The Ronnie James Dio Story "Dio"

Here we go into 1982 of the Ronnie James Dio Story, about his own band "Dio".

After his departure from Black Sabbath with plans to form a new band with fellow and former Black Sabbath member, drummer Vinny Appice . Dio's name was chosen because it was logical from a commercial point of view, because the name was already known at that time.

The band released ten studio albums and had numerous lineup changes over the years with Ronnie James Dio as the sole constant member. The guitarists were through the years, Craig Goldy (latest guitar), Doug Aldrich, Vivian Campbell, Tracy G, Jake E. Lee and Rowan Robertson.

The hand gesture on the photo of Ronnie James Dio called the "maloik" and is the evil eye, and is used by every metal band. It was launched into the metal culture by Ronnie James Dio himself, which traditionally is a curse, or is used to ward off a curse.

The origins of the band and Holy Diver (1982-1983)

In 1982, with disagreements about the mixing of Black Sabbath's Live Evil resulted in the departure of Ronnie James Dio and Vinny Appice  from Black Sabbath. They wanted to continue together as a band. The two formed Dio in October 1982 in the United States with Vivian Campbell (guitar) and Jimmy Bain (bass). The following May, the band released their debut album, Holy Diver. It featured two hit singles, "Rainbow in the Dark" and "Holy Diver", which gained popularity through MTV. Ronnie James Dio and Jimmy Bain played keyboards in the studio, but they hired keyboardist Claude Schnell for the live shows in 1983 before the Holy Diver tour. Claude Schnell played at the side of the stage on the first two tours before he came forward in 1985. Dio had the following to say about the origin of the band:

It was a good time that the band formation. It was perfect for us. Everything just fell into place. Ethics in rehearsal were great. The effort in the shot was just as good. Everyone wanted it would be great. We believed in what we were doing and could not wait to bring that product and for the people to hear it.

The Last in Line and Dream Evil (1984-1989)

The band was now a quintet with Schnell on keyboards, the band released their second studio album, The Last in Line, on 2 July 1984. It was followed by their third album, Sacred Heart, which was released on August 15, 1985.

In 1985, Ronnie James Dio, Vivian Campbell and Jimmy Bain also wrote the song "STARS" for the Hear 'n Aid  project (for Band Aid) with many other heavy metal greats of that time. (Or click Hear N' Aid - Stars for the complete version of 47.04 minutes), Cooperation with Vivian Campbell did not go well, and the gap resulted in that Campbell was fired. Campbell was then invited to participate in Whitesnake. A few songs were recorded live during The Sacred Heart tour for the 1986 EP Intermission  with Campbell still on guitar, but the EP also contained the studio track "Time To Burn", which served in 1987 for the fans to introduce Craig Goldy  as the new guitarist.

On July 21, 1987 they released their fourth album Dream Evil . After Dream Evil, Craig Goldy pursued a solo career, and left the band. In June 1989 the 18 year old Rowan Robertson  was announced as Goldy's successor, but there were further changes with Schnell, Bain, and Appice leaving the band.   

Changes (1990-1999)

Schnell, Bain, and Appice were replaced respectively by Jens Johansson, Teddy Cook and former AC/DC drummer Simon Wright. The new band released the album Lock Up the Wolves, in the spring of 1990. During the tour, Ronnie James Dio had a chance meeting with former Black Sabbath bandmate Geezer Butler, which led to a brief reunion of the band, and produced an album, Dehumanizer . After this period, Ronnie James Dio started, Dio again, retaining only Appice on the drums. In early 1993 guitarist Tracy G, keyboardist Scott Warren of Warrant, and bassist Jeff Pilson of Dokken joined to the band. During this era, the band left the fantasy theme behind, to focus more on contemporary issues, with the result that some fans, albums as Strange Highways from 1993, and Angry Machines from 1996 and the live album Inferno: Last in Live consider as the worst Dio has ever made, while others viewed positively as a step away from outdated sound of the eighties. With a disappointing record sales for Angry Machines, the management wanted the band to return to their former style after the departure of Tracy G, it was announced that he´ll be replaced by the returning Craig Goldy.

Comeback (2000-2004)

Craig Goldy's return, facilitated the release of Dio's eighth studio album in 2000, Magica, which is widely regarded as the band 'comeback album "and reached number 13 on the Billboard independent charts. It featured the return not only of Craig Goldy but of Simon Wright and Jimmy Bain as well, although, on the European tour Chuck Garric played bass. The concept album, Magica had a return to the band parent more successful sound, while increased use of keyboards, gave modern look. During the next tour, there were tensions between Goldy on the one hand and Jimmy Bain and Ronnie James Dio on the other hand, because of which Craig Goldy liabilities was related to his family. Goldy left the band in January 2002 and was replaced by Doug Aldrich, whom Bain had met, while recording a tribute album for Metallica. Because of his late arrival, Aldrich did not a lot for the ninth work of Dio, Killing the Dragon, which was mainly written by Ronnie James Dio and Jimmy Bain. Killing the Dragon was released in 2002 through Spitfire Records and was well received in the metal community, which made it to the Billboard top 200. Aldrich would stay in the band until April of the following year, when he, like Campbell before him, joined Whitesnake.

