Sunday May 16th, 2010 started out just like any other Sunday. I woke up significantly later than my lovely wife who woke me up with the smell of bacon and eggs being made in the kitchen. I had my coffee and I settled on the couch and opened up the laptop to check my music news. I was stopped dead in my tracks as I learned that Ronnie James Dio had passed away late Saturday night. As I read on, I saw that it was just a rumor and that while he was still alive he wasn’t doing well. Suddenly I was saddened and knew that the end was very near. This cancerous dragon was just too much for our Elfin God to slay but he didn’t go without one hell of a fight. A little over a month prior he seemed in great spirits and was positive that he would win this fight but at 3:00pm this Sunday, I would find out that he indeed had lost his battle with Stomach Cancer. Ronnie James Dio was 67 years old.
My introduction to Ronnie James Dio came along with my first introduction to Heavy Metal music that I have documented in the past. Soon after I had been introduced to Heavy Metal music I found myself purchasing those cheesy “Masters of Metal” compilation albums. This was where I remember hearing “Rainbow In The Dark” for the first time and thinking that this was such a badass song. I couldn’t get enough and just when it couldn’t get any better, I learned that he was Ozzy’s replacement in Black Sabbath and put out two awesome albums, “Heaven & Hell” and “The Mob Rules.” My first fix of Dio came in the form of the “Holy Diver” album. My first thought was that the album cover artwork was fucking awesome and my second thought was “Damn, this guy’s voice is 10x bigger than his physical self.” This would come to be a common thing to be known by any and everyone who knew anything about Dio.
Ronnie James Dio’s songs were as mystical and magical as any Lord of the Rings saga. He sang of rainbows, demons, thieves, dragons and swords. His songs were anthems for the lost children of which he pretty much adopted as his own. He was the father of “Children of the Sea”, “Throw Away Children” and “Rock & Roll Children.” As corny and cheesy as his lyrics may seem to be, he could pull it off for one reason: sincerity. He meant every word he sang to this lost generation of misfits and outcasts. He truly believed we had a place in this world and he believed that we were all rainbows in the dark. We may have been over looked and looked down upon by others but he knew we were special. Ronnie James Dio had a huge place in his heart for his fans and just by listening to his songs you can see that.
Ronnie James Dio used to get a lot of flack for being evil or being a Satanist but if you really listen to his songs, I challenge you to find a metal lyricist who is more uplifting and positive. The way this guy wrote songs made me realize that he was either one of us at one time or that he was completely in touch with us, his fans. I really believe it was both. I believe that Ronnie James Dio was one of us and that is why he was able to write songs that connected to who we were. He was our spokesperson, our team leader, our commander in chief. Dio was the guy that turned to us and said, “LOOK OUT! Don’t back down. Keep your head up and march through the dark to the light.” Ronnie James Dio just may be Heavy Metals greatest motivational speaker. My best friend Jaymz said once that Dio was such a great guy for always warning us of impending danger with his “LOOK OUT!”
Ronnie James Dio influenced and inspired so many people. Everyone from the band Dream Evil who took their name from one of his past albums to Henry Rollins has been touched by the magic of Ronnie James Dio. I remember hearing Henry Rollins talk about how Dio got him through bad break ups and rough times as he would put on a towel as a cape in his bedroom and sing along to his Dio albums. I can remember being a young kid and listening to songs like “Sacred Heart”, “Last In Line” and “Rock & Roll Children” and feeling a sense of comfort as though Ronnie was right there with me saying, “You’re not alone. You’ve got me on your side and there are others like you. You’re not alone! LOOK OUT!”
I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to see Dio in concert a few times, one of the best being in 1992 when he was reunited with Black Sabbath for the “Dehumanizer” album and tour. Seeing that show even then I knew I was seeing something amazing. When they took the stage after the “E5150” intro and tore into “The Mob Rules”, Ronnie just yells “AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! C’MOOOOOOOOOOON!” The place went absolutely nuts and the hair on my arms stood at full attention. Song for song they just slayed us, melted my face over and over again and then it was done. Ronnie reunited once again with his Sabbath band mates in 2005 only this time they were calling themselves Heaven & Hell. They were only performing songs from the Dio-era. I can remember being so pumped and talking to James about how ambitious yet admirable this was. Talk about musical integrity. This could’ve been a huge fail on their part but instead it was a huge success. This was so awesome because it showed that the fans of this era stood strong and that this particular line up was capable of delivering music and a performance that was all their own. Unfortunately, they never made their way to the east coast near me and I never got the opportunity to see them live. I have many bootlegs of their shows so thankfully I at least got to see/hear them.
When I got the news on Sunday I had to call James because I knew if anyone would understand and sympathize it would be him. My wife doesn’t even know anything about Dio but she knew how hard it was on me that he was gone and she said, “Call your friend!” James and I talked about the greatness of Dio and shared our thoughts and memories of our Elfin Metal God. He knew how much Dio meant to me and it was nice to share my feelings, emotions and thoughts with someone who would get it. As I hung up the phone I decided to play the song “I Could’ve Been A Dreamer” and as the line “I could’ve been dreamer, cuz dreamers never die.” played I just lost it.
Ronnie James Dio left behind a legacy of music that will never go away. Between his bands Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Dio and Heaven & Hell there is enough music out there to last you a lifetime. Unlike Ozzy Osbourne who is now pretty much a bumbling puppet lead around by Sharron Osbourne, Ronnie James Dio never compromised. He never changed who he was to be hip or cool. He didn’t need some corny reality show or a bunch of horrible merchandise to connect with his fans. Ronnie James Dio lived musical integrity all the way to the very end. Ronnie James Dio was a true Metal God in his own right and in his own time. He was ours and we were his! His legacy remains untarnished and he will always have the respect and adoration of millions just as he did in life. I never had the opportunity to meet Ronnie face to face but somehow I believe deep down that he knew me. I don’t think I could have told him anything he didn’t already know. It would have been nice to tell him in person but again, he knows how much he meant to me.
As I am typing this a tear literally rolled down my face onto my shirt. Why? I was one of his children that’s why. The dragon may have taken you from us but you far from lost the battle. You won this one and went out screaming and swords flailing. Ronnie, may you rest in peace and may you ride the tiger over Rainbow Bridge. We will always be looking to you, as you will be to us.
LONG LIVE ROCK & ROLL!
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