Black Sabbath

Axl Rose Isn't First To Blast Rock And Roll Hall of Fame

12 Apr 2012 16:12:36 EDT

Black Sabbath, Kiss and the Sex Pistols have also blasted the institution.
By Gil Kaufman

Suffice it to say that in his lengthy, lawyerly letter to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this week refusing his induction  as part of the classic line-up of Guns N' Roses, singer Axl Rose had a bone (or two, or six or 20) to pick with the process.

It's hard to say who the enigmatic hard-rock icon was most mad at, but his steadfast refusal to attend the induction, or even acknowledge the honor, put him in a long tradition of rock legends who've either bashed the RRHOF for not including them (only to change their tune once their number came up) or refused to show up, not to mention the fans who've raised holy hell when their favorite bands couldn't make the cut.

"We Want You on That Wall, We Need You On That Wall": Our Open Letter To Axl Rose 

Among the other hell-raisers:

Ozzy Osbourne/Black Sabbath: Before the group got the call in 2005 , the Blizzard of Ozz had been very vocal about how little he wanted to do with the Hall. In a 1999 letter to the Hall of Fame, Ozzy famously told the institution, "Just take our name off the list. Save the ink. Forget about us. The nomination is meaningless, because it's not voted on by the fans. It's voted on by the supposed elite for the industry and the media, who've never bought an album or concert ticket in their lives, so their vote is irrelevant to me." He added, "Let's face it, Black Sabbath has never been media darlings. We're a people's band and that suits us just fine."

John Lydon/Sex Pistols: Lydon (aka "Johnny Rotten") was his typical snotty self when his pioneering punk band made the short list in 2006. In a cheeky letter, the perennially put out Lydon wrote, "Next to the Sex Pistols rock and roll and that hall of fame is a piss stain. Your museum. Urine in wine. We're not coming. We're not your monkey and so what?" Needless to say, the band did not show up for the ceremony.

Gene Simmons/Kiss: The kabuki theater bass player is never at a loss for words. And nothing makes him angrier than the fact that the "greatest band in the world" has never been invited to the party. He's lashed out at the Rock Hall repeatedly in the 12 years since his group became eligible. "There are disco bands, rap bands, Yiddish folk song bands, but not Kiss," he said in 2008.

David Lee Roth/Eddie Van Halen/Van Halen: The longest-running soap opera in rock was kicked up a notch in 2007 when VH was slated for induction. Original singer Roth had been rehearsing for the event and speculation swirled for months about who would show up and if replacement singer Sammy Hagar would be on hand as well. Then, in classic VH fashion, Eddie and Dave both bailed and it was left to Hagar and now-former bassist Michael Anthony to accept on the band's behalf.

And then there are the fans. In addition to the unending volley of complaints from the Kiss Army, followers of Canadian prog rockers Rush have been bellyaching for the past decade of the band's eligibility that the wizardly trio deserve their spot in the Hall. They've picketed, launched petitions and all but drawn their broadswords and threatened to storm the I.M. Pei-designed glass pyramid in Cleveland to rectify this grave injustice. All to no avail.

Are you disappointed that Axl Rose won't be at this weekend's Hall of Fame ceremony? Let us know in comments below.

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Ronnie James Dio Public Memorial Set For May 30

20 May 2010 09:09:37 EDT

Metal icon died on May 16 of stomach cancer.
By Gil Kaufman, with additional reporting by Kyle Anderson

Metal fans from around the globe will get a chance to throw up the devil horns one last time for heavy metal icon Ronnie James Dio at a public memorial slated to take place on May 30 in Los Angeles.

According to details posted on the late singer's official Facebook fan page, the service will take place at 2 p.m. at the Hall of Liberty in the Forest Lawn cemetery in Hollywood Hills.

"This will be a celebration of the life and music of Ronnie James Dio and is open to all of his friends and fans from around the world," reads the announcement.

Dio, remembered as one of metal's all-time greatest singers, died early Sunday morning after battling stomach cancer for less than a year. The singer, credited with inventing the ubiquitous two-fingered "devil horns" metal salute, was best known for his work with Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Heaven and Hell, and his own band, Dio, and lauded by friends and musical admirers as a metal icon.

