RIP - Ronnie James Dio

by **cyndy!** » Thu May 20, 2010 6:13 pm

great article on dio
http://sfg.ly/9RpdxE

All kneel before the devil horns

By Mark Morford, SF Gate Columnist
Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Ronnie James Dio died the other day, quietly succumbed to a relatively sudden onset of stomach cancer and up and left the planet in a blaze of stage fire, dragonsmoke and general metal awesomeness. Maybe you heard.

It was an abrupt end to a sort of stunning, nearly unprecedented 35-year career in hard rock megastardom, a shock that sent all flags of classic campy Bic-lighter rock n' roll greatness to half mast for at least a solid year, or until Ozzy Osbourne spontaneously combusts, whichever comes first.

It is quite possible you have no idea who Dio was, or you don't really care, or you think he and his various multiplatinum bands -- Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Dio -- were a bit of a long-haired crotch-rock musical circuslike joke. Or maybe you were all aswoon for Rick Springfield or the Go-Go's at the time when a post-Ozzy Sabbath 2.0 was cranking out some of the best hard-rock songs of all time ("Heaven & Hell," "Mob Rules," "Voodoo," "Die Young") circa 1980ish.

It's also possible you know just enough to know RJD was pretty much heavy metal personified, a tiny 5-foot-4-inch sorcerer with a mangy mane, demonic eyes and sly grin, all coupled to a simply huge, operatic voice, a diminutive powerhouse who prowled the stage like a feline elf and who was, it turns out, also finely intelligent and well spoken, an actual gentleman in a genre known all too well for its bombastic, monosyllabic doltbuckets. A rare thing indeed.

Metal is made up of many silly cliches, and Dio's songs rarely shied away from a good cheeseball lyric about medieval knights and crystal balls. But the amazing thing is, Dio the man never succumbed to the typical ravages of drugs, booze or hideous all-body tattoos. He never gained 75 pounds later in life or lost most of his voice through merciless shredding and ended it all playing county fairs for 19 drunk dudes in a barn before collapsing in a heap in a motel room in Jersey. There's a lesson in there somewhere. Or everywhere.

Hence, it is time for respect. It is time to raise the fist and light the lighter and, of course, make the sign. Oh, the sign. It is formidable indeed. It is the thing that will last forever. It has the power.

Of the myriad impressive notables related to Dio's passing, perhaps foremost is the fact the man was 67 years old and was still making quality hard rock records, still touring with a new (old) version of Black Sabbath, still singing his absolute heart out about dragons and rainbows, making the infamous devil horns hand gesture he swiped from his Italian grandmother and which has since became the universal, undeniable, completely badass symbol for true metal across all galaxies everywhere, and for which Dio deserves to be ensconced in the heavens forevermore.

The gesture, it shall not be denied. The gesture is all. The gesture is made to this day by any true fan of rock 'n' roll, even punk or glam or Goth. Thus spaketh the gods: If you do not know the gesture, you simply do not know how to rock. Perhaps you should try it now. Thumb in, middle and ring finger down, index and pinkie finger up, raised in defiance, awesomeness, true devotion to all that is heavy and pulsing and 4/4. See? The symbol makes almost anything better. It also makes it more metal.

Ronnie James Dio was even older than Mick Jagger. This is sort of amazing, doubly so because Mick Jagger's band hasn't written a good song since the Carter administration. Dio, in some ways, remained more true to his origins and his passion than Jagger & Co. Deny it at your peril.

It's also worth noting because, as far as I can tell, Dio is officially the first of metal's genuine elder statesmen to exit this planet, the first of its true legends to have contributed a lifetime of songcraft to the genre. Sure, you had your Jimi Hendrix and Bon Scott and John Bonham, guys who all died lifetimes ago and who didn't even make it much into their 30s. No one of Dio's stature has made the move to the great throne room in the sky. Until now.