Master of the Moon, and the end of the band (2004-2010)  

Master of the Moon

Dio released their tenth studio album, Master of the Moon on August 30, 2004 in Europe through SPV Records, and on September 7, 2004 in the United States through Sanctuary Records. The album features multi-instrumentalist Jeff Pilson (formerly of Dokken) on bass, however, due to previous obligations with Foreigner, he was only available for the recording sessions, and so was replaced by Rudy Sarzo (formerly of Ozzy Osbourne, Quiet Riot, Whitesnake, and Blue Öyster Cult) during the tour.

2005 saw the release of Dio live album Evil or Divine – Live in New York City , which was the same show and was released on DVD in 2003. Dio toured South America, Japan, Europe and Rusia  In 2005 was their autumn tour entitled "an Evening with Dio" and featured a regular set, and then a second set of the band that played Holy Diver entirely. A DVD of the tour was filmed in London. The sound of this performance, a double CD named Holy Diver – Live was released in April 2006.

Ronnie James Dio's involvement with Heaven & Hell delayed the recording of the follow-up Master of the Moon, Magica II. The three year hiatus was briefly interrupted for 10 performances depicting European mini-tour, from May to June 2008, and was scheduled to be interrupted again from November to December 2009 with 22 concerts starting in the UK and ending in Germany. Doug Aldrich had to fill in for Craig Goldy on guitar on this data, who had other commitments. Dio wanted to release a new single, titled "Electra", to make it coincide with the tour. This would be their first studio material in 5 years. The band also wanted to record an album or two in 2010.  

Official Website

All Languages

Ronnie James Dio documentary coming from BMG

Remembering Ronnie James Dio, 10 ears after his passing: interview with Wendy Dio

Murray

Murray is the demonic-looking mascot of Dio. Murray appears on some of the band's album covers, as well as the sets for their live performances. Murray can be seen on some of Dio's album covers, including Holy Diver, The Last in Line, and Dream Evil , as well as some of their singles and compilation albums. The mirror, above, is in my possession for over more then 25 years now. Tattoo artist, Dean Saunders made it for me. (The father of the singer)  The photo of the statue of Ronnie James Dio is in Kavarna, Bulgaria.

Holy Diver

Dio's first studio album, Holy Diver, from 1983, was the first which was equipped with Murray on the cover. Murray seems to torture a cleric, but Ronnie James Dio said that it is not necessarily true.

The Last in Line

Murray is also featured on Dio's second studio album, The Last in Line. On this cover, souls that have risen from their graves on the Day of Judgment looking up against a giant Murray staring at them from the distant horizon.

Dream Evil

Murray is not featured on Dio's third studio album, Secred Heart, but for the last time in its original form, can be seen on the cover of Dream Evil. He is seen in the window of a bedroom with a child sleeping in a bed while being chased by different scary creatures. Murray's story is printed in the book "Dream Evil Tour". The album cover of Dream Evil is a reference to one of the songs on the album, "Faces at the Window". The concept of the album is fear and superstition on the night and darkness.

The Ronnie James Dio Official Webstore  has created a baseballcap and was in sales with a red embroidery Murray at the front of the cap and the DIO logo, in the same red embroidered on the back.

A villain of the Japanese manga series  JoJo's Bizarre Adventure "Dio Brando" is named as a tribute to both Ronnie James Dio and film star Marlon Brando.

A video game released in Japan for the Famicom (Japanese version of the Nintendo Entertainment System) in 1989 was titled Holy Diver . The gothic and medieval theme of the game is very similar to Dio's music video of "Holy Diver".    

In 1999, an animated version of Dio appeared in an episode of South Park titled "Hooked on Monkey Fonics ". The band performs the song "Holy Diver " on, at an elementary school. Although Ronnie James Dio's appearance is as little as he really is, the rest of the band appears as a stereotypical heavy metal  band with no reference to the real band members.

During his time with the Philadelphia Phillies, outfielder Pat Burrell was known to use a clip of Dio's "Holy Diver" as his walk-up music. What normally stirred up the crowd.

Comedy/rock duo Tenacious D  released a song from their first album, entitled "Dio" written as a tribute to rock singer Ronnie James Dio, who mocks him somewhat because he was too old and that Tenacious D position as masters of heavy metal would take over.

Tenacious D. - The Ballad of RONNIE JAMES DIO  

For live playing the song, Jack Black talked about how Dio's term in Black Sabbath served to get his inspiration in Heavy Metal. The duo appeared in the music video for his song, "Push."(video) Ronnie also appeared in and sang on Tenacious D's comedy film from 2006 "The Pick of Destiny" (click on the link for the entire film), the song Kickapoo, where Meat Loaf also appears as the faithful father of the rebellious rocking son Jack Black.

The song "Holy Diver" in the video game Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories and the Game / Guitar Learning function "Rocksmith 2014 ". It also appears as a download-able content for the Rock Band series, along with "Stand Up and Shout". 

The song "Rainbow in the Dark " appears in "Rock Band 3 ."

The band fell apart in 2010 when Ronnie James Dio died of stomach cancer at the age of 67. The band has sold over 10 million albums.

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