Ronnie James Dio Passes Away
Metal has lost one of its all time great singers with the passing of Ronnie James Dio after a battle with stomach cancer. He was 67 years old. A message from his wife Wendy on his official web site says:
"Today my heart is broken, Ronnie passed away at 7:45am 16th May. Many, many friends and family were able to say their private good-byes before he peacefully passed away. Ronnie knew how much he was loved by all. We so appreciate the love and support that you have all 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. "
Born Ronald James Padanova, Dio's illustrious singing career lasted from the 1950s until now. He was in several bands over the years, from Rainbow to Black Sabbath to Heaven and Hell, and of course Dio. His bands had many hits, such as "Holy Diver," "The Mob Rules," "Rainbow In The Dark," "Stand Up And Shout" and many more. He's also credited with popularizing the "devil horns" hand signal that has become synonymous with heavy metal.
I regret that I never had the opportunity to interview Dio, but those who knew him say he was a wonderful human being in addition to being a world class singer. My condolences to Ronnie's family, friends, bandmates and legions of fans around the world. His death leaves a huge void in the metal landscape.