It's a little disquieting. The lions of hard rock, guys like Robert Plant, Roger Daltrey, Brian Johnson, Rob Halford, these monsters feel completely timeless, iconic, eternal. They simply shall not, will not, do not die. It's almost impossible to imagine a musical world without Robert Plant. No metal fan of any stripe can imagine a day when, say, Iron Maiden shuts it all down because Bruce Dickinson turned 85 and suddenly can't remember the lyrics to "Hallowed Be Thy Name." Metal revels in the raw energy and unchecked phantasmagorical ridiculousness of youth. It is all fire and testosterone and rebellious fantasy. It doesn't go well with reality.

So it is for hard rock and a guy like Dio, an elfin titan with an undying love for lasers and sorcery, dragons and kings. The man wrote some terribly corny metal songs, but he sang every one with a ferocity and love and total honesty. He also wrote some of the finest hard rock melodies of all time, sang them with a precision and love unmatched by any hard rock singer since. It's a rare thing to give metal some heartfelt props. It is time. Raise your devil horns and salute.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.c ... z0oSI1JNHJ

by **verslibre** » Thu May 20, 2010 7:18 pm

Behshad wrote:
T-Bone wrote:This is a good positive thread. Let's remember Dio with the good memories and accomplishments and leave out the negative aspects or comments of some musicians from his past. This thread WILL stay on topic as well. And no, you don't have to comment or respond to my comment. Thanks

I don't have to comment but I will anyway.

We had all different kind of discussions and opinions after Michael Jackson died. I didn't see you deleting posts that were MUCH MUCH WORSE than just few posts that were here.
Dio may be the God to most of us , but you can't silence people if they're sharing some related news ?!
I don't think people were off topic or negative. People were just swapping opinions on a music message board , what a crime.

This place has always been great cause people can discuss thing openly. Now while I understand your rules of " delivering the message properly", I think you're killing this boards uniqueness by playing God around here and deciding a bit too much on peoples feelings in regards to a Rock Gods death ,,,,,

That's what happens when a forum member gets made a mod.

by **T-Bone** » Fri May 21, 2010 6:21 am

Some people just arent happy unless they're allowed to say and do as they wish without consequence. This board is 99% freedom and there are very few expectations made of members here, but when that 1% expectation is brought up, some people cry. You people know who you are. The same ones that can't help themselves but to throw a negative light into a positive thread no matter what the discussion is or the topic, etc... Just because you're on the internet doesn't mean you just HAVE to say everything thats on your mind. As I said, some things are better left unsaid. If you want to start a Dio vs Campbell thread, go do it. But don't turn this one into a shitfest.

by **verslibre** » Fri May 21, 2010 7:28 am

T-Bone wrote:If you want to start a Dio vs Campbell thread, go do it. But don't turn this one into a shitfest.

I know you're not talking to me.

by **T-Bone** » Fri May 21, 2010 8:45 am

I'm speaking to EVERYONE that is known to not hold their tongue no matter what is asked of them whether it is the starter or the responder

by **Carla777** » Sat May 22, 2010 7:33 am

A song and video made for Ronnie James Dio, seem that a tribute album come in the way soon :twisted:

I don't know if the money for this records sales will go to the "Stand up and shout cancer fund." that he create before he pass away or not, anyway, cool song and i love the lyrics \m/ \m/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEtyaC6ltQg

by **conversationpc** » Sat May 22, 2010 1:17 pm

cyndy! wrote:It was an abrupt end to a sort of stunning, nearly unprecedented 35-year career in hard rock megastardom...

This is the only thing wrong with the article. Dio didn't have a 35-year career...He had a 52+ year career! Born in '42 and his first recordings were done in '58 before he turned 16. This guy was releasing music before the Stones or Beatles put out a full album.

by **ChildInTime** » Sat May 22, 2010 1:33 pm

Sorry I'm so late to this, but when I heard about Dio's death, I was shocked. He was such a big part of my teenage-hood (I was a huge metalhead at the time, and still enjoy it... as you can see by my avatar); I thought he'd live forever. Even when he got stomach cancer, a part of me thought that if anyone could kick cancer's ass, it would be him. ...Unfortunately, it wasn't the case.

