would always have some wise words to impart. You always left his presence a little more enriched. He was always encouraging and he has been a tremendous inspiration in my life.
I'm just one of the millions whose hearts and lives he touched. To call him a metal vocalist is short-sighted. He was much, much more than that. He will never be replaced and we will never see or hear the likes of him again.

Hail to the King."

The Quireboys:
"We were fortunate to have played on various festival bills with Ronnie and his band... a really nice guy and one of the greatest rock voices. He will be sadly missed, but his voice shall live on.

Long live rock and roll."

Sebastian Bach:
"Crying right now in remembrance of my hero and friend, Ronnie James Dio. Dio died this morning and he was a major, major part of my life. I got to do shows with him and work with him and I loved Dio my whole life. Thanks so much.
The world has lost one of the best.
Your last album was your best. Of course."

Al Atkins (original Judas Priest singer):
”Ye, the incredible has happened. The world today lost one of the greatest vocalists on the planet. Al and the band would like to pass on their condolences to Wendy Dio, Ronnie's wife/manager and the rest of the Dio clan. Ronnie's music will live on forever.
Rest in peace, Ronnie. God bless."

Nicolas van Dyk and Redemption:
"I lost a musical hero today, and the news has hit me harder than I thought it would.
Ronnie James Dio was one of the first concerts I saw, and 'Holy Diver' one of the first records I bought once I started liking this thing called 'heavy metal.' Over the years, I have seen him perform more than anyone else (with the exception of my friends in Dream Theater, given our tour together!) and the past several times I've seen him with Black Sabbath have been truly phenomenal.
I was hoping that Ronnie would be able to perform a guest vocal on a future Redemption CD, and the vocal line I had in mind for him was an expression of triumph over cancer. Obviously, this takes on a horrible irony now. And given my own diagnosis, obviously I'm particularly attuned to what Ronnie endured.
My thoughts and prayers go out to Ronnie's family and friends. The world of heavy metal has lost its voice.
Rest in peace, Ronnie."

Glenn Hughes:
"It is a very sad day today... I have lost a very dear friend. Ronnie was a true leader of heavy metal... an icon and a visionary... There will never be another like him.
Ronnie gave me wisdom, and showed me great compassion when he was in Elf, all those years ago, when we were on tour together in my time in Deep Purple. He was a beautiful soul, kind, considerate and a wonderful teacher.
Some day I'll be bringing your microphone up there with me, and we'll sing a song, and share a Vindaloo together...

I'll miss, you mate."

Heaven And Hell - "The Sign Of The Southern Cross"


Twisted Sister:
"The members of Twisted Sister, along with millions of metal fans around the world, mourn the death of our friend Ronnie James Dio. Ronnie not only was a giant in the worldwide metal scene, but he was also one of the nicest people you would ever want to meet. Beginning in 1983 when we first toured with Ronnie in Canada, and continuing over the last seven years when we played dozens of festivals around the world, Ronnie was one of the most supportive and gracious members of the music community.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Wendy and Ronnie's family."

Mats Levén:
"The first concert I ever went to was Deep Purple, playing in Gothenburg on the 'Stormbringer' tour (March 21, 1975). Ritchie Blackmore had already recorded the first rainbow album and this was his last tour with the Mark 3 lineup of Purple. I bought the first Rainbow album and when I heard Ronnie's voice I soon forgot about Deep Purple.
The second album, 'Rising', is one of the important albums of my life and the song 'Stargazer' in particular. Already then I felt the power and the passion coming out from his heart and lungs... this was something new and exciting to me. Like many others, I was disappointed when Ronnie left Rainbow, but instead I enjoyed the new material with Black Sabbath and I still rate some of that stuff the best metal songs of all time.
I'd never seen Ronnie live but in 1983 he did his first DIO show in Sweden at Draken in Stockholm and I finally got to see him. I remember there was a fight in the front row and Ronnie stopped the band in the middle of a song and sorted it all out.
Southpaw supported DIO in Sweden in 1998 and I got to meet him, he was incredibly nice and a true gentleman — I treasure that memory. I was sneaking behind the monitor desk at one of his soundchecks and it was cool to hear his incredible voice from the monitors... no, it was like a PA on stage ha ha.. it was very, very loud.
After that I've seen him 3-4 times again with DIO. One memorable show was in Sao Paulo, Brazil in 2004 before 6000 fans; they loved him. Also saw three shows with Heaven And Hell. The first one at Sweden Rock in 2007 was without a doubt the best and also one of the few times that I had tears in my eyes at a concert. The impact of 'I' and 'Sign Of The Southern Cross' was incredible.
When I recorded with Cozy Powell in 1997, he told me some great stories and I was hoping that one day Ronnie, Cozy and Ritchie might reform the classic RAINBOW lineup. That day in April 1998 when Cozy died was a sad one and now, those last 24 hours have been heartbreaking.