Speaking to MTV News on Wednesday, former Guns 'N Roses guitarist Slash said Dio was one of a kind. "There's not a lot of people like Ronnie," he said. "You start to recognize [his] amazing contribution to rock and roll, or to music, however you want to look at it. People have taken it for granted because he's so good and he's always been there. He's so consistent, he's always putting out albums, he's been in four different bands, and he's always been around. And all of a sudden, the reality of him not being there anymore really makes you recognize what an iconic and amazing individual he was."

A few days after Dio's death, Slash said the reality was just beginning to set in that the world will be without the singer's signature operatic wail. "Ronnie is one of a kind," he said. "He was phenomenal. We met many times in passing. Not too long ago, we put our hand imprints at the Rock Walk at Guitar Center in Los Angeles together. He was a consummate gentleman — the kind of rock star people should aspire to be, as opposed to being sort of arrogant pricks. Ronnie was very genuine and very considerate and just really nice to everybody."

For those unable to attend the memorial, Dio's wife, Wendy, has asked that instead of flowers, fans make contributions to the Ronnie James Dio "Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund," c/o Niji Entertainment Group, 12400 Ventura Blvd. #624, Studio City, CA, 91604.

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Ozzy Osbourne Calls Ronnie James Dio One Of Metal's 'Greatest Voices'

18 May 2010 13:04:14 EDT

Ozzy mourns the passing of fellow Black Sabbath frontman, who died on Sunday.
By James Montgomery

On Monday, Ozzy Osbourne released a statement praising the talents of the late Ronnie James Dio, who died on Sunday of stomach cancer at the age of 67.

"I was very saddened to hear of the passing of Ronnie James Dio," Osbourne said in the statement. "Metal has truly lost one of its greatest voices. My heart goes out to his family and to his many fans. ... Love and respect."

Dio, who possessed one of the most formidable voices in hard rock, replaced Osbourne in Black Sabbath at the end of the 1970s (after rising to fame with acts like Elf and Rainbow) and led the band through a career resurgence, thanks to albums like Heaven and Hell and Mob Rules. Dio would leave Sabbath to start his own band in late 1982, briefly rejoined in 1990, left again, then joined a final time in 2006, when he fronted the band under the moniker of Heaven and Hell.

Osbourne's statement is just the latest in a series of tributes to Dio's talent, generosity and kindness that have been pouring in since he died. Slayer's Kerry King said he was lucky to have known him, and called Dio "one of the nicest guys in the business, without a doubt." Anthrax's Scott Ian echoed those sentiments, saying, "Every day on tour, he'd have a kind word, a smile and a clap on the back. I feel honored and privileged to even have shaken hands with Ronnie, let alone be able to say we were friends."

A whole new generation of hard-rock acts also remembered Dio, with the likes of Killswitch Engage (who covered his classic "Holy Diver") and Mastodon releasing statements about his death.

Share your own memories of Ronnie James Dio and his music in the comments.

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Ronnie James Dio Remembered By Rob Zombie, Mastodon, Others

18 May 2010 09:45:21 EDT

'He will forever be imitated but he will never be duplicated,' Zombie says of metal icon.
By Ryan J. Downey

Rob Zombie, Killswitch Engage, Mastodon and Fear Factory have released statements to MTV News as the heavy metal community continues to mourn the loss of Ronnie James Dio. The legendary and iconic vocalist passed away after a battle with stomach cancer early Sunday morning. He was 67.

"It is a very sad day for the world of metal when an artist as unique and special as Ronnie James Dio leaves us," Zombie said in an e-mail to MTV News. "He will forever be imitated but he will never be duplicated."

In 2006, Killswitch Engage offered up a loving imitation of their own, unleashing a cover of Dio's "Holy Diver," which became a staple of their live sets. A medieval-themed music video for their version, which received regular airplay on MTV2's "Headbangers Ball," featured all of the band members in character as people who could have been lifted right out of Dio's lyrics. Guitarist Joel Stroetzel played a wizard.

"Since my childhood, Dio has always been a hero," Stroetzel told MTV News. "He was the definition of metal. His solo work, his work with Black Sabbath — he always inspired me. I will continue to be infinitely thankful for all of the music he has created over the years. He will be greatly missed and never forgotten. God bless."

"Holy Diver," "Rainbow in the Dark" and "The Last in Line" are just a few of the classic songs Dio recorded with his solo band. He was equally beloved for his work with Rainbow and Black Sabbath. One of the many fans of Dio-led Sabbath albums like Mob Rules is Burton C. Bell, vocalist for Fear Factory.