RIP, Dio. Your legacy and music will certainly live on. \m/

by **wastingbeerz** » Tue May 25, 2010 11:58 am

I'm still extremely upset and saddened by this... Dio is my favorite metal singer of all time, without question. I will treasure the memories and am grateful I was able to see the man live many times. RIP Ronnie!!!

by **Behshad** » Wed May 26, 2010 1:37 am

EUROPE GUITARIST PLANNED TO RECORD WITH DIO

Europe guitarist John Norum has revealed that he had plans to record with the late Ronnie James Dio. Norum told Classic Rock Magazine that he recently met the Heaven & Hell singer and during their encounter, Ronnie told him he had a song he wanted John to play guitar on. Norum stated they never got beyond talking about the idea, “but it was a serious plan.” Of Dio’s passing, John said, “His death has left a huge gap that nobody else can hope to fill.” Read more at ClassicRockMagazine.com.

That wouldve been AWESOME,,,,, too bad it never happened ,,,

by **Behshad** » Wed May 26, 2010 1:40 am

SWEDEN ROCK FESTIVAL TO PAY TRIBUTE TO DIO

This year, the Sweden Rock Festival will pay tribute to late Heaven & Hell singer Ronnie James Dio by renaming their Zeppelin Stage the Dio Stage. There will also be a ceremony that pays homage to the heavy metal great at the event on one of the main stages. During his career, Ronnie made five appearances at the annual festival – three with Dio and two with Heaven & Hell, including one last summer. This year’s event will feature performances from Guns N’ Roses, Aerosmith, Slayer and others and takes place June 9th to the 12th in Solvesborg, Sweden. Learn more at SwedenRock.com.

by **WOLFMAN07** » Wed May 26, 2010 2:55 am

Wish I could be there. I am glad I got to see DIO at least once.

by **treetopovskaya** » Mon May 31, 2010 3:12 am

the memorial is today.

{{{{{ ronnie james dio }}}}}

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-aHeoLuMDY

(thanks for sending me this video indy... i'm so sad i missed howie w/ alcatrazz cover this!)

by **Voyager** » Mon May 31, 2010 4:16 am

I hope some hardcore Dio rockers put a beatdown on these losers that they never forget:

Church plans to picket rocker Dio's memorial service

Los Angeles, California (CNN) -- A public memorial service for heavy metal rocker Ronnie James Dio is planned for Sunday, with members of the Westboro Baptist Church saying they will picket the ceremony.

The church in Topeka, Kansas, is known for its intolerance of gays and its picketing of soldiers' funerals.

A picketing schedule on the church's website said protesters will be at the Dio memorial at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills in Los Angeles, accusing the 67-year-old rocker of worshipping Satan.

Dio died on May 16 after a battle with stomach cancer.

Charges of devil-worshipping have often been leveled against heavy metal music. Dio, in particular, was a favorite target.

He popularized the "devil's horn" gesture, where the index and the little fingers are upright and the thumb is clasped against the two middle fingers.

He has said he was taught by the sign by his superstitious Italian grandmother as a way to ward off the "evil eye."

But many fundamentalist Christians have taken issue with the gesture, alleging that it is a tribute to the devil.

"Ronnie hates prejudice and violence. We need to turn the other cheek on these people that only know how to hate someone they didn't know," said Dio's wife, Wendy, about the planned protest.

Wendy Dio said the memorial will host a donation center for her husband's "Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund," named after one his songs.

The services start at 2 p.m. (11 a.m. ET).

Dio most recently was touring with Heaven and Hell, a version of Black Sabbath renamed for legal reasons. All shows were canceled last March because of his illness.

His last public appearance was in April at the Revolver Golden Gods Awards, when he accepted a vocalist of the year award for his work on last year's Heaven and Hell album. Dio appeared frail, but he spoke while accepting his award.

Born Ronald James Padavona in 1942, Dio's professional music career began as a high school student in the late 1950s.

His 1960s rock group The Electric Elves evolved into Elf by the early 1970s, when the group played heavy blues rock.

Dio's rock became darker with his band Rainbow, which he left in 1979 to join Black Sabbath.