Our hero is gone but his voice and music will live forever.
My sincerest condolences to Ronnie's close ones."

Mikael Åkerfeldt and Opeth:
"I saw the news last night and I hated them. Ronnie James Dio is gone.
I love him almost like a family member, and I feel empty and lonely knowing he's not around anymore. He sits on my wall as he has since my family moved in here. Can't bring myself to hear him sing right now, even though I think it might be comforting if I did.
I was fortunate enough to meet him and share a few drinks with him once, and it's a memory I will treasure to the end of my days. He blew my mind, quite honestly. Thank you, Ronnie James Dio, for everything!
Our collective condolences goes out to his families and friends and the musicians that were fortunate enough to work with him.
I was thinking about this for quite some time, and I think we can say for sure that even if he was taken from us too soon (100 years from now would've been to soon), I'm sure he felt happy with his life and what he had achieved. But it hurts, though, it really fucking hurts... I can't stop thinking about it.
There is a massive hole in my heart.
Love you, Ronnie. Rest in peace.

Your fan, Mikael Åkerfeldt"

Arch Enemy:
"Today is an immensely sad day for the heavy metal/hard rock community as we mourn the loss of one of the most amazing talents in the genre. Ever. A master of his craft and a true gentleman. Funny, smart and witty. He will be much missed by the Arch Enemy camp.

Dio's voice will echo in eternity!"

John Tardy and Obituary:
"Obituary would just like to say what a huge influence Dio was to this band and to the face of metal! He was one of the good guys in music and will be greatly missed!
We had the opportunity, only once, to actually talk with Dio. He came up to us and I was amazed that he even knew who Obituary were! In that one, short conversation, it was clear what a kind person he was.

We no longer have Dio here with us, but we will have his music forever in our souls!"



Tim "Ripper" Owens:
"A sad day, just a very sad day!!!
We have lost a great human being and the best singer of rock in the world.Ronnie was my hero and my friend, I will miss him and his kind words. He taught me so much on stage and off stage.
I also would like so say that my heart is heavy for Wendy Dio Ronnie's wife/manager, and we should all keep her in our thoughts and prayers. I do not think of Wendy without Ronnie and I don't think of Ronnie without Wendy.
We all love you, Wendy... and we all will miss you, Ronnie, and we love you for everything you have given us!"

Al Ravage and Ravage:
"The metal world will never be the same. Ronnie James Dio has died.
I remember first hearing DIO's 'Don't Talk To Strangers' on a metal compilation tape in the early '90s. I was just getting into metal and I thought it was an OK song, and that DIO was a band worth looking into, but when my brother brought home the cassette tape of 'Holy Diver' a few weeks later, I became a DIO addict. After that, I quickly bought the whole DIO back catalogue and I don't think there was any album I looked forward to more than a new DIO release — or a new recording featuring Dio — as his work was so consistently great. The Dio eras of SABBATH and RAINBOW were instrumental in helping me get into and appreciate those bands.
My first real metal concert was seeing DIO on the 'Angry Machines' tour at the Strand Theatre in Providence, Rhode Island in 1997 — a great show... and I had the privilage of seeing him a few more times over the years.
I will be forever bummed that I won't get to hear 'Magica Part II' or a second Heaven And Hell album.
That's two great metal singers lost in a very short period — as Tony Taylor from Twisted Tower Dire also died recently. This, in a word, sucks.
Ravage in peace, Ronnie. Your metal will live on forever like a Rainbow in the Dark."

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"For the loving memory of Ronnie James Dio!"