"Dear Ronnie James Dio," Bell said in a statement. "Thank you for your wisdom, your inspirational words, and your spiritual vision. In my youth, your voice and music had a major impact on my mind, and introduced me to the beauty and power of the dark arts. Your voice will always resonate within me."

Another contemporary American metal band, Mastodon, prepared a group statement released exclusively to MTV News: "There are only a few names that ring synonymous with heavy metal, and Ronnie James Dio is one of them. So to find out that a true pioneer of our genre had passed on was devastating to say the least. Thank you, Ronnie James Dio, for your unbelievably powerful voice, your dedication to your fans and for paving the way for generations of aspiring musicians, present and future. The horns will live on forever!"

Lars Ulrich of Metallica as well as Dio's bandmates Tony Iommi and Ritchie Blackmore previously released statements regarding Dio's passing.

Ronnie James Dio (born Ronald James Padavona) is survived by his wife and manager Wendy, son Daniel, grandchildren Julie and Joey, and father Pat.

Share your memories of Ronnie James Dio and his musical legacy in the comments below.

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Ronnie James Dio Remembered By Bandmates Tony Iommi, Ritchie Blackmore, Others

17 May 2010 15:31:08 EDT

Former bandmates in Black Sabbath, Rainbow, Dio remember singer, who died Sunday.
By MTV News staff

In the hours after legendary heavy metal singer Ronnie James Dio's death on Sunday, the Blabbermouth website has been filled with comments from musicians paying tribute to the vocalist, who fronted Rainbow, Black Sabbath and, of course, Dio during his long and influential career.

Among the many noteworthy comments were ones from his former bandmates. Guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, who left Deep Purple in 1975 to form Rainbow with Dio, was characteristically terse in his statement: "Ronnie had a unique and wonderful voice. He will be sadly missed in the rock and roll world."

Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi — who worked with Dio three separate times over the years, twice in Black Sabbath and most recently with Heaven and Hell — said:

"Yesterday, 16th May, my dear, dear friend Ronnie James Dio passed away at 7.45 a.m. L.A. time. I've been in total shock; I just can't believe he's gone.

"Ronnie was one of the nicest people you could ever meet. We had some fantastic times together. Ronnie loved what he did, making music and performing onstage. He loved his fans so much. He was a kind man and would put himself out to help others.

"I can honestly say it's truly been an honor to play at his side for all these years. His music will live on forever.

"Our thoughts are with [Dio's wife/manager] Wendy Dio, who stood by Ronnie until the end. He loved her very much. The man with the magic voice is a star amongst stars, a true professional.

"I'll miss you so much, my dear friend."

Heaven and Hell were scheduled to tour Europe this summer but cancelled earlier this year owing to Dio's condition.

Former Dio guitarist Rowan Robertson said, "I am privileged to have been a part of Ronnie James Dio's life and music. His closest ones are in my thoughts."

And former Dio keyboardist Jens Johansson wrote a long post remembering the singer.

"I hesitated a bit to write something about this. In a way it feels weird to use this sad day to attract attention to myself. Then I realized I also feel a bit strange to not even comment in public.

"I joined Dio-the-band for about a year in the early '90s, that's how I got to know Ronnie. Him, and let's not forget Wendy, who is still very much alive. They were a team. ...

"My time in Dio was simply one of the best times in my life. Ronnie was one of the best people I ever met, very different from the usual musicians and other suspects in this wretched industry. I think this is something you will hear over and over — you have heard it before he was gone, and you will also keep hearing it after he is gone. Quite simply, because it's the truth. And especially towards fans.

"If you didn't realize it by now, you can ask anyone who met him. Ronnie was the guy signing autographs in the cold rain after the point where any mere mortal would have crawled back into bed. It was insane. His dedication to the fans was not from this world. He is the guy that finally made it dawn on me who it is who actually pays the bills — it is the fans. ...

"His voice was like a tank... I never heard him have a bad day. I have honestly never met anyone else like this in my whole life. Even if he stayed up all night drinking and talking, he would still deliver 150 percent the next day.

"From his performing, you'd think he was 22 years old, his whole life... but if you look at how much he accomplished, you'd think he lived to the age of 120.

"My best memories of the time with him are either him laughing at something I or someone else said, or me laughing at something he said, or any of the many running gags that he created. ...

