Dunno if there's a thread elsewhere about this, but whatever...just wanted to post about the sad passing of the mighty RJD. I go back a long way with Ronnie, when I first got into metal in '81, the main bands I was into were RAINBOW and SABBATH...one of my very first LPs I bought was "The Best Of Rainbow", (in fact I think I got it for Xmas), and I was immediately drawn to Ronnie's epic vocals, and I believe to this day that "Stargazer" is the greatest rock vocal ever...the power and presence of Ronnie almost overwhelmed my 12 year old lugholes...round the same time I was buying "Heaven & Hell" and "Mob Rules" and also being blown away by tracks like "Turn Up The Night" and "Sign Of The Southern Cross"...needless to say when DIO released "Holy Diver" I was straight down the record shop with my saved up school dinner money (yeah I fuckin starved to build my record collection ) and it didn't let me down...I saw Ronnie live more times than any other person (at least 7 times I can think of), I saw him on the Holy Diver, Last In Line & Sacred Heart tours (all at hammy O) and on the Dream Evil tour at Donington in 87 (with Metallica & Anthrax...DIO won, even though the album was nothing special)...I saw DIO at the fuckin Leas Cliff Hall in Folkestone about 5 years ago, small venue, he blew it away...and with HEAVEN & HELL a couple of years ago at Wembley...shit venue, shit support (Lamb Of God), but seeing Ronnie up on stage with Tony & Geezer at last pretty much took me back to my formative metal years and was worth the effort...cheers for the music Ronnie, there's gonna be some beers raised and some loud music played in my house today..."Long Live RocknRoll" and fuck the neighbours.

Sad, sad day yesterday. Debbie Abono also died - for those that don't recognise the name, she was instrumental in a ton of the bands coming out of the Bay Area. Check your album covers - she's always in the credits.

Dio was brilliant - first saw him in '83, then probably 7 or 8 times over the last 25+ years (including first 3 tours with Dio and Donington). Always a great show and an amazing voice. Never met him, but I know a few people who did and they all said what a great bloke he was. Shame talented people like that have to go when there's so much shit that just keeps going. RIP Ronnie - thanks for the memories.

I know I've already said it was shit but I'll say it again. This is fucking shit.

I never had the pleasure of witnessing Dio on stage. I was going to be seeing Heaven and Hell at High Voltage and I feel gutted to have missed out. Still, this must be real shit for his wife and others who really knew the guy. I guess it must help to know that he touched so many hearts.

I came into work on Saturday to teach a revision class to some of my students. I chose 'Holy Diver' for the journey. Despite the shitness of having to attend school on a Saturday morning, I was still skipping along with a big grin on my face thanks to the awesome power of 'Stand up and Shout'. This morning I put on 'Stargazer' for the walk in (followed by 'Long Live Rock n Roll'). I don't think any singer makes me smile harder. I'm going to listen to 'Computer God' and 'TV Crimes' on the way home.

Legends never die.

Classic clip ...

Man, I bet none of us thought this day would ever come... Dio was one of those great men that you just imagine going on living forever and ever, just like Lemmy! The first of the last true greats to go... Whilst I always wished I had the chance to meet him, I'm at least over the moon that I got the chance to see him live twice... a truly magical man, and like Caps said, he never fails to make you smile. An absolute lyrical genius, and pretty much the best singer in the world - those two things everyone knew, but from all the interviews and videos I've ever seen him in, and the people I've spoken to who have met him in person, he just seemed like the nicest guy in the world. It's one of those weird things, when someone dies who you've never ever known, but still feel like you've lost someone close to you when they go - that's a testament to the great man that he was.

May he rise up to the silver mountain to continue his teachings about the evils of women and other mystical demons to Hendrix, Lynott, Bonham and so many more greats who were taken before their time.

I'm so bummed about this, total tragedy, RIP Dio.

I can't believe he's gone, heavy metal has lost a total hero. One of the greatest ever.

phodg wrote:Sad, sad day yesterday. Debbie Abono also died - for those that don't recognise the name, she was instrumental in a ton of the bands coming out of the Bay Area. Check your album covers - she's always in the credits.

didnt know that!!! She was responsible for a lot of bands making it on the international scene like phodg said. She was manager of possessed, forbidden, death angel and many more i think.
Still gutted about dio, hard to believe as i was so looking forward to seeing him at bloodstock! Even after they pulled out i just presumed we would see him at a later date.
Hard to believe he didnt outlive ozzy!!!!

Devastating

Saw the glory of Dio a few years back at Wacken, SO glad I did!

Absolutely magic.

RIP Dio!

There never can be another person like Dio.

This has depressed me so much.

I fucking love Dio.

I am lucky enough to have seen him with Heaven and Hell 3 or 4 times, both pre and post the new album as well as on a solo show.

That DIO show in 2008 at the Astoria has always been a life changing moment for me, hearing tunes like Rainbow in the Dark and Dont Talk To Strangers was bloody incredible.

I had a ticket to the DIO solo shows that got cancelled late last year, as well as looked forward to seeing Heaven and Hell 2 or 3 times this year... sadly it is all over. All I can say is I don't know if there is another singer that has brought such a smile to my face. Fucking hell Dio, you are such a legend...why does it have to be someone like you and not one of the piece of shits in the world?

This is a scary thought, the next few years we are going to be faced with the possibility of losing other singers;

Lemmy, Alice cooper, Ozzy ... dare i even say Bruce Dickinson and Rob Halford... who knows, years of excess will catch them and i guess our generation has to pay the price.

This is indeed strting to get ridiculous. I dread to think who we'll lose next

Shit news.
When I was about 9 we got our first CD player. I asked for the Waynes World Soundtrack for my birthday since I used to watch that film constantly and track 6 was 'Time Machine'. That song was easily the best fucking track on the album and probably my favourite song through all of my childhood and it played a big part in moulding me into the metal head I am today! Ever since that song, I became a big Dio fan. His voice was one of the most powerful things I've ever heared. Time to dig out a few old CDs I think.

RIP Dio. Fucking legend.

origamikid wrote:Lemmy, Alice cooper, Ozzy ... dare i even say Bruce Dickinson and Rob Halford... who knows, years of excess will catch them and i guess our generation has to pay the price.

When (if) Lemmy goes I think I will literally cry to death.

What i find equally alarming is the by say 2050 approx all the cast of the original Star Wars trilogy will be dead.