As you all know at this point, the Dio Hologram Tour is underway and playing to crowds all over Europe. You all at this point know what my feelings are regarding this but before I go into this , this is what Mr. Goldy had to say in regards to this Dio Returns Hologram Tour:
A post from Craig Goldy:
Well first of all, the band Dio was run like a family, because it was a family! And when an important family member dies…….those left behind often do things to keep their lost loved one’s memory alive! Ronnie had an extended family……his fans from all over the world! They were his family and his friends too! Whenever we do a Dio Disciples concert…..in my heart it is not a concert at all….but a memorial service in the form of a concert! His music played such an important role in so many people’s lives from all over the globe! Including myself again here too! In times of trouble……he was the voice that I turned to…..it was like we were friends before we ever met! That is what a fan was to Ronnie……a friend that he just hasn’t met yet! But then because his music was so amazing…..it got released around the world….and he did get to meet almost all of his fans!
When the “Sacred Heart” tour came out…..Ronnie practically cut his profit margin in half bringing the fans an 18 foot fire breathing Dragon…..it really did have fire coming out of it’s mouth……..lasers shot out of the Dragon’s eyes and wherever that laser would land…..an explosion would take place…..both visual and audio! He didn’t hike up ticket prices for all that……it was his way of giving back to the fans!
So even though a lot of money was made…..a lot of money was being spent! And I think that is when all the problems started with certain band members……cause they didn’t have the same heart for the fans as Ronnie and Wendy did!! It started to become about money!! And I’ll just stop there because things are getting better with certain band members and I don’t want to spoil it!!
The Hologram is supposed to be a gift to the fans! Plain and simple! Given in the same spirit in which Ronnie gave! People don’t remember……but Wendy was a big part of how that whole “Sacred Heart” stage set was built, put together and without hiking up the ticket prices too!! Same thing for the “Dream Evil” tour…..with a giant Metal Spider that came down out of the rafters and I shot it with lasers out of my guitar and then wherever I pointed my guitar…..an explosion would occur!
It was magical days with magical people behind that magic! This Hologram is just that! Some people never got to see Ronnie on stage with Sabbath and Rainbow……some of these holograms eventually will bring back those days too! This is something that is done in the name of love, honor, missing him and respect!! Nothing else!! And that is the truth! People’s opinion does not alter the truth! It only alters the perception of truth!
So, this Hologram tour is meant to honor the man and his music in the same spirit in which that man gave to this world….so we now give! And people will be missing out on an incredible experience if they let bad comments make that decision for them!
There is a fact of life….that runs parallel to this……when a group of people gather together with the same purpose, heart and mind as one another……something very special will always occur! Same thing for the Dio Disciples concerts/memorial services as I call them…..the fans that show up there also have the same purpose, heart and mind as we do…..and there is always a very special moment in time during these events, where the band and the audience bond and become one with each other……and when that happens……it is like nothing else…..and it is just something that you have to experience for yourself……this type of experience is beyond mere words! A woman can explain to another woman what it’s like to give birth and have a child…..And she could even watch Youtube videos…. but it’s nothing like the actual experience itself! And these concerts/memorial services……are very much beyond words as that example of the woman is!!!
Plus, I think Ronnie would approve of this hologram being done in the way it is being done….I’m sure that anyone who has worked as hard as he did…..and has made as big of a worldwide impact as he did….would like their name and memory carried on by those people that he loved and surrounded himself with by choice!!
Reading this post a few days ago really set me off and, as a passionate and outspoken fan of Ronnie James Dio, I just had to speak my mind. I thought (and still think) that this is not the most tasteful way to honor Dio. As a matter of fact, I don’t like it at all but you know what? It’s my opinion and regardless of who shares that opinion, it’s mine; just like it’s Craig Goldy’s opinion that this is a truly great way to honor and remember the legacy of the music of Ronnie James Dio. Craig and I had a little war of words that went on for a good portion of a day but honestly, the more he posted, the more I could see that Craig’s heart is in the right place; even if that place is the wrong place in my opinion.
There was a pretty gnarly war of words between me and Craig. Even fans seemed to be somewhat divided and seemed to each share their own opinions whether it be positive or negative. This minor war even got picked up by news outlets such as Blabbermouth and Ultimate Guitar where the comments sections housed their own wars where, once again, fans seemed to be divided. Some fans called it a disgrace and an insult to Dio’s legacy and his fans while others stated that they felt it was a great way to relive the Dio days of old.
Craig and I actually ended up having a really nice conversation regarding our little dispute over the Dio Hologram. My take away from this whole thing was that while Craig is very vocally defending himself against the naysayers, we have to remember one important thing: This was and is not Craig’s doing. Craig himself didn’t go out there and recruit the hologram. Craig is doing his job and his job is to tour as part of Dio Disciples and play alongside a hologram of Ronnie James Dio. Do I like it? No. Do I approve of it? Absolutely not. Do I blame Craig Goldy for what I believe to be a tasteless cash grab? Not at all.
Craig came a cross as really nice guy who is just in an awkward position. He is really taking the shit end of the stick of this thing and he’s getting it from all sides. If I had to offer Craig a bit of advice from someone who is also coming from a really good place, I would say, “Craig, let it be, brother. Don’t feel the need to get out there on the internet and be so overly defensive to the people who are in disagreement over this Dio Hologram tour. If there are fans that want to come out and support this, embrace them, appreciate them, and love them for it. If there are fans like me who loudly (and maybe even a bit angrily) express our disapproval of this, let us feel that way and just move on. In a nutshell: If you want to come to the shows and have a good time, come. If you don’t, don’t come. End of story.”
I hate to see such a nice dude get thrown under a bus by his own frustrations with Ronnie’s fans. I can only wish Craig the best of luck with it all and if he truly loves this project and honestly believes that this is what Ronnie would have wanted, than more power to him. Just go out there, do the best you can possibly do, and don’t the fans that do support this down.
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