"He was very intelligent. He was, without a question, NOT some sort of devil worshipper or Satanist. He grew up in a small town and was what I would call just a 'very decent person.' He had higher morals than most people I have met, and definitely he had higher morals than I have. He just didn't particularly believe in God of the Christian bible, I think. But he was really spiritual and thought about deep issues, a lot.

"I realize this may sound like I'm trying to paint too soft a picture. I am really racking my brains here and I couldn't think of anything bad to say about him even if I tried. The only thing I can think of is that his character definitely had a surprising bite when something pissed him off; he didn't suffer fools lightly. If you were a fool in his path, and all options of patience, understanding and politeness had been exhausted, then he didn't hold back verbally... beware, fool, you might have two a--holes all of a sudden, or your head might be rolling on the floor! I, of course, found this extremely amusing (unless it was me who was the unwitting fool, which I think happened, like, once).

"I don't exaggerate when I say I feel him being gone is a loss for humanity, but I still try to look at the glass as half full. Imagine if he would have died at 27 like so many other geniuses. As a listener I'm thankful for that grace, and as a person I'm thankful I got to know him. ...

"The music he made will remain after me, or anyone reading this, will be gone. So unless you did already, put some of it on. If it puts an evil smile on your face, then your day is better. That's all any musician can ask from you."

Share your memories of Ronnie James Dio and his musical legacy in the comments below.

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Ronnie James Dio Remembered By Metallica's Lars Ulrich

17 May 2010 10:58:17 EDT

Drummer salutes late Dio/ Black Sabbath/ Rainbow singer in long, heartfelt post on Metallica's website.
By MTV News staff

When an artist has a career as long and legendary as that of heavy metal singer Ronnie James Dio, who died Sunday after battling stomach cancer, the influence can be felt by generations of musicians. The singer — who fronted Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Heaven and Hell and his own band, Dio, over the years — was remembered by many musicians in the hours after his death was announced on Sunday, including members of Slipknot, Slayer, Anthrax and others.

Yet Metallica's Lars Ulrich wrote an extremely heartfelt, personal and lengthy letter to Dio posted on Metallica's official website, drummer recalling seeing Dio's band Elf opening for Deep Purple in Denmark in 1975.

"Dear Ronnie, I just got off stage in Zagreb. I was met with the news that you've passed on," he wrote. "I'm kind of in shock, but I wanted you to know that you were one of the main reasons I made it onto that stage to begin with. When I first saw you in Elf, opening for Deep Purple in 1975, I was completely blown away by the power in your voice, your presence on stage, your confidence, and the ease with which you seemed to connect to 6000 Danish people and one starry-eyed 11 year old, most of whom were not familiar with Elf's music. The following year, I was so psyched when I heard the results of you joining forces with my favorite guitar player [Ritchie Blackmore left Deep Purple to form Rainbow with Dio in 1975]. You guys sounded so right for each other and I instantly became Rainbow's #1 fan in Denmark.

"In the fall of 1976, when you played your first show in Copenhagen, I was literally in the front row and the couple of times we made eye contact you made me feel like the most important person in the world. The news that you guys were staying in town on your day off somehow embedded itself in my brain and I made the pilgrimage to the Plaza Hotel to see if I could somehow grab a picture, an autograph, a moment, anything. A few hours later you came out and were so kind and caring ... pictures, autographs and a couple minutes of casual banter. I was on top of the world, inspired and ready for anything.

"When we finally got a chance to play together in Austria in 2007," the post continues, "even though I may not have let on, I was literally transformed back to that little snot-nosed kid who you met and inspired 31 years earlier and it was such a f---ing honor and a dream come true to share a stage with you and the rest of the legends in Heaven and Hell. A couple of weeks ago when I heard that you were not going to be able to make it to the Sonisphere shows that we would be sharing this June, I wanted to call you and let you know that I was thinking of you and wish you well, but I kind of pu---ed out, thinking the last thing you needed in your recovery was feeling obligated to take a phone call from a Danish drummer/fan boy. I wish I'd made that call.

"We will miss you immensely on the dates, and we will be thinking of you with great admiration and affection during that run. It seemed so right to have you out on tour with the so-called 'Big Four' since you obviously were one of the main reasons that the four bands even exist. Your ears will definitely be burning during those two weeks because all of us will be talking, reminiscing and sharing stories about how knowing you has made our lives that much better.

