RIP Ronnie James Dio

[Lobowolf]

One of classic metal's all-time great singers, Ronnie James Dio of Rainbow, Black Sabbath, and solo fame, has died at 67. Still rocking 'til the end (great shows with the guys from Sabbath (minus Bill Ward) billed as "Heaven and Hell" as recently as '09, and I saw him live in '04, in his early 60s). A professional musician from his early-mid teens; the guy predated the Beatles. Epic singer, songwriter, and live performer. Also the originator of the "devil's horns" international symbol for metal. Iconic.

[Lobowolf]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmagQ2KmArQ

 

Dio in his 60's.

[luke warm]

i could be wrong, but didn't ozzie's now-wife (who iirc was the daughter of some music exec) have a hand in firing oz and hiring jd?

[G_R__E_G]

i could be wrong, but didn't ozzie's now-wife (who iirc was the daughter of some music exec) have a hand in firing oz and hiring jd?

It was Sharon's Dad (Don Arden) that was managing Black Sabbath at the time of Ozzy's firing. It was immediately after Ozzy's departure that Sharon began dating Ozzy and then managing him. Her father was not impressed to the point that claims have been made that he had a contract put out on her.

 

During Ozzy's first solo tour he actually had a dwarf that came out on stage that they called Ronnie and they performed a mock hanging of Ronnie at one point in the show. IIRC, Ronnie James Dio was only 5'4".

[Hanoi5]

I didn't like Black Sabbath with Dio that much, and I read somewhere that the guy didn't remember the lyrics and had to come upstage with papers to read them from. Great invention that of the 'devil's horns': \m/.