Black Sabbath released three albums with Dio, including "Heaven and Hell" in 1980, "Mob Rules" in 1981 and "Live Evil" in 1982.

Dio left that band in 1982, but he had a brief reunion with the group a decade later.

He formed the group Dio in 1982 and later Heaven and Hell.

by **treetopovskaya** » Mon May 31, 2010 5:30 am

that would just be giving into what that hate group wants. those people make me sick to my stomach. they're a very sick & evil group of misguided... folks. i'm hoping those attending the memorial can just ignore them today.

i have a feeling that either they won't show... or they're going to be WAY outnumbered! }=C)) they're not doing gods work... they're following a false prophet... *edit*

Voyager wrote:I hope some hardcore Dio rockers put a beatdown on these losers that they never forget:

Church plans to picket rocker Dio's memorial service

Los Angeles, California (CNN) -- A public memorial service for heavy metal rocker Ronnie James Dio is planned for Sunday, with members of the Westboro Baptist Church saying they will picket the ceremony.

The church in Topeka, Kansas, is known for its intolerance of gays and its picketing of soldiers' funerals.

A picketing schedule on the church's website said protesters will be at the Dio memorial at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills in Los Angeles, accusing the 67-year-old rocker of worshipping Satan.

Dio died on May 16 after a battle with stomach cancer.

Charges of devil-worshipping have often been leveled against heavy metal music. Dio, in particular, was a favorite target.

He popularized the "devil's horn" gesture, where the index and the little fingers are upright and the thumb is clasped against the two middle fingers.

He has said he was taught by the sign by his superstitious Italian grandmother as a way to ward off the "evil eye."

But many fundamentalist Christians have taken issue with the gesture, alleging that it is a tribute to the devil.

"Ronnie hates prejudice and violence. We need to turn the other cheek on these people that only know how to hate someone they didn't know," said Dio's wife, Wendy, about the planned protest.

Wendy Dio said the memorial will host a donation center for her husband's "Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund," named after one his songs.

The services start at 2 p.m. (11 a.m. ET).

Dio most recently was touring with Heaven and Hell, a version of Black Sabbath renamed for legal reasons. All shows were canceled last March because of his illness.

His last public appearance was in April at the Revolver Golden Gods Awards, when he accepted a vocalist of the year award for his work on last year's Heaven and Hell album. Dio appeared frail, but he spoke while accepting his award.

Born Ronald James Padavona in 1942, Dio's professional music career began as a high school student in the late 1950s.

His 1960s rock group The Electric Elves evolved into Elf by the early 1970s, when the group played heavy blues rock.

Dio's rock became darker with his band Rainbow, which he left in 1979 to join Black Sabbath.

Black Sabbath released three albums with Dio, including "Heaven and Hell" in 1980, "Mob Rules" in 1981 and "Live Evil" in 1982.

Dio left that band in 1982, but he had a brief reunion with the group a decade later.

He formed the group Dio in 1982 and later Heaven and Hell.

by **Voyager** » Mon May 31, 2010 5:48 am

treetopovskaya wrote:they're not doing gods work... they're following a false prophet... *edit*

Have you read your Bible lately?

The Bible wrote:"If a man lies with a male as with a women, both of them shall be put to death for their abominable deed; they have forfeited their lives." Leviticus 20:13

I'd say Fred is letting the gays off easy based on this Biblical commandment above. I don't agree with the Bible, but Fred Phelps is at least willing to obey the book that many people say is the "word of God". For those of you who think the God of the Bible has changed and no longer wants you to kill gays, consider these Bible verses:

The Bible wrote:Malachi 3:6 "For I am the LORD, I do not change."

Hebrews 13:8 "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever."

James 1:17 "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning."

So, if you really want to obey the Bible, grab a picket sign and a gun and go join Fred Phelps at the Dio rally. I don't think that is what you should do, but that is what the Bible commands you to do - and the Bible says that God hasn't changed.

by **Carla777** » Mon May 31, 2010 7:19 am

treetopovskaya wrote:the memorial is today.

