16 May 2010, 4:41 pm
s**t... I'm seriously depressed now. 
Dio revealed last summer that he was suffering from stomach cancer shortly after wrapping up a tour in Atlantic City, N.J. with the latest incarnation of Black Sabbath, under the name Heaven And Hell.
"Today my heart is broken, Wendy Dio wrote on the singer's site, adding he died at 7:45 a.m. "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, Wendy Dio continued. "We so appreciate the love and support that you have all given us ... Please know he loved you all and his music will live on forever."
The statement was confirmed by Los Angeles publicist Maureen O'Connor.
Dio rose to fame in 1975 as the first lead singer of Rainbow, the heavy metal band put together by guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, who had just quit Deep Purple.
Dio then replaced legendary vocalist Ozzy Osbourne in Black Sabbath in 1980 with the critically acclaimed album "Heaven And Hell, considered by many critics to be one of the finest heavy metal albums of all time. His on-again, off-again tenure with Black Sabbath touched off an intense debate among fans as to which singer was the true essence of the band — a discussion that lasted until his death.
He also enjoyed a successful solo career with his self-titled band, Dio, in between his three stints with Black Sabbath (1980-82; 1992; and 2007-2009, when the band toured as Heaven And Hell, to differentiate it from Osbourne-led versions of Sabbath).
Many of his most memorable songs revolved around the struggle between good and evil, including his signature tune "Heaven And Hell. He also drew heavily on medieval imagery in songs like "Neon Knights, "Killing The Dragon and "Stargazer.
"He possessed one of the greatest voices in all of heavy metal, and had a heart to match it, said Twisted Sister guitarist Jay Jay French, whose band toured with Dio since 1983, and was to do so again this summer at European rock festivals. "He was the nicest, classiest person you would ever want to meet.
Dio organized an all-star charity collaboration in 1986 called "Hear N Aid to raise money for famine relief in Africa, styled on the successful "We Are The World campaign of a few years earlier.
His solo hits included "Rainbow In The Dark, "The Last In Line and "Holy Diver."
\m/ Metal lost a legend today.
16 May 2010, 4:46 pm
CowboyFromHell
Veteran
Joined: 22 Dec 2007
Age: 35
Gender: Male
Posts: 1,158
Location: Surprise, Arizona
16 May 2010, 6:49 pm
16 May 2010, 7:48 pm
16 May 2010, 10:13 pm
Ronnie James Dio was always one of my favorite
vocalists in the metal genre.
Few others could equal his feeling and delivery...his lyrics
were amazing too.
I saw him live on the Sacred Heart tour....the German metal band Accept
opened for him.
Vivian Campbell was one of my guitar heroes too.
I was never lucky enough to see him with Sabbath though.
He will be missed....R.I.P. Ronnie
17 May 2010, 5:44 am
17 May 2010, 8:12 pm
As an undiagnosed aspie misfit teenager in the early 1980s, Heavy Metal music gave me and all the other misfits where I grew up a place to belong.
To say I'm terribly upset would be a gross understatement. 
R.I.P. Ronnie
"The world is full of kings and queens, who blind your eyes and steal your dreams, it's heaven and hell"
17 May 2010, 11:57 pm
18 May 2010, 1:52 am
Listening to Dio right now in his honor.
He will be missed.
19 May 2010, 10:42 am
I´m sad I didn´t go to any of his concerts. I missed two of his concerts the last one with Heaven and Hell but I couldn´t go because I was depressed. . I liked Dio whether he was with Rainbow, Black Sabbath or solo. The last Dio album that I bought was "Magica". The man passed away but the legend will live on. \m/
01 Sep 2010, 12:30 pm
01 Sep 2010, 4:21 pm
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