Ronnie James Dio gone........

[Glen]

From todays news. Sad day I reckon. He seemed to be one of the nice blokes.

RONNIE James Dio, solo artist and former vocalist for Black Sabbath, died yesterday following a battle with stomach cancer at the age of 67.
In a statement on Dio’s official website, his wife Wendy Dio wrote that her heart was broken.

“Today my heart is broken," she wrote.

"Ronnie passed away at 7:45am [on Sunday] 16th May. Many, many friends and family were able to say their private goodbyes before he peacefully passed away.”

“Ronnie knew how much he was loved by all," the statement continued.

"We so appreciate the love and support that you all have 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 began his career in rockabilly and doo-wop bands before performing with the hard rock bands Elf and Rainbow.

In 1979, after leaving Rainbow, Dio replaced original vocalist Ozzy Osbourne in the pioneering U.K. heavy metal band Black Sabbath.

Dio formed his eponymous solo project in 1982, scoring a big hit and popular MTV video with Rainbow in the Dark.
Dio returned to Black Sabbath temporarily in 1992 to record the album Dehumanizer.

In 2006, Dio and his former Sabbath bandmates recorded an album and toured under the moniker Heaven and Hell, also the title of Black Sabbath’s first album with Dio.

Wendy Dio announced Dio’s stomach cancer diagnosis in November 2009.

[Gav]

Heaven and Hell was one of the best albums written..Gone is a true vocalist and showman..R.I.P..

[photomike666]

Ronnie was a small bloke with a huge stage presence, an awesome artist and a top bloke to boot. I feel privaliged to have met and photographed this legend. R.I.P.

[Smitty]

wonder if Ozzie is upset about this...???

[Glen]

wonder if Ozzie is upset about this...???

I think he would be actually, he and Ronnie got on OK I recollect. I'm pretty sure Dio has done Ozzfest

[Glen]

Heaven and Hell was one of the best albums written..Gone is a true vocalist and showman..R.I.P..

Yeah great album. I regret now that I didn't see them when they toured as Heaven and Hell with Vinnie Appice. You can get the live CD though which is absolutely sensational.

"If you listen to fools the mob rules"

[photomike666]

A legend indeed