{{{{{ ronnie james dio }}}}}

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-aHeoLuMDY

(thanks for sending me this video indy... i'm so sad i missed howie w/ alcatrazz cover this!)

I have that DVD, is amazing, Ronnie was singing like an angel, beautiful!
I wish i could be there in his last tribute altough i'm happy i could see him in his last tour =)

by **treetopovskaya** » Mon May 31, 2010 8:22 am

Carla777 wrote:
treetopovskaya wrote:the memorial is today.

{{{{{ ronnie james dio }}}}}

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-aHeoLuMDY

(thanks for sending me this video indy... i'm so sad i missed howie w/ alcatrazz cover this!)

I have that DVD, is amazing, Ronnie was singing like an angel, beautiful!
I wish i could be there in his last tribute altough i'm happy i could see him in his last tour =)

we were planning on going but my hubby is still not feeling well.

candle is burning. }:C)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmSt1oEIshE

by **Carla777** » Mon May 31, 2010 4:17 pm

Dio public memorial service is over, seem it was a good day for celebrate him; here is some videos from Geoff Tate and Glenn Hughes singing for Ronnie =)
Hasta siempre Maestro!

Geoff Tate / Hallelujah
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ejjD7jLZDg

Glenn Hughes / Catch the rainbow
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtBSGbnkmMo

Some pics

and the losers LOL i think at the end they weren't too many and of course they were ridiculous

* All the info come from Blabbermouth
http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbe ... mID=140914

by **treetopovskaya** » Mon May 31, 2010 4:22 pm

put to "death" by whom? by man? i don't think god is commanding that anyone buy a gun & start shooting people. some take the meaning of death too literally.

it's none of our business what someone else's relationship with god is or if they even have one. that is a personal choice. those people have no idea what rjd's relationship with god is... yet they pass judgment on someone they don't know. it's not our place to judge. what those people should be doing is praying. instead of preaching hatred & intolerance.

Voyager wrote:
treetopovskaya wrote:they're not doing gods work... they're following a false prophet... *edit*

Have you read your Bible lately?

The Bible wrote:"If a man lies with a male as with a women, both of them shall be put to death for their abominable deed; they have forfeited their lives." Leviticus 20:13

I'd say Fred is letting the gays off easy based on this Biblical commandment above. I don't agree with the Bible, but Fred Phelps is at least willing to obey the book that many people say is the "word of God". For those of you who think the God of the Bible has changed and no longer wants you to kill gays, consider these Bible verses:

The Bible wrote:Malachi 3:6 "For I am the LORD, I do not change."

Hebrews 13:8 "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever."

James 1:17 "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning."

So, if you really want to obey the Bible, grab a picket sign and a gun and go join Fred Phelps at the Dio rally. I don't think that is what you should do, but that is what the Bible commands you to do - and the Bible says that God hasn't changed.

by **DrFU** » Mon May 31, 2010 10:41 pm

Looks like the Supremes are going to weigh in on funeral protests-- right to privacy vs. right to free speech.

-----------
High Court: Justices to consider 'funeral protests' in free-speech case

By ROBERT BARNES
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, May 31, 2010

Albert Snyder, an industrial equipment salesman from York, Pa., says he was once a quiet guy who had no taste for the limelight. Now he has a Web site and interviews scheduled back to back. The most important person in the Senate is rallying support for him, and 48 states and the District of Columbia have come to his aid.

Snyder and his late son, Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder, killed in Iraq, have become the public faces of more than 200 families that have seen funerals of loved ones picketed by members of a tiny church who say the deaths of U.S. soldiers are God's retribution for the nation's tolerance of homosexuality.

The collision of privacy rights and the Constitution's protection of free speech will be heard by the Supreme Court in the fall. Snyder's lawyer, Sean Summers, recently filed his brief to the court, and the fortuitous deadline for others to support Snyder is the day after Memorial Day.

Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) for once found common ground with Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on the issue. Reid held a news conference with Snyder Friday to say 42 members of the Senate had signed on to an amicus brief to condemn the actions of Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kan., and its founding pastor, Fred W. Phelps Sr.