"Ronnie, your voice impacted and empowered me, your music inspired and influenced me, and your kindness touched and moved me. Thank you. Much love, Lars"

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Ronnie James Dio Remembered As 'One Of The Nicest Guys' By Metal Peers

17 May 2010 08:33:11 EDT

Members of Metallica, Slipknot, Slayer, Anthrax, more mourn the vocalist, who died Sunday.
By Ryan J. Downey

Friends, disciples and fans throughout the heavy metal community are remembering the late Ronnie James Dio as not only one of the best but one of the kindest vocalists in history. The singer for Black Sabbath, Rainbow and of course, Dio, succumbed to cancer on Sunday at age 67.

"The world has lost a real talent and a genuinely great man," Slipknot and Stone Sour frontman Corey Taylor said in an e-mail to MTV News. "Words cannot describe my sadness and music will never be the same without his voice and honesty. He will always be an icon to heavy metal and hard rock. On behalf of all of the fans and the singers inspired by his life, we will miss you, Ronnie."

"Few people have had the ability to carry a song like Dio, literally demanding your attention as he effortlessly re-created live the amazing things he did on record," Slayer guitarist Kerry King told MTV. "It's odd how things get taken from you quickly. I just saw him a month ago. I know I was lucky to have known Ronnie, one of the nicest guys in the business, without a doubt. He will be hugely missed."

Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian echoed that common sentiment: "Ronnie was the nicest man in metal," he declared. "Every day on tour, he'd have a kind word, a smile and a clap on the back. I feel honored and privileged to even have shaken hands with Ronnie, let alone be able to say we were friends."

"The first time I heard Ronnie James Dio, I thought he was a larger person, because the voice was so huge!" added Ian's bandmate, drummer Charlie Benante. "It was Rainbow and I was a fan of his from then on. 'Man on the Silver Mountain,' 'Heaven and Hell,' 'Rainbow in the Dark.' The songs are endless.

"The sound of his voice with those bands was always so perfect," Benante continued. "It was his God-given instrument. He was true metal and the creator of the metal hand sign. He was divine."

As I Lay Dying singer Tim Lambesis remembered being awed by Dio's vocal strength whenever the two bands shared festival stages together. "He literally sounded flawless, every time. He made vocalists 30 years younger than him sound out of shape by comparison. And Dio was unapologetically metal. He stuck with what he loved and excelled as a vocalist who inspired our entire genre."

Coheed & Cambria guitarist Travis Stever agreed that Dio's voice "was never touched by age." Reflecting on his band's tour with Heaven and Hell (the new name of the recently reunited Dio-fronted version of Black Sabbath) he said, "Sharing a stage with our heroes was a dream come true for us. Dio had every bit of the magic he always did in every performance. Always stronger and stronger with every record. We will miss hearing that voice. But we have his huge body of work to dive into whenever we want. I am glad I got to tell him how much his music meant to us."

Fireball Ministry toured with Dio's solo band in 2004. When Dio learned the stoner rock group had gone a few nights without a dressing room, he invited them to share his anytime they wanted. "We spent the rest of the time on the road in that dressing room with him as much as we could," said singer/ guitarist Rev. James A. Rota II. "He treated us as his equals, even though we were his disciples.

"Not only was he a true gentleman, but he also never hit a bad note the whole tour," Rota added. "From 'Gates of Babylon' to 'Don't Talk to Strangers,' his voice was always perfection. On one of the nights in the dressing room, I asked him, 'Ronnie, what do you do before each show to warm up?' His reply, as he gave me a sly pat on the shoulder: 'Jimmy, you either got it, or you don't.' He obviously had it."

"I have been a fan of Dio for as long as I can remember. 'Man on the Silver Mountain'! What a voice!" exclaimed Ozzy Osbourne bass player Rob "Blasko" Nicholson. "I was fortunate enough to meet him for the first time at the Golden Gods Awards this year. He was kind enough to take a few minutes to chat with me. He was in great spirits that night, despite his health. A total gentleman."

In addition to those who spoke with MTV News, several musicians took to their official websites, Twitter accounts and social-networking pages to express their grief and gratitude to Ronnie. Slash, Sebastian Bach and members of Kiss, Megadeth, Mötley Crüe, Smashing Pumpkins, Queensryche, Dream Theater, Hatebreed, Machine Head and Exodus were just a few of the folks paying their respects online. His onetime Rainbow bandmate Ritchie Blackmore and former Dio guitarist Rowan Robertson did so, as well.

In an extremely heartfelt, personal and lengthy letter to Ronnie posted on Metallica's official website, drummer Lars Ulrich recalled seeing Dio's band Elf opening for Deep Purple in Denmark in 1975.

"I was completely blown away by the power in your voice, your presence on stage, your confidence, and the ease with which you seemed to connect to 6,000 Danish people and one starry-eyed 11-year-old," he wrote. Ulrich met Dio outside a hotel the following year and never lost his sense of fandom around the singer. Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax were set to share European festival stages with Heaven and Hell this summer, before Heaven and Hell canceled the dates due to Dio's illness.

"We will miss you immensely on the dates, and we will be thinking of you with great admiration and affection during that run," Ulrich said. "It seemed so right to have you out on tour with the so-called 'Big Four' since you obviously were one of the main reasons that the four bands even exist."

Share your own memories of Ronnie James Dio and his music in the comments below.

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Ronnie James Dio Dead At 67

16 May 2010 18:01:04 EDT

Legendary metal singer succumbed to cancer on Sunday.
By Ryan J. Downey

Ronnie James Dio, one of heavy metal's all-time greatest singers and a five-decade rock veteran, died early Sunday morning, according to a statement posted on his website by his wife and longtime manager, Wendy Dio. The singer, known for his work with Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Heaven and Hell and his own band, Dio, died less than a year after being diagnosed with stomach cancer. He was 67.

"Today my heart is broken. Ronnie passed away at 7:45 a.m.," Wendy Dio's statement reads. "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. 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."

With his powerful signature vocals and doom-laden lyrics, Dio fronted several iconic bands during his career: Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath and, of course, Dio. In 2009, he released The Devil You Know LP with the outfit Heaven and Hell, which featured the same lineup as the post-Ozzy Osbourne incarnation of Sabbath that he fronted in the early 1980s.

Possessed with one of the most recognizable voices in rock music, Dio's onstage theatrics (swords, mock dragon slaying), medieval themes and cool stage presence helped win the adulation of generations of metal fans and musicians, including mainstream figures like Jack Black and Dave Grohl. Contemporary "metalcore" band Killswitch Engage regularly covers Dio's "Holy Diver" in their live set, even going so far as to release a lovingly campy music video in homage.

Dio is credited with popularizing (if not inventing) the "devil horns" hand gesture used by everyone from the darkest of death and black metal acts to pop stars, athletes and professional wrestlers. Dio often said he got the symbol -- the "Malocchio" or "Evil Eye" -- from his Italian grandmother.

Born Ronald James Padavona in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Dio released his first record in 1958 with the group Ronnie & the Red Caps. It wasn't until a few years after that single's release that he adopted his stage name, inspired by New York mafia figure Johnny Dio. A later band, the Electric Elves, evolved into Elf. Deep Purple guitarist Ritchie Blackmore recruited Dio and some of his Elf bandmates when he formed Rainbow in 1975; Dio released three landmark studio albums and a live LP with the band.

Personal differences drove Dio from Rainbow and in 1979, he replaced Ozzy Osbourne in Black Sabbath. His first album with the group, 1980's Heaven and Hell, ended the heavy metal originators' creative slump with gusto and effectively reinvented the band, a streak continued with Mob Rules the following year. However, divisions within the group came to a head during the mixing of 1982's Live Evil.

Taking drummer Vinny Appice with him, Ronnie formed his own band, called simply Dio. The title track from 1983's Holy Diver would become one of his most recognized and definitive songs. The Last In Line (1984), like the album before it, went platinum in the US. Over the following 20 years, Dio continued to record and tour, releasing the band's 10th studio album, Master of the Moon, in 2004.

A short-lived reunion with Black Sabbath in the early '90s produced the album Dehumanizer in 1992, before Ozzy's eventual return to the band. In 2006, Dio reunited with his former Sabbath-mates to write and record a handful of new tracks for inclusion on the Black Sabbath: The Dio Years collection. The chemistry between Dio, Appice, guitarist Tony Iommi and bassist Geezer Butler resulted in the formation of Heaven and Hell (so titled for a number of reasons, not least to avoid confusion with the more recent Osbourne-fronted versions of Black Sabbath).

Heaven and Hell released Live from Radio City Music Hall, a celebration of the Dio-era Sabbath songbook, in 2007. The Devil You Know, their first studio album under the new monicker, followed last year.

In November of 2009, Dio's wife and manager Wendy announced that Ronnie had been diagnosed with stomach cancer. Several rounds of chemotherapy and other treatments followed. Earlier this month, Heaven and Hell announced the cancellation of a planned summer tour of Europe owing to Dio's condition.

In April, Dio appeared at the Revolver Golden Gods Awards in Los Angeles to accept the award for Best Vocalist. As members of Alice in Chains presented the award to him, the crowd chanted, "Dio! Dio! Dio! Dio!"

What are your memories of Ronnie James Dio and his musical legacy? Let us know in the comments below.

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'Brutal Legend' Soundtrack Revealed

10 Aug 2009 12:51:00 EDT

Game features 108 heavy metal songs, from Black Sabbath to Marilyn Manson.
By Russ Frushtick

"Brütal Legend" is a heavy metal-inspired video game starring Jack Black that will be coming to Xbox 360 and PS3 this October. The game's 108-song soundtrack has been revealed, and it features some of the biggest names in hard rock and heavy metal from the past 30 years.

In "Brütal Legend," you'll play as Eddie Riggs, a down-on-his-luck roadie who gets magically transported to a fantasy world. While there, Eddie is able to cruise around in a maxed-out hot rod, complete with a booming music system, with which you can play the game's epic soundtrack (akin to the "Grand Theft Auto" series).

The game's designer, Tim Schafer, is a huge fan of metal music and wanted to use "Brütal Legend" as an opportunity to display some of his favorite artists. "This soundtrack took years to put together as we wanted to represent every genre of metal and also have the perfect music for every epic moment in the game," Schafer said.

Schafer's love of metal didn't quite stop there, as he's made it his quest to bring the genre to the masses: "[The game is] designed to be loved by metal fans, and for those who are not, it will either convert them or make their heads explode ... or both."

Some of the artists whose songs are featured in the game include:

» Anthrax
» Black Sabbath
» Def Leppard
» DragonForce
» Judas Priest
» Marilyn Manson
» Megadeth
» Mötley Crüe
» Motörhead
» Ozzy Osbourne
» Rob Zombie
» Tenacious D (Jack Black's band)

Apart from providing musical accompaniment, a handful of artists also provide voice work in the game. Lemmy of Motörhead, Rob Halford of Judas Priest and Ozzy Osbourne of Black Sabbath will appear throughout the game, playing a wide variety of characters.

"Brütal Legend" will launch on the Xbox 360 and PS3 on October 13. For a full listing of the 108-song soundtrack featured in "Brütal Legend," check out Multiplayer.MTV.com.

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Ozzy Osbourne To Be Honored At Golden Gods Awards, Airing On MTV2 In April

17 Feb 2009 08:00:00 EST

Former Black Sabbath frontman will be given the Lifetime Achievement Award at the heavy-metal award show.
By James Montgomery

Ozzy Osbourne will be given the Lifetime Achievement Award at Epiphone's Revolver Golden Gods Awards, the country's first-ever hard-rock and heavy-metal awards show.

The Golden Gods, presented by metal mag Revolver, will be handed out Tuesday, April 7 at the Club Nokia in Los Angeles. MTV2 and "Headbangers Ball" will offer exclusive coverage of the awards, both on air and online.

Hosted by stand-up comedian and avowed metalhead Brian Posehn, the awards will honor Osbourne's contributions to hard rock (something the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame forgot to do until 2006, when he got in as a member of Black Sabbath), and will feature performances by Hatebreed, Killswitch Engage, All That Remains, Suicide Silence and a special guest to be announced shortly. Icons like Glenn Danzig and Tool's Maynard James Keenan are also scheduled to appear, along with Chuck Billy and Eric Peterson of Testament, Protest The Hero, Marta Peterson from Bleeding Through, Isis, Brendon Small from Dethklok, WWE Wrestler CM Punk, plus many more.

Starting on the week of April 20, fans will be able to check out behind-the-scenes info on the awards at the Headbangers Ball blog and MTV2.com. On April 25, MTV2 will air a one-hour Revolver Golden Gods Awards nominee special and on Saturday, May 2, the channel will broadcast the ceremony.

For more information on the awards — including nominees and how you can score tickets to the show at Club Nokia — check out GoldenGodsAwards.com.

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