"Respondents were and are free to convey their repugnant message in virtually any public manner they choose," the senators said in a brief written by former Clinton administration counsel Walter E. Dellinger III. "But they were not free to hijack petitioners' private funeral as a vehicle for expression of their own hate."

Likewise, there has been a rush of state attorneys general to sign on to an efforts led by Kansas Attorney General Steve Six to argue that there is no protection for what they say was targeted and harassing speech aimed at Snyder. More than 40 states have laws restricting funeral protests, which are not at issue in the case.

Despite the political firepower, First Amendment specialists think Albert Snyder has a difficult case to prove to a court that has been particularly outspoken on government attempts to regulate speech and has accepted two privacy cases for the term that begins in the fall.

George Washington University law professor Daniel J. Solove, the author of "Understanding Privacy," said he finds it "perplexing" that the justices took the case. The message of Phelps and his followers is "stupid and obnoxious," Solove said, but seems to fit squarely into the kind of unpopular speech that the Constitution protects.

The church maintains that its protests are not aimed at the dead -- there was no particular reason to select Matthew Snyder's funeral for picketing -- but at the actions of the living.

A sampling of the signs carried at Snyder's 2006 funeral at St. John's Catholic Church in Westminster, Md., included "God Hates the USA/Thank God for 9/11," "Semper Fi Fags," "Thank God for Dead Soldiers" and "Priests Rape Boys." The demonstrators abided by the law and stayed away from the funeral itself.

Albert Snyder sued Phelps, and Snyder argued at trial that the demonstration invaded his privacy, caused emotional distress and violated his rights to free exercise of religion and peaceful assembly. He said a treatise posted on the church's Web site specifically mentioned Matthew and his family.

A jury awarded Snyder more than $10 million, which was cut in half by the judge and then overturned by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit in Richmond. A three-judge panel said that although Phelps's rhetoric was offensive, it was protected as speech concerning issues in the national debate.

"Notwithstanding the distasteful and repugnant nature of the words being challenged in these proceedings, we are constrained to conclude that the defendants' signs . . . are constitutionally protected," the court said. It added that the signs contained "imaginative and hyperbolic rhetoric intended to spark debate about issues with which the defendants are concerned."

Virginia and Maine are the two states not supporting Snyder. Brian Gottstein, a spokesman for Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli (R), said that the state has a law against funeral protests and that his office fears the precedent that Snyder's case could set.

"We do not think that regulation of speech through vague common-law torts, like intentional infliction of emotional distress, strikes the proper balance between free speech and avoiding the unconscionable disruption of funerals," Gottstein said.

Virginia's decision was disappointing for Snyder, as was news he received from the appeals court this month: It said he owes the church $16,500 in legal fees.

Snyder said he was only vaguely aware of the protests at military funerals until the protest came to him. He still gets emotional recalling that day.

"All we wanted was a private funeral for my son," he said. "They turned it into a three-ring circus."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... cmoduletmv

by **Carla777** » Tue Jun 01, 2010 4:01 am

Another great artist who sang for Ronnie is his goodbye was Joey Belladonna (Anthrax)...i love his voice and the arrangements here =)

Belladonna (Man on the silver mountain)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2_Iv89wSmw

by **Jana** » Tue Jun 01, 2010 4:15 am

John Payne of Asia performs Heaven and Hell acoustically:

http://www.youtube.com/v/K0ayK8uAIrw&hl=en

by **verslibre** » Tue Jun 01, 2010 4:48 am

Jana wrote:John Payne of Asia performs Heaven and Hell acoustically:

http://www.youtube.com/v/K0ayK8uAIrw&hl=en

That was f'in cool.

by **treetopovskaya** » Tue Jun 01, 2010 4:18 pm

Carla777 wrote:Another great artist who sang for Ronnie is his goodbye was Joey Belladonna (Anthrax)...i love his voice and the arrangements here =)

Belladonna (Man on the silver mountain)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2_Iv89wSmw

i really LOVE this too. }:C)))

MR

RIP - Ronnie